Portland man wants studded tires banned

highest point in Maine, 5,267 feet.

highest point in Oregon, 11,239 feet

 

FYI 70% of the state's population lives in the valley.

 

I travel there for pleasure as well, usually around the winter time, it is usually covered in snow when I am visiting and I never bothered with anything more than all-weather tires and chains in the trunk. Never had to put the chains when going to Bend, SunRiver or the like, even when there is snow around. I would argue that the vast majority of people that go there - even if it is more often than twice a year, are just fine with proper stud-less tires. Given that I did get to live on the east coast during proper snow blizzards - I stand by what I said, most Oregonians do not need studded tires if they actually had a clue how to drive in the snow. The snow in Oregon, including central Oregon - is not that bad.

For crying out loud, Portland has mighty hilly sections and I am telling you - there is no problem going up or down them with good stud-less tires during snow. I have done it repeatedly over Thompson road, up and down Skyline in a RWD early 90s BMW with Blizzaks - and it never lacked grip. You just had to be careful and pay attention - it it was no problem.

Of course, the same women and seniors would have to change the studded tires a lot more often as they do not last anywhere as long as stud-less tires - and deteriorate much faster...

So, the real Maris displays his spots. He is a Cityist...

 

How many people ascend Mt. Hood with a car all the way to the top?

FWIW - the highest road on Mt. Hood is at 6920ft (Park Ridge) - the same elevation as Mt. Washington where people often drive to the top (New Hampshire, not Maine, to be honest, but all these states are so tiny it's about as far as Portland to Bend...).

 

I'm looking at getting either the Nokian WRG2 SUV or the WR SUV for our Tahoe. Some friends/coworkers have these tires and say they are the best tire they've ever owned.

 

We have 2 sets on our "daily drivers" - they will go through 99% of what you need in the Portland area - they are not as good a summer tire as dedicated summer tires (does not matter for a SUV) - they are not as good in the snow as dedicated snow tires - but overall for a daily driver - they are fantastic, long life, do not need chains or replacing the tires for most uses in the Portland area even in snow conidtion, pretty quiet - and absolutely the best wet weather traction of any tire I have sampled.

Would not get them for a sports car, would not get them to do mud, but for every day, year round use in our climate - can't think of a better tire. I love them.

One point however, I am talking about the car tires. I do not know anything about SUV tires.

 

lol what is your point?

 

haha, I know (Mt. Washington is about 30 mins away from where I stay in Maine)....and I'm sure nobody attempts to climb it, or Mt.Hood, in a snow storm. I think anywhere there is a mountain range nearby, there are lots of hills and valleys to drive through, maybe the hills in Oregon are steeper and the valleys are lower and harder to climb because the highest point is higher? I doubt it.

 

I wonder how a Volt does in the snow and ice?

 

People attempt to climb Mt. Hood in a snow storm all the time.... they just don't live to tell about it.

 

...and travels over the passes in the snow to the nicer side of the state every chance they get.

 

Oh sure, rub it in.

 

[video=youtube;Wp2sqrfGSPI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp2sqrfGSPI&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;iawEugjFqTg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iawEugjFqTg[/video]

[video=youtube;ohOpQb914Ig]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohOpQb914Ig&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;enVkYaJZ0Dg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enVkYaJZ0Dg&feature=related[/video]

 

I'm getting these for my Tahoe. Great all weather tires.

http://www.nokiantires.com/tyre?id=11952&group=2.02&name=Nokian+Vatiiva+A%2FT

 

BTW, when on the Blazer main page, when this thread is at the top it reads "Portland man wants studded...". Did anyone else think the next word would be a body part? Nipples, ball sack, etc.?

 

Keep Portland Weird!

 

Studs will not be banned in Portland as long as Sam Adams is Mayor.

 

If studs were banned in Portland, HCP would have to move.

 

Doesn't most of Portland shut down anyway when theres icey conditions and most bosses are aware of their workers not getting to work?
If i remember correctly we only got 1 day of freezing rain this winter, and the year before 1 day of snow? Yes, the winter of 2008 was bad and shut down PDX airport and the max train.
But seriously, this isn't the midwest where they get colder temperatures.