Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
Fri Dec 19, 08 9:58 am
chanson wrote:
for all the subaru lovers..
-not trying to offend anyone fyi...except strachen and chooch.
I'm a lesbian trapped in a mans body
Your best bet is to move somewhere it actually snows in the winter...live there for a few years then come back here and laugh at all the people with chains and studs on their cars.
pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
Fri Dec 19, 08 10:13 am
Chooch wrote:
chanson wrote:
for all the subaru lovers..
-not trying to offend anyone fyi...except strachen and chooch.
I'm a lesbian trapped in a mans body
Your best bet is to move somewhere it actually snows in the winter...live there for a few years then come back here and laugh at all the people with chains and studs on their cars.
Word.
Chains are meant for snow and ice. Actual snow and ice, not 1/8 inch of spotty ice here and there that people in Portland seem to freak out about, rush the counters at les Schwabb, and stockpile food and water in anticipation of the next fucking ice age. HOLLY SHIT, 30 degrees for a week!!! Maybe I should buy that generator at home depot so I don't miss the season finale of gillmore girls if the power goes out.
Seriously though, if you don't have chains then let some air out of your tires (about 15lbs) and just drive slower. I grew up in the midwest and we got plenty of snow every year and everyone drive through it with no problems. And when I mean snow and ice I mean highways consisting of packed snow and ice..for weeks at a time. I never even saw tire chains until I moved out here. So like Chooch said, the best solution is to grow some testicles or, like the lesbians, pretend you have them and buy a Subaru.
Kyle, you can fix your les schwab chains by going to the hardware store and buying some quick links (the kind you thread into the broken chain and squeeze closed). I would also suggest getting a bungie cord for each wheel and use it it to keep the chains tight against your tire as they typically stretch as you drive on them and they seem to break more when they are loose. (just don't strectch the bungie too tight as it will contribute to the stretching).
forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
chanson
Since 31 Jan 2006
1873 Posts
WISCONSIN
Chimey
Fri Dec 19, 08 10:32 am
Funniest event of the week during the "Arctic BLAST" in Portland.
4WD, Jeep Wrangler...maybe 15 pmh....chains on all 4 tires...
maybe an inch max of snow on roads.. _________________ Shallow Dive Design, 2nd Wind Sports, Airush, Trident Sports
kyle.vh
Since 11 Jul 2007
713 Posts
city of angels
Addicted
Fri Dec 19, 08 10:52 am
chanson, thanks for the tip, I just picked up some similar to those.
monkeyboy, you're right. i could fix them, but i want some that can go 30ish on dry roads without breaking. mine ripped apart at 30 on a dry road, while i saw others doing fine. yesterday driving from pdx through HR to mt hood, the roads, including the highway would go from dry to packed snow, to powder to thick ice every few miles. I don't want to have to take them on and off too frequently.
that subaru video is insane.
subarus are popular in new engalnd, too. they're great in the snow. i'm just trying to get by cheaply for now, since i'm going to LA for 3 years.
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1351 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
Fri Dec 19, 08 10:59 am
Quote:
Can anyone give a comparison between Blizzaks and studs?
Yes, I switched from studs to Blizzaks about 6 years ago and will never go back. I've also ridden on Pilot Alpins but prefer the Bridgestones. Haven't tried the pricier Hakkas yet but hear they're the best.
Studded tires tend to run cheaper rubber compounds, and the metal will fly off into your wheel wells over time. The physics of it is that studs will grip well on slick ice at lower speeds, but they don't stop well (metal has less friction than rubber, and protruding metal studs elevate the rubber from the contact point, resulting in less weighted surface area). Rubber compounds used in winter tires are specifically designed for high cohesion at low temperatures, and their sipes and tread patterns designed to grip better than all-season tires. I won't go back and personally think they should be outlawed, IMHO. They tear the roads to crap, almost as bad as chains.
A drawback of winter tires is that they ride hard and are loud compared to summer tires.
Another factor is profile. I unfortunately have low-profile tires (225/45-17) but a high profile (taller and narrower) is better in deep or packed snow. My Blizzaks are fine but I do have to be careful of floating if the snow is dry powder. I'd prefer 205/55-16 but the smaller wheel won't fit over my brakes (it's an Audi S4).
I also think a key factor people miss is weighting the drive wheels. Pickup drivers tend to know they need weight in the bed, but many truck-based SUV drivers don't seem to realize they're in enclosed pickups. I see Durangos, Tahoes, Explorers, even Rovers sliding around all over the place. 4WD is for traction, but you need the right rubber to get it to grip, and the right vehicle weight balance for control (and a high center of gravity doesn't help in turns). It amazes me to see people who spend $40K-$50K for a nice SUV then $35 for chains because winter tires are too expensive...
