[quote author=jarry link=topic=134349.msg2894505#msg2894505 date=1233101284]
Just a note that defy's logic. page 8-35 of the '08 mazda3 owners manual says that Overinflating your tire creates a greater possibility of damage from road hazards.
If you want a stiffer tire for driving in snow, why does siping help you get better traction?
With higher pressure your sidewalls are stiffer which doesn't allow your tire to warm up as much while driving.
The tread section of your tire that is generally designed to help you turn are toward the outer part of the tire and having less weight on those because you have more crown on your tire will lessen your ability to take corners.
A stiffer tire is less able to conform to minor bumps, grooves and irregularities making it more likely to have an instant traction loss.
With a lower pressure you have more Tread distortion which helps keep your tires free of ice buildup and snow and your tires get warmer and stay a bit more pliable.
A wide track with wide grooves help you push more snow out of the contact areas. Floating comes from not having enough voids in your tire or having your voids iced up completely.
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Of course OVERINFLATING a tire is not good... we are not talking about exceeding the tire's recommendation. If you increase the pressure of the tire within the operating range it will not be negative, no crowing or anything, which negates all the stiff tire issues you mention. We are also not saying siping does not help - of course it helps. Again, if a wider tire helped get traction in the snow you would see WRC cars run them.
A tire with wide grooves does not push more snow out, it allows a place for the snow ... otherwise you would see summer and winter tires have similar designs. Winter tires have DEEP groves for the snow to go in and evacuate as the tire roles... in theory, these deep groves allow the tire to go beneath the surface snow and contact a harder substrate... ie pavement.
I'm also a puzzled how a tire with 4-6 less psi would retain heat better... that doesn't make any sense. Once a tire reaches its rolling temp... that is what it is. Having a stiffer tire will not affect its operating temp.
