Weekly Blog - November 16th

[fjimp]

Reading your blog, just have to ask, what are snow tires??:D

Ah yes Snow Tires. Folks who live in areas where snow fall can slow down life a bit, use special tires in the winter time that claim to have tread designs making traction on snow covered roads better. Do they work? I suppose that depends on driving ability and how much snow is involved. One of my fondest memories of snow was a storm in the Denver area that dropped over 24 inches of the white stuff overnight and another two feet during the next 24 hours. I was driving a four wheel drive International Scout with all terrain snow and mud tires. They helped but not near as much as chains on all four wheels. I confess to having a ball during that storm. It was Christmas time and the local police gave my phone number out to folks with emergencies requiring transportation. I drove nurses to work, a crippled woman and child to their family for the holidays. The manager of a local pizza place to a safe place to hole up during the storm and several other folks in need. I refused payment from all I helped. When spring came and I was mucking the scout out I discovered money stuffed under the seat. Some folks just can't take no for an answer. Those dollars went to charity. Yet the rush that came from realizing how much people appreciate help made it all rather special. Jim

[john]

Snow tires are now mandatory in our area from December 15 to March 15. Now that may be blasphemy(?) to some people but I must admit they work. I became a believer long before they passed the law last year.

Besides giving better traction in snow due to the deeper treads, the rubber compound is different in that all season tires loose their stopping traction below a certain temperature, due to hardness, while snow tires remain more flexible so they grip better on ice. Stopping distance on ice is supposedly up to 60% better. Also, after about two years, the treads on all seasons are worn beyond the point that they will offer any traction in snow.

Many people resent the extra expenditure, but forget that if you have snow tires on for half the year, then the all season tire will last almost twice as long.

The bigger problem is for "snow birds" who head south for part of the winter. First they have to install snow tires, then take them off for the trip south, and then put them back on again on their return. Of course those that can afford to "winter" down south don't have any problems. That ain't me.

Ah yes, chains. Many years ago, and I can remember that far back, they were the only option and who could argue with their effectiveness. However they are not as accessible today and because roads are cleaned so well, down to pavement most of the time, that they are usually banned except for certain conditions due to road damage. Besides who wants to spend the time and energy putting them on and taking them off as conditions change.

Ain't winter grand?!

Have fun

John

[robinson46176]

Ain't winter grand?!

One of our cats has this winter thing all figured out. [ATTACH]6613[/ATTACH]