The reason you need winter tires is that they are made for winter. any other tire will not perform in the cold as well. It is not just for snow. THe use you have for winter tires is for the softer rubber compound that give better traction even on pavement.

Keep in mind that untill you crash, you dont need even all season, you dont need any tread at all.. if you drive on slicks you can adjust your driving for the conditions. maybe even stay at home some days. The reason you get snow tires is to have the extra traction when you dont expect it. The whole point is to avoid an accident.
There is no question that using winter tires saves money in the long run. for the same level of quality, snow tires are always less than the equivalent summer or all season tires. the most expensive summer rubber is more than the most expensive winter rubber, same for the least expensive.
geeze you guys are really hard headed about this one. It is a question of pay now or pay later. It is shortsighted to think that winter tires are expenive.

Now also there is a major pain in the but factor when the roads are clogged with all season drivers during a snow storm, everyone must adapt to the traction of the worst equipped car. It is totally wrong to be out there driving so slowly and causing a traffic jam because you think your all seasons are "good enough" The cost to society is HUGE.

Now for the CLUTCH.
If you ride the release bearing it will fail before the rest of the clutch. Driving training would tell you keep your foot off the clutch as much as is practicle.
if you are in the middle of a manoeuvre, go a head and stay in first, it makes logical and safe sense. If you are at a crossroads and waiting for a chance to merge, go ahead again.
But if you are waiting at a red light with cars stopped all around you, it is not necessary or logical to stay in first.
You will eventually kill the release bearing.
Just use common sense. is that so hard?
If you are alone at a red light and you have a fear of someone coming out of nowhere and risking something.. well I say pay the hell attention to the world around you. It takes a second to get into gear and get rolling, you should be well aware of all dangers around you that are a second away from you. watch your mirrors, and beside you, when a car approaches in a way that makes you nervous,,, then you can get into gear if you think it helps.
But the engineering fact of all this is that the clutch and release bearing eventually wear out. it is driver influencable.


If you use basic logic and common sense, and minimise the cluch wear... You will have more than enough money saved to buy winter tires!!

 

you are getting forgettfull or something man..I addressed the deductable earlier.... you are being dumb man.. the cost is the cost.. you cant hide from it. Time will tell.

it is amazing that attitude about the clutchis going to go anyway...? i am specifically talking about the release bearing.

I can easily move out of the way from anything that appears from the distance..if you cant see cars approachingwithout several seconds of warning.. then you should really not be stopped wherever you are. get out of thatunsafe spot.

Like I said.. use common sense.. not dumb arguements and you willbe fine.

 

will you please acknowledge that deductable is just part of the puzzle.. if you make too many claims then your premiums go up. in the end you pay... there is no free money.