Topic: Not running winters on the Ridgeline this year.

[ktm525]

I am not going to run dedicated winters on the Ridgeline this winter and here is why.

It came equipped with Michelin LTX M/S. My previous experience with this tire is that they are very good in winter conditions. The ratings in Tire Rack would seem to back that up. I would say these are very close to the Nokian WR in terms of winter performance.

Since I only put on 12k kms per year the stock tires will last about 8 years. With winters the stock tires may last 15 years. Obviously the tires will dry and crack long before that. I figure I am ahead of the game by replacing the Michelins every 4 years (and enjoying the benefits of newer tires spring/summer/fall as well as winter  rather than having two dedicated sets of wheels.

What says you?

ps. If I locate a cheap winter tire/wheel set then plans may change.

[airbalancer]

I see no problem
but at 12k a year will you get tried of the Ridgeline before they wear out
I would also look at the Goodyear Wrangle with the winter rating , I was running them on my last truck

[tortoise]

I ran those LTX's on my B2500 (2WD) and thought they did a solid job in the winter.  Not quite at the level of Blizzaks but they'll be fine on the Ridgeline

[CanuckG35]

Personally, I would never go without winter tires on any vehicle I drive in the winter.  To me, there is NOTHING more important than having good winter rubber and I would never sacrifice the safety of my family over a small amount of money.  Just my .02 cents. 

[Shnak]

And if you slide into another vehicle because you couldn't stop in time, will you regret not spending ~$1000 for a set of dedicated winter tires?

[ktm525]

Personally, I would never go without winter tires on any vehicle I drive in the winter.  To me, there is NOTHING more important than having good winter rubber and I would never sacrifice the safety of my family over a small amount of money.  Just my .02 cents. 

First off I just want to say that I believe in winter tires, especially when the other set is performance oriented (V rated high performance tires etc). Almost every car I have had a second set of dedicated winters. The Volvo V70R and Pontiac G8 HAD to have them, no choices there.

Here is the dilemma. With my previous truck I had dedicated winters and  would estimate there was perhaps a 5%? increase in braking/cornering traction (in 100% snow/ice conditions). Acceleration was the same as the truck was an AWD (as is the Ridge). Would you rather have a 5% increase in winter condition traction vs putting the money into a brand new set of rubber every 4 years and having a % increase in wet traction etc?

Last time I ran the Michelin M/S as winters until I detected a noticeable deacrease in winter performance. (About at the 70% tread remaining). A that point I bought a set of dedicated winters and ran the Michelins in the summer. I think I may have been just as far ahead buy buying brand new Michelin M/S's (same price) instead of butying the dedicated winters.

The Land Rover LR3 is running a dedicated winter set but I am willing to bet the Michelin M/S performs as well as the Rover's Pirelli Ice and Snows.

[ktm525]

And if you slide into another vehicle because you couldn't stop in time, will you regret not spending ~$1000 for a set of dedicated winter tires?

In my 25 years of driving in winter conditions I have never slid into another vehicle/object. I pay attention and know how to drive. For the most part winters tires have been bought to so that the car has a fighting chance in the snow (Pontiac G8 etc) or when the existing rubber on the vehicle is basically summer only (V70R, SVT Contour).

I would be willing to venture that the winter performance of the Michelin M/S is close to the performance winters I had on the Volvo. The decision is not so black and white.

Tire Rack did do an all season "truck" tire vs a winter and the winter did outperform it.  http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=109


The problem is the Continental All season they tested was near the bottom in terms of winter performance. The results with a top -rated all season would have been much closer:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=HAS

[AP]

The only obvious answer is that there is no obviously right or wrong answer.

This is about risk management.  One ill-fated patch of black ice can make dedicated winter tires worth it, not to mention the enhanced cold weather traction on clear pavement.  I use them on all our cars b/c it is cheap insurance, not b/c it is a necessity.

You will not likely regret buying a set but you could seriously regret not buying a set.

[CanuckG35]

Personally, I would never go without winter tires on any vehicle I drive in the winter.  To me, there is NOTHING more important than having good winter rubber and I would never sacrifice the safety of my family over a small amount of money.  Just my .02 cents. 

First off I just want to say that I believe in winter tires, especially when the other set is performance oriented (V rated high performance tires etc). Almost every car I have had a second set of dedicated winters. The Volvo V70R and Pontiac G8 HAD to have them, no choices there.

Here is the dilemma. With my previous truck I had dedicated winters and  would estimate there was perhaps a 5%? increase in braking/cornering traction (in 100% snow/ice conditions). Acceleration was the same as the truck was an AWD (as is the Ridge). Would you rather have a 5% increase in winter condition traction vs putting the money into a brand new set of rubber every 4 years and having a % increase in wet traction etc?

Last time I ran the Michelin M/S as winters until I detected a noticeable deacrease in winter performance. (About at the 70% tread remaining). A that point I bought a set of dedicated winters and ran the Michelins in the summer. I think I may have been just as far ahead buy buying brand new Michelin M/S's (same price) instead of butying the dedicated winters.

The Land Rover LR3 is running a dedicated winter set but I am willing to bet the Michelin M/S performs as well as the Rover's Pirelli Ice and Snows.

I have no personal experience with the Michelin M/S nor Pirelli Ice & Snows, but I can only assume the Pirelli's to have a much softer rubber compound than the Michelins and would no doubt out perform them in winter conditions.  Like Keh-vin mentioned earlier, where you live plays a factor as well.  I am not sure what part of the Country you live nor how much winter weather you receive.  We got absolutely lambasted with snow last year here in NB so the thought of not having winter tires doesn't even come to my mind.  Money doesn't play a factor at all with my decision, it's strictly performance based.  Another way I think about it as well is that because I run Blizzaks on my AWD Edge, the stock all seasons will last twice as long.  I don't think there is much of a financial gain from running all season tires all year around compared to splitting it up between winter tires and all season tires.  

