Stock Tires

[pat_smith1969]

Will our stock tires (the Potenza summer/wet tires) be OK in Maryland for this winter. I plan on doing a winter and summer type of rim/tire setup but I just go the car and don't want to do too much to it for a few months.

Maryland doesn't have really bad winters but we do get some snow and a bunch of ice. Should I dump the money into good tires and cheap rims before it snows/freezes or should I try to sneak by this winter and do it next?

 

[08.5MS3]

I personally went and got new snow tires and wheels. My school is in the mountains of PA and it isn't uncommon to have inches of ice with a foot or two of snow piled on top.

It was a bit expensive as I also opted for the TPMS, it came in over a grand for it all.

 

[viper117630]

I'm here in Maryland also worried about the whole summer tire in the winter thing. I know they say that these tires will suck in cold weather but I think I am going to just rough it and see. Dont feel like dumping 1k into cheep wheels and tires right now.

 

[jtspells]

Get some m&s rated rubber and you should be fine.

 

[///M Compact]

I'm here in Maryland also worried about the whole summer tire in the winter thing. I know they say that these tires will suck in cold weather but I think I am going to just rough it and see. Dont feel like dumping 1k into cheep wheels and tires right now.

You will after doing several thousand dollars worth of damage to your car when you wreck it on an icy road. You do not want to be driving on summer tires in wintry weather, especially with a car that can easily overpower the driven wheels in dry conditions.

 

[robin2660]

Will our stock tires (the Potenza summer/wet tires) be OK in Maryland for this winter. I plan on doing a winter and summer type of rim/tire setup but I just go the car and don't want to do too much to it for a few months.

Maryland doesn't have really bad winters but we do get some snow and a bunch of ice. Should I dump the money into good tires and cheap rims before it snows/freezes or should I try to sneak by this winter and do it next?

You will after doing several thousand dollars worth of damage to your car when you wreck it on an icy road. You do not want to be driving on summer tires in wintry weather, especially with a car that can easily overpower the driven wheels in dry conditions.

He's right, you know. You WILL regret it.

 

[Stu C]

Get some m&s rated rubber and you should be fine.

Worst advice EVAR.

 

[cosic]

I left my summers on for the last winter in Toronto. I just bought the car and couldn't afford much else, and told myself I will just drive my moms car when it's bad. But there were a couple of days where I got caught driving home when it started to snow and I was fuckeddddddddddd! Brand new tires, and couldn't hold up in a MM of snow. Worst mistake of my life, and I will never do it again.

 

[Kain]

It baffles me that people will plunk down ~$23k for a car but won't spend a few hundred for a steelie/winter tire set. The stock Potenzas are summer tires. Nevermind if there is any snow or ice on the road, they are not meant to handle winter temperatures here in the DC area. Play Russian Roulette if you want, but one mishap could cost thousands in damage.

Myself, I don't worry about it since my car is garaged and I take public transport to commute, but if the temps are like today, I don't drive anywhere.

 

[Alexsered]

I live in the Maryland area too, and I bought my car last winter. No issues at all with the stockers. If you can't drive your car in the snow without getting winter tires, I really don't think you should be driving in the snow at all (even with winter tires). Seriously, its all about controling your car, I have been driving in the snow for many years, and I take advantage of going out in the snow when ever I can(part because its fun, and part because its about gaining experience in the snow), so maybe its just my experience that helps me, but if you are not confident in the snow, than get winter tires and avoid snow driving at all possible. For everyone's safety.

 

[TheDoc]

I live in the Maryland area too, and I bought my car last winter. No issues at all with the stockers. If you can't drive your car in the snow without getting winter tires, I really don't think you should be driving in the snow at all (even with winter tires). Seriously, its all about controling your car, I have been driving in the snow for many years, and I take advantage of going out in the snow when ever I can(part because its fun, and part because its about gaining experience in the snow), so maybe its just my experience that helps me, but if you are not confident in the snow, than get winter tires and avoid snow driving at all possible. For everyone's safety.

This is the most ridiculous s*** I have read on this forum for a while.

I don't care how "experienced" you are. Summer tires are meant to grab. In the snow, they grab snow. If you manage to get the car going, after about five hundred feet, you have four white donuts instead of wheels and it's quite difficult to stop snow with snow. It's not safe. Period.

I don't disagree that you definitely need confidence to operate any vehicle in poor conditions, but there's a thin line between confidence and ignorance.

 

[Alexsered]

This is the most ridiculous s*** I have read on this forum for a while.

I don't care how "experienced" you are. Summer tires are meant to grab. In the snow, they grab snow. If you manage to get the car going, after about five hundred feet, you have four white donuts instead of wheels and it's quite difficult to stop snow with snow. It's not safe. Period.

