Snow tire season...booooo!

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EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Snow? It seems like I should know what that word means... but I don't.

Oh wait, is that the pretty white stuff I see on the tops of the mountains here between December and March?

Some of us get to see it year round though
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
We don't do snow tires. Not many snow storms and when they do happen we don't drive in them/try not too.

When we have to, all seasons do the trick.

Just can't justify show tires for 2-3% of snow driving.
 

ikachu

Senior member
Jan 19, 2011
274
2
81
Hehe I just moved up to the Northeast from Texas so this winter should be a pretty interesting...
 

Sidekicknichola

Senior member
Feb 7, 2012
425
0
0
When we have to, all seasons do the trick.

I will say that this IS350 (rwd) with snow tires outpreforms my last few cars, IS250 AWD and Audi A4 (also AWD)with all-season in the snow. I am shocked how much of a difference the tires makes over all-season.


Can't justify spending the money on tires for a rare event.
Using all-seasons 100% of the time = two sets (summer / winter ) 50% of the time.

.... you just replace tires twice as often as I would, after the initial investment of the of the first set of tires it evens out.
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
2
76
We don't do snow tires. Not many snow storms and when they do happen we don't drive in them/try not too.

When we have to, all seasons do the trick.

Just can't justify show tires for 2-3% of snow driving.

the softer compounds that are on snows provide much better traction even in the absence of snow

I dont use them on my truck though, I just need to bleed out about 4 PSI, I have on/off roads on all year


my wifes car will get snows put on soon though

car has 60K, got snows after the first winter, still on first set of snows and first set of summer tires

it will get new summer tires in spring though
 

Sidekicknichola

Senior member
Feb 7, 2012
425
0
0
it will get new summer tires in spring though
I always try and buy my winter tires in the spring, and summer in the fall.... then just let them sit, prices are so much better when they're coming out of season.
 

PhoKingGuy

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 2007
4,685
0
76
Snow? It seems like I should know what that word means... but I don't.

Oh wait, is that the pretty white stuff I see on the tops of the mountains here between December and March?

It was 60 degrees the other day, i had to take a hoodie out with me, bah humbug
 

FallenHero

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2006
5,659
0
0
It was 60 degrees the other day, i had to take a hoodie out with me, bah humbug

Thats still shorts and t-shirt weather!

Not looking forward to the winter in the charger, but then again I rarely drive during storms in my personal car.
 

JCH13

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2010
4,981
66
91
I have a jack and stands... do I need a torque wrench or can I just tighten em 'tight'?

A torque wrench is about the only practical way to ensure some level of consistency and minimum clamping force. You could get a cordless impact gun and a torque bar if you wanted something slightly faster.

I work on cars quite frequently and I use a light-duty cordless impact gun to snug lugs while the vehicle is in the air (it can only do 70ft-lbs), and then I use my 1/2in torque wrench when the vehicle is on the ground. Never had an issue with lugs, ever, when doing this. When I used to just use a breaker bar and make them 'tight' by feel, I usually have a few lugs loosen on every wheel after driving a relatively short distance.

It's one of those things where 'doing it right' costs a trivial amount of money and time ($50 craftsman torque wrench, 5 minutes) and the consequences of screwing it up (and missing that screw-up) are at best breaking a wheel stud, and at worst losing a wheel on the interstate and flipping/crashing your car.
 
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
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Get a jack, jack-stands, a breaker bar, and torque wrench and you'll be off to the races.

If you're doing winter wheels/tires, I would also suggest anti-seize.

What are you using jackstands for in changing wheels? I do this twice a year and have never even entertained using jackstands for this and can't see any benefit to using them. Also never had any need for a breaker bar. I just loosen all the lug nuts about 2 turns and drive the car back and forth about 3 feet a few times to make sure they're all free of the hubs. Never had a problem getting any wheels off. I do use anti-seize on the hubs, though.
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
2
76
What are you using jackstands for in changing wheels? I do this twice a year and have never even entertained using jackstands for this and can't see any benefit to using them. Also never had any need for a breaker bar. I just loosen all the lug nuts about 2 turns and drive the car back and forth about 3 feet a few times to make sure they're all free of the hubs. Never had a problem getting any wheels off. I do use anti-seize on the hubs, though.

what do you use to break the torque?

and you shouldnt ever have vehicle supported by just a jack.

and you do what again? drive with loose lugnuts?
 

