What a difference tires make.

[Biggee72]

I'm up to 24,092 miles on my 2013. I really thought this was the worst vehicle ever. There was no grip, handleing was terrible, braking sucked, wet traction was terrible. Now, in the snow it was down right scary to drive. I took it to tires plus today in the middle of a snow storm and got firestone destination LE2's. WOW. All of those gripes have been fixed. The Kumho tires that were on there were 6/32 but just terrible. Fixed a lot of issues. Trans still makes noise but that's another story altogether.

[Addicted to Dodge]

Good to know. Hope the Firestones work well for you.

[bramfrank]

Your vehicle must have been built on a Monday. My Kuhmos have about 40,000 km on them and work just fine in the snow - and we get quite a bit where I drive - and I ski every week-end, driving 100 miles north and back, often twice a week.

My jurisdiction requires that we switch to snow tires - I wait for the last possible day (December 16) because in my opinion snow tires compensate to a large degree for drivers who may not be as competent as they ought to be - My vehicles have often been called to pull 'well equipped' vehicles from situations - and this without snow tires.

I often recount the story about something that happened with my ex-sister-in-law at their country house, which was situated at the bottom of a hill;

Where the house is there are often foot-deep winter snowfalls - and one particular day my ex sister-in-law went to take my van (then a GM Montana) which had all-season tires and she got stuck halfway up the hill - she came in fuming that I was ruining her day and all because we hadn't put snow tires on the vehicle. My EX agreed and started chastising me too, so to restore the peace I went out, drove the van up the hill (take note!!), took it to a nearby tire shop and spent $1200 on a set of 4 snow tires, brought the van back and at the end of the day it wound up at the head of the line.

The next morning, she decided to go into town to get fresh bread from the local artisan bakery and . . . . she got stuck at the same spot and came in again berating me for not having snow tires . . . . and was very sheepish when I pointed out that I had put fresh winter-grade rubber on the vehicle the day before and that beyond this, that I had no problems driving the van up the hill after she came in - and in fact went out and did just that again for her.

Beyond that, if you are driving down the highway during a snow storm and decide to take stock of what style of vehicle is most likely to be sitting in the ditch, it seems to me to be AWD vehicles, most often SUvs.

My mantra these days is that "it isn't the tires, but most often the driver".

Having said that, if you live in the snow belt or plan to drive in snow, having proper snow tires is a reasonable concept - they DO make a bit of difference because their formulations are designed to stay flexible' at lower temperatures 'stick' better and to cut through snow. Since the Kuhmos are quite soft going in, I've found them to work quite well in uncleared snowfalls that wouldn't be considered fierce blizzard conditions..

[FROGBOX]

Our Journey has almost 40,000km on it and the original tires are almost done. No grip at all. Last winter, my wife got stuck 5 times trying to get home from work, and she is only 5km away. After that day, I was told to get better tires!!! I now have a set of snows for her . Put me in the camp that is not impressed with the Kumhos.

Edited December 11, 2013 by FROGBOX

[Ric04SiR]

Your vehicle must have been built on a Monday. My Kuhmos have about 40,000 km on them and work just fine in the snow - and we get quite a bit where I drive - and I ski every week-end, driving 100 miles north and back, often twice a week.

My jurisdiction requires that we switch to snow tires - I wait for the last possible day (December 16) because in my opinion snow tires compensate to a large degree for drivers who may not be as competent as they ought to be - My vehicles have often been called to pull 'well equipped' vehicles from situations - and this without snow tires.

I often recount the story about something that happened with my ex-sister-in-law at their country house, which was situated at the bottom of a hill;

Where the house is there are often foot-deep winter snowfalls - and one particular day my ex sister-in-law went to take my van (then a GM Montana) which had all-season tires and she got stuck halfway up the hill - she came in fuming that I was ruining her day and all because we hadn't put snow tires on the vehicle. My EX agreed and started chastising me too, so to restore the peace I went out, drove the van up the hill (take note!!), took it to a nearby tire shop and spent $1200 on a set of 4 snow tires, brought the van back and at the end of the day it wound up at the head of the line.

