The Case for Winter Tires

As I've mentioned a time or two on these pages, my family and I live in Northern Colorado. Over the last few months, we've been dumped on with several feet of the white stuff, making winter driving (and holiday travel) challenging under good conditions, and dangerous under the worst.

While driving home from work a month or two ago during a sudden winter storm, my wife -- driving our 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager SE minivan (pictured), which was shod with Michelin all-season tires at the time -- got stuck just a few blocks from our home. Everyone got home safe and sound, but I became convinced that winter tires (which I'd been promising to install on the minivan for months) were now an absolute neccessity.

Not long after that I called up the Tire Rack and ordered a full set of Bridgestone Blizzak 215/70QR-15 WS-50 winter tires, mounted and balanced on steel rims. I'm currently putting together a photo gallery of the installation and an article with some information about winter tires, which I'll be posting tomorrow afternoon.

In the interim, feel free to take a look at our existing Winter Driving Tips article.
^{photo: © Jeff James}