| ella138 |
I'm driving a 2005 Muano with the original tires on it that came with the car. I do city driving, but there are a number of fairly steep hills I cant avoid. Do you think I should invest in snow tires?
if the answer is yes, is there a particular tire make or type i should be looking at? |
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| njjoe |
ella138-
Only you can answer that question.
During a snow storm, do you drive on snow-covered roads or do you wait until after the roads are cleared of snow? Have you used and/or needed snow tires in the past?
It all depends on your needs. Take my parents for example. My father is a dialysis patient who goes for dialysis at 5 A.M. three days a week. He drives an SUV with full-time AWD and snow tires. My mother's car, on the other hand, will never see the light of day when snow is even forecast, so it is shod with regular all-season radials.
-njjoe |
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| ella138 |
Actually my Mo is an SE AWD (aren't they all AWD?). I've always had snow tires on my cars before, but this is the first time I've had a SUV. I thought the car was front wheel drive and I was told the back tires only automatically kick in when needed.
I go to work 5 days a week rain, shine, or snow....it's the snow I worry about because I have to drive up a very steep hill both ways, there is no alternative for me to get around that. I just wondered if other people bother with snow tires for there Mo's or if it has enough traction to get by without. |
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| njjoe |
ella138-
AWD is an option on the S and SL models, but is standard for the SE.
The MO's AWD system is not a full-time system. It operates in FWD-mode until it encounters wheel-slip and then it engages the rear wheels. It's not the best system out there, but it functions OK for light-duty.
There is no sure way to tell if your MO will be able to navigate those hills until you try them the first time. Hopefully it will be fine. If not, then you'll have to opt for winter tires.
Let us know how it works out.
-njjoe |
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| manitoba murano |
You're both right. All Canadian MO's are AWD. As for the tires, and the hill--I'd be far more concerned about stopping on a flat surface than about climbing a steep hill. Your MO will climb any hill that TO has to offer, in snow, with the standard tires. VDC and AWD will help see to that.
For stopping and ultimate control in bad weather, winter tires are a necessity. Having said that though, TO has pretty mild weather, the snow is of the wet and sticky variety, and they salt the roads to the point that the medians often contain salt water marshes. You don't NEED winter tires, but you certainly SHOULD get a set. Get them mounted on a second set of wheels so they can easily be swapped over. The other benefit to this is that your summer wheels and tires will last a lot longer.
Shop around a bit. Pick up a road and Track mag and check out the ads for wheel/tire combos (they'll have websites to find packages specific to your MO). Being in TO you'll have loads of retail outlets, but I found that the best deal I could get was from one of the magazine ads. Especially with the CAD$ as it is, buying from these US retailers can save you 10-20%. |
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| SIM |
If you need AWD because it is slippery where you live then you absolutely need winter tires to stop safely. It's as simple as this.
4 season tires lose most of their grip at -10C no matter how good a driver you are.
I live in a northern country so there is no question if we need winter tires or not. People without should be fined in winter here and it's coming up soon. |
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| Gonzo |
quote:
Originally posted by SIM
4 season tires lose most of their grip at -10C no matter how good a driver you are.
Ah but I would image that is on dry pavement..... with a snow covered road I'm not I would agree with that statement.
IMHO try the MO as is... if you need snow tires then get them if you need them for the hills. |
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| BikerJohn |
I live in Burlington, Ontario and I've been driving on snows for the past two seasons and going onto my third with the MO.
I highly recommend snow tires for anyone in this part of the region. Not for the snow but for the icy patches that is inherent on our part of the snow removal system(more like snow melting with the use of salting machines). The snow melts into a slush and if it gets colder; it turns into almost ice.
All seasons are ok for a year but the rubber compound used in certain brands( if not all branded all-season tires) are not suitable for temperature below 4 degree celcius. Its the soft rubber compounds used in snow tires that make them brake more efficiently in colder temperature.
You will be surprised at how much more confident you will feel driving with snow tires on you MO. You might even find yourself having some fun driving in winter:D
As for myself; I have been thrilled with the Toyo G-02 Plus Open Country in the OEM size on a second set of MO factory rims. You won't regret it... |
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| Pops |
quote:
Originally posted by manitoba murano
You're both right. All Canadian MO's are AWD.
Uh, you can order an SL FWD. I think most people in Canada opt for the AWD though. I know my dealer in Yorkton, Sk. never brings in FWD models. EVERYBODY gets the AWD, but FWD is available, for around $2g less. |
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| manitoba murano |
| Seriously? I swear Todd told me they were all AWD. I guess he meant the SE's... |
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| SIM |
In Canada, up to 2007, no S, SL in FWD and AWD and SE in AWD only.
Gonzo, "trying" the MO with 4 season tires in a northern country is like driving without insurances. You could save money. But in this case, it means you could also injure someone else than you and your wallet...
Since yesterday, you can easily spot who is driving on 4 season tires here in Quebec. They launch slowly, the front end going sideways, they drive slow and nervous and they always come to a stop with either the wheels locked or the familiar ABS taratata.
It is my second set of Dunlop Grandtrek SJ5, available in OEM size. They are noisy but very efficient on snow and ice. |
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| ella138 |
OK, so we had our first ice/snow storm here yesterday and my MO did OK. Of course here in the city traffic moves about 5K an hour, so there is no chance to really test it.
