Snow tires = poor mpg

[Bob_VT]

Less than impressed with my new MPG since I mounted the blizzaks on the Yaris. I dropped about 4 MPG :mad:

[Loren]

Ah, but those little suckers will rip through some snow and ice, won't they? :thumbsup:

(I've never used them, but I know folks who have... they're pretty amazing tires for what they're designed for)

[Bob_VT]

They are a great tire and with the hundreds of sipes.... they are grippy little devils. I am impressed with the highway attitude.

For the last few years I used DUnlop Graspics which were basically the same desing but the car they were on (Chev Impala) never suffered a MPG drop like this.

This weekend I will increase the air pressure to see if it helps.

[Doug007]

I have a set of studless Toyos...haven't noticed a difference in mileage, but I'm sure they're not as grippy as the ones you have.

[JnC]

Makes sense. You need low rolling resistance for mpg, yet you have grippy tires for snow.

You might consider Nokians (http://www.nokiantyres.com/). Can't completely overcome the physics of the above, but they do advertise low rolling resistance for their WRG2 tire. More of an all-weather tire, it does have some good winter design traits.

If you do want an all out winter tire, try the Nokian Hakkapeliitta's. Some of those claim lower rolling resistance.

[Bob_VT]

I had Hakkapeliitta's on a car a while back and I was not impressed. They wore quick and did not do the job. Time will tell.

[CTScott]

Less than impressed with my new MPG since I mounted the blizzaks on the Yaris. I dropped about 4 MPG :mad:

I ran Blizzaks way back when on a Civic wagon. I also saw a significant MPG reduction during snow tire season. Besides the boat show like sipes, the Blizzaks are made of a very soft/sticky rubber that is awesome on ice and like velcro on dry pavement. The composition also makes them wear way quicker than any other tire I have ever run.

A buddy of mine runs Hankook Ice Bears on his VW Pasat and swears that they are as good as Blizzaks without the wear issue...

[gid]

we use studded COOPER Weather Master ST-2s all the way around on the '08 sedan . They were on the '08 Liftback last season and did a fine job . We've been averaging 37 m.p.g. since installed . That's not so bad . This includes colder weather and 87 octane SUNOCO that's a 10% ethanal winter blend . The tires are kept at around 35 p.s.i.. They dip to little under 33 p.s.i. on the colder days . Try to check them once a week due to variations in pressure from temperature changes .

[06vitzRS]

Since i put my winters on i've gotten the best mileage yet. Seems odd i know but I put 675km on my last tank. I usually get close to 600. Been running them with 34-38psi.
http://www.nokiantires.com/tyre?id=11949&group=1.01&name=Nokian+Hakkapeliitta+R

[nemelek]

We are lucky to not really need snow tires in Denver. Once or twice a year we could use them, however the snow usually melts in a day or so. The road crews use so much magnesium cloride that black ice is never an issue. I worry about the long term effect the salt will do to the car. The ski industry is so big that the road crews work around the clock to keep the roads passable.

[voodoo22]

Less than impressed with my new MPG since I mounted the blizzaks on the Yaris. I dropped about 4 MPG :mad:

I'm surprised you didn't like Nokians. That's the first negative review I've read on the brand, besides some people saying they didn't like the road noise.

I got my best tank ever with our Nokian rSI's on for the entire tank.

The Nokians do not get better mileage than our OEM all seasons, but the weather got unusually warm and we did virtually no short trips under 50 km on the tank where I got 54.7 us MPG on them.

I just got another tank of 51.2 us MPG on the Nokians with virtually all highway driving, but I did get stuck in a 1 hour traffic jam and had to deal with snow, ice rain, strong winds and temperatures below zero celsius for most of the tank.

Winter tires do not have to mean a large loss in MPG, but due to their nature there has to be some. Nokians are more expensive, but I'm sold on the quality of their product for future purchases.

[GeneW]

I have Kelly Springfield M&S tires. I notice minimal changes in MPG. Aside inflation I wonder if they're the same size as your summer tires?

Gene

[marcus]

are you sure you didnt drop mpg because of the cold weather....?

[Bob_VT]

I have Kelly Springfield M&S tires. I notice minimal changes in MPG. Aside inflation I wonder if they're the same size as your summer tires?

Gene

Same size

are you sure you didnt drop mpg because of the cold weather....?

Maybe but it's a blistering 20 F right now!

[nemelek]

For the brown cloud, the refineries here use MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butly Ether) in their winter gas blend. I have suspected for years that MTBE effected gas milage. http://www.fee.org/pdf/the-freeman/heberling0903.pdf

[Bob_VT]

MTBE was banned years ago in the gasoline in this area since it is related to cancer.

