# Any way to add snow/ice traction to a car w/o damaging roads or spending a fortune **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781 "2012-12-21T21:04:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/41 "2013-01-02T17:43:38Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > šŸ˜• > > Yā€™know, Iā€™ve never even imagined that that was an option. On this side of the pond, winter tires come mounted on rims. Always. So, if youā€™re equipped with a set of winter tires (which you absolutely should), youā€™ve got 8 wheels. 9 if youā€™re driving an old-fashioned car with a spare. why wouldnā€™t it be? donā€™t have tire shops over there? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/42 "2013-01-02T18:32:53Z")
Iā€™m in Chicago and had virtually no problem with all season tires for ten years on my Civic. Including being one of the only fools crazy to go to make hospital rounds the day of the 2011 blizzard that dumped over 20 inches. (It was spooky, no one else on the roads but a few plows and a few abandoned vehicles.) I was able to make it to the hospital but the road to the office was impassable. We get snow but usually it is cleared enough that winter tires seem superfluous. The dangerous ones are the big SUVs who think that size weight and winter tires mean they donā€™t need to slow down; none of the above help much on ice. Canada, mountain driving in winter ā€¦ hell skip the winters and get chains or cables. But city driving in winter? Do we really need to change out tires? For those who do, do you manage it as part of a tire rotation schedule? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/43 "2013-01-02T18:36:47Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Iā€™m in Chicago and had virtually no problem with all season tires for ten years on my Civic. Including being one of the only fools crazy to go to make hospital rounds the day of the 2011 blizzard that dumped over 20 inches. (It was spooky, no one else on the roads but a few plows and a few abandoned vehicles.) I was able to make it to the hospital but the road to the office was impassable. > > We get snow but usually it is cleared enough that winter tires seem superfluous. The dangerous ones are the big SUVs who think that size weight and winter tires mean they donā€™t need to slow down; none of the above help much on ice. > > Canada, mountain driving in winter ā€¦ hell skip the winters and get chains or cables. But city driving in winter? Do we really need to change out tires? > > For those who do, do you manage it as part of a tire rotation schedule? Yeah, my tires get rotated every 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/44 "2013-01-02T19:16:08Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > donā€™t have tire shops over there? Where would we get our winter tires from if we didnā€™t? :dubious: But when the snow comes, thereā€™s long enough lines for putting _new_ tires on the rims or just having the wheels changed. Changing tires on the rims twice a year seems kind of excessive, gets a bit expensive and takes a bit more time compared to just slapping the other set of wheels on the car. Since we generally pay our workforce a decent salary, with compulsory paid vacation time, the cost per hour, even for low-income workers, is a bit higher over here than it is on your side of the pond. Iā€™ve never heard of any Norwegian, Swede nor Finn who prefers the hassle of schlepping the wheels to the shop and wait for the shop to switch the tires on the rims twice a year when they can change the wheels a lot quicker, even by themselves at home if they want to. And I wouldnā€™t recommend using expensive alloy rims in the wintertime because of the salt, slush, mud and grime we have for some 4-6 months of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/45 "2013-01-02T19:31:18Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > \ > Accelerate slowly, leave double the room to brake and slow down. Time traffic lights so you donā€™t have to stop - lots of coasting. Keep momentum, easy on both brake and gas pedals. Allow more time for a trip. Itā€™s faster to go slowly than have to wait for a tow truck or a push from a snowbank because you _WERE_ in a hurry. Donā€™t forget about curves and corners, too - you can do fine going in a straight line, but as soon as you want to corner, WHEEE! Off into the ditch or onto someoneā€™s lawn. Also, off-ramps - the main road might be completely dry, but the ramps off of the main road can still be covered in ice and snow, and if you havenā€™t slowed down in advance, you might lose control on the ramp. > [@mnemosyne](#): > > Alternatively, carry a set of [traction](http://www.mainemade.com/images/profiles/crm_traction_aids/v_image.jpeg)aids in the trunk. Very useful when sand isnā€™t available, and cheaper in the long run! We have those, too - Iā€™ll have to be careful not to send them shooting at anyone. > [@pullin](#): > > If youā€™ll tolerate a question from a southernerā€¦ > > What are the logistics involved