snow/ice tires/wheels misc cold weather questions:

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Hello. My family and I will be moving from South Texas, to New Hampshire next spring/summer. I have a 2wd silverado 5.3, and I will have a camper shell on it. I was wondering

1.what kind of tires and wheels are best for snow? Should I get some skinnier rims? (5.5" vs. 7")

2. The camper shell is needed to keep snow slush from bed of truck, is this ok?

3. What can I do to protect the undercarriage? can I just spray some of that asphalt based stuff all under the truck?

Thanks, any other tips advice is appreciated.

[Blue Bowtie]

Get a complete different set of winter wheels with real snow tires for the rear instead of those "all season" general purpose treads, and keep your chromed or alloy wheels in good condition for summer driving. They'll be noisy on dry pavement, but you might not see much of that until March. I used to keep snow tires, studded snow tires, and summer tires. Studs are outlawed here now so that makes for less winter changing, but there is still the one annual switch. I might be old-school, but I don't get stuck either. And a 2WD half-truck needs all the help it can get.

I've had a few trucks (all 2WD except for a '71 Dodge Power Wagon) and I've always kept the bed uncovered in winter to accumulate snow, not keep it out. The extra mass can be an ally. I used to PLOW with a 2WD '85 F250 with about 1,500 pounds of steel in the bed for traction/weight, and never had a problem.

Corrosion protection starts in summer. Repair any rust or bare spots, and cover them with a good protective enamel like Rust Bullet, Jenoseel, or POR-15. Seal the outer body with a good wax as late in the season as you can.

Rinsing frequently during the winter helps a lot to prevent abrasive sand and salt accumulation. I've got hot water in my garage hose reel just for that purpose. Having the garage heated also helps melt off accumulations overnight. Then you get to start all over again in summer repairing and staying ahead of corrosion.

[TexasF355F1]

Holy crap, that's quite a move.

Why are you moving way up there? I bet it's beautiful.

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Ac ouple of reasons: My folks need someone to take care of their retirement house for 3 years. My wife is expecting, and we are trying to save for a house of our own. We could live there rent free, just pay utilities. It is a 2 story house on a lake and another reason is I need a fresh start I think, or maybe an extended vacation.

Had a very rough summer, my only big brother comitted suicide, the last time I saw him was at my wedding. So there are several reasons I guess. My stepdad has been asking me to go there for several years. He finally sweetened the deal by even offering to pay the moving company, So basically its a no brainer.

Any experience with cold weather driving?

[wrparks]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

Any experience with cold weather driving?

My . If you think it's snow, make sure before you leave. Could be ice. If ice, stay home. If it really is snow, just take your time and don't do anything sudden and your fine until some other idiot comes alont.

I mention ice because here in the Raleigh area of NC, we have lots of transplanted northerners who thing they can drive when it snows here. Admittedly, most of us can't drive when it snows here, but at least we know it. A few winters ago, it snowed like 1/16 of an inch and shut the city down. The problem was, the snow melted on the highway, then almost instanly refroze. The natives had no problem, we just didn't go anywhere. The problems were the transplants who thought, oh, I used to drive on snow all the time, I can take that easy. It wasn't pretty. Course up there, odds are you won't get as much icing as in some of transition zones.

[silverado122775]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

Had a very rough summer, my only big brother comitted suicide, the last time I saw him was at my wedding.

Any experience with cold weather driving?

I am very sorry for your loss.
I am sure your move to NH will help you through.

I have driven through just about everything all over the nation.
skinny tires are best in the winter. if you encouter ice.. best to stay below 20 mph and do not step on the brakes hard. gently step on them until you come to a stop. give yourself double even 3 times the distance to stop than you normally would.
Over all.. just be smart. Don't go out unless you have to.

[samucurr]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

Any experience with cold weather driving?

First good snow=play time. Find a nice big empty parking lot, and blow a few doughnuts, slide the truck around a lot, see how it handles, and most of all, get used to wat the snow does to you. Experience counts for everything. Get a good set of snows on some cheap rims. The rims will pay for themselves quickly by not having to remount the tires twice a year.

[HanibalTheCannibal]

I am eyeballing a set of the same stock aluminum rims that I currently have. They are the 16X7 rims. Nice looking too! I have michelins now, and I see that michelin has an X-ice series out. I was thinking they may be a good set.

1. What width should I get? (P235-75-16 P235-80-16? etc etc) Is wider better? I noticed that most snow tires are sold as 60's and 50's series (wide ones).

2. I will have a 200 pound fiberglass cap, and the back of my truck will have tool box loaded, misc jacks, spare, ladder, etc etc. You think this will be ok weight-wise? So the more weight the better?