I don't disagree that you definitely need confidence to operate any vehicle in poor conditions, but there's a thin line between confidence and ignorance.

thats an arguement for another thread, experienced rally drivers know how to handle their cars even if there tires are complete POS. (watch the rally episode on TOP GEAR to understand what that means)

It's about control, movement, proper braking, proper steering, and using the clutch properly in the snow. I'm not going to argue that winter tires are much better in the snow(because it's common knowledge that they are), but if you are not confident in the snow (like most people in the D.C. area) than avoid the road when it snows even if you have winter tires, we don't need retards driving there cars thinking that just because they have winter tires that they can drive their car the same. That is the most retarded thing people will do.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Because they are trained professionals and mostly have AWD and all terain tires? The tires are graded for temps ABOVE 36 degrees. Anything below and you are rolling the dice. You can/may get away with it but sooner or later you will pay the all mighty by wrecking your car, wrecking someone else or just simply killing some people because you refused to adhere to the rules of tires and get all seasons or winter specific tires. It is not smart to advertise that you can and will get away with summer tires in winter. I have seen PLENTY of rally drivers wreck their cars within a mile of the first stage on GREAT tires and AWD... If you are that good take your bike out next time it snows.

 

[Alexsered]

Because they are trained professionals and mostly have AWD and all terain tires? The tires are graded for temps ABOVE 36 degrees. Anything below and you are rolling the dice. You can/may get away with it but sooner or later you will pay the all mighty by wrecking your car, wrecking someone else or just simply killing some people because you refused to adhere to the rules of tires and get all seasons or winter specific tires. It is not smart to advertise that you can and will get away with summer tires in winter. I have seen PLENTY of rally drivers wreck their cars within a mile of the first stage on GREAT tires and AWD... If you are that good take your bike out next time it snows.

okay, I'll take my dirt bike out. ;-) but we all know why that is different than a street bike.

Living in this area, it snows maybe 5 times a year, and he is asking if it's worth it to buy the tires. I'm saying if you are not confident and dont know how to drive in snow, than yes, and to stay off the roads when it snows!! even if you have winter tires, the driver is the key to all this, not the tires.

 

[pat_smith1969]

I am leaning heavily towards getting winter tires this year as opposed to next. Just gotta see how money works out.

I grew up in Minnesota and am very experienced in snow driving, but up there we always made sure our tires were good around september-ish. Just one of those tings you did to get ready for the winter (like checking your anti-freeze level with one of those floatie things).

 

[Russm]

All weather May Do!

(band2)Good Day
Yoko Avid W4S jus impressed me on my MS3 55 miles home on glare ice, didn't miss a beet, first 2 cars spun backwards on the road where AWD SUV types just lookin at each other, 60 + more on they ride home. Its all in the driver with pretty good tires to boot, Almost killed myself (30 times)on the OEM's last March in 14" snow, good All Seaon are a trmendos improvement especial in on sub freezing road surfaces.

 

[Alexsered]

I am leaning heavily towards getting winter tires this year as opposed to next. Just gotta see how money works out.

I grew up in Minnesota and am very experienced in snow driving, but up there we always made sure our tires were good around september-ish. Just one of those tings you did to get ready for the winter (like checking your anti-freeze level with one of those floatie things).

yeah, there is no doubt that minnesota will get a blizzard every winter, winter tires are definatly a must there.

with the speed3 though, regardless of tires, I wouldn't take it out 5+ inches of snow. Here in maryland and especially the DC area though, we might get 5+ inches one time a year, and when we do, everything shuts down, and people become retards on the road.

 

[jtspells]

Worst advice EVAR.

Listen, i grew up in maine and the most i could ever afford on my 93 mazda 2200 (2.2 mt rwd light truck) was some M&S (if you did not know that means mud and snow rated a.k.a. all seasons) and the 3 years i had the truck i NEVER had an issue so if you have issues driving in MD with all seasons you truly suck to the point you should not ever drive again.

 

[Stu C]

Listen, i grew up in maine and the most i could ever afford on my 93 mazda 2200 (2.2 mt rwd light truck) was some M&S (if you did not know that means mud and snow rated a.k.a. all seasons) and the 3 years i had the truck i NEVER had an issue so if you have issues driving in MD with all seasons you truly suck to the point you should not ever drive again.

Go ahead and research how M+S tires are rated and regulated, then get back to me.

 

[jazzman]

Having grown up in the midwest, I am so glad to live in NC where it rarely snows and I don't need winter tires. When it does snow, my 3 stays in the garage and I stay in the house. The only thing more dangerous than driving in snow without snow tires is driving in snow with other people who do not realize that it requires a completely different set of driving skills. We barely have plows here!!