I live in Ohio and have an '02 Miata that I drive year round. The first year I had it, I got a set of steel rims and Blizzaks from the Tire Rack (tires came mounted and balanced). That car went from being one of the worst I've ever driven in snow to one of the best. With the stock tires I simply couldn't drive it if there was any snow at all. Now it drives fine as long as the snow isn't up to the door. I really can't offer an opinion on other brands of tires, but I'm definitely sold on Blizzaks.

 

Which car did you wrap around a tree?

 

i live in buffalo, ny so i know a thing or two about snow. i do not drive my stang in the winter but will tell you that blizzaks will be a sever improvement over whatever tires you have on there right now. although i would definatly suggest getting a beater instead of spending the money on winter tires and sand bags.

 

It's not bad at all, these last few snow dumps we have had have been np for me w/o snow tires. I simply added 3 70lb sand tubes in the trunk. I've been able to handle the car very well. W/ the weight the rear end had been very perdictable and I actually find myself throwing it around corners just b/c I already know what it's going to do. The only real problem has been at intersections when they seem to miss a lot of snow in the corners and the car doesn't want to move. This is a problem w/ any car though so I'm not too concerned.

 

Hit the nail on the head.
I sold my rims and snow tires and bought a beater. I knew the owner and our shop did the maintenance on it so I knew it was a good car. 500 bucks.

 

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 ...This will also save your car from the salt I live in Milwaukee so I know how it is.

 

Seriously find a used Hyundai Accent or something, they are very cheap.

Or this

http://www.topoftheline.com/winter-traction-system.html

 

These are a bit pricey but Michelin X-Ice 2's are unreal. I just glided through 14 inches of Boston snow and ice with absolutely no trouble and no added weight.

 

one comment about sand tubes in the trunk- if God forbid you hit something at >20 mph or so, expect them to wind up in the backseat, much faster expect getting hit in the head(unless you got rear seat passengers- ouch)...kinda defeats the purpose of airbags

in my opinion, a very conservative(aka kinda skinny)treadwidth snow or all season will do best...say you go from a 8" treadwidth to a 7" treadwidth- that increases contact pressure on the ground by over 12% on each tire, where adding 150 pounds of sand to the existing 1500 only gets 10% split between the tires...so 25% more contact patch pressure or 10% more that might become a projectile in a crash...

I hate the look of skinny tires, but every car/truck Ive ever put larger rubber under(every car Ive owned except the mustangs- still plan on that though) always had worse traction in rain/snow...

best bet though, get a beater to sacrifice to the salt...much as I enjoy driving the mustang, its a rusty old windstar for me for a few more months- we got the windstar new in 98, but the salt has been pretty cruel to it- been a good car but this may well be its final winter(just had to replace brakes/all brakelines/steering rack/tires- but its got oil in the antifreeze, and headgaskets on a minivan sounds more painful than finding something else for next year...God willing it will keep pluggin away for a couple more months

 

Same problem here in NJ. We just had a snow fall on Friday and I must admit my 08 Stang didnt do that bad coming home from about 15 miles away. I was using 2 gear to start because 1st just tailed too much. Snow and slush on the roads on stock tires. The only problem I had was the hill that I live on. But after 5 running starts I finally made it up and right into the garage it went. I purchased a 2003 Blazer 4x4 on Saturday and that Stand will not come out until April. My biggest fear was someone hitting me.

One guy at EDT told me that snow tires will make a huge difference. But I didnt want to spend the money on tires and rims.