Need Help--Southern moving north!

[tubashaman2]

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[Tubaryan12]

As far as I'm concerned, Michelin is overpriced and over rated. Weak sidewalls and early tread wear from all but the most expensive models. No tire that comes on a Kia Rondo should cost $250 to replace and not last 5500 miles. I was told that I hit something that I never saw and never felt that cut through the sidewall of the tire and left a 2-3 inch gash at less than 5500 miles. I can get that type of endurance out of something from Korea or China for less than a third of Michelin's price. The Michelins that came on our 2001 Sonata didn't even last 40K miles.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

It is a well-known fact that the "best" of any particular thing is the one that performed/lasted the best for you ONE TIME.

Likewise, any particular model of "thing" that has given you any kind of bad experience is automatically a piece of crap, along with any other thing made by that company or possibly that country of origin.

From Merriam-Webster:

an·ec·dot·al (\ˌa-nik-ˈdō-təl\) - adjective

2: based on or consisting of reports or observations of usually unscientific observers <anecdotal evidence>

[tubashaman2]

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[Matt G]

Snow tires are a waste of money, trust it from a tire technician. Michelin all season work just as good

I'd love to see this posted in an automobile specific forum. Snow tires are far better than "no seasons" especially in regards to braking. You might have been a tire technician, but I don't know how hard you have driven in snow. Just like high performance summer tires are better at lateral loading and pumping water than four seasons, snow tires are far better at gaining traction in both acceleration and deceleration.

[Tubaryan12]

It is a well-known fact that the "best" of any particular thing is the one that performed/lasted the best for you ONE TIME.

Likewise, any particular model of "thing" that has given you any kind of bad experience is automatically a piece of crap, along with any other thing made by that company or possibly that country of origin.

Very true. But it's always my money that makes the decision Hey....at least I've had 2 problems with Michelins that I listed...I've actually had more with the quick wear. I just didn't list them. I've had them on several cars as original equipment and family members have had the same. In every single case, wear was even, and quick. I never fault a tire when bad maintenance is involved.

' you guys payin' retail for tires?

I don't have the hook up that your friend does, bloke. I buy the best tire for the money in the place where I'm standing....and depending on the vehicle, sometimes that includes used tires.

As far as snow tires are concerned, I don't buy them. I will agree they probably work better than all seasons, but it's cheaper for me in the long run to just slow down and give more room when there is the possibility for ice and snow. It's smarter and safer than AWD and snow tires combined.

[windshieldbug]

Snow tires are a waste of money, trust it from a tire technician. Michelin all season work just as good

Spoken by someone who has never driven in enough snow to regularly clog the treads up.

Special applications are for special purposes.

I regularly chunked the treadblocks out of the full-depth Michelins until the Mercedes engineers finally agreed that I "might" have been right and finally started to shave their tires for track driving.

"But this suspension set-up is made for high-speed autobahn driving as designed and built" they would insist as I would take them for rides and shred the tires in only a couple of laps.

Good driving Panzers, but Panzers none-the-less.

[MaryAnn]

James,
You'll probably do this anyway, but find a church to join right away; those are the people who will be most willing to help you acclimate, and the ones you'll probably find the most in common with. Once school starts and you get to know some of your fellow tuba players, there will be others who can help you out. They may also be from far-away places and needing someone to buddy up with to figure it all out. A small town is much better for you than a big city would be.

At a place like McDonald's or Burger King or whatever....when you order a drink ask for the specific one you want, as in "I'd like a large root beer." Listen to how other people are ordering and you'll figure out how it is done.

Don't worry about "ya'll"....your accent is going to make it unnecessary for you to cover that up! But mostly up in that area it's "you guys" instead of "ya'll" at least when I lived in the Midwest. Mostly if you continue with what should be your inborn Southern courtesy, you'll be fine as long as you can take it when people laugh sometimes.

On the snow/ice driving: you need to learn how to pump the brakes to stop; find someone who knows how to do this (it is a very fast on-off that is what those anti-lock brake systems do but better than a human can do it) so that you can control your car *before* it starts to skid. Get front wheel drive if you don't have it. For someone skilled in snow driving, radial tires work just fine as long as the roads have been "cleared." Cleared in New England means the snow is not up to the bumper. It doesn't mean that you are driving on dry pavement. In your area, unless things have changed a lot, you'll get a few inches of snow a few times a year. Not 3-foot blizzards that trap you in the house.

Oh, and for a winter coat etc, thrift stores are your best bet.

Congrats, and have fun in grad school.

MA

[elimia]

Yep, been down this road having moved from SE Tennessee to Pittsburgh and now to central Kentucky.

