NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/rec/autos/27675

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-23 | 2.8 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!know!mips2!granite.ma30.bull.com!buck
From: [e-mail] (Ken Buck)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Probe in the Snow?
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 23 Nov 92 17:15:43 GMT
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[e-mail] (Michael K. Ellis) writes:
>When you actually get snow or very heavy slush on the roads, though,
>things change.  On the highway, with slush, I was okay. Once I hit city
>streets, particularly ones that hadn't been plowed, I was in a great
>deal of trouble.  Acceleration went all to hell (no real traction) and
>Tire size is P225/50 and a 16" wheel.

In article <[e-mail]>
   [e-mail] (Bill Heiser) writes:
>I think this would be reason enough for me to buy the Probe and NOT the
>Probe GT.  For those of us who live in the snow belt, a car that can't
>handle a little snow isn't of much use about 2/3 of the year.
>Another reason not to buy the GT.  That size tire is *very* expensive!

i disagree a little bit with this philosophy.
(for the record, i drive rear wheel drive sports cars in
New England on a year-round basis.)

i *do* agree that buying any car with large tires (like 225/50-16's)
can get to be an expensive proposition when it comes to replacing the
tires, whether it be for summer, winter, or whatever.  that's
something worth considering when you buy a car.

but i wouldn't avoid buying a car solely because of the stock _tires_
that it's sold with.  after all, the stock tires offered on most cars
are a compromise that are weighted as much towards cost-to-the-manufacturer
as anything else.  performance-oriented cars often come with high performance
tires that are useless in the snow.  and some cars come with tires that
are just plain all-around-mediocre.  that doesn't mean the rest of the car
is bad (and if you really don't want the stock tires, it may be possible to
do a trade at purchase time).

for winter and FWD, the so-called "all season" tires can be sufficient,
although real snow tires will give you even better results.
for winter and RWD, there's really no substitute for True 'snow tires'.
so if you're running high performance summer tires in the snow, you deserve
what you get.  it doesn't matter if the car as-sold comes with "summer" tires,
buying a set of snows won't cost you more in the long run if you just use
them in the winter.  and it's not a bad idea to get your snows on a set
of comparatively cheap steel rims, to avoid tire-remounting hassles.
plus, getting a separate set of rims also lets you get a smaller
(i.e., cheaper) and thinner (for better traction) size tire if you want to.