Tires are Important...

[Boxer_4]

...as the driver of this Probe learned this morning.

He did have reasonably new Hankook Ventus V2s mounted, but only in the rear...

He did get unstuck eventually, but it wasn’t a pretty sight (or sound... that poor engine and ps pump...)

[HammerheadFistpunch]

I make it a point to make sure all my cars have tires

[Rider]

@hammerheadfistpunch I find that having tires really extends the life of my wheels. They're pricey up front but save a ton in the long run.

[Highlander]

@boxer_4 I never ceases to amaze me what people drive up to the ski resort. I'd say 1/2 the cars don't have snow tires, which isn't really needed if you have AWD or 4WD but the number of Honda Accords etc... with nearly bald tires is just alarming. That must be terrifying to drive on solid ice.

[Jarrett]

At least don't be a wussbag and get the real Ventus tires -- EVO2s.
Got them on my 3. Complete overkill lol.

[Boxer_4]

@highlander Good all-seasons can be competent in the snow in many situations as long as you respect their limits. Good all-seasons also have tread of some sort...

[MM54]

They claim that if you're desperate and/or dumb enough to only buy two new tires at a time that the better ones should be on the back, but that doesn't do much good when your FWD coupe is stuck in the snowbank. At least the parking brake (if it works) will hold.

(I think the logic there is that the average barely-driver won't freak out as much when they understeer off the road rather than oversteer, but it's hard for me to justify that over having the ability to steer and stop via front traction)

[e90m3]

@mm54 The logic is the fact that the tires with the least traction want to lead and if you have more grip on the front, the car will want to swap ends on you.

[pos_camaro]

@boxer_4 I used to have a Probe GT back in the day and it was actually very good in the snow. With snow tires. That last part was pretty important.

[HFV]

@boxer_4 i hate that tire shops insist that if you buy only 2 tires that you put them on the back. Usually they’ll make you sign a waver if you want them on the front.
The only reason it’s “safer” to put them on the rear is to avoid over steer. So you’ll plow through turns, and won’t be able to stop, or get going, but thank god you won’t have any of that dreaded, evil, and dangerous over steer.

[HFV]

@mm54 I’ve never under stood that. Under steer scares me way more than over steer. I guess the under steer problem is more likely to be a present at lower speeds, while the oversteer could snap on you while changing lanes at 60.

[MM54]

@hfv I figure that to the average person who can barely operate a vehicle under the ideal conditions, they feel "safer" plowing head-on into traffic than going backwards into a ditch.

[rctothefuture]

Black and red Probe, looks like my old one. Never dreamed of driving it in the snow... Poor girl

[CoolMinivan.......Nobody]

Despite what they say, this is why I always put the good/new tires on the front of a FWD vehicle.

I'm plenty capable of handling oversteer if it happens, not being able to turn/stop/start however is an issue.

That being said, this is why I always make sure I have good tires all around before winter. The Altimax RTs on the new van have proven worthy in all conditions being M/S rated all seasons. My Grabbers on the Rally van are downright unstoppable, but again, studdable M/S rated ATs.

[Future Next Gen S2000 Owner]

@hammerheadfistpunch Psht, look at mister fancy pants over here. Putting tires on.

[benn454]

@mm54 You get into bad enough ice or snowpack, and you're oversteering regardless of where your new tires are mounted.

[boredalways]

@boxer_4 the fact that the driver put new tires on the back wheels while driving a FWD car tells me everything I need to know

[SmugAardvark]

@boxer_4 I totally get where the owner is coming from. You never want to have too much friction on your Probe.