The next morning, she decided to go into town to get fresh bread from the local artisan bakery and . . . . she got stuck at the same spot and came in again berating me for not having snow tires . . . . and was very sheepish when I pointed out that I had put fresh winter-grade rubber on the vehicle the day before and that beyond this, that I had no problems driving the van up the hill after she came in - and in fact went out and did just that again for her.

Beyond that, if you are driving down the highway during a snow storm and decide to take stock of what style of vehicle is most likely to be sitting in the ditch, it seems to me to be AWD vehicles, most often SUvs.

My mantra these days is that "it isn't the tires, but most often the driver".

Having said that, if you live in the snow belt or plan to drive in snow, having proper snow tires is a reasonable concept - they DO make a bit of difference because their formulations are designed to stay flexible' at lower temperatures 'stick' better and to cut through snow. Since the Kuhmos are quite soft going in, I've found them to work quite well in uncleared snowfalls that wouldn't be considered fierce blizzard conditions..

Nice story... Now seriously, for those who think snow tires are a waste of money, most of the time this is these peoples that we see on the side of the road because they think they are better pilot then most of us. Yes it's true driving skill will help, but if you think that winter tire are for people who don't know how to drive then they should take your driver's license because you're a risk for the society. Winter tire will always be better for traction in winter and above all, you will never have better braking result with summer tire or even all-seasons. I would be ok if the government put the date for the winter tire at november 15 instead of december 15 here, that would be more wise. In winter I always say that I drive for the peoples who don't know how to drive or worst, think they are better driver than most of all, like the peoples who think winter tire are for the others. C'mon! if you think winter tires are a waste of money in Quebec or any other place with snow/ice, you should'nt be on the road, you're a risk for the security of others. Oh and I know what is winter, I was born in Bay James and i've lived until 21 in Abitibi and learn to drive in winter there. I've had sport cars, full size, pick-up truck, 4x4, I've drive semi truck, crane... Please get winter tires in winter! I don't care if you kill yourself because you think you don't need it and you are a better driver, but if you injure or kill someone else, like my kids, because of that, you deserve to go in prison!

[Biggee72]

Your vehicle must have been built on a Monday. My Kuhmos have about 40,000 km on them and work just fine in the snow - and we get quite a bit where I drive - and I ski every week-end, driving 100 miles north and back, often twice a week.

My jurisdiction requires that we switch to snow tires - I wait for the last possible day (December 16) because in my opinion snow tires compensate to a large degree for drivers who may not be as competent as they ought to be - My vehicles have often been called to pull 'well equipped' vehicles from situations - and this without snow tires.

I often recount the story about something that happened with my ex-sister-in-law at their country house, which was situated at the bottom of a hill;

Where the house is there are often foot-deep winter snowfalls - and one particular day my ex sister-in-law went to take my van (then a GM Montana) which had all-season tires and she got stuck halfway up the hill - she came in fuming that I was ruining her day and all because we hadn't put snow tires on the vehicle. My EX agreed and started chastising me too, so to restore the peace I went out, drove the van up the hill (take note!!), took it to a nearby tire shop and spent $1200 on a set of 4 snow tires, brought the van back and at the end of the day it wound up at the head of the line.

The next morning, she decided to go into town to get fresh bread from the local artisan bakery and . . . . she got stuck at the same spot and came in again berating me for not having snow tires . . . . and was very sheepish when I pointed out that I had put fresh winter-grade rubber on the vehicle the day before and that beyond this, that I had no problems driving the van up the hill after she came in - and in fact went out and did just that again for her.

Beyond that, if you are driving down the highway during a snow storm and decide to take stock of what style of vehicle is most likely to be sitting in the ditch, it seems to me to be AWD vehicles, most often SUvs.

My mantra these days is that "it isn't the tires, but most often the driver".

Having said that, if you live in the snow belt or plan to drive in snow, having proper snow tires is a reasonable concept - they DO make a bit of difference because their formulations are designed to stay flexible' at lower temperatures 'stick' better and to cut through snow. Since the Kuhmos are quite soft going in, I've found them to work quite well in uncleared snowfalls that wouldn't be considered fierce blizzard conditions..

Yeah, no. Snow tires aren't an option as it's a company vehicle and they won't pay for it. I drive 70k miles a year. I guess that's like 400,000KM or however you'd like to do the math. The tires were garbage. I know how to drive.