Some of my personal observations:

1) snow is no big deal, ice stinks. A manual transmission goes a long way in northern winters. BE SURE TO REGULARLY CLEAN THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR IN WINTER. Salt = rust. Those domes on the sides of road is where they store salt. You'll know what I mean when you see one.
2) the accent will be cool, people in Pennsylvania were always curious about my southern accent. Chicks dig it.
3) You can always put enough layers on to stay warm, there ain't nothing that is going to help with Texas heat except AC. I liked the winters in PA actually.
4) There are good people and bad people everywhere. People were just as friendly in general in the north as they are, in general, in the south
5) local brass bands, community bands are good
6) Cincinnati Reds. They aren't the best team in baseball but who cares, it is still MLB.

If you're traveling in the Lexington, KY area give me a PM!

Ryan

[Brucom]

Q: Did you hear about the Texan who bought a set of snow tires?
A: He thought he got a good deal until they melted.

[Tundratubast]

Matt Gilchrist said,
"Snow tires are far better than "no seasons" especially in regards to braking." Just curious, in all my years driving "Up North", I'm really going to claim ignorance in this one. What the H*** is a "no season" tire, and where do they sell and use these hybrids?
Now, an "All Season" radial is a much different tire. It is an excellent choice, especially on front wheel drive cars or vans. Regarding to northern winter driving, you do NOT need four wheel drive in any type of vehicle, unless, you do plan for off road driving only, Trucks, SUV's etc. Most accidents on the road have been caused by drivers being way to confident in their 4-wheel vehicle, until it hits a patch of ice or a patch of dry pavement coming of the ice & snow. Thereby propelling them uncontrollably into the ditch or worse. Of course, this has also been accompanied by excess speed for the conditions.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Tundra,

"No season" = "All season." I believe Matt way saying that tires labeled as "All Season," by attempting to be "good" in all weather conditions are actually "good" in NONE of them but rather average all the time. Snow tires, at least, are "good" in winter weather conditions.

Totally agree on the applications of 4-wheel drive to winter driving, though. I'm always amused when (at the rare occasion) we get 4-5 inches of snow and the locals here in Oklahoma think their big 4-wheel drive truck or Jeep will get them around the city streets at normal speeds. Funny how those are the folks usually in the ditch being passed by front-wheel drive compact cars going 5-10 MPH.

Todd, happy to help

[Bob Kolada]

1. I always say "soda pop" or sometimes "sodie pop." Nor do I know why, other than in some attempt to be funny.....
2. I rarely say, and NEVER write, "ya'll." I don't mind hearing it occasionally, but reading it is somewhat less than impressive.
3. All weather street tires=radial swampers.

http://www.intercotire.com/tires.php?id=14&g=1
You should be able to shoehorn on one of the 225's or so.

[Tundratubast]

Why would you want to go through the expense of two extra tires and rims with the cost of changeing them twice a year and other tire rotations, uneven wear on the set that stays on your vehicle. All that for a tire that is only functional for a few days a year at best, even in our snow bound neighborhoods. A good radial with a functional All-Season tread design is all that's needed. Snow removal crews, traffic, and the sun, will clear the roads of ice and snow well before you get your money out of a set of snow tires. And studded snow tires do more damage to the roads then they are good.

[Tundratubast]

If you need chains in the midwest, you'd better be staying home. Period.

[Matt G]

I know this might sound crazy, but areas like where I am often have to deal with worse roads. The higher population density, coupled with larger infrastructure and surface area, requires a longer time to clear. I have driven with 6-8" on the road, both going to and from work (I am not going to stay at work). All seasons work, but they suck, specifically at decelerating. Good snow tires (not studded) will give the driver a significant advantage in maneuverability over all seasons. Also, all seasons suck in heavy rain. They do not pump as much water as quality summer performance radials do. So yeah, I will shell out $800-$1000 for an additional set of snow tires on steel rims for each car. When you figure out how much it can reduce accident risk and increases general drive-ability, it's a cheap investment.

In general, I find it amusing how much people get cheap on their tires. Tires are almost always the last aspect of performance to be looked at by the average consumer, but are the primary driver in regards to acceleration, deceleration, and lateral grip/handling. Specifically with the advent of the internet and retailers like the Tire Rack, I find it very easy to get good quality tires, mounted and balanced, shipped to my home quickly and easily.

Read any automotive magazine and they will pan all season tires. They are a complete compromise. Would you wear one pair of shoes all year round and for all activities?

[windshieldbug]

Tires are almost always the last aspect of performance to be looked at by the average consumer, but are the primary driver in regards to acceleration, deceleration, and lateral grip/handling.

Word.