My wife and I live in a suburban/rural area and it snows here almost every year. We have two cars (mine and hers) and only one set of winter tires (for my car).
In the past my wife would refuse to drive her car when it snows because she didn’t have winter tires. This wasn’t usually a problem since she worked out of the house anyway. This year, however, my wife got a job out of the house. She drives there and it’s in town about 2 km away.
Low and behold it’s supposed to snow next week and she wants to buy winter tires for her car to go to work.
I come from Chicago (where it snows much more than here) and my family never used winter tires ever.
Do we really need another set of winter tires? Why do Japanese seem obsessed with them? Everyone seems to have a set but back in the US I never knew anyone who bothered with them.
EDIT
Wow. Woke up this morning under a dog pile. Didn’t realize I was gonna be branded the bad guy today but I can take it.
Despite my gut reaction to delete this post, I think I’ll just take my L but before I do, I’m gonna add a little context.
First, yes, I have winter tires. At the time we got them, I still wasn’t sure they were necessary. At the time we had the money for them and I went along with my wife’s and her father’s recommendations. We bought them way before covid and the yen tanked. The reason my wife got her new job was to help get us out of the red on our debts. I am luckier than most but she and I are both working to keep our heads above water.
No matter how we factor things, we cannot afford tires this winter season. I don’t know about used tires or how good they are but we will figure something out. We always do.
Second, yeah, I was probably blowing off a little steam after talking to the missus about whether we actually need a new set of winter tires. I admit that I probably should’ve seen this coming with the title I chose and the way I posted the above. (Not gonna change it though) Maybe if I had made the central focus on the purpose and utility of winter tires instead of complaining then I wouldn’t have gotten this response. This does not mean we have a bad relationship. I am not some jaded Bruce or some off the boat jerk who doesn’t know about life in Japan. I’m gonna show her this thread and I’m sure she’s gonna laugh at it.
Third, to those who actually answer my question about the necessity of winter tires, thank you. You guys were the reason for this post. I’m gonna reread your comments and make an informed decision.
Have a nice day y’all!