The Tow Files: Turkeys, Turkeys EVERYWHERE!

[registerrodeo]

So I should give you a 2 hr heads up on the weather? Snow/ice again tonight

[Amina516]

I'm having a hard time believing that there's one person at the table today, somewhere in this nation, looking bitter and depressed, unable to enjoy their mashed potatoes no matter how much gravy they ladle on because their whole sense of self was shattered to bits last Tuesday, when they illegally parked in a fire lane and were made to pay a fine.

This made my life today. The images are gold. Thanks.

[Hemily]

I've been somewhat curious, are there any states in the US that actually allow winter tires? cause it seems that most Americans just has one set of wheels for their car they use all year.

Here in Norway, we have a different set for winter, that is required by law, if you crash using your summer tires in winter, you are blamed for all of it, for having incorrect equipment.
Though recently, more and more of the studless winter tires have become popular, i imagine those could work in the US too, as i can see the reason winter tires not being the norm in the US is the studded ones not being legal perhaps?

[eltf177]

IIRC some US states can declare a snow emergency where if you don't have either snow tires or chains you can't get onto the roads, if caught you can be fined and more than likely towed...

[RealUnimportant]

I've been somewhat curious, are there any states in the US that actually allow winter tires? cause it seems that most Americans just has one set of wheels for their car they use all year.

Here in Norway, we have a different set for winter, that is required by law, if you crash using your summer tires in winter, you are blamed for all of it, for having incorrect equipment.
Though recently, more and more of the studless winter tires have become popular, i imagine those could work in the US too, as i can see the reason winter tires not being the norm in the US is the studded ones not being legal perhaps?

I believe more northern states & Canada has rules about such things, but (like us in the UK) places where a major freeze is less likely there aren't requirements to use winter tyres.

It's actually illegal to use studded tyres on UK roads, even in the wilds of Scotland where snow is almost guaranteed.

[Argabarga]

"All Season" tires kinda displaced the traditional winter/summer tire rotation, plus, more people drive trucks and SUVs these days, with traditionally "meatier" tires. Most are decent enough that you'll be fine if you keep a reasonable speed, but, the number one reason people wreck in wintry weather is driving too fast for conditions, or rather, just failing to even be aware conditions have changed for the worse until they go flying into a ditch.

You can be cited for simply "Driving too fast for conditions" (i.e. unsafe speed) if you wreck in winter, but, most cops reckon (yuck yuck) that smashing up your car is punishment enough and generally don't unless you're pretty flagrantly driving recklessly, injure someone, cause an accident that involves another person or are just being a general nuisance. They can also cite you for "unsafe equipment" if yourtires are noticeably worn out and tread bare, at any time of year, but are more likely to issue a ticket for driving on bald bowling-balled tires in the winter when it's more obvious.

The "Snow emergency" rule is in effect here too, if the cops declare it, you can't be on the road without snow tires or chains or you risk a fine, a backdoor way to basically close it for everyone except emergency vehicles since virtually no one these days who drives anything 3/4 of a ton or less in weight HAS tire chains or probably even KNOWS what they are, or has dedicated snow tires on their vehicle. It doesn't stop people from trying, but it at least gives the cops the ability to write you some hefty fines if you venture out in it unprepared and aren't up to the task.

We used to have snow chains for the trucks, but, they're such a pain to put on and take off and tend to do some nasty damage to the truck if they unhook and fly off that we just said heck with it. These days, the 4x4 truck goes out if it's bad enough, and if IT can't make it, well, the customer will have to wait for a plow.

[Shyla]

I remember from my childhood having seperate summer and winter tires. We had to store the extra set of tires in our garage. When it was time for changing them, we had to load the extras in the back of the station wagon and go to the service station. I am personally glad for all weather tires. I am willing to stay home when the weather is really bad. I have no idea where I would store extra tires and I certainly couldn't lift one.

Chains are actually more of a problem. You are more likely to be ticketed for driving in chains unless the snow is bad at that moment. The chains dig up the road and we don't want worse roads than we already have in PA.

[Sapphire Silk]

I've been somewhat curious, are there any states in the US that actually allow winter tires? cause it seems that most Americans just has one set of wheels for their car they use all year.

Here in Norway, we have a different set for winter, that is required by law, if you crash using your summer tires in winter, you are blamed for all of it, for having incorrect equipment.
Though recently, more and more of the studless winter tires have become popular, i imagine those could work in the US too, as i can see the reason winter tires not being the norm in the US is the studded ones not being legal perhaps?

Most places in the US cars have All Season tires, which are enough for snow and ice in most places since the snow doesn't last very long. Even when I lived in North Dakota, all I used were all season tires.

