# 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:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**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 3, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/61 "2013-01-03T15:34:18Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I don’t care about Norwegians, Swedes, or Finns. I’m not shelling out for another set of alloy wheels, and it’s difficult to find steels for my car. Everyone in Canada has an extra set of winter rims for our snow tires. Most of us swap them out ourselves too. You recoup the cost of an extra set of steel rims within 2 years. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/62 "2013-01-03T16:39:41Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Everyone in Canada has an extra set of winter rims for our snow tires. Most of us swap them out ourselves too. > > You recoup the cost of an extra set of steel rims within 2 years. And you can switch out any time you want, even late at night. No waiting at the shop. ---
**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 3, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/63 "2013-01-03T22:55:55Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Everyone in Canada has an extra set of winter rims for our snow tires. Most of us swap them out ourselves too. > > You recoup the cost of an extra set of steel rims within 2 years. Or, as I posted earlier, my tire shop does it for me for free. I do have to schlep them to and from the shop, but I’d rather do that than change four tires myself. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/64 "2013-01-06T22:23:22Z")
Some parking garages in my city ban cars with studded tires. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-add-snow-ice-traction-to-a-car-w-o-damaging-roads-or-spending-a-fortune/644781/65 "2013-01-06T23:53:49Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > I haven’t driven rear wheel drive in many years, so I can’t comment. The last car I had that was RWD was a 66 Chevy and I don’ think having an elephant in the back seat would have helped with the traction in snow. > > I’ve pretty much always driven FWD and I have to say that snow traction is impressive IMHO, non-mechanical opinion. If there’s less than a couple of inches of snow, I don’t even both shoveling/snow blowing my 80ft driveway except for the Hoover dam size mound left by the plows at the end. Oh and the part around the mail box for my bitchy mailman. I can power right through the whole length. Once I’ve laid down some tracks, I’m good to go until it starts to melt. You can’t comment? Then don’t. 😃 I’m kidding, and I agree. Mass x Velocity, isn’t just a WAG. Suide note: Don’t hate on your mailman - I’ve done that job (as a part-timer during college). Clomping through 2 feet of snow isn’t fun for one house, let alone hundreds. Using some de-icing agent on the icy walkway is also appreciated (and prevents your precious package from getting crushed when it saves the carrier’s skull from meeting the pavement). [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=3)