Topic: Tire advice for a 60+ lady

[2003GT]

Hi,

My Mom has a 2002 Elantra sedan.  She is NOT interested in winter tires. I have tried to convince her but no go. I am trying to find her the best all season tire that I can.  I am concerned about winter performance for her safety.

I had one recommendation on Nokian WR's, but these are a directional tire, and she wont pay attention to the requirement to remount the tires every 2 years.

the tire has to be an 87/88 H sidewall.

So, give me your best shot folks.

Thanks in advance.

[Squishy]

You don't need to remount every two years.  Just rotate front to back without crossing; that's how Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire would do it anyways, for any tire regardless of directionality.  As long as the car is properly aligned, the biggest wear factors you're trying to balance out are the drive (center of tire) and steering (side of tire) wear on the front tires of a FWD car, vs. just the load carrying wear of the rear tires.  Left side or right side shouldn't matter.

Nokian WRs would be the safest option if she refuses to get dedicated snows.

[ovr50]

Not sure how age of the driver has anything to do with the question, except, I guess, the stubborness of the driver in getting winter snow tires. No all season will be as good as a winter, period.

BTW, I am also over 60, and would never drive on all seasons in the winter. Guess I am just as stubborn....

[safristi]

trouble IS there are so many WINTERS and each has a specific "BEST USE"..not everyone cares to spend an extra $1,000 for a few Bad SNOW days....when their ICE& SNOW Winters would be CRAP on SLUSH & DRY.........didn't some post show AT BEST a 25% benefit fer Winters  but Winter varies MORE than 25% from Place to Place and TIME TO TIME............25C in Kewlona/Ontario in DECEMBER.....+14C in Vancouver/Victoria in FEB.......etc...etc......DECENT A/S are FINE fer 90% of US.............

[2003GT]

I mentioned 60+ as we all know that some shops love to have customers like her show up as they pull fast ones on the less knowledgeable.

And yes, she is stubborn. 

I didn't even think to rotate the tires front to back/back to front.  Oh well, just shows when you think you know, you don't.

I appreciate the advise and I agree, so many tires which may fit the bill.  It's maddening.

[blur911]

I appreciate the advise and I agree, so many tires which may fit the bill.  It's maddening.

I'd recommend Goodyear Assurance Tripletreads.  Good all-season, reasonably priced, easy to find, and everyone I know who has used them in the winter has been very impressed.

[mmret]

I'm facing the same issue with my girlfriend. She seems intent on driving this winter on Goodyear Eagle RS-As. She also does not have the same amount of driving experience as, say, someone who grew up in Sudbury.

I don't get why she doesn't just pony up the cash for the tires now. Its safe, plus you have to get them eventually anyways. Save the 5k on your summers and actually have a usable amount of traction.

* mmret goes to plot and plan.

[Squishy]

When the snow starts coming down, take your car and hers to an empty parking lot and show her the difference.  Do some panic stops and sharp turns, as well as starting from a stop.

[AVToller]

When the snow starts coming down, take your car and hers to an empty parking lot and show her the difference.  Do some panic stops and sharp turns, as well as starting from a stop.

"But I don't drive like you youngsters!" 

[mmret]

When the snow starts coming down, take your car and hers to an empty parking lot and show her the difference.  Do some panic stops and sharp turns, as well as starting from a stop.

Hrm, could work. But this would require brilliant timing as we don't live in the same city. She's in Mississauga. I'd have to be visiting on a weekend where we have sufficient snowcover for a good demo. She's definiltey not driving up to Ottawa on RS-As.

I wonder if I can sell her on the proposition of Nokian WRs on steelies, identical size. Use as winters until the RS-As run out, then switch the WRs to full time. Annoying to switch around / drive on steels in the summer but maybe some nice hubcaps could help. So hard to convince some people.

[safristi]

...HEY ....LAY_DEE................. ....

[random006]

Well I for one resent the above caricature of scientists as patently ridiculous, hopelessly outdated and hoo HAY!

[2003GT]

MMRET,

Best of luck.  I hope you can convince to at least get the WR's.

My situation has become more complex as one of her co workers suggested that she get a cheaper Canadian tire all season.  they work well for them, and they replace the tire every two years. Obviously they depend on the # of sipes and relatively deep sipes to get them through.

I am quoting here "they can replace all 4 every two years for the same price as buying the nokians once"

Does frustration have a colour associated with it?

[mmret]

MMRET,

Best of luck.  I hope you can convince to at least get the WR's.

My situation has become more complex as one of her co workers suggested that she get a cheaper Canadian tire all season.  they work well for them, and they replace the tire every two years. Obviously they depend on the # of sipes and relatively deep sipes to get them through.

I am quoting here "they can replace all 4 every two years for the same price as buying the nokians once"

Does frustration have a colour associated with it?

Could you direct them to Costco?

They sell X-ICE at least.

I think the proper color is grey, but with red swirls.

[morty]

Some times you just need to let people com to their own conclusions. When the snow is falling let her drive your car. The difference will be dramatic and probably convince her. It just takes the avoidance of one accident to pay for a set of snow tires....

[safristi]

..OR 1&1/2 Winters on decent A/seasons in MOst of Canada......