However, in the Rockies if it snows winter tires or chains are mandatory. If you don't have chains, the Highway Patrol will stop you and put chains on your car . . . and charge you for them.

When I lived in North Dakota a winter emergency kit was mandatory in the car: a blanket, sterno, lighter, water, flash light, kitty litter, snow shovel, and non-perishable food (Snickers bars were recommended). If you got pulled over, they could ask to see your kit and if you didn't have it, or it was incomplete you got a ticket.

Points for speeding were far higher in the country than in the cities. Most states, speeding is 2 points on your license. In ND, in the country, it's 7 points. The reason is very simple: if you slide off the road in winter into a slough, they will not find you until Spring. So they actively discourage speeding outside the cities with this policy.

People still do it though.

[Gilhelmi]

I have seen weather conditions where driving 20 mph was not safe.

When I worked in a nursing home, 30 miles away, I was told that the maintenance guy had a spare bedroom if the whether was going to get bad. We still had to be there because, I was not going to let those sweet people starve to death. So I actually really liked their forethought.

[Gilhelmi]

Points for speeding were far higher in the country than in the cities. Most states, speeding is 2 points on your license. In ND, in the country, it's 7 points. The reason is very simple: if you slide off the road in winter into a slough, they will not find you until Spring. So they actively discourage speeding outside the cities with this policy.

People still do it though.

Oh my.

I have heard the stories of an elderly couple who went into a snow bank and was not found for 4 days (or a week, it was a long time ago). They were alive but just barely, and they were very lucky someone noticed the radio antenna sticking out of the snow. It is not possible to open a door blocked by snow. If it is still snowing, you can be buried quickly.

I can not imagine the madness of someone risking not being found till spring. I AM "PANTS ON HEAD CRAZY" (just for fun though), and I am calling these people insane.

[wolfie]

All-season tires started out as being suitable for both winter and summer, but as the years went by they were optimized more and more for dry pavement in warm weather, so now "all-season" tires are basically what summer tires were years ago.

There are now "all-weather" tires, which are what all-season started out as (suitable for use in both winter and summer). If you regularly need to deal with deep snow, you still need separate snow tires. For most people, though, a single set of all-weather tires is good enough.

Many tires have "M+S" on the sidewall. Theoretically, that means "mud and snow". Realistically, however, the standards have been watered down far enough that anything except slicks is eligible to carry this rating. There's a fairly new symbol (shows a mountain and snowflake) that's copyrighted by a tire industry group, and there are standards (not watered down) that a tire needs to meet before it's allowed to have this symbol.

In some jurisdictions (Quebec, interior of B.C., etc), tires must have the "mountain and snowflake" symbol to be legal in winter without chains.

[NecessaryCatharsis]

I have seen weather conditions where driving 20 mph was not safe.

Me too. I just can't imagine wanting to be a passenger in someone else's car in that same weather.

Around here everyone I know has different winter/summer tires, although I'm pretty sure it's not a law. I just can't imagine trying to drive through the months of winter with all seasons. It would make more sense where real winter conditions only hit a few days a year.

[Slave to the Phone]

I'm in central AZ. People can't remember how to drive in the rain, and when it snows OMG!!!

I'm all good with my little front wheel drive car and all weather tires, but that's because I know to slow down when the roads are iced or covered with water. I will confess to a lot of schadenfreude when I see those big assed 4X4's go screaming by me and then up in the ditches.

[Jester]

I will never, ever have snow tires or chains, because I will never, ever, EVER live in a place where such things are even vaguely necessary. Currently in the Florida Keys, with my next planned address in the Phoenix metro area. I don't do cold. And thank you to all for reminding me of several reasons why.

That being said, if I did live in such an area, even my dumb ass would know enough to have the appropriate equipment for seasonal driving conditions. And I would also be smart enough to know not to exceed my vehicle's limits. And I know this last part from my experience on the Mexican beach. Because when we used to go down there, in my friend's little Toyota Corolla, we'd be sliding along down the unpaved, sandy road to the beach, right at the limits of the little car's front wheel drive ability, and we'd pass Jeeps and 4X4's that got stuck for trying to exceed those vehicles' abilities by their dumbass owners try to show off or do dumb shit.

Yes, I know sand is not the same as snow, but dumb is dumb no matter where you are.

[Jetfire]

Lately, Canadian Tire (wanting to sell tires of course) have been educating about "All-Season" tires only being good for 3 seasons; from 7C ("If you can see your breath...") and below you should have Winter tires.

In Eastern Canada, Quebec mandates cars having winter tires in addition to whatever they want for summer tires. They're the only province that mandates that as far as I know; but many other places you'd be stupid not to have two sets.