I live in Central Oregon and we can have glare ice, deep snow but mostly ice patches, slush and a little snow. I wonder if anyone has experience in Central oregon winters and recommend snow tires or recommended all-season tire like the General Grabber hts?

I live in Central Oregon and we can have glare ice, deep snow but mostly ice patches, slush and a little snow. I wonder if anyone has experience in Central oregon winters and recommend snow tires or recommended all-season tire like the General Grabber hts?

Plenty to choose from (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/snows.jsp), that's for sure.

I prefer something with a square shoulder profile than the Grabber HTS for winter driving, but that's me. Certainly the Grabber is an all-season tire that many run and like. But there are more aggressive winter treads available if you are really looking for traction in the November to April months.

I'm well acquainted with driving on snow, ice, slush, wet, muck and yuck. I have to deal with the same schlock as you mention and have had to do so for 2/3's of my driving years based on where I've chosen to live. I just went through all the research, price quotes and shopping for replacement tires as I hit 65K on my tires and was in need of new rubber. I shopped with snow, slush, ice, gravel, muck and yuck as well as driving on the highway in dry and wet (rain) conditions in mind. So I was drawn to the all-season and all-terrain tread pattern tires.

Here's a thread to read on winter tires. CR did a report on winter tires last year (November issue) and this thread talks about it:

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59064

Here's what tires (http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/08/car-tires-all-season-and-winter-tire-ratings-are-coming-soon.html)they reviewed.

Top 5 and the Runners Up are here (http://www.consumersearch.com/snow-tires).

Based on how well my Bridgestone Dueller AT 693's (no longer made in the size I prefer on the Element) giving me 65K and excellent winter performance, I really looked hard at getting something equivalent, or trying to find something from another tire company that bested it.

A good premium Winter tire...

Bridgestone makes the Blizzak DM-V1 (http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tireselector/GlamourIndex_BS_EN.aspx?productID=-169) which comes in 225/70/16 or the 215/70/16 stock Element size. It's a dedicated winter and wet tire geared for snow. Other Element owners have reported they are not so good in slush or deep snow, but do well in dry and summer as well. This tire is in the studless ice and snow category.

Dropping down to the less premium brand from that company, the Firestone Winterforce UV (http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tireselector/GlamourIndex_bs_EN.aspx?productID=2024) tires score out okay and several EOC members like them. They come in stock size as well as 225/70/16. They can also be studded (if that is allowed in Oregon - I don't know) for super ice and deep snow traction.

If you want to go more all season which is usually the way I go (all-season - all terrain type of tire)....

Bridgestone makes the Dueller APT IV (http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tireselector/GlamourIndex_BS_EN.aspx?productID=2022) which is good on highway, yet good on wet, slush and snow. They sell them at Sears (currently on sale). This tire is very close to the Dueller AT 693's I ran, but have improved technology in them since I bought my last pair of Bridgestone's 4 years ago. [Edit: I ended up buying these and having them installed yesterday.]

Bridgestone also makes the Dueller A/T Revo (http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tireselector/GlamourIndex_BS_EN.aspx?productID=1055) which is a more aggressive all-season premium tire. You would have to move up to the 235/70/16 size which many do run on their Elements. I had concerns about clearance knowing how much the snow, ice and slush builds up in the wheel wells on my Element where I drive. 225/70/16 is about as large as I would go because of that for my preferences. It's certainly a great tire with plenty of aggression and performance for where I live and drive. I think I might put these on my wife's SUV in September. She's due for some new tires soon and her small SUV takes 235/70/16 as the stock size.

I'm sure others will chime in, but I would probably suggest a little more aggressive tread for your requirements, yet one that does well on dry pavement in the summer months and handles rain with no problems. That means a premium tire that you probably won't find for less than $160 per tire mounted and balanced. Check for rebates (September is a big rebate month), sales and narrow it down to 5 or so that you like.

As I said, there is plenty of product out there to satisfy your needs and meet your budget.

LeadFoot

Thanks for consolidating all that info. We are buying winter tires soon and that will help.