Tires for winter

[AmyF]

Living in NE Ohio, our winters are not all that severe, but we do get a few good snow storms a year and often times have snow / ice partially covered roads.   My 2013 charger se (v6) has the following tires on it and they're in good condition:  Michelin P 215 65 R17 Energy Saver A S   M&S rated.  I've heard a lot of back and forth debate over snow tires, all season tires, snow tires on rear wheels, etc.    What are your thoughts?    About 85% of my commute is on the Ohio turnpike which has been impecably kept up by the salt/road crews each winter I've driven on it.    We are supposed to see some snowfall this week, though shouldn't be too extreme. 

[Shakey]

Snow tires are good to have when driving in the snow!   

[moparnation74]

I lived in Pittsburgh for a few years and I never purchased snow tires.  I had all season radials.  Snow tires are like chains.  Only need to be on the rear for rear wheel drive cars.  Then drive appropriately for the road conditions.

[AmyF]

That's good to hear.  I will see how my tires do they seem like a good set of all seasons.

[moparnation74]

Just take your time and not be in a rush.  I remember my turnpike traveling days!

[wingcar]

Snow Tires....what are those? 
Can't say I've seen any for sale here in the Valley of the Sun........

[CDN72SE]

Well in Southern Ontario, Canada we now call them Winter tires, different compound than All Season tires. Better on colder ashphalt. Our roads get salted a lot so they can affect aluminum rims for example, plus I don't like the thought of maybe sliding into some curb and ruining my original rim(s). My daily driver in an Intrepid R/T with nice rims so I purchased used rims from a wrecker and then bought winter tires on sale.
Grew up driving on all-seasons but at this stage of my life prefer the extra safety of winter tires.

[6spd68]

Well in Southern Ontario, Canada we now call them Winter tires, different compound than All Season tires. Better on colder ashphalt. Our roads get salted a lot so they can affect aluminum rims for example, plus I don't like the thought of maybe sliding into some curb and ruining my original rim(s). My daily driver in an Intrepid R/T with nice rims so I purchased used rims from a wrecker and then bought winter tires on sale.
Grew up driving on all-seasons but at this stage of my life prefer the extra safety of winter tires.

Agreed.  Personally, I've gone winters with all seasons on the car, but I'd still rather winter tires.  I'd compare it with wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle.  You may not ever need it, but you're probably better off when that situation does come out of no where...   Torontonian joke about the guy getting out of his 60,000$ Audi, he just wrapped around a pole; "BUT I'VE GOT ALL SEASONS!  ".

Another thing to consider is just how much winter driving you do with the vehicle.  If you live in an urban setting with better snow removal services, and don't have to make long commutes, or do a lot of driving; you'll likely be fine without.  However, if living in suburbia, or having to make longer commutes; I'd always recommend the swap out mid December.

[AmyF]

If my all-seasons proove a little inadequate, would getting two heavierduty winter tires just on the rear wheels help or should it really be all 4, or just add some weight to the trunk?   

There's snow starting in surrounding areas, but I haven't experienced driving in any yet.  Will see how it goes.