Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <I6GdnVO1GfWuvoLVnZ2dnUVZ_gSdnZ2d@comcast.com>,
> "Robert11" <rgsros@notme.com> wrote:
>
>> He has always been complaining about how poorly it climbs most any kind of
>> hill when there is snow on it, even a little.
>> Compares it to his last car, which was a Mercury Sable sedan, and just great
>> in this regard.
>> Uses low(er) gears, but this doesn't seem to help much.
>>
>> Questions:
>>
>> a. Is this inability a function of the car design, or most likely just the
>> original tires that came with the car ?
>>
>> b. If, this winter, he puts on snow tires, or something better than the
>> "all-weather" compromise that is now on, and that they love to sell for
>> every possible condition, can he get away with just the two front tires ?
>>
>> Or, would this cause fish-tailing or other control type problems ?
>>
>> c. Any winter tire recommendations ?
>
> It's the tires.
>
> You put snows on ALL FOUR CORNERS. It doesn't do you a bit of good to
> do just two.

Incorrect. Putting two snow tires on just the front will greatly improve
traction going uphill. So it does do more than a bit of good to put snow
tires on just the front two wheels (or even just the back two wheels).
But, as you point out in another post, the car will have some control
issues when one tries to stop with snow tires on the front two wheels,
especially going downhill.

So, the best thing is to put snow tires on all four wheels.

Jeff

> The absolute best tires for average people are the Nokian WR.
> All-season, quite in the summer, plenty of traction, but absolute demon
> traction in the winter. Amazing things. Designed for winter use, but
> also as all-seasons.
>
> The only step up from Nokian WR would be dedicated snow/winter tires
> that you swap out during the summer.
>
> Nokian WR takes all that pain away of having extra wheels/tires around
> and where to store them, swapping them out twice a year, etc.
>