Hi

Can anyone tell me if it is Okay to just get two winter tire for the front wheel? The rear will be using the 17" run-flat. I live in Boston, but will got to Canada in a month or so.

Thanks for the help.

 

I believe most snow tire manufactureres recommend a full set of 4 snow tires, not because they want to get more of your money, but because your car will be more stable [tractionwise] in inclement weather.

 

+1

Although many folks can get away with just two snows on a rear-wheel-drive car, it's not recommended on FWD. Bad things happen when the back of the car doesn't slow down as much as the front.

 

It's OK if you don't mind traveling backward once in a while.

Seriously, I did that once upon a time, and while driving up a very mild slope on the freeway, suddenly found my front wheel drive car doing a 180 while sliding into the ditch because the front wheels had lost traction and slowed down, while the rear still had momentum.

Not a great idea...

 

A couple of problems with doing that.

1, Your car may move with snows on the front, but you use all 4 wheels to stop.

2. When you turn your front end will stick while the back end will want to slide out.

3. Your abs brakes will be kicking all the time.

Buy 4 & you will be safe.

 

Thanks guys.

Any suggestion for a decent set of rims and tires? I am on a tight budget thou. Approximately how much will I need to spend on a set of winter tires?

 

Check TireRack.com - their tire and wheel winter packages are a good buy.

 

I guess the first place to start looking would be Tire Rack.

 

I was on a budget when I got my snows last winter (in Boston...) I bought four tires, had my summer tires taken off of my wheels and the snows put on. I saved money in the winter by not getting wheels (in the long run I paid a bit more to have my summer tires taken, off, snows put on and the reverse in the spring, but it was worth it) This year I got a second set of wheels which means I can just put the snows on and off myself.

 

I'm planning on doing this very thing. I'm looking for 16" Studded Snow Tires for now and then before next Winter I'll be purchasing a set of 16" Rims to go with the Tires. Any ideas on a Good Brand of 16" Studded Snow Tires??

 

The best kind of snows do not have any studs, as studs give worse traction on anything but ice, are horribly noisy, and come apart at speeds over 60.

Unless you are going ice-racing on a frozen lake, or live in ski country, studded tires are a loser.