Hi all,

I've heard the same thing;  narrower tires are better for snow.  A
contractor near me who has a 4x4 pickup and does plowing actually switches
tires for the winter season, taking off his snazzy wide tires on alloy
wheels for skinny tires on steel rims.  Presumably the tire can dig down and
find firmer surface to grip and has less frontal area to plow through.  Wide
is obviously good to float on loose sand, or paved road.  But wide also
hydroplanes on wet pavement much easier.

But wide looks better ;>)

Kerry
kstanley@cas.org
'86 syncro 171K

-----Original Message-----
From: Woody Halsey [mailto:WoodyHalsey@COMPUSERVE.COM]
Sent: Friday, December 24, 1999 10:11 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: traction, transmissions

Dear Great and Wise List,

Recently I have heard my mechanic say two things which do not seem to be
backed by either the List or Common Sense. I am curious to know our
thoughts.

1) He told another customer, "Narrow tires have better traction in snow
than wide tires with the same tread, because there is less surface to slip
on." Is that counterintuitive fact, or just plain wrong? This reminds me of

snip

Woody