Still can't stand up to an AWD car with winter tires. My 2004 Passat AWD was unstoppable with its WS-60 Blizzaks, performing even better than my current Blizzak-equipped 4x4 because of the narrower tires.
My Mustang (a '19 GT with 460 HP) rides on Michelin Pilot Alpins in the winter as opposed to Blizzaks, because I don't drive it when the snow is flying (see 4x4 above) and I prefer a more performance oriented tire for the nice cold days.
Correct. But what I was trying to get across to the person in question - the two most important parts of driving in the snow - turning and braking - AWD does not help you with that. Just gives a false sense of security as you are able to get up to an unsafe speed more easily. And yes, back before marriage and children, I bought a brand-new AWD Fusion in 2006 and put 4 Hakkapeliitta's on it for my commute from outside Springfield to Greenfield, MA, then West Springfield MA, Hartford CT, and later, Torrington CT. I passed plow trucks on route 4 because the unpacked snow gave me more traction than the slush their overworn blades were leaving behind. They probably thought I was nuts for doing 70 on a snow-covered highway, but I could have gone a lot faster without issue.
I love Mustangs. I know they aren't the fastest (dodge can have that) or the best handling (hello camaro) but they have the best combination of speed, handling, and comfort out of the "muscle" cars. I've had an '89 with four angry cylinders, and still kick myself for listening to idiot friends beating the crap out of it like I did. Mint condition automatic with not a single spec of rust. Got a 2004 GT Convertible 40th anniversary edition in 2006 with 33k for cheap money at the time (17,000 IIRC). That car I didn't baby, but I did enjoy the gears.
Way off topic, but I just got my first AWD car. It came with “all season” tires which I assume are just regular street tires.
How well should it hold up in the snow?
All-seasons can do fine in the snow above 50-60% tread wear, PROVIDED they have the little snow symbol. They will not provide adequate traction on ice, but even dedicated snow tires struggle there. For ice, you need studs. Once you are past that 50-60% wear, the tread pattern that used to bite into the snow and provide traction starts falling off. If the cost is manageable for you, I recommend always getting the smallest (height and width) steel wheels you can mount on your car, with the tallest and most narrow snow tires, which still being close to the total height of your original tires, so your spare is still usable. Your dry handling and road feel will take a hit, but you will have much more tire between the road and your wheel, so any potholes you hit will be less likely to damage the wheel, and when damage does occur, will be cheap to fix because of the steel wheels. The long term cost is just the steel wheels, as you are spreading mileage across 2 sets of tires, and the snow tires, because of the smaller size should cost the same as the all-seasons, if not a bit less. The tricky part is deciding when to mount the snow tires, and when to dismount them. Once the temps get to 50 degrees, snow tires start wearing very quickly because of their soft tread compounds. It is New England, we can have a snow storm, a 70 degree day, followed by a blizzard. Or get 3 feet of snow dumped on us for Halloween. I've had snow tires last me 30,000 miles over 3 years of having them mounted for about 3.5 months - Late November to beginning of March. Most people get 5 to 7 years out of a set of snow tires. I got less because of very lengthy commutes. I replace snow tires based on
Regardless of the option you take, first snow storm, set aside a half an hour and find your closest unplowed large parking lot, and get a feel for how the car behaves on snow. Get up to a speed, and do some progressive pressure stops. Do them while turning. Intentionally lose control, and regain it.
![[rofl]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/013.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
