Snow tires?

[cspartan]

The bags of water softener salt would be a great concern to me in the trunk of my car. The salt is amazingly corrosive, and the bags are cheap porous material that often have pin holes. I discovered this when I stored unopened bags of softener salt in my utility room, and found within weeks, plumbing fixtures and everything else metal in the room turning green or rusting. Salt would do a serious number on battery cables and electrical connectors. JMHO.

Very good point, although I always store 2-3 extra bags next to my softener in our utility/laundry room and have never noticed any corrosion in either of the houses we were over the past 7 years. Maybe I'll come up with a 'better' bag to seal each one individually. I like the 50lb salt bags vs the sand tube bags which I've had break before and holy hell was that a mess.

Or maybe just pick up some 45lb weight plates used and secure them somehow to prevent slipping on the trunk liner.

 

[geoffc]

I made sure all the hooks for cargo net were flipped under the rear cover. Nothing for the bags to catch if they moved. I tried two 100lb weight plates initially, but couldn't keep them inplace, and if it slides around, looked like it'll break all the plastic inside the trunk. Sand tubes from Menards are in some tough bags, double wrapped to start with and I added 1 bag of flex garbage bag, and one heavy vinyl, so 4 layers per bag. At $3.75 a bag, cheap solution.

Having survied last 2 days of commuting in the mess, looking forward to more snow.

 

[Cut-Throat]

Just drove throuh the snow storm in MN, glad to say snow tires/sand bags worked wonders.

I went with Blizzak WS70 225/55/18 on dedicated winter rims instead of mounting up 19"s on my R-Spec. 3 70lbs of sand tubes from Menards in the trunk, straped in right behind the rear seats.

No issues with deep snow, stopping or getting going. Biggest problem was ground clearence.

I have lived in Minnesota my entire life. I have not used snow tires in 40 years (Drive Front wheel drive cars). We used to only mount snow tires on the rear wheels. I now see that they mount them on the front also. Has anyone just tried snows on the rear of the Genesis? It would be much simpler to only store 2 wheels and tires instead of 4.

 

[brfatal]

I have lived in Minnesota my entire life. I have not used snow tires in 40 years (Drive Front wheel drive cars). We used to only mount snow tires on the rear wheels. I now see that they mount them on the front only. Has anyone just tried snows on the rear of the Genesis? It would be much simpler to only store 2 wheels and tires instead of 4.

This is an awful idea. The (failed) logic behind the rears only on cars (not RWD specifc) was to prevent the rear from kicking out in turns. However your steering and a majority of your braking is done by the front wheels. You need to do all 4.

 

[Cut-Throat]

This is an awful idea. The (failed) logic behind the rears only on cars (not RWD specifc) was to prevent the rear from kicking out in turns. However your steering and a majority of your braking is done by the front wheels. You need to do all 4.

No it isn't!.....The idea with snows on the rear was for traction to get going. I used to work in a tire shop in my teens and would mount hundreds of pairs of snow tires every year. It worked just fine!

 

[brfatal]

Again, it's not just something people have recommended for RWD. Since you said you mounted tires, it's the same logic behind why when you're only replacing a pair of tires you ensure the new ones go in the rear. Only it's less effective in snow.

 

[Cut-Throat]

Again, it's not just something people have recommended for RWD. Since you said you mounted tires, it's the same logic behind why when you're only replacing a pair of tires you ensure the new ones go in the rear. Only it's less effective in snow.

Again, I have no idea what your argument is, as everybody in the Midwest mounted snow tires on the Rear of their RWD cars. At the tire shop I worked at for 2 years, which my father owned, never mounted a pair of snow tires on the front of any RWD car. That's how it was done!

 

[scottdk]

Again, I have no idea what your argument is, as everybody in the Midwest mounted snow tires on the Rear of their RWD cars. At the tire shop I worked at for 2 years, which my father owned, never mounted a pair of snow tires on the front of any RWD car. That's how it was done!

