Summer tires make such a difference

[horse123]

I just switched out my Blizzak WS80s (65 sidewall) for Direzza ZIIs (40 sidewall) and even with the weather still being below ideal for the summer compound, these things handle so amazingly. I thought "How much of a difference can a shorter sidewall and different compound really make?", and apparently the answer is enough to put a huge smile on my face when I go around corners.

The only problem I forsee right now is I probably won't have the money to spend on extreme performance summer tires again, so once these are gone it's back to high performance summer tires and less of a smile on my face.

 

[SumpChump]

I hope it doesn't snow much again.

 

[silveravant]

Be very careful when it's cold (I assume it gets cold in MN). Summer tires also have poor traction below about 40 degrees.

 

[fdcg27]

Well, yeah!
A good set of all seasons would have made a big difference, never mind a set of hi-po summers.
The last Blizzaks we had were awesome in snow and ice conditons and squishy under any other conditions.
This is one of the reasons that I'm not a big fan of winter tires.
90% of our winter driving is on dry roads.
The other 10% just requires a little more care in driving.

 

[horse123]

Originally Posted By: silveravant
Be very careful when it's cold (I assume it gets cold in MN). Summer tires also have poor traction below about 40 degrees.


I put them on because the extended forecast is showing for a minimum of about 35 for the next week, and in MN usually when that happens the snow is done for the year. I have an R32 with all seasons to borrow if we do get significant snow again though.

 

[krzyss]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Well, yeah!
A good set of all seasons would have made a big difference, never mind a set of hi-po summers.
The last Blizzaks we had were awesome in snow and ice conditons and squishy under any other conditions.
This is one of the reasons that I'm not a big fan of winter tires.
90% of our winter driving is on dry roads.
The other 10% just requires a little more care in driving.


Have you tried winter performance tires?
Your driving environment seems to match what they are designed for.

Krzys

 

[horse123]

Originally Posted By: krzyss
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Well, yeah!
A good set of all seasons would have made a big difference, never mind a set of hi-po summers.
The last Blizzaks we had were awesome in snow and ice conditons and squishy under any other conditions.
This is one of the reasons that I'm not a big fan of winter tires.
90% of our winter driving is on dry roads.
The other 10% just requires a little more care in driving.


Have you tried winter performance tires?
Your driving environment seems to match what they are designed for.

Krzys


Blizzaks are performance category winter tires.

 

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted By: horse123
Originally Posted By: krzyss
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Well, yeah!
A good set of all seasons would have made a big difference, never mind a set of hi-po summers.
The last Blizzaks we had were awesome in snow and ice conditons and squishy under any other conditions.
This is one of the reasons that I'm not a big fan of winter tires.
90% of our winter driving is on dry roads.
The other 10% just requires a little more care in driving.


Have you tried winter performance tires?
Your driving environment seems to match what they are designed for.

Krzys


Blizzaks are performance category winter tires.


Not all of them. The LM series blizzaks are performance tires. The WS series are not and are much squishier.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: horse123
Originally Posted By: krzyss
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Well, yeah!
A good set of all seasons would have made a big difference, never mind a set of hi-po summers.
The last Blizzaks we had were awesome in snow and ice conditons and squishy under any other conditions.
This is one of the reasons that I'm not a big fan of winter tires.
90% of our winter driving is on dry roads.
The other 10% just requires a little more care in driving.


Have you tried winter performance tires?
Your driving environment seems to match what they are designed for.

Krzys


Blizzaks are performance category winter tires.

Blizzaks LM series are winter performance, WS are not. Even LM are not really that good as Dunlop Winter Sport etc.
Summer tires in warm weather are the best choice, winter in cold, it is simple as that. I consider AS tires best lie that tire industry sold to drivers.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: horse123
I just switched out my Blizzak WS80s (65 sidewall) for Direzza ZIIs (40 sidewall) and even with the weather still being below ideal for the summer compound, these things handle so amazingly. I thought "How much of a difference can a shorter sidewall and different compound really make?", and apparently the answer is enough to put a huge smile on my face when I go around corners.

The only problem I forsee right now is I probably won't have the money to spend on extreme performance summer tires again, so once these are gone it's back to high performance summer tires and less of a smile on my face.


I routinely have summer tires on my sig car and one other auto around here. But of course we do not see the ridiculously low temps many others do.

Still, many days have seen us leave the house with ambient temps in the 30's and I have never had a "fear" of my summers. Always seem better than my other choices!

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8


I routinely have summer tires on my sig car and one other auto around here. But of course we do not see the ridiculously low temps many others do.

Still, many days have seen us leave the house with ambient temps in the 30's and I have never had a "fear" of my summers. Always seem better than my other choices!


uh Florida vs MN? thats apples and oranges.

Even if the snow is almost done you can have overnight freezing of snow melt etc.. that is just plain scary with max perf. summer tires.

In ohio my yard has 1ft of ice on it still its 48F today

overnight temps can be 20F or lower. I did put the oem all seasons back on to enjoy the 10% better MPG and save the squishy blizak's from excessive wear.

If I lived in florida or parts of california I'd probably run only summer tires.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8


I routinely have summer tires on my sig car and one other auto around here. But of course we do not see the ridiculously low temps many others do.

Still, many days have seen us leave the house with ambient temps in the 30's and I have never had a "fear" of my summers. Always seem better than my other choices!


uh Florida vs MN? thats apples and oranges.

Even if the snow is almost done you can have overnight freezing of snow melt etc.. that is just plain scary with max perf. summer tires.

In ohio my yard has 1ft of ice on it still its 48F today

overnight temps can be 20F or lower. I did put the oem all seasons back on to enjoy the 10% better MPG and save the squishy blizak's from excessive wear.

If I lived in florida or parts of california I'd probably run only summer tires.


Under 40 degrees ambient is where many summer tires turn into bricks.

Yeah, your winters up there are much harsher, but that doesn't mean it won't get cold enough down here to make us think twice about how we attack on/off ramps when it's cold.

 

[Joel_MD]

This year I'm doing a major refresh to my 2003 Saab, including new suspension bushings/springs/shocks/etc. I'm also upgrading the brakes and modifying the engine. I've been running 215-55-16 Pirelli P6 all-seasons, which are not that great in any season. I intend to buy some 17" Saab Aero rims and mount some 225-45-17 Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires, and next fall I'll buy some snow tires for the 16" wheels for the winter season, perhaps the General Altimax Arctic. Looking forward to using tires that are more suited for the conditions.