Ah I see. You could check out the Legacy too. I think they have a CVT option at various trim levels.
The Legacy CVT is nice. We test drove a Legacy Limited but couldn't afford it.
Very roomy too.
Snow tires are definitely important especially in the snow belt.
Continuing this discussion from before: I always see comments like this coming from car enthusiasts with typically high-powered cars, which then makes sense as to why snow tires are a necessity. Are they that important for us regular folk driving average cars? As I've probably mentioned, I've never used snow tires before and honestly not that many people that I know seem to use them. Then again, they all drive trucks...
They're important because you can only stop as well as you can grip.
Our first snow in the Kizashi was on the stock all-seasons. Our first turn was...straight. And the other drivers were much, much worse. That was the most white knuckled drive back home that winter. We didn't take the car out for a month after that.
Blizzacks are pretty much the cheapest winter tires you can get and they are still much better than an all season. TireRack does specials with a set of cheap wheels and blizzacks around this time of year. They even sent me free lug nuts to match the wheels because my OEM lug nuts wouldn't work.
Actually the General Altimax Arctics are cheaper--and much more highly rated. I researched tires for a month before deciding on a set and this will be their third winter.
Cool! I didn't realize I could order tires online... This opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
* HoffmanMyster dives in
Not just tires, but wheels, electrical accessories, factory parts and accessories, performance parts, and more...
You thought keyboards were expensive! Wait until you enter this hobby!
For reference, most "all-season" tires start losing grip at around 40 degrees. That's right, before we even get to freezing temperatures. Doesn't even have to be wet out. On the other hand, winter tires get a little wonky in warmer temperatures. Not that big a deal, just don't corner as fast. On my breeze, the winters feel a little disconnected when its warmer out, but its not dangerous or anything. Like there's a thin layer of foam on the ground. They don't lose grip, its just not as stable feeling.
The reason is quite simple: the rubber compound in winter tires is too soft in warmer temperatures. They'll grip the road, but they wear out tremendously fast in warmer temperatures. And because they're softer, they feel kinda squishy. The rubber compound in "all-season" and summer tires is too hard - at anything below their recommended operating temperature, there's not enough give in the rubber to accommodate grip. So, they slide across the ground instead. But, this allows them to offer better grip and feel in moderate (all-season) to warm (summer) temperatures.
All season tires don't excel at any time of year, hence why they're regularly called no-season tires. You actually don't spend any more money on tires in the long run running winter and summer tires, as your tires will wear out much slower too.
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Well said. Some really good stuff in there.
Must resist the urge to pick up some dedicated track rims for bday... :(
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This is a really fun hobby, but things get A LOT more expensive quick.
Also, I fully agree with winter tires being mandatory, if not for only one reason: Silica compounds in winter tires allow them to remain soft at temps under 7 deg. C. All seasons and summer tires will harden up and become dangerous, while winter tires actually become grippier/safer/softer below 7 deg. C.
It's a common misconception that winter tires are for specifically for the snow; it really is not. It's for low temps and making sure your grip is still good.
Yep, a simple 'splurge' in the car enthusiast hobby is a $1000+. Makes $300 for a keyboard seem cheap by comparison.
And not only is it the rubber being used, but tread design in conjunction with the rubber. A well-designed snow tire uses all these properties together to achieve things you can with the wrong combo. Kinda like some of the custom boards here with the right switches and the right keycaps.