A few pointers - one being that snow tires aren't just "snow tires" anymore. The tire technology is light years ahead of what was out 20 years ago. These tires are being are also known as winter tires because they grip better when it's cold outside even on dry roads as the rubber compounds are very sticky. They do wonders on ice and of course they are great in the snow covered roads as well. The concept of mounting winter tires only on the drive wheels is literally before my time on this planet. I'd recommend watching a few vids on TireRack.com or YouTube. These videos will show just how dangerous running only 2 winter tires can be. Think mega over-steer or mega understeer. What good is moving (drive wheels) if the car is unable to steer, brake and handle? This is sort of like the concept some people have of AWD vehicles (i.e. Subaru). Many think they are unstopable vehicles in the winter, but really all the AWD is doing is getting them to speed faster, and preventing the vehicle from getting stuck. Not to mention the extra ground clearance helps, but having AWD does not make a vehicle brake in a short distance, or properly handle and many are left in the ditch.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB7hpWhqIA&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB7hpWhqIA&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

[cspartan]

... This is sort of like the concept some people have of AWD vehicles (i.e. Subaru). Many think they are unstopable vehicles in the winter, but really all the AWD is doing is getting them to speed faster, and preventing the vehicle from getting stuck. Not to mention the extra ground clearance helps, but having AWD does not make a vehicle brake in a short distance, or properly handle and many are left in the ditch.

Please don't just single out Subaru there Scott, you must include all AWD and 4WD vehicles and their owners who believe they are invincible in winter because of the systems. It's scary knowing those ditch bound vehicles are on the sames roads as my wife and two small girls....in a Subaru (she's a super cautious driver so I worry a lot less about her not stopping appropriately with the conditions).

 

[Cut-Throat]

A few pointers - one being that snow tires aren't just "snow tires" anymore. The tire technology is light years ahead of what was out 20 years ago. These tires are being are also known as winter tires because they grip better when it's cold outside even on dry roads as the rubber compounds are very sticky. They do wonders on ice and of course they are great in the snow covered roads as well. The concept of mounting winter tires only on the drive wheels is literally before my time on this planet. I'd recommend watching a few vids on TireRack.com or YouTube. These videos will show just how dangerous running only 2 winter tires can be. Think mega over-steer or megan understeer. What good is moving (drive wheels) if the car is unable to steer, brake and handle? This is sort of like the concept some people have of AWD vehicles (i.e. Subaru). Many think they are unstopable vehicles in the winter, but really all the AWD is doing is getting them to speed faster, and preventing the vehicle from getting stuck. Not to mention the extra ground clearance helps, but having AWD does not make a vehicle brake in a short distance, or properly handle and many are left in the ditch.

Scott, a lot of this falls in to the category of just knowing how to drive in the winter. I don't think having snow tires on the rear is any more difficult than having no snow tires at all. You just have to know how to drive in snow and ice, which I have been doing for 45 years.

I have plenty of experience driving with just snow tires on the rears on RWD vehicles. The only thing that made me quit buying snow tires was FWD cars with all season tires. And I do understand the desire of tire manufacturers to sell you 4 tires instead of 2.

As one other poster said earlier, the solution may be just to add 120 pounds in the trunk, when I'm not in Florida (which I am for 2 months in the winter).

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[brfatal]

A few pointers - one being that snow tires aren't just "snow tires" anymore. The tire technology is light years ahead of what was out 20 years ago. These tires are being are also known as winter tires because they grip better when it's cold outside even on dry roads as the rubber compounds are very sticky. They do wonders on ice and of course they are great in the snow covered roads as well. The concept of mounting winter tires only on the drive wheels is literally before my time on this planet. I'd recommend watching a few vids on TireRack.com or YouTube. These videos will show just how dangerous running only 2 winter tires can be. Think mega over-steer or megan understeer. What good is moving (drive wheels) if the car is unable to steer, brake and handle? This is sort of like the concept some people have of AWD vehicles (i.e. Subaru). Many think they are unstopable vehicles in the winter, but really all the AWD is doing is getting them to speed faster, and preventing the vehicle from getting stuck. Not to mention the extra ground clearance helps, but having AWD does not make a vehicle brake in a short distance, or properly handle and many are left in the ditch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB7hpWhqIA&feature=player_embedded

Exactly. +1 to this entire post and for posting a better comparison.

