Learn Me: Snake oils for winter driving

We got a few inches of snow yesterday (not the dumping I was hoping for) and my new general altimax artic's did great.

However, I was trying to move my GFs corolla so I could shovel the first portion of the driveway and on <1 year old all-seasons it was slipping a lot on not much snow. I figure 205s all seasons on a 2600 lb car would do that. She drives her car minimally in the snow. Of course winter tires would be ideal, but with her minimal driving in snow I can't justify the cost (especially with how expensive the TPMS is)

There was a spammer on another message board I frequent about snow socks, so I got curious and dug around for other "alternatives" available.

I found this http://www.amazon.com/Tyre-Grip-Spray-enhance-tire-traction/dp/B00308ZIOM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

which seems to have a few positive reviews and I was wondering if you guys had any experience with anything like this? It'd be mainly used so I don't have to push the car up the driveway and in emergencies if she was stuck in unforeseen inclement weather.

Thoughts? Should I just get some sand/dirt?

Edit: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2T59IN8266ZSO/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B000K3KCVO&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag= Review seems to be from a person who knows what he's talking about. I think I'll give it a shot and see how well it works.

I can't speak to the spray, but I always keep a bag of cat litter in the trunk for low traction situations like being stuck in a parking spot. It has always worked for me.

Auto express did a test and said it provided minimal improvement (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/61241/summer-tyres-grip-spray-winter-anti-slip-tyres), Consumer Reports said it did nothing.

I recommend either chains or snow socks. Advanced Auto Parts has a sale ending tonight if you hurry

Also, try increasing the tire pressures to the max sidewall pressure.

Snow tires are the answer, buy used on Craigslist to save money, but there is no substitute.

My .02c

Momentum. Once you find it, keep it. Good Luck.

It took me fifteen minutes to get out of my driveway yesterday. It has a gradual slope to it. I have new no season tires on my ranger and 240lb's of sand in the back. I added about another hundred and fifty pounds of firewood and threw a bunch of softner salt in the tracks of the driveway and managed to get out.

Needless to say, snow tires will be in my future. I'm excited to see the difference between the 225/70-15 Falken Sincera and the 205/75-15 firestone winterforce's that will be going on it.

aussiesmg wrote: Snow tires are the answer, buy used on Craigslist to save money, but there is no substitute. My .02c

QFT.

I just bought an '07 Grand Cherokee 4x4... To replace my '01 GC, which replaced my '00 box Cherokee... All of the above are/were on all-season tires.

My '92 Miata with true snow-tires was a better vehicle than the Jeeps when the snow hits. Berkeley all-wheel drive and traction-control. Buy some Blizzaks or Dunlop Graspic's, and just drive.

grafmiata wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: Snow tires are the answer, buy used on Craigslist to save money, but there is no substitute. My .02c

QFT. I just bought an '07 Grand Cherokee 4x4... To replace my '01 GC, which replaced my '00 box Cherokee... All of the above are/were on all-season tires. My '92 Miata with true snow-tires was a better vehicle than the Jeeps when the snow hits. Berkeley all-wheel drive and traction-control. Buy some Blizzaks or Dunlop Graspic's, and just drive. Watch out for all the people who insist they don't need snows.

Updated

Winterforces aren't amazing, but they are certainly better than no-seasons.

I have Hankook Winter i-Pikes and I think they are the best winter tire bang for the buck. The tread pattern is leased to Hankook from Nokian...

aussiesmg wrote: Snow tires are the answer, buy used on Craigslist to save money, but there is no substitute. My .02c

Yup - I bought a set of 4 - 205/55R16 Firestone Winterforce on rims for $90 this summer of Kijiji. Fit perfect on the WRX!

Going from all seasons to General Altimax Arctics on my Volvo changed it from sliding around in the rain to unstoppable in the snow. There really is no alternative to snow tires.

Consumer Reports tested it, and got a small increase in traction, for about a mile. It seems it does work, but isn't amazing.

While I agree with others that snow tires are the best in snow, not all all-season tires are created equal. Some are downright lousy in the stuff. If it's time for replacement tires, shop them with an eye for snow traction perhaps?

agreed. I used to choose all seasons based on winter performance alone, seemed like a good way to get half decent tires for snow. They never come close to driving on Blizzaks, though. Not even close. I've never tried other snow tires myself, so I can't say which is best there.

I scored a set of Pilot Sport Alpins with some seasons on em, for 160 bucks. It can be done. Wheels included!

I was hoping you guys would catch on that I do know the benefits of winter tires as I was hooning my altimax artic's.

I wanted to learn more about that product as my so's car stays parked in snow and generally only gets moved so I can shovel or if my car somehow gets trapped in front of it and it always ends up with me having to push it while she drives to change it's position.

She stays put when its snowy outside, is not essential personnel, and our roads are maybe snow covered for 4-8 hours per storm.

foxtrapper wrote: Consumer Reports tested it, and got a small increase in traction, for about a mile. It seems it does work, but isn't amazing. While I agree with others that snow tires are the best in snow, not all all-season tires are created equal. Some are downright lousy in the stuff. If it's time for replacement tires, shop them with an eye for snow traction perhaps?

Her tires are very new <1 year < 10k miles. I recall I was excited she got new tires that were rated decently per tire rack's survey in the snow. But this year I had to help push the car up so I can shovel that portion of the driveway.

My goodyear tripletred assurances were 85-90% of the performance of my dedicated winter when I had my maxima, so I do know that not all, all season's were created equal. In fact it was because I had slippage under not so extreme conditions from my kumho 4x that I got the dedicated winter tires.

The consumer report review IMO is pretty favorable, it's enough to get unstuck (i.e. on a slope or rut while parking). I never expected it to be comparable to winter tires, but if its the difference between having to dig and wait for assistance versus spraying and waiting for 5 minutes to be able to make it home. It certainly seems like a good band aid for the situation.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/4f/4ff0750e-655e-4595-80d3-5d978ef62846.pdf

That's their msds, which essentially explains how it would work. Propellant, solvent and rosin. Which would yield results like CR got.

Price is the only thing that stops me from buying a can to toss into the trunk of each car. If I find it locally, I may well pick up a can myself.