Why are you guys with AWD vehicles replacing your stock tires?
I have a 2013 sport and hope the all season 20s are fine with awd in snow and ice.
Because AWD does absolutely nothing in helping you stop...only helping you get going forward. Snow tires help you stop and provide better handling in cold, snow, icy conditions.
PS snow tires are also absolutely FREE...yes, FREE...because how many ever miles/Km you put on your winter rubber is pretty well how much longer your all-seasons will last.
The only real out of pocket expense for a winter tire set is the steel wheel, the initial install and balance and the cost to switch them out every late fall and early spring.
4 steel wheels - $80x4= $320
Install & balance - $20x4 = $80
Change over each season - on $30, off $30 = 60/Year. some do this themselves in their driveway.
Now let's assume most people own their cars on average for 5 years....then the above total cost = 60x5 + 80 + 320 = $700 = $140/year.
Now, if you own your vehicle longer or switch out the wheels yourself that cost/yr comes down a great deal more. Remember the rubber is essentially no additional cost because your all-seasons will last that much longer.
In conclusion. $140/year for a dedicated winter tire set is in my opinion very, very, very cheap insurance for the safety of me and my family and even the head-aches from a simple fender bender causing you the run-around getting the car fixed, fighting the insurance company, risking insurance rates going up ect..ect...Also, less likely some aggressive D-bag driver without winter tires is going to loose control and slide into you too!
I live in Ontario Canada, in Quebec Canada winter tires is "mandatory" and law!
Can't wait until it's made mandatory in Ontario and hopefully the rest of Canada.
Cheap insurance!
Just my 2cents and know some won't agree with it, but really..think about it.