[Hawaii]

Your vehicle must have been built on a Monday. My Kuhmos have about 40,000 km on them and work just fine in the snow - and we get quite a bit where I drive - and I ski every week-end, driving 100 miles north and back, often twice a week.

My jurisdiction requires that we switch to snow tires - I wait for the last possible day (December 16) because in my opinion snow tires compensate to a large degree for drivers who may not be as competent as they ought to be - My vehicles have often been called to pull 'well equipped' vehicles from situations - and this without snow tires.

I often recount the story about something that happened with my ex-sister-in-law at their country house, which was situated at the bottom of a hill;

Where the house is there are often foot-deep winter snowfalls - and one particular day my ex sister-in-law went to take my van (then a GM Montana) which had all-season tires and she got stuck halfway up the hill - she came in fuming that I was ruining her day and all because we hadn't put snow tires on the vehicle. My EX agreed and started chastising me too, so to restore the peace I went out, drove the van up the hill (take note!!), took it to a nearby tire shop and spent $1200 on a set of 4 snow tires, brought the van back and at the end of the day it wound up at the head of the line.

The next morning, she decided to go into town to get fresh bread from the local artisan bakery and . . . . she got stuck at the same spot and came in again berating me for not having snow tires . . . . and was very sheepish when I pointed out that I had put fresh winter-grade rubber on the vehicle the day before and that beyond this, that I had no problems driving the van up the hill after she came in - and in fact went out and did just that again for her.

Beyond that, if you are driving down the highway during a snow storm and decide to take stock of what style of vehicle is most likely to be sitting in the ditch, it seems to me to be AWD vehicles, most often SUvs.

My mantra these days is that "it isn't the tires, but most often the driver".

Having said that, if you live in the snow belt or plan to drive in snow, having proper snow tires is a reasonable concept - they DO make a bit of difference because their formulations are designed to stay flexible' at lower temperatures 'stick' better and to cut through snow. Since the Kuhmos are quite soft going in, I've found them to work quite well in uncleared snowfalls that wouldn't be considered fierce blizzard conditions..

And bless the lord you finally dont have to deal with these crazy women anymore.

[Lacomme]

Difference is huge - proof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j32vXbe-JBk

We don't use all-season tires much here, all-season tire is just average - can't be better than summer tire at warmer months and doesn't give you better grip at winter, not necessarily at snow or icy roads, but even when the lower temperatures are outside. If I remember it correctly, winter tire provide better grip under 7°C (44,6°F)

[bramfrank]

We rarely actually drive on snow up here, but rather paving, covered by lots of salt & grit until they scrape the roads clear - and note that the Kuhmo is an all-season tire, rather than a 'summer' tire.

On the other hand, while the snow is falling, and before they clear it away (which is a 12 hour period, once per storm) the big, blocky treads of a snow tire can help drag you through drifts and such.

And those who are comparing their worn out all-seasons with brand new snows will certainly notice a huge difference. I suspect they'd also notice a huge a difference with a fresh set of All Seasons.

Of course, the key is to drive for the conditions, no matter what tires you have installed - the tires are part of the equation.

The reason I recounted my story was to make it clear that the driver is probably the largest factor in snow season driving - I've been in the Yukon in February on all season on a rented car and I've been in Florida with snows (they don't last long down there, for certain) - I've logged huge miles driving the route from Sault St. Marie to Thunder Bay (at all times of the year, summer & winter), I've had the good fortune of driving in Atlanta and in London England during and after snow falls (noting that in Atlanta the real problem was sheer ice which resulted from the melting snow and snow tires don't help much with that - it doesn't help that Atlanta roads tend to be hilly) and I've driven through the mountains in Pennsylvania during snow storms. Snows help. But the driver is the real factor.

Edited February 15, 2014 by bramfrank

[username]

I got my Journey, new, in late Dec 2012. Drove it for a bit with the stock Kumhos, including a highway run in a snowstorm. They were drivable but not great in snow. Went with a set of Goodyear Ultragrip Winters, which are pretty good in deep snow but not much of an improvement on ice. I'd describe the Kumhos as average / typical all seasons, definitely will look for something better when they need replacement.

[cskmom]

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