AS Tires vs Winter+Summer Tires

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: D189379

Why is that funny?

I don't have race tires and I don't need them.


I was talking about snow tires?

I have yet to talk to anyone who has used a modern design snow tire (in last 10 years or so) that does not think the difference is amazing... Well ok the original Michelin pilot alpin's were horrid...

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Well ok the original Michelin pilot alpin's were horrid...

Glad you mentioned it. The original Pilot Alpin was my first ever winter tire, and I agree that it sucked in the snow. But I only realized how seriously bad it was after I experienced some other winter tires such as various Nokians and my current General Altimax Arctic.

 

[D189379]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: D189379

Why is that funny?

I don't have race tires and I don't need them.


I was talking about snow tires?

I have yet to talk to anyone who has used a modern design snow tire (in last 10 years or so) that does not think the difference is amazing... Well ok the original Michelin pilot alpin's were horrid...

Okay, let me simplify. I don't have snow tires, and I feel that I don't need them.

I find them very underwhelming in the snow and ice, and actually quite dangerous when there isn't any snow on the ground. (Blizzaks and X-ice for reference)

 

[sciphi]

After having been in several situations where I wished for more grip stopping/turning on all-seasons during the winter while growing up, I got snow tires when I could afford them.

Having driven on good all seasons (Pirelli P4's) and good snow tires (General Altimax Arctic) on the same car in similar conditions, I'll never go to all-seasons again during the deep winter. The snows flat-out outperformed the all-seasons.

Even when there isn't any snow, I still prefer snows over all-seasons during the deep winter. My current Nokian Hakka R snow tires do everything better than the all-seasons on my Cruze once the winter hits. They ride better, are far quieter, and have superior wet pavement performance. I can spin the all-seasons without a second thought on moderate acceleration on wet pavement. The snows don't spin in those same conditions. The only fault they have is slightly slower handling. That's more the fault of the tire size and speed rating (16"/R speed rating snows vs. 17"/V speed rating all-seasons).

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
That's more the fault of the tire size and speed rating (16"/R speed rating snows vs. 17"/V speed rating all-seasons).

I think the Arctic is actually Q-rated.

 

[rjundi]

Definitely a nice safety measure with regards to winter tires.

Summer tires have little benefit IMHO over top tier performance all-seasons except on track. That is unless you drive pretty hard(approach agressivily) or have a really poor handling vehicle.

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

I think for my climate, Dallas, Tx. area, high performance all seasons are great for my Mustang GT. I get performance that is close to summer tires and good wet traction on Yokohama YK 580's. We get enough cold days in the winter that summer tires get dangerous. If I lived in a harsher climate I would get winter tires. I might not even drive a Mustang GT.

 

[krzyss]

Try performance winters, they are like winter optimized all seasons.

Krzys

 

[CBR.worm]

Down here summer tires are a safe bet. A couple times a year they will get slick when the temps drop near freezing. The other 360 days they are great.

When I was racing, rain tires were the holy grail when wet. The difference was incredible - but if the track dried you had to aim for the puddles to keep them from melting and get them off ASAP.

The right tire for the job is one of the most important safety decisions you can make.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: sciphi
That's more the fault of the tire size and speed rating (16"/R speed rating snows vs. 17"/V speed rating all-seasons).

I think the Arctic is actually Q-rated.


He was speaking of his current Hakka Rs, (referring to the R speed rating) NOT the Arctics on his previous winter setup(s).

 

[DFrost]

Originally Posted By: krzyss
Try performance winters, they are like winter optimized all seasons.

Krzys

I've loved every set of Dunlop Wintersports I've had on four different cars. My first set transformed a non-traction control '93 BMW 325i from useless in the snow into a decent ski car!

They compromise very little, if any, on dry and wet roads (our typical Pacific NW winter conditions), but they are great when we do get a dump, which is often that nasty 32-33F sloppy stuff, and they've also been fine when I'm driving over the Cascade mountain passes in blizzard and "chains required" conditions. (Yes, I had chains. No, I didn't need to use them.) They're not quite the magical snow/ice tires like Blizzaks, but they last much longer and don't have any steering squirm, excess noise or odd handling behavior, either.

And I've yet to wear out a set of four in less then 5 winters when we usually put 3K on each car.