lrr snow tires?

Many snow tires use silicates in the rubber compound to keep the rubber flexible in cold weather. This gives them good rolling resistance as well. I run Nokian WR tires on my 2004 which are all-weather tires (they have the "snowflake" on the sidewall) that do as well as most snow tires in winter driving. They are LRR tires and I have the data to prove it.

JeffD

 

Please provide it! I would have thought that the thick tread of a snow tire would be inimical to LRR status.

 

earthman:

i own a home in mt.snow,vt., up a dirt road.
i'm going to keep my factory stock tires on my 2008 prius when i dive up there this winter from florida.
i've been reading in this web page, that the factory tires handle very well in the snow.

 

If you are planning to spend some or all of the winter in Vermont, I would highly recommend real "winter tires". Not to be confused with 'all-weather tires." Or 'all season' tires. There is a big difference.

You will see a big difference with winter tires as driving in the snow, up a hill with a hybrid has it's own challenges as the drive train has a mind of it's own.

Real winter tires have the snowflake in the mountain on the tire which helps you recognize them. They grip like an SUV and stay soft and supple on the freezing cold road and snow, unlike the tires you plan on using, which will harden and slip and slide.

Take it from a New Englander who has experienced this first hand. Of course, if you are the type who won't drive when you see snowflakes coming down, then you don't have to worry about these things.

As for low rolling resistance, I wouldn't worry about that as it's only for a few months. I have gotten 50mpg on winter tires. Not getting stuck is a little more of a priority, IMO.

 

Take it from me (who lived in New England until a year ago) that you read wrong about the stock tires. I made it through one light snowfall on them in early spring, but I would absolutely not take them to hilly VT in the winter. Insanity! Get some good of snows for the winter driving. If you don't want to swap tires on-site, get a set of those Nokians (mounted on their own wheels) and put them on before you even leave Florida.

 

Why care about LRR snow tires? The 2004-2008 Prius doesn't even come with LRR tires.

 

A point many refuse to believe, Rest.

 

Ski.dive -

The OEM tires are TERRIBLE in the snow. I bought my Prius in February and drove in upstate New York through the remainder of the winter. I did okay on the roads because I drove very slowly and carefully (and I had several harrowing moments) but most days my driveway was the biggest problem. The OEM tires have no grip in the snow. I had to park on the bottom of my driveway several times because there was no way the Prius would make it. When you say you live UP a dirt road did you mean UP (as in elevation)? Anyway, there is no way I'll tackle another winter on the OEM tires. Right now I'm debating whether to go with the Nokian WR's or go all the way to dedicated snow tires.

 

Many copies have been available on this and other discussion groups. Attached is one more. Note that the Nokian WR is basically a snow tire (they have the snowflake) that wears well enough to be rated as an all weather tire.

JeffD

 

As someone who has had three different tires on his Prius, the Integrity tires are terrible in snow (Who wrote that they are good in snow?) and just barely acceptable in wet once partly worn. Michelin MXV4+ tires are OK in wet and barely usable in snow. My Current tires, Nokian WR, are great in snow and wet conditions.

JeffD

 

Once again, the Nokian WRs HAVE the snowflake symbol and perform in snow as well as most "real" snow tires.

JeffD

 

Misunderstanding, Jdenenberg. That was for ski.dive and his tires, not your Nokians.

 

NOTE:

I do not want to put snow tires on my factory rims.

any other 'rims' from other cars that fit to mount SNOW TIRES?

i need to start searching the junk yard once I know what steel rim will fit

 

What does "LRR" stand for???

 

Low Rolling Resistance

 

That's what mine are on-- Steel rims. Didn't feel I needed to splurge for four more alloys and I didn't want to go to a tire place to have them switched on and off my alloys twice a year. So usually I just do it myself as they are all on their own rims.

Steel are fine. You can get some nice wheel covers and they look great. For snow, my winter tires work great.