by Jared Ban
Today my colleague and I were discussing winter driving conditions when accessing homes or subdivision?s which are located on steep, winding, or elevated locations.
I am a local resident who has driven in the winter months since I was 15 years old, so driving on icy/snowy roads doesn?t bother me, but I totally understand that clients moving here from milder climates might not be aware of the steps that local residents take to prepare for driving during the winter months.
My colleague also told me that when her and her family moved from California to Idaho, she would?ve loved for someone to share with her those steps the locals take to prepare for winter driving. I said that’s a great idea, so I would like to share with you my opinion on snow tires vs. all season tires for driving in North Idaho.
I have run studded snow tires, mud + snow tires, and all-season radials. They all have their pro?s and con?s, but if you are not used to driving on icy/snowy roads, I would suggest running a winter traction tire in the winter months then changing those tires out to a summer/all-season tire in the spring.
My 16 year old daughter runs Hankook Winter i*pike RW11 tires that in my opinion are the best on the market. My eldest daughter runs Toyo Celsius all-season tires with a snow rating. My wife drives a Toyota 4-Runner and runs BF Goodrich Baja All-Terrain T/A K02 with a snow rating.
I point this out because every person has different driving abilities, and different applications. My 16 year old primarily drives in town, and ventures out to the ski resort from time to time, whereas my oldest daughter spends a lot of time commuting to work on the interstate. My wife?s company requires her to drive on mountain roads in mud and snow.
The driving styles and primary use should be considered when buying a winter traction tire. If you are new to the area, I would suggest using a studded snow tire, or the Hankook Winter i*pike RW11.
Here are a few links to tires that I recommend: https://www.hankooktire.com/us/passenger-cars/hankook-winter-i-pike-rw11.html
https://www.toyotires.com/tire/pattern/all-weather-tire-celsius-variable-conditions
https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tires/all-terrain/all-terrain-t-a-ko2.html
http://us.coopertire.com/tires/evolution-winter
There are several local shops in Kootenai County that sell winter traction tires.
? Perfection Tire
? Les Schwabs
? Discount Tire
? Costco
All ways remember to buckle up and keep an extra long distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Don?t forget that Semi-Trucks and trucks with trailers need additional space to stop.
Happy winter driving!
Jared Ban
Jared Ban is a REALTOR? with Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty and team member of Lake CDA Real Estate. Jared is also a native Idahoan and proud veteran. For more information or to get in touch with Jared, go to: https://destinationliving.co/jaredban/
