Here's the deal. My dad and I live at the very top of a steep hill in CT where we get a decent amount of snow. Personally, I don't have much problem getting up the hill in the tC with only a little snow on the ground, but my dad in his benz c240 can't get up it if his life depended on it. Heres the question.

Talking about winter/snow tires. I don't have the $ to invest in 4 snow tires as I am about to buy 4 all-seasons shortly and my dad is selling his benz next year, so its not worth investing in 4 new snow tires just for this upcoming winter. So is it possible for him to just put 2 snow tires on his rear wheels and leave the all-seasons on the front, or would he need to do both for it to help? The same thing that applys to my tC, is it possible to do 2 snow tires on the front wheels and leave the all-seasons on the rear? Would this help, be neutral, or hurt my traction in the snow?

Any information would be helpful, thanks guys!

 

I don't think it's a good idea to put two different tires on one car...let alone different "performance" tires....

 

so then it would have to be all 4. But now is it really worth doing 4 summer or all-season tires and then another 4 winter tires? That is $1000!!

 

I'm gonna put all season
Why worry about changing them avery so many months
no way

 

From your pix, it looks like those are Maryland plates. I believe the winter weather isn't so bad down there. But I live in CT where we get 6-12 inches of snow in 1 storm potentially several times a season. This is supposed to be a bad winter and I still have to get to work!

It isn't convenient, but the tire place around the corner from me does switch over to the winter tires and back free of charge if I buy them there. I dunno....

 

We have pretty bad storms here too. I personally wouldn't get 2 sets of tires. Disregarding the price inconvenience I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of changing them every 6 months (time wise hassle) but hey u gotta do what u gotta do If you feel safer with winter tires go ahead

 

Yes, it'll be fine to use just two winter tires for traction, implemented as you're described for each vehicle. No issues at all with that, and it'll meet your stated requirements.

Have a nice winter! :D

 

On a rear-drive vehicle, snow tires on the rear only with all seasons up front is OK.

On a front-drive vehicle, NEVER have more grippy tires of any sort on the front! That is a very quick way to get into deep trouble as the rear will lose grip first, and try to come around.

On front-drive vehicles the only safe way to do it is same type tire all 'round, with the most worn on the front.

Here, read this excellent article:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...urrentpage=136

Tomas

 

Thanks guys, that was helpful

 

bringing this thread back from the dead:

how did that go for you?

i have been very impressed with the performance of my snow tires.

 

interesting you ask. since this post, I have sold the tC and now am running an 08 subaru spec B.

I am running all-season tires with the super nice awd, but am still considering the winter tires because a/s can't get the car stopped. I think at some point I will be buying a set of winter tires because I have such high performance all-seasons (pirelli pzero nero m&s), that they are just a disaster in the snow. If I had the tC still, i'd be running snows.

 

I ended up putting snows on my winter beater.. probably should have gotten them for the TC because I hate the beater now, driving in CT is sweet with snows though.. just blowing by people

 

I must agree with Thomas on this one.