 

[scottdk]

Please don't just single out Subaru there Scott, you must include all AWD and 4WD vehicles and their owners who believe they are invincible in winter because of the systems. It's scary knowing those ditch bound vehicles are on the sames roads as my wife and two small girls....in a Subaru (she's a super cautious driver so I worry a lot less about her not stopping appropriately with the conditions).

I don't think there is a need to type out every single vehicle with AWD. I used Subaru as an example. I would like to believe most will understand the context.

 

[Cut-Throat]

I made sure all the hooks for cargo net were flipped under the rear cover. Nothing for the bags to catch if they moved. I tried two 100lb weight plates initially, but couldn't keep them inplace, and if it slides around, looked like it'll break all the plastic inside the trunk. Sand tubes from Menards are in some tough bags, double wrapped to start with and I added 1 bag of flex garbage bag, and one heavy vinyl, so 4 layers per bag. At $3.75 a bag, cheap solution.

Having survied last 2 days of commuting in the mess, looking forward to more snow.

This looks like the best solution for myself. I drove the Genesis today, and had big problems starting from an inclined stop light. ETC off and in 1st gear. I only spend a few weeks of winter here and just need something to help get going.....

When it's really bad, I just stay home and let all of the 4 wheel drive trucks with snow tires go into the ditch. They can get going, but can't stop. Very little winter driving skills here, as displayed by the 3,000 Plus accidents here over the last 3-4 days.

 

[geoffc]

Best way to get going from stopping on uphill, leave ESC on, change shifter to manual, start in 2nd gear. Lot of old Volvos had 'winter mode' for auto tranny, all it did was start the car in 2nd gear from stop, works great.

As for Winter tires on rear only.... think lawyers mucked this up as well, I know there are lot of tire shops who will NOT sell just 2 winter tires, all 4 mounted or nothing.

I've been in MN for close to 30 years, back in the day pepole drove RWD cars with hockey puck for tires, and remember doing winter tires for driven wheels only. From start and go, that logic makes sense for RWD, but stopping and steering would be terrible. FWD, since it's drive wheel and steering, would work better. Used to run just front snow tires on my old Honda back in the day.

 

[Cut-Throat]

Best way to get going from stopping on uphill, leave ESC on, change shifter to manual, start in 2nd gear. Lot of old Volvos had 'winter mode' for auto tranny, all it did was start the car in 2nd gear from stop, works great.

As for Winter tires on rear only.... think lawyers mucked this up as well, I know there are lot of tire shops who will NOT sell just 2 winter tires, all 4 mounted or nothing.

I've been in MN for close to 30 years, back in the day pepole drove RWD cars with hockey puck for tires, and remember doing winter tires for driven wheels only. From start and go, that logic makes sense for RWD, but stopping and steering would be terrible. FWD, since it's drive wheel and steering, would work better. Used to run just front snow tires on my old Honda back in the day.

Thanks!.....I may not get to try it this winter as I leave for Florida soon. I had a Honda also, but with the FWD, I never needed more than All Season tires....They worked fine. But as I said, you've got to know how to drive in winter.... SnowTires and AWD won't cut it, if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

But as I said, you've got to know how to drive in winter.... SnowTires and AWD won't cut it, if you don't know what you're doing.

That's sure true.

 

[427435]

I drove in the good old days when it was common to put snow tires on the rear wheels of RWD cars (all there was then). Those tires were different than today's "winter" tires. Those old snow tires had similar rubber and handling characteristics of the front tires.

Today's "winter" tires have a much different rubber compound, than normal M&S tires, and will cause quirky handling if mated with convention tires.

Heck, I used to drive my 67 Vette with snow tires on the rear in the winter!! I could drive around a lot of cars on icy hills in the day, because of more weight on the rear wheels and posi-traction.