JCH13

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2010
4,981
66
91
What are you using jackstands for in changing wheels? I do this twice a year and have never even entertained using jackstands for this and can't see any benefit to using them. Also never had any need for a breaker bar. I just loosen all the lug nuts about 2 turns and drive the car back and forth about 3 feet a few times to make sure they're all free of the hubs. Never had a problem getting any wheels off. I do use anti-seize on the hubs, though.

The benefit of using jack stands is that they won't drop your car. It's rare, but hydraulic jacks can, and do, fail. Or someone accidentally bumps and handle and releases pressure... or the jack isn't lined up quite right and it slips... you forgot to set the parking brake or leave the car in gear... shit happens, albeit rarely. I'll usually only use 1 or 2 at a time, FWIW. Again, one of those things where the cost ($20 on amazon + 2 minutes to grab the stands) is trivial compared to the consequences of something going bad: dropping the car and damaging brake rotors and suspension bits, or getting an arm/leg caught under the car.

I dislike driving a car any distance (even feet) without tight lug nuts. To break wheels loose I just give it a good kick with my heel on the tire and they pop right off. In very rare cases I'll put a 2x4 across the wheel and hit it with a 3-4lb hammer. I also use anti-seize on everything (studs and hubs) so my own vehicle's wheels just drop off, never ever had them seize on when I use anti-seize (go figure that one).

I use a breaker bar not because it's required, but because it makes life so freaking easy and they are relatively cheap. Sure, I can loosen a lug nut with a 1/2 driver, but with a breaker bar I simply don't need to try as hard to break things loose or tighten them up, it makes life really easy. Heck, my petite fiance can break lugs loose and set their torque with 2-3ft breakers and torque wrenches without much effort.
 
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
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Always always always slide a wheel under the car, in addition to the jackstands/jack

Even jackstands fail, or the car gets pushed, or who knows.. An earthquake. You just never know. Sliding the removed wheel under the car is easy and cheap insurance just in case something unfortunate happens.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,071
744
126
Always always always slide a wheel under the car, in addition to the jackstands/jack

Even jackstands fail, or the car gets pushed, or who knows.. An earthquake. You just never know. Sliding the removed wheel under the car is easy and cheap insurance just in case something unfortunate happens.
You can never be too careful. I use the jackstands, slide a wheel under and support the frame with a fork lift.
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
2
76
Always always always slide a wheel under the car, in addition to the jackstands/jack

Even jackstands fail, or the car gets pushed, or who knows.. An earthquake. You just never know. Sliding the removed wheel under the car is easy and cheap insurance just in case something unfortunate happens.

why stop there?

put in some steel I beams and chain the car to it

I do that on occasion, but half the time its in the way, so I just use jackstands alot
 
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
why stop there?

put in some steel I beams and chain the car to it

I do that on occasion, but half the time its in the way, so I just use jackstands alot


To me, you have to put the wheel somewhere, might as well slide it under the car until you're ready to put it back on.


No need to steel I beams and forklifts if you slide a wheel under the car. There's no way a car is going to crush a wheel laying on its side. It's easy and cheap fool-proof insurance against getting crushed.
 
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
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depends on what you are doing


This will really rile you up..

I made 'blocks' out of criss-crossed 2x4s. Basically cut a bunch of 10" long 2x4, layed them 3 wide, each layer rotated so it looks like a jenga stack. Screwed and glued them together with wood glue.

I ended up with 10"Lx10"Wx14" tall safety blocks. I slide one around next to me anytime I'm under the vehicle. They're also great for driving the front on ramps, then using a jack to place one under each rear wheel (I have little mini chocks on them so it can't roll off)
 

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,004
63
91
Hey guys quick question-

I am in the works of possibily buying a 2013 gene coupe 3.8...Going to put need new wheels and snowies pretty soon. I saw a decent deal on tire rack for an 18'' set of wheels + tires. They did not specify which wheels came with. Can I assume it is a set of 18'' OEM wheels that come stock on the normal gen coupe?

Also what is the best way for me to go about doing this. Order from tire rack? Dealer? None of the above?
 
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