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Re: [slightly OT] vehicle mass, tread width, and hydroplaning

To: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [slightly OT] vehicle mass, tread width, and hydroplaning
From: Matt Wehland <mattw@webtripper.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 23:32:08 -0600
The only thing that I can add to this thread is a thought on tire cost.
I figure that the cost is only more up front, with 2 sets of tires, they 
won't see as much use and will last much longer, therefore I don't need to 
buy new tires for longer.  I run 17" tires on my mustang and I figure that 
I actually save money in the long run by using a set of snow tires.  Approx 
$100 ea. for the 15" blizzaks that I run vs $200 or more a piece for summer 
tires.  So the expensive summer tires last longer and I save money, I just 
have to store another set of wheels (that's what my folks house is for).

Also I wanted to thank Jon Rush for the link to the Gislaveds Nordfrosts, I 
will have to try them.net set of tires I buy.  We were just talking at work 
today about snow tires (first real snow in Chicago today, still didn't 
amount to anything), and the three of us run Blizzaks.  I love them in the 
snow, even worn down and a couple of years old my last set worked better 
than the on sale snow tires that I replaced them with (big mistake, went 
back to blizzaks after just one season, no sense running snow tires that 
don't work).  My dad just put his on the other day and said that there was 
a huge difference in dry handling (taking an offramp in this SVT Contour), 
the car was squirly (sp?).    I agree as I have to add at least 15 feet to 
my stopping distance from only 30mph in the dry vs. my summer tires (almost 
re-learned this the hard way one season, the day I had just put them back 
on, fate smiled on me and I somehow managed not to hit the guy in front of 
me, pure luck).
Just to put things in perspective, my mustang (95 GT) with blizzaks just 
blew away my dads fwd tracer (with whatever all seasons for had installed) 
in handling in the white stuff.  When I first got my snows I took both cars 
out to a local hardware store (see something shop related) parking lot and 
had fun.  Get some speed and turn the wheel and the tracer would just plow 
ahead, do the same in the stang and the car would turn.  Put the stang into 
a power slide at 20+ mph and just turn the wheel, the car would track 
beautifully, power sliding for as long as I had room, but I could turn the 
front of the car form side to side with the steering wheel, no throttle 
change, plenty fun.  Put her into a spin and just turn the wheel to 
straighten out.  I was estatic.
And don't forget that no tire will overcome glare ice, just don't ask me 
how I know this :-)
Also don't even think about running a summer only tire in the snow, they 
turn into slicks (once again don't ask :-)

So I have to say, if you see a significant amount of snow then get real 
snow tires, I advocate this to anyone who will listen in my area.

Matt

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