I know this has been already covered and i know someone asked this question so i apologize i just cant find the post.

Anyways if i get winter tires, do I only need to get 2...?

 

In July? Summer hasn't even started yet...

Here are your choices in terms of safety / stability:

1) 4 winter tires
2) 4 all season tires
3) 2 winter tires in the back
4) 2 winter tires in the front

I'd say go for 4 or forget about it and save your money and get four next year. Others will disagree, and yes, you can get by with all the grip in the front, but in case of an emergency braking, you can likely kiss your HHR's a$$ goodbye as it passes you by.

Yves

 

I lived in the Rockies for 12 years, never owned a FWD while there, but drove plenty there.

My .02, you only need the front's. The fronts grip on acceleration the front also handles 60%+ of the braking. All 4 is better, but I think two on the front will get you by.

 

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2007/1...-in-winter.htm

Yves

 

Article makes sense, but I can only go by what I have actually done. Granted this was back in the 80's early 90's and mostly K-cars in the snow. Never had a problem with the back end swinging around, but stopping was usually another story.....

 

The fact is winter tires are the best but even with 4 all season tires, Traction Control, and Anti lock brakes driving in the snow is a no brainer.

I drove last winter in some big Lake Effect snow here in Ohio never has an issue, close call or worry getting where I was going. At times I was pushing snow with my air dam on my SS.

Some people get dramatic about it like is life and death but most new cars with average skills is not hard to drive in any kind of weather.

As far as it was for me my Winter tires are Assurance Tirple Treads and my HHR SS drove like a tank in a winter we got 80 inches of snow. That is not counting the ice.

No drama, no life and death and not even much fun as I no longer can do power slides and dounuts like I could with my truck. The only fun I had was in a loaner Cobalt using an e brake when the truck was in getting the Brake upgrade.

 

I am a snow tire believer!!

I ALLWAYS run snows in the winter. Even all season tires are NOT made to perform well under 40 degrees. The compound of a snow tire is made for the cold weather.

Find a set of wheels cheap and mount up a set of snows so you can just pull them off in the spring.

 

Also you have to factor in driving skills. Some people need winter tires because they just can't drive.

No offense to anyone here it is just a general observation of people I see driving even in the summer.

I see a lot of 4x4 suv's with winter tires stuck in the median. I pass them by with my year round tires without a worry.

Driver skill accounts for tires needs to. Some people feel better with them and some may need them but not all. You have to judge for your self.

 

I've got studded winters on all fours. I go anywhere, anytime. Bought mine for $525 for all 4. Great deal. Buy them early, I almost couldn't get any last year.

 

I'm going to do what I've done to the wife's car for years. a set of blizzacks mounted on different rims. and rotate tires each time I switch them. The blizzacks are amazing the traction they provide JC