when changing from Winter to Summer tires? Do you have a full set of wheels too? Or do you just head down to Discount Tire (or wherever) and have them dismount/remount all four tires twice a year? I can see how this would be done if you had a pickup or large SUV, but how do you do this when youā€™re driving a small car? Iā€™ve never tried, but I donā€™t think all four wheels would fit in the wifeā€™s Camry. > > Thanks for fighting my ignorance. Jim and I both have two sets of tires for our two cars - the local tire shop we went to (Kal-Tire) changes our tires out for free since we bought the tires and the rims from them. I can fit all four tires in my Corolla, no problem. Then they get stored under the bench in the garage. > [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah, my tires get rotated every 6 months. Is that what theyā€™re calling it now? šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/46 "2013-01-02T19:48:18Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Skinny supermodels only would be a good compromise. Iā€™m pretty sure skinny supermodels would kill me. Too much wear, especially when it heats up real good. Wait. Are we still talking about different models of winter tires? ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/47 "2013-01-02T21:00:05Z")
What is this ā€˜snow and iceā€™ of which you speak? Here the only crystalline water I get is in a tumbler with some nice single malt Scotch whiskey. We have two seasons here, wet and dry. Temperatures are rarely an issue. In the dry season, any common street tires are fine. During wet season we frequently watch drivers head off down rain soaked streets into unknown depths of water. When their cars begin to float sideways, the type of tire becomes irrelevant. Such hijinks are the hallmark of new residents, or complete dumbasses ā€“ or both. Previous experience in the aforesaid ā€˜snow and iceā€™ conditions is apparently of no benefit. Pointing and laughing is allowed. Even the local TV news crews indulge in it. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/48 "2013-01-02T21:06:10Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > If youā€™re living in a small, modern city apartment and park your car in the street outside, storage of the extra set might be a challengeā€¦ Around here, you can rent storage space for the out-of-season set of tires - often at the same places that change the tires. That takes care of both storage and transport issues. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/49 "2013-01-02T21:10:35Z")
> [@CannyDan](#): > > Pointing and laughing is allowed. I hear that a lot regarding the trials & tribulations of Florida residents ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/50 "2013-01-02T21:12:37Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > I hear that a lot regarding the trials & tribulations of Florida residents Allowed? Heck, I hear itā€™s _encouraged!_ šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/51 "2013-01-02T21:18:34Z")
Yeah, we donā€™t call it Flori -_duhh!!_ without reason. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/52 "2013-01-02T21:26:03Z")
> [@Anachronism](#): > > Putting the snow tires on cheap rims is the best option. The expense of A twice yearly mounting and balancing can add up. If you have a popular model there is a good chance of finding a cheap set of used rims. Most people can easily swap wheels at home too. An added bonus is if you have nice rims they are saved from salt exposure and the higher likely hood of hitting potholes in the winter. > > /snippage/ > > Edited to add. Narrower tires also perform better in the snow. A second set of rims can allow you to use narrower tires. This is what I did when I had my 1987 Cutlass with factory chrome rims. It was an especially good idea after I found out that replacement chrome rims cost $396 each (not including the center cap) and that was almost 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/53 "2013-01-02T22:41:11Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > Around here, you can rent storage space for the out-of-season set of tires - often at the same places that change the tires. That takes care of both storage and transport issues. Thatā€™s what led me to pick the store I picked for buying the winter tires for my Mustang when I bought it a year ago ā€“ they store them offsite, and all I have to do is set up an appointment to get the tires swapped, giving them a couple of days to get my tires back from the warehouse. More convenient than trying to figure out how to schlep two Blizzaks from my house to the tire place, in a Mustangā€¦ šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/54 "2013-01-03T07:47:45Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > Around here, you can rent storage space for the out-of-season set of tires - often at the same places that change the tires. That takes care of both storage and transport issues. Yeah, youā€™re right. But far from everybody uses that option; IIRC it