I took the truck to Alyeska Tire and had the tires siped. i.e. They cut slits across the tread in the center 50% of the tires. The slits are maybe 3⁄16" deep. The purpose is to have more edges on the road in slippery conditions. One of the side benefits is that the tires run cooler. I tried to take a picture of the siped tires but they are really difficult to see. Because of the snow forecast, the tire shop was packed with folks looking to get snow tires. I'm glad I arrived 15 minutes before they opened. I was 6th in line and out of there in only 1½ hours. By the time I left they were predicting six hour wait times.
The weather will do what it will whether you like it or not, so there might be no point in asking: Are you excited for winter and for snow, or do you dread their arrival?
ReplyDeleteNeither. I don't look forward to it as I used to nor do I dread its arrival. It rarely affects my day to day activities.
DeleteGiven that I could technically walk to work, I don't mind snow as much as I used to. It is the driving in the snow that I dread the most.
ReplyDeleteI used to really enjoy x-country skiing but haven't gone for a while. Yes, the driving is the worst especially having to watch all of the other crazies on the road. Fortunately, this snow comes after the roads have all cooled off so they aren't a icy as the normal "first snow".
Deletesiping is definitely something you want for snow. So you just had four-season tires? I thought snow tires had siping already....
ReplyDeleteThe tires are mud and snow but there is minimal siping. That may because they are medium duty truck tires and the mud and snow label is referring more to the open, blocky tread pattern.
DeleteHooray for snow. I guess you guys are a little behind in snow already.
ReplyDeleteYes, several weeks behind. I was still debating on whether or not to stud the Ural tires but after slipping my way up the subdivision hill today, I probably will.
DeleteHowever begrudgingly, winter is in the air, to each of us a different degree. For us, down south, we think it's always winter in Alaska! No snow yet today in town, but up the road 20 miles and 3000' Mt Bachelor has 26" which is the sure sign that it's coming our way. Every winter I think I need a Ural, but I think I'm not capable of the care it may demand......snowshoes and cross country skis keep me at my limit :) Dig in and enjoy the beauty.
ReplyDeleteDon
Do you get much snow in Bend? I've only been there in the summer and it always seems incredibly hot. I really do need to try and get out on the x-country skis this winter. I had even picked up a "lazy mans" pair (waxless) but have only been out on them a couple of times. I started looking for a sidecar after begrudgingly putting the bike away in the Fall.
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