3. I will definitely try the parking lot do-nut thing and get the feel for the snow. I want to see when my tires will break free from accelration etc. I would also check stopping distance etc etc.

4. I will follow the salt protection as described earlier.

New Hampshire keeps some of th ebest roads I have seen. They have tolls for out-of-towners to help pay for the maintenance. Residents of NH can get the "NH Coins" for like 8/$1.00 whereas anyone else uses a quarter So I am comfortable that the roads are kept well.

I worry mainly for my wife. She is going to have my first child when we get there. We were fixing to get an AWD suv of some type. But now with the baby on the way, that has to wait. So we will have only my truck to use.

Anyway Please let me know about the tire size width, and weight.

I AM SOOOOO WORRIED about having a 2wd. Everyone I talk to says I will be fine. My stepdad grew up there all they had were 2wd (Rear wheel drive at that). SO anyway.

Thanks

[muff34]

Yes VERY sorry for your loss ,I had a Bro inlaw do that on the 9th of nov.`95. Lots of good advice here. As for tires check out BRidgestone Blizzack winter tires. They have an aggressive tread pattern which helps dig into the snow.They are also made up of a softer rubber compound and as a result stay more plyable in the colder weather. Because they are a soft tire you do not want to leave them on too long in the spring. Definately buy 4 tires what ever you buy. 60 series tires will be ok but if fell better going abit narrower go for it. As for rims I may look for something without to many large openings so that I can keep the snow out away from brakes. Your weight should be good ,but you may want to pick up a couple bags of sand /salt ,a little more weight and it may come in handy . Try to get the weight over the drives if possible, too much weight to far back past drives will take weight off your front end. Definately do the big field fishtail /donut thing .just don`t get to horny if you got good tires and weight you should be ok. One other thing the first snow or two it is usually mild 20 > 30 degrees and you will find it more slippery as snow is loaded up with moisture, as it gets colder out snow tightens up and is not quite as bad. you will Know what I mean when you experience it. Don`t worry about it you`ll be ok just watch out for the other clowns out there. Good luck with everything YOU`LL BE FINE. Just some friendly advice from a "Northerner " north of the border.

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Ok, I will look at those. I want to acquire some rims and tires BEFORE I get there. I can have them shipped by the movers and then I wont have to worry about it when I get there.

I can easily put a few bags of quickrete or sand over my rear wheels. I never thought that would be a good idea.

So, I definitely want to have snow tires ALL THE WAY AROUND? Not just in the back?


Thanks

[muff34]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

Ok, I will look at those. I want to acquire some rims and tires BEFORE I get there. I can have them shipped by the movers and then I wont have to worry about it when I get there.

I can easily put a few bags of quickrete or sand over my rear wheels. I never thought that would be a good idea.

So, I definitely want to have snow tires ALL THE WAY AROUND? Not just in the back?


Thanks

you can get away with just rears ,Some people think it`s waste of money to do all 4 but if sure is a good feeling to know that the fronts are digging in while turning corners. I used to be one of them.lol. if you can afford it go for it. Remember softer compound is more plyable in the cold. Good Luck to you and your family . it really is no biggy. Just wait till you buy a sled and go snow mobiling yeee hawww.

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Originally Posted by muff34

Just wait till you buy a sled and go snow mobiling yeee hawww.

We anxiously await that day

Nice avatar BTW

I will get 4 of them for piece of mind. I dont like to skimp on certain things and that is one of them. I like the idea of having ability to slow down/ stop if I need to

[muff34]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

We anxiously await that day

Nice avatar BTW

I will get 4 of them for piece of mind. I dont like to skimp on certain things and that is one of them. I like the idea of having ability to slow down/ stop if I need to

Ya better safe than sorry when it comes to Family . Thanks

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

Ac ouple of reasons: My folks need someone to take care of their retirement house for 3 years. My wife is expecting, and we are trying to save for a house of our own. We could live there rent free, just pay utilities. It is a 2 story house on a lake and another reason is I need a fresh start I think, or maybe an extended vacation.

Had a very rough summer, my only big brother comitted suicide, the last time I saw him was at my wedding. So there are several reasons I guess. My stepdad has been asking me to go there for several years. He finally sweetened the deal by even offering to pay the moving company, So basically its a no brainer.

Any experience with cold weather driving?

I'm truly sorry to hear about your brother. I can only imagine how tough that would be.

Good reasons to move. I've actually cotemplated a "big" change for me too. Just take myself out of my current environment and start fresh. But I doubt I'll do it.

[HanibalTheCannibal]

I hear you.... many people (including me) go through their life and just ignore that little thought (or hope) that wants a change. Heck, even a small change can help