[GeneW]

Maybe but it's a blistering 20 F right now!

Slightly warmer here in PA. The folks who bitch about the cold are reminded by me that insects do not like cold weather and die off before they grow too large or too numerous.

We could really use some zero degree F days, maybe a week of them, to waste the mosquitoes and gnats in their winter hidey holes.

Gene

[GeneW]

MTBE was banned years ago in the gasoline in this area since it is related to cancer.

It's also a very "stable" chemical that leeches into water tables and never goes away. Ethanol is better since it's readily biodegradable, even by human beings.

Gene

[floydisrock]

I still think 32 mpg with winter fuel and snow tires is terrific.

[ashughes]

I just got snowtires on my car two weeks ago and have noticed an incredible drop. I expected a slight drop, but nothing like this...

All Seasons 2 weeks ago yielded 563km to one tank.
First week the snows yielded 505km to one tank.
This past week, I got 476km to one tank.

That's a 87km (15%) drop in gas mileage. Is this expected, or does this seem extreme to anyone?

Don't get me wrong. The tires behave awesome in the snow and ice. I am just wondering if this is the price I have to pay in the winter or if I can expect to see these dwindling returns to the pump continue when I go back to the All Seasons in the spring.

[CTScott]

I just got snowtires on my car two weeks ago and have noticed an incredible drop. I expected a slight drop, but nothing like this...

All Seasons 2 weeks ago yielded 563km to one tank.
First week the snows yielded 505km to one tank.
This past week, I got 476km to one tank.

That's a 87km (15%) drop in gas mileage. Is this expected, or does this seem extreme to anyone?

Don't get me wrong. The tires behave awesome in the snow and ice. I am just wondering if this is the price I have to pay in the winter or if I can expect to see these dwindling returns to the pump continue when I go back to the All Seasons in the spring.

Wow - That does seem extreme. What kind of snows did you put on?

How close is the diameter of the snows to the diameter of your all seasons?

[Bob_VT]

Quebec Law Strains Vermont Tire Supply
St. Albans, Vermont - November 28, 2008

Business is booming at tire shops across Vermont, especially at businesses near the Canadian border.

"Even for our supply, there's sizes we're running out of," said George Wood, of Goodyear Tire.

A new law will take effect Dec. 15 in Quebec requiring all drivers to have snow tires on their vehicles during the winter months.

That's prompted many Quebec residents to head south in search of a deal.

"Very good for business, yeah," said Chris Wood, of Midas. "We've gotten a ton of phone calls inquiring about tire prices."

Tire prices in Canada are 20 percent to 25 percent higher than they are here in the states.

"It's significantly different. It's not just a couple of bucks. It's a lot," Wood explained.

The new law is a headache for Canadian drivers: "I don't like it. I don't need snow tires with a 4 by 4," one customer from Canada complained.

...And a challenge for retailers.

Businesses in Quebec are running out of tires and that demand is creating a ripple effect in states like Vermont.

"There's a shortage in North America. A lot of the tire manufacturers have shipped their product north and it's kind of put the hurt on us a little bit," Wood said. "If you run short, a lot of tire companies-- that's it for the year in those particular sizes."

Quebec is the first province to implement a snow tire law.

Violators face up to a $300 fine.

But the law only applies to Quebec residents.

U.S. residents can continue to visit the province with or without snow tires.

Just keep track of your car-- specifically your tires.

"Yesterday someone went to the movies and they came out and (their car) was on the blocks," said Christian Cournoyer, of Quebec.

Keagan Harsha - WCAX News

[Bob_VT]

i love the comment "i dont need winter on my 4X4" no but a new brain yes dumbass!!!

Probably lives downtown and drives only two blocks to work!

[Yarmouth Bob]

Haven't checked the mpg yet, but up here in Nova Scotia I got Cooper Arctic Claws on the day before we had 15 cms of snow. I can put up with lower mpg for about the 4 months of winter, then look forward to changing back in April. It's all about safety, I've seen a day start sunny and by quitting time you're looking at a blizzard. Ability to get through that trumps mpg anytime.:smile:

[06vitzRS]

Haven't checked the mpg yet, but up here in Nova Scotia I got Cooper Arctic Claws on the day before we had 15 cms of snow. I can put up with lower mpg for about the 4 months of winter, then look forward to changing back in April. It's all about safety, I've seen a day start sunny and by quitting time you're looking at a blizzard. Ability to get through that trumps mpg anytime.:smile:


Couldn't agree more. (Even though my winter set up get's better MPG than my summer set.)