SAFE winter tire size?

[JHarris1385]

245 should be fine. Find a tire with lots or maxium sipping in the tread.

[Rednex]

245 should be fine. Find a tire with lots or maxium sipping in the tread.

Well - not sure about that 245 width....
I have on my wife's Tucson 235 Coopers Discoverer (newer version obviously, not as worn out as on my VX) - she went w/o any probs on same corner right before me! No a glimpse of a slip!

My guess: approximately same weight cars + smaller footprint => more pressure to surface => better grip on ice/thin snow. Of course - fresher tread on wife's tires could have plaid some part, but I recon that part not as significant as footprint size of the tire...

So I'd guess something around 225-235 with good winter tread would deliver me much safer ride in winter. Especially, if I manage to find a way to fool TOD into full-time 4hi mode... (Which, by the way, is a push-button option on wife's Tucson... )

[driver3]

I don't think it's the tire size as much as the short wheel base... you can spin a wrangler just as easy... I run 265/75/16's and I do fine in the snow.. but if I punch it around a corner, I'm going to spin out... but if I'm driving in deep snow.. it's awesome. Like I said.. a wrangler is the same...

[psychos2]

I have noticed that when in snow and using power mode I tend to slide more. When not in power mode it is much better. shawn

[Rednex]

I don't think it's the tire size as much as the short wheel base... you can spin a wrangler just as easy... I run 265/75/16's and I do fine in the snow.. but if I punch it around a corner, I'm going to spin out... but if I'm driving in deep snow.. it's awesome. Like I said.. a wrangler is the same...

Well - what worries me - I didn't spin! (I can control spinning, drifting, etc...)

I just slowly & nicely slipped off the road, going slightly sideways: clearly a bad grip case, nothing to do w short wheel base + powerful rear wheel drive car (TOD sadly to admit is too slow for these icy conditions... )

Decision's made: going to have Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6 235/75 R16. Will report the findings.

Nearby Q: has anyone implemented mod discussed here: http://vehicross.info/forums/showthr...73&mode=linear (fooling TOD to stay in "4HI" mode)? Winter (& high speed gravel) driving could be greatly imrpoved w such modification...