delirium

I want to take my C350 to the snow, but my tead is down to where the tread is even with the wear bar on the rear tires, is it ok for me to go up there? There should be minimal snow... maybe slushy...

Kar don

dont do it, looks like in your pic you have big rims and summer tires.... that is just begging to slide off the road.

delirium

ok, maybe i should put my factory wheels on...
Can I put chains on my factory wheel/tires?

DavidM

You can put chains on factory wheels, but there might be a problem when you enter parts of road with no snow. It will probly ruin the chains and I am not sure if its even legal to drive with chains on asphalt (or how you call plain road )

Coming from country with lots of snow, I was wondering, why cant you just put winter tires on factory wheels and switch them when needed? We are even forced to do it during winter by law and driving is way better, I understand, that it is different in California, but I cant even imagine to drive on summer tires in snow.

Krytech

I would suggest certainly putting your stock wheels and tires back on. If they are the Michelin all-season tires you should be just fine in light snow/slush unless it's really hilly. I put Blizzak tires on in the winter, but I'm usually slow to get them on come winter so I do drive a bit on the OE Michelin tires and don't have too much trouble getting going or turning, but the Blizzak's are night and day difference.

delirium

So the problem in Southern Ca is that you have to drive at least 1 hr to get to the snow. Sometimes even 3-4 hours to see the snow. Is it OK to drive on the freeway with snow tires on if there is no snow on the ground? Reason is because when you hit the mountains, there will be snow, but I cant bring an extra set of wheels to change when i get up there...

the problem living in So. Cal. is: snowboarding in the morning & going to the beach in the evening... .what tires do you put on!!!???

Krytech

Must be rough!

Re: snow tires, I can only speak generally, but typically if you drive with them with temperatures above 45-50, they start to wear fast due to the soft/sticky compounds used in the tires. If you do drive in moderate temps like that, just drive easy and try not put too much stress on the tires which will cause them to wear faster, ie. hard excelleration and cornering.

AsianML

"Fast" is relative. It's not like it's going to wear down to the wear bars in a day (I know that's not what you're implying).

AsianML

If you're going up to the mountains just put the OE wheels on w/ winter tires and don't worry about driving with them once you leave the mountains. They're just tires, you don't have to treat them any more special than summer or all-season tires.

Change your driving style too, once you hit colder temperatures and snow. Slow down and take it easy.

Derspeed

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/lisptichgr.html

Krytech

Have you ever used this? Sounds interesting if it actually works good. Might get a can and toss it in the trunk during winter. One road I drive on often on my way home from work is up a slight hill, but it is often coated in ice and a couple times this winter when traffic was heavy I was loosing speed/traction going up the hill... just glad I didn't actually have to stop, not sure I would of been able to get going again.

Derspeed

I haven't used it, but I have heard it works. I wouldn't space the bands too far apart though. I almost used it on my Volvo this winter.