BTW, Les Schwab in HR are good people, but their prices outrageous. And Nelson are crooks. I bought Blizzaks from America's Discount Tire in Beaverton and saved over $80 per tire on what Schwab in HR quoted me (corporate prices). I also bought new wheels for $100 less than Nelson quoted. Start with tirerack.com then negotiate prices with the local store managers - it pays to ask for discounts as you'll often get them.
Bottom line: if you plan to drive in this crap, get some used winter wheels and mount new winter tires. They'll pay for themselves in one harsh winter.
Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
Fri Dec 19, 08 11:14 am
Shred da Gorge - appreciate the comparison. i grew up in phoenix and never had a reason to have studs or chains or anything like that. The first time I even seen a studed tire was when I was about 15 - I heard this clicking sound and was like - WTF?
But anyways, I get here to the NW and my first couple of years driving up to Mt. Hood I used chains. That got old - jumping out and putting them on while I watched all the cars/SUVs pass me knowing they will be getting powder before me and then at the end of the day after I'm all exhausted and relaxed and warm in my car i would have to jump out of my car at the end of the day and take them back off again (pain in the ass). So a couple of years ago I went to firestone and they talked me into getting blizzaks. I was like - sure, why not, even though I felt I should have studs. This will be the last season I have on those tires - so next year I will have to decide which winter tire I want - studs, blizzaks - or something else. I am really happy with the blizzaks, but have no basis for comparison. So again - appreciate the comparison! _________________ Still rockin gojos, *ssless chaps, and ankle weights!
pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
Fri Dec 19, 08 11:17 am
kyle.vh wrote:
chanson, thanks for the tip, I just picked up some similar to those.
monkeyboy, you're right. i could fix them, but i want some that can go 30ish on dry roads without breaking. mine ripped apart at 30 on a dry road, while i saw others doing fine. yesterday driving from pdx through HR to mt hood, the roads, including the highway would go from dry to packed snow, to powder to thick ice every few miles. I don't want to have to take them on and off too frequently.
that subaru video is insane.
subarus are popular in new engalnd, too. they're great in the snow. I'm just trying to get by cheaply for now, since i'm going to LA for 3 years.
Leave the damn things off until you are half way up the mountain and your sliding all over the place and can't make it up hill. Then get out and put them on. On the way down, take them off when you first start seeing wet pavement or the grade reduces such that you don't need the extra braking traction chains provide.
(PS the chains you have will do fine up to about 50 as long as they are reasonable tight) and by that I mean, 50 mph in packed snow not 50 mph slamming into wet pavement.
Diggy
Since 25 Nov 2006
342 Posts
Gorge to Coast
Obsessed
Fri Dec 19, 08 11:24 am
Friend of mine made $500 bucks the other day outside of Les Schwab putting on chains for people at $10 a pair as . LMAO!
I've had no problem with stock tires in PDX.
I had a SHO Taurus in the past with Blizaks and they were awsome! _________________ www.cautionkites.com
OMFG that is hilarious!! That first car...WTF? .. imagine writing the police report for that one. When in doubt, punch the gas. LOL
tekko
Since 20 Feb 2006
376 Posts
White Salmon
Liquid Force
Fri Dec 19, 08 2:30 pm
wow! Nice vid!
I bet that was footage was worth quite a bit to all of the insurance companies involved in the aftermath. _________________ Liquid Force Kiteboarding in the Pacific Northwest.
Demo's always available to those on this forum.. PM me to schedule.
trevorsmith
Since 25 Apr 2005
501 Posts
PDX
Addicted
Fri Dec 19, 08 2:33 pm
pdxmonkeyboy wrote:
When in doubt, punch the gas. LOL
So you are saying fast spinning tires in snow DON"T give you MORE traction?
I also like the next few drivers, they did a good job of car bowling..they picked up the 7-10 split!
kyle.vh
Since 11 Jul 2007
713 Posts
city of angels
Addicted
Fri Dec 19, 08 2:33 pm
f***, that first car hits 8 cars and 1 telephone pole, in like 20 seconds.
must be a steep hill, and you just can't tell from the angle.
trevorsmith
Since 25 Apr 2005
501 Posts
PDX
Addicted
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
and then at the end of the day after I'm all exhausted and relaxed and warm in my car i would have to jump out of my car at the end of the day and take them back off again (pain in the ass). So a couple of years ago I went to firestone and they talked me into getting blizzaks. I was like - sure, why not, even though I felt I should have studs. This will be the last season I have on those tires - so next year I will have to decide which winter tire I want - studs, blizzaks - or something else. I am really happy with the blizzaks, but have no basis for comparison. So again - appreciate the comparison!
