Who's buying new snow tires this winter? (which means "snow tyres" for those who know what a toast cooling rack is)

@Degbeme

...which September, pre-pandemic September?

@swirlie The one that just apssed.

@Degbeme

...but back in September it was very hot outside! Those snow tires are probably worn out by now!

@swirlie I wasn`t waiting. They`re good, came in handy last night.

@Degbeme

Oh really? What happened?

@swirlie Lots of snow and way too many people without snow tires and I passed them.

@Degbeme
That's what I hate most about winter is all the cars without snow tires on! It's never myself I worry about, it's always the guy who loses control of his car with summer tires in 6 inches of snow.

@swirlie Had a couple of those last night coming home from my daughters. 🤨

@Degbeme

I've been researching snow tire tech data because that's what I do as a sideline tech writer in the marine industry... I research and then translate boat and yacht data for the layperson who in most cases of marine writing are women.

I discovered a lot of stuff regarding snow tires that can make them dangerous which isn't widely advertised unless you really dig into the construction data itself.

@swirlie I did my research before I bought mine. I didn`t just want "snow tires"

@Degbeme
What did you want then?

@swirlie A tire that stayed soft when it was -7C and below.

@Degbeme
Okay, good point!
Tires come in 4 different temperature categories:

summer
all-season
winter tire
snow tire

The lower on the list you go, the softer the rubber compound that's used, but only to a point.

"Snow tires" labeled as such are therefore the softest rubber in theory below -7C, but as soon as the manufacturer gives it a 'high mileage' rating, all that soft rubber goes out the window and you're back to a harder rubber compound again.

What this means is, you can't have it both ways. You can't have soft rubber below -7C and have a high mileage life expectancy of the tires at the same time... it's one or the other.

@swirlie I had all season on my truck and they wear great. Not practical for my SUV. AWD.

@Degbeme
All-season tires are actually designed as a rain and slush tire, not a snow tire. But they're only good down to a temp of -7C before they're dangerous to use because they get too hard below that temp.

@swirlie One time I drove from Walkerton to Oakville in a snow storm with my truck and passed others in the ditch.

@Degbeme
Maybe they were drunk? We have to give them the benefit of the doubt, right?

@swirlie Up there you never know.

@Degbeme
I know! I've driven up that way many times in my past! All my boyfriends back then were living on farms in that area!

@swirlie My two sister in laws live up there.

@Degbeme
Do they live in town or out in the country?

@swirlie Boonies

@Degbeme
I use to go out with a guy from Bruce County, Walkerton area... their family name was Garland and lived in the boonies. Next time you're visiting, ask your sister-in-laws if they know the family! Small world out there sometimes!

@swirlie I`ll be seeing one of them next Wed.

@Degbeme
Okay, good! Just remember the name Judy Garland (though not related!).