Snow tires?

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  • GoldGunsGirls

    Active Member
    May 30, 2012
    230
    Rockville
    Curious how many people swap to a set of snow tires for winter here. I'm moving from Colorado back to MD (will be working in Annapolis, living somewhere between Columbia and Odenton most likely) and contemplating selling my set of snow tires so I don't have to deal with moving them cross country. I used to live in MD a long time ago, but conveniently spent almost all my winters out of state, so I don't really remember what the roads are like from Dec-March.

    Thoughts?
     

    Boondock Saint

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 11, 2008
    24,372
    White Marsh
    Not at all a requirement. A decent AWD will handle just about anything we see in MD. That said, we had a record storm last year - 29.5" in one storm. I was quite glad to have legitimate 4x4 and some nice all terrain tires last January.

    Maryland drivers suck. They suck even more when it's raining or snowing. Be prepared to see 20 year old Civics trying to negotiate steep inclines on bald tires with 6" of snow/ice on the road. It's 50/50 as to whether or not the driver is texting and/or applying makeup at the time.
     
    I drive a 4x4 Nissan Frontier and haven't had any issues with plain old all season radials.
    The roads get pretty terrible around here at times, but as long as you drive with sense (and AWD or 4WD) you'll be fine.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    I swap to All Season tires for the winter. Summer tires for the summer.

    You don't need them often in MD, but when you need them, you need them.

    Legally, you need All Seasons or Mud+SNow rated tires during a snow emergency.
     

    traveller

    The one with two L
    Nov 26, 2010
    18,270
    variable
    Sell them. I still have stacks of snows for two cars and rarely do I put them on. They'll die of dry-rot before I wear them out.
     

    DraKhen99

    Professional Heckler
    Sep 30, 2013
    2,320
    If you've got a 4x4 truck, get some all-terrain tires. Believe it or not, I had no issues navigating the snow last winter on the stock Goodyear Wrangler Adventure w/Kevlar tires that came on my F-150. Surprised me, to say the least. I didn't even need the electronic locking rear differential.

    I haven't used snow tires since my 2001 Mustang :D

    -John
     

    travistheone

    Usual Suspect
    Dec 11, 2008
    5,600
    cockeysville
    i run cooper ST MAXX tires and they work well in all conditions. have some wrangler MTR on another vehicle and havent had a chance to try them out in the snow.

    my old TSL swampers were garbage in the snow.
     

    GoldGunsGirls

    Active Member
    May 30, 2012
    230
    Rockville
    Mazda CX-5 AWD currently. I will be working for the State Govt in Annapolis. Non-essential employee, I'll be able to work from home if the weather sucks.

    I will be driving up to NH/VT to ski and ice climb at least once or twice a winter, but that seems to be pretty low usage to bother moving them 2000 miles. Looks like they're going up for sale.
     

    traveller

    The one with two L
    Nov 26, 2010
    18,270
    variable
    Mazda CX-5 AWD currently. I will be working for the State Govt in Annapolis. Non-essential employee, I'll be able to work from home if the weather sucks.

    I will be driving up to NH/VT to ski and ice climb at least once or twice a winter, but that seems to be pretty low usage to bother moving them 2000 miles. Looks like they're going up for sale.

    You'll be fine with all seasons.
     

    tosainu1

    Active Member
    May 10, 2005
    825
    Bowie Md
    Snow tires

    Never had an issue until last year with the big storm so I bought a set and chains because I can't afford to get stuck again and that was with a 4wd drive truck and all terrains.
     

    TheBert

    The Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 10, 2013
    7,687
    Gaithersburg, Maryland
    In this DC Metro area the smartest thing to do is to stay at home when it snows. Your ability to safely and competently navigate your vehicle through the snow is negated by the 1000's of other people on the road who can't drive on dry pavement, wet pavement let alone drive on ice and snow.

    The idiots in this area will buy 4x4 and AWD and think that that is all they need to drive in ice and snow. When you see them slam on their brakes and lose traction on all fours wheels, turning themselves into a hockey puck, is a sight to see.
     

    notfast

    Active Member
    Sep 3, 2012
    221
    Bel Air, MD
    Last year was the first year in 16 of driving that I didn't have a 4wd/AWD vehicle, so I bought some snow tires for my Accord. I was hesitant at how much they would help but was 100% satisfied and will never drive in winter again without snow tires or a good AT on a suv/truck. Obviously, the main issue is ground clearance in a car, but once you get past that to semi-plowed roads, you are good to go with snow tires all around. There was an instance where my brother was behind me in his AWD Legacy with all seasons and I easily went up a hill he had to stop, start, back up to get up.

    All that being said, you can get through life in Maryland in any AWD car with decent tires and not being an idiot while driving.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,736
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I have a Toyota Tacoma 2WD and, when the snow comes, I swap the drive wheels with snow's and load up 300 pounds of sand over the axle. It makes a ton of difference in how the truck performs in the snow.
     

    c4snipar

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 21, 2014
    1,450
    Montgomery County, MD
    I swap to All Season tires for the winter. Summer tires for the summer.

    You don't need them often in MD, but when you need them, you need them.

    Legally, you need All Seasons or Mud+SNow rated tires during a snow emergency.

    Yup, same here for my RWD sedan. It makes a huge different with a good set of snow tires, what's your tires size, condition and price?
     

    Name Taken

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 23, 2010
    11,891
    Central
    Mazda CX-5 AWD currently. I will be working for the State Govt in Annapolis. Non-essential employee, I'll be able to work from home if the weather sucks.

    I will be driving up to NH/VT to ski and ice climb at least once or twice a winter, but that seems to be pretty low usage to bother moving them 2000 miles. Looks like they're going up for sale.

    You'll be fine with All Seasons then.

    Might be pushing it on your ski trips depending on the weather and location.

    If you already have them I'd certainly bring them. Then you can make the decision later when it comes time to replace them if you want to or not.
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    You'll be fine with all seasons.

    This all the way. The only car I'd put snow tires on here are really light FWD or RWD ones like the wife's Mazda 3 Sport. With that car, there's too much torque and not enough weight to maintain traction when trying to get started. She just spins without snows on. Of course, on the days she'd need those, we just pile in the Subie with all-seasons and go.

    When I lived across the line in the mountains of WV near Snowshoe however, Subie w/ snow tires for winter driving was a must I don't think I saw clear pavement for about 4 months my first year up there.
     

    alucard0822

    For great Justice
    Oct 29, 2007
    17,643
    PA
    Depends on circumstances. 2WD with some hills around, and an "essential" job, then snows are a good idea. , 4WD, flat ground, short commute or telecommute option, then decent all seasons will be fine. The most dangerous conditions are when the roads are covered with only a couple inches of snow, or ice, not enough to force the idiots to stay home, but slick, and the chances of a wreck go up dramatically. A lot of .gov and essential people around here buy an old beater 4X4, keep knobby tires on it, and use it when conditions get bad, and other drivers get stupid.
     

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