[schleppcar]

I've learned to have respect for the right tires - now more than ever. I grew up in Chicago - and back in the 70's most of the big American cars were tanks and rear wheel drive too. Driving in the winter was never a joy but it was doable simply because of the tires - rear wheel drive was normal so you never heard anyone gasp in awe at your audacity if you told them you were piloting a rwd in the winter time. Speaking of tires - here's another interesting observation: rain. The tires they make today do a much better job of displacing water than they used to - which is why there is so much spray on the interstates. In the old days - it didn't look like a fogbank cranking down the highway - nowadays everyone makes huge vapor clouds.