I think I will get some snows though, as I agree that I would just feel safer and more confident. How much would 4 decent snows with rims cost (approx.) here in Canada? Do I need to take a second mortage to get them?
I just have 2 more questions what is VDC and what is OEM...and oh yes, I am blonde :5: |
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| Kris |
quote:
Originally posted by ella138
I just have 2 more questions what is VDC and what is OEM...and oh yes, I am blonde :5:
VDC - Vehicle Dynamic Control, a stability feature
OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer |
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| BikerJohn |
You could start with just the tires and have a reliable tire shop just change out your all-seasons. Tires should run you about $165 to $185 each installed and balance. There may be an extra charge for the removal of the originals.
Some shops will even store your "off" set of tires until you change them again for a small fee.
There are only a handful of snows currently on the market with the 235/65R18's right now. Toyo; Pirelli and the Dunlops mentioned by SIM below.
I think I paid around $185 each for my Toyo's through OK tires. They also had the Pirellis but I like the Toyos' tread pattern.
I just finished buying my last of the four factory original rims through sellers on EBAY from the US. I paid $55 for one and $75 each for the other three used! They are in great shape and came with the center caps. Beats trying to find them up here!
I can highly recommend couple of shops out in Mississauga or in Burlington if you are ever out this way.
Cheers,
John. |
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| SIM |
| Dunlop Grantrek SJ5 = +/- 250$ each balanced. I got take-off OEM wheels from eBay for 100$ each plus 200$ S&H for the 4. |
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| manitoba murano |
You can get a complete wheel and tire package from one of the on-line retailers for about $1000 shipped to your door. You'll ususally get a set of 17" wheels and tires (which will fit your vehicle perfectly, maintaining the outside rolling circumference of the stock/OEM 18" setup, with the proper offsets, etc). Virtually anyone with a jack and a torque wrench can install them for you, done in your driveway one by one it would take about 15-20 minutes.
PM me if you would like the web address, the ordering process is simple and straight forward. |
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| BikerJohn |
If you do get them shipped; make sure they don't use UPS. UPS is a brokerage company and you'll pay almost 1/2 the price of the purchase price for their brokerage fee:mad:
I received rims for my MO through UPS last week. Paid $75 US for one rim; UPS charged me $34 CDN for their "brokerage" fee plus PST and GST on top of that. The value declare on the form was for $54 US. Total rip off IMHO.
Use FedEx Ground service if possible; their fees are much better; it will be about half that. USPS is even better; their brokerage fee is only a flat $5 fee plus taxes but will take slightly longer. |
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| jaak |
Ella, if you don't venture outside Toronto in the winter, you might do well to just get a new set of the same tires.
They're fine in Toronto winters.
Two questions for you.... number of kms on them (wear) and tread depth. Do you know how to measure that? |
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| drsteven |
Can somone please tell me what is the proper offset tire size if I will be using 17" rims for them ? 18" Snow tires are way too limited in choice, and I see plenty of 17".
Thanks! |
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| Tyler_Canada |
I find that while it's acceptable to use all season tires, winter tires make it much less stressful and a lot easier to drive in deep snow. The main difference most people see is the tread styles. But possibly the MOST important difference is that winter tires are designed to stay softer at much lower temperatures. I found the stock Goodyears and Toyo Proxes S/Ts to get slippery even a bit above freezing if it was raining, just because that was the temperature where they started getting hard.
I have a set of Dunlop Grandtrek SJ5 BSW tires in the stock Murano size. I would put them on the stock rims in the fall, and take them off in the spring. They were amazing (first set of winter tires I've ever used). They cost about $1250 for the set, but I bought them a couple of years ago and you might get them a bit cheaper these days. |
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| SIM |
Quebec passed the road security bill (42) yesterday, dropping a few items like the reduction of the alcool limit from .08 to .05 but kept the rest:
* Cellular is banned while driving and you will need a hands-free kit
* Winter tires mandatory from November to March
* Photo radar to slow speed in strategic spots. They know that they will be reported but the goal is to reduce the speed and people will especially if they know that there is a photo radar trap in the area.
The bill 42 should be adopted todayand be in effect January 1st 2008. |
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| Stu |
In recent weeks I have had a chance to drive my '07 SE AWD in the snow of Wisconsin. The vehicle performed well, the only time I felt any "pucker" was when I was accelerating on an overpass that is slightly uphill and very covered with ice. 4 wheel drive kicked in and stopped my slide pretty much before it started, although I have to admit that was my fault, I was trying to accelerate to fast.
The OEM tires performed decently. They could have been better, but AWD and ABS pick up where the tires leave off so no real complaints, except for the other :3: fool drivers out there. |
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| SIM |
| Usually the first time that you realize that winter tires would have been a great addition to your car is when you need to stop quickly, when you need to keep in control on a slippery surface. Launching from a corner will simply take more time as noticed but it is not dangerous, only annoying for the other cars behind equiped with winter tires...;) |
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| WrenchGremlin |
| I live in the Chicago area and use Dunlop Grandtrek SJ5 BSW tires in the winter, mainly from December - March. It costs $40 to have the tires mounted and balanced on my stock rims. They bag my summer tires and I store them till spring. In winter conditions, stopping distance is greatly improved as well as acceleration. People generally don't get into accidents while accelerating, its the stopping part that gets them. Since all cars have 4-wheel brakes, the type of tire you have determines how well the brakes work. |
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