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From: mp@u1100a.UUCP (Mike A Pilla)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: How many snow tires DOES a front-wheel drive car need?
Message-ID: <741@u1100a.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Oct-84 15:13:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: u1100a.741
Posted: Tue Oct 16 15:13:38 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Oct-84 06:11:53 EDT
References: <869@abnjh.UUCP>, <1316@ritcv.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ
Lines: 25

I have had front wheel drive cars for several years (~15) with two SAABS, a
HONDA CIVIC, and a TOYOTA TERCEL wagon.
At first, I used snow tires on all four wheels but this became expensive.
A good friend and tire dealer explained that it was more important to have
all four tires of the same construction (e.g. radial, bias-ply, ...) than
to have all four snows.  I have tried this for many snowy seasons without
any problems.

Curiously, he also explained that most front wheel drive cars that appear
squirrly in the snow benefit more from a change in tire pressure than in
putting snows all around.  Apparently, the various manufacturers have
specified low tire pressures to provide a "comfortable" ride.  The rather
flexible sidewalls subsequently cause poor road feel which leads to
overcompensating and even possibly fish-tailing (attributable more to
driver technique than FWD ...).  An increase in tire pressure does not
decrease traction noticeably but substantially increases directional
stability in the white stuff.  For my wife's CIVIC, the normal pressure
(I think) was around 24 lbs and we increased it to the range of from
30 to 35 lbs with about 32 lbs feeling quite nice.
-- 

			Michael Pilla
			Bell Communications Research
			201-981-7290
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