Btw, here is an interesting comparo done by Insideline.  

http://www.insideline.com/features/tire-test-all-season-vs-snow-vs-summer.html

[Mike]

I personally believe it depends on the vehicle as well.  I am a winter tire believer and buy it for all my cars.  But my cars have always need them; Camaro, RX-8, Cobalt SS, WRX (summers stock on the rims).  However my parents Minivans and now Rondo do just fine on a good set of all seasons.  I would still put winters on them if they were my car, but I can see why they don't.

For safety and piece of mind, we take the stock Bridgestone 205/50R17's off the SX4 and put on some 195/65R15 Winter's.  Turns the car into a winter beast.


ktm - I think you'll be fine for what little driving you do.  Here in Southern Ontario, we rarely get snow, and when we do it is usually plowed as well.  Trouble is, it keeps warming up, melting, then freezes again and repeat.  No deep freeze. Plus we get a lot of freezing rain which plays a bit of havoc on our roads too.

[AP]

Most vehicles will do "just fine" with all seasons in south central Ontario.  The issue is whether that is the target.  If a new set of winters poses a budgetary strain, then I can see deciding against them.  But that decision will come with reduced traction and enhanced risk.

[johngenx]

If the tires serve your needs, then go for it.  The principal at my school has a Rubicon and plans to keep the big off road tires on year round.  He bikes or runs to work, weather not being a factor (even in the toughest days he does) so if the roads are bad, the Jeep can stay home.  His family has another car for getting around when needed.

On my missus' Corolla, her school is far enough from home that she has to drive, and there is no "the roads are lousy, I'm at home" so she has premium snow tires on it.  I'm close enough to school that I could walk/run/bike every day, but the Scoob spends lots of time on poorly maintained mountain roads in the winter, so no way I could go without snow tires.

[initial_D]

I ran the BS Dueler REVO-II on the truck last winter, they did the job. I was a bit concern before the winter started, but the worries went away after the snow came. The tires are just light terrain tires, but they perform very well over snow and ice. They changed my view on dedicated winters.

[Gardiner Westbound]

Most vehicles will do "just fine" with all seasons in south central Ontario.  The issue is whether that is the target.  If a new set of winters poses a budgetary strain, then I can see deciding against them.  But that decision will come with reduced traction and enhanced risk.

My son lives in Whitby, just east of Toronto. Needing new all-season tires for his minivan, last Fall he opted for Nokian WRG2 All-Weather tires.

Winter 2010- 11 was significantly more severe than usual. He reports traction with the Nokians was much superior to an all-season tire on snow, slush and ice. There was no additional expense or inconvenience dealing with extra rims, TPMS sensors, Spring changeover and off-season tire storage. He believes they are ideal for Southern Ontario's moderate winters. There have been no Summer driving issues with them.

Consider all-weather tires if your all-season tires are nearing the end of their safe service life. Last year Nokian was the only all-weather tire available. Goodyear, Hankook, Vredestein and Yokohama will probably have similar tires available this Fall.

[ktm525]

After all that  it looks like I may be able to get some Blizzack DV-1 with Honda steelies for reasonable cost...

[ktm525]

Another way I think about it as well is that because I run Blizzaks on my AWD Edge, the stock all seasons will last twice as long.  I don't think there is much of a financial gain from running all season tires all year around compared to splitting it up between winter tires and all season tires.  

That is definitely the one bonus to owning 2 sets of tires.

After all that  it looks like I may be able to get some Blizzack DV-1 with Honda steelies for reasonable cost...

Why not check the wreckers for your model car and get factory aluminum wheels instead?  For $50 per I got stock Taurus wheels (probably paid too much, could probably buy the whole damn car for $200) instead of black steel at $65 ea.  I can't stand winter wheels myself.  I'd have paid more just to not have to look at those...

Considering that Honda sells a handfull of Ridgelines every year I think the chances of finding one in a boneyard is next to nil. It ain't no Taurus.   I actually don't mind the look of steelies. A tire place claims to have OEM steelies for just over $100 a pop. Not too bad.

[AP]

I used the Blizzak DM-V1 on my F150 last winter.  Very good ice traction, as well as wet/dry traction.  Not quite as good in deep snow but still good.

[HeliDriver]

I put a set of LTX M/S2s on the Suburban this spring. They're just for three season use, but I wanted something with better than average winter capabilities for those shoulder-season snow storms.

With only a thousand or so kilometers on the new tires, we got caught in one of those storms driving home through Montana, and I was more than a little bit disappointed with the Michelins' winter performance. I'd call them mediocre, at best.

Of course, I've probably just been spoiled by the awesomeness of the Blizzak DM-V1s that we run in winter.

[ktm525]

I put a set of LTX M/S2s on the Suburban this spring. They're just for three season use, but I wanted something with better than average winter capabilities for those shoulder-season snow storms.

With only a thousand or so kilometers on the new tires, we got caught in one of those storms driving home through Montana, and I was more than a little bit disappointed with the Michelins' winter performance. I'd call them mediocre, at best.

Of course, I've probably just been spoiled by the awesomeness of the Blizzak DM-V1s that we run in winter.

Thanks for pushing me over the edge.

[HeliDriver]

Thanks for pushing me over the edge.

Better to push you over the edge now than to have to push you out of a snowbank later.