costs you about 250-300ā‚¬ (around $350) for a whole year. When I was a student, I couldnā€™t afford that. Heck, I hardly could afford having a car! Now I can afford it, but I prefer to be able to change tires just when I need to instead of waiting for an appointment when everyone else also wants to have their tires changed. And thereā€™s room in my garage for a couple of sets of off-season wheels šŸ†’ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/55 "2013-01-03T08:58:25Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > This. > > I made the mistake one year of driving my car through winter on ā€œthree seasonā€ aka ā€œsummerā€ tires. Utterly, completely useless. As in, ā€œstuck in one inch of packed snow on level groundā€ useless. Most all-season tires are miles better in snow. Proper winter tires are miles better than that. Comparison between all-season and snow tires can be found here, for those seeking hard stats: [http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=154](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=154) Stats on ice: Braking 12-0 mph (20-0 km/h) Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 (Studless Ice and Snow) 35.1 ft. Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02 (Standard Touring All-Season) 53.6 ft. So, thatā€™s a pretty decent difference right there. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/56 "2013-01-03T09:55:41Z")
Tire Rack is the best source in North America for information and comparisons between tires. They have excellent service and a large, well rounded customer base that provide honest reviews and are knowledge about the subject. Itā€™s not always the cheapest place, but itā€™s very competitive and likely cheaper than the store in your local mall. While they do ship mounted tires, most folks have it done locally. Tire Rack will recommend a local installer if your usual guy puts up a fuss because you didnā€™t buy from him. I have no connection to the company except as a customer. I just want everyone to be aware of this source if they are not already. My only complaint with them was that they donā€™t sell the brand of studded snow tires that I favor. But Iā€™ve bought car tires, truck tires, race tires, and trailer tires from them at one time or another. They know their stuff and they arenā€™t always trying to move me up to a more expensive tire. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/57 "2013-01-03T10:25:03Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > Iā€™ve never heard of any Norwegian, Swede nor Finn who prefers the hassle of schlepping the wheels to the shop and wait for the shop to switch the tires on the rims twice a year when they can change the wheels a lot quicker, even by themselves at home if they want to. I have never even heard of someone who does it. The idea seems just weird. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/58 "2013-01-03T10:33:27Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > Where would we get our winter tires from if we didnā€™t? :dubious: > > But when the snow comes, thereā€™s long enough lines for putting _new_ tires on the rims or just having the wheels changed. Changing tires on the rims twice a year seems kind of excessive, gets a bit expensive and takes a bit more time compared to just slapping the other set of wheels on the car. Since we generally pay our workforce a decent salary, with compulsory paid vacation time, the cost per hour, even for low-income workers, is a bit higher over here than it is on your side of the pond. > > Iā€™ve never heard of any Norwegian, Swede nor Finn who prefers the hassle of schlepping the wheels to the shop and wait for the shop to switch the tires on the rims twice a year when they can change the wheels a lot quicker, even by themselves at home if they want to. And I wouldnā€™t recommend using expensive alloy rims in the wintertime because of the salt, slush, mud and grime we have for some 4-6 months of the year. I donā€™t care about Norwegians, Swedes, or Finns. Iā€™m not shelling out for another set of alloy wheels, and itā€™s difficult to find steels for my car. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/59 "2013-01-03T11:20:50Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I donā€™t care about Norwegians, Swedes, or Finns. Iā€™m terribly sorry Iā€™ve upset you and mentioned something you donā€™t care about. Not really. If you canā€™t stomach an example of how people in some parts of the world - you know, _outside_ good olā€™ USA - find the concept of changing tires on their rims twice a year totally weird, thatā€™s not my problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/60 "2013-01-03T11:22:53Z")
Pretend ALL garages have to pay wage rates set by UAW, and that weā€™re talking about the UAW prior to Detroit actually feeling the pinch from Japan/etc stealing their customers. THEN it makes sense to change your own tires/rims/etc out rather than going to the shop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781.md?page=4)