What to do?

I'm here in the northwest corner of North Carolina, just outside of Boone. A trip through the snow last week led me to order a set of studded Winterforce tires from the Tire Rack.

We have two Elements: A 2005 LX with 4WD but no ABS or traction control/VSA. A fresh set of all-terrain tires makes for good forward progress but lousy stopping.

The other is a 2010 EX 4WD that has the ABS and traction control/VSA but still riding on the original Wranglers. Going, stopping, and turning seem to be fine so far, but winter has only just begun.

So the question is, should we put the winter tires on the 2010 for maximum effect and limit ourselves to one vehicle for the winter, or do we put them on the 2005 so we may have two reasonably capable vehicles for the winter?

Lule

What to do?

I'm here in the northwest corner of North Carolina, just outside of Boone. A trip through the snow last week led me to order a set of studded Winterforce tires from the Tire Rack.

We have two Elements: A 2005 LX with 4WD but no ABS or traction control/VSA. A fresh set of all-terrain tires makes for good forward progress but lousy stopping.

The other is a 2010 EX 4WD that has the ABS and traction control/VSA but still riding on the original Wranglers. Going, stopping, and turning seem to be fine so far, but winter has only just begun.

So the question is, should we put the winter tires on the 2010 for maximum effect and limit ourselves to one vehicle for the winter, or do we put them on the 2005 so we may have two reasonably capable vehicles for the winter?

Lule

Get another set and never worry about which one to take.

I've driven my '09 through the snow around here last year with the Wranglers that came on it and had no problems getting around. Now I'm not in the mountains like you are (Piedmont area) so with those curvy roads up there I can only imagine are not fun after they've iced over regardless what tire you have on the E.

Thanks for the replies.

Another set of tires just aren't in the picture. Trying to maximize what I have to work with.

What I'm looking for is experience with the two styles specifically.

So to dial it in further, how much, if any, is the improvement of ABS/VSA 4wd on snowy, icy, paved mountain roads using studded tires?

Admittantly, I'm a bit wary after watching the snowfall of here last year from the comfort of Florida.

What about snows on the '05 and its A/T tires swaped onto the '10 for the winter?


FWIW....I've got no experience w/ the E's VSA or traction control, but I do like the ABS on my '04.

Good idea! That hadn't occurred to me. I had the TPMS units installed in the snowtires when I bought them, assuming that they would go on the '10.

In the interest of science, I may do some testing over the holidays by swapping the tires back-and-forth to see if the ABS/VSA makes any difference over snow and ice using the Wranglers, the A/T's, and the studded snows.

I'll get back to ya as long as I don't pirouette myself off the mountainside.

Lule