tires suck in snow

[chuyler1]

unless you have studded snow tires or chains...ice is ice.

As far as stopping is concerned, I still believe that it is 80% driving skills and 20% tires...unless you have no tread left on your all-seasons or are driving on performance tires.

Accelerating, getting out of parking spots, and going uphill is another story...aggressive tread and 4wd/awd will help you there.

 

[rocketspeed]

Have you ever had a good set of snows? Not the old school truck tire kind, but the new school ones, like Blizzaks? The ice performance of these tires is incredible, very close to studs without the studs. I used to feel the same way as you until I went the snow tire route. Now I wouldn't even consider an all-season tire on a performance car, as you're getting the worst of both worlds. Compromised summer performance and iffy winter performance.

While no tire is going to overcome bad driving technique, its fact that the right studless tire will stop you a lot faster on ice. Take a hockey rink, for example:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/studless_2002.jsp

 

[jersey_emt]

There's a pretty steep hill near my house that I have no problem getting up with my snow tires. It's funny to watch the look on an 4WD SUV driver's face when you pass right by them...when they can't even make it up the hill.

 

[rocketspeed]

Here's another opinion:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtc/brochure/winter/winterAllSeason.jsp

According to the Quebec Ministry of Transportation (I assume they know winter up there), proper snows provide "up to 25 percent better breaking and 38 percent better collision avoidance" when compared to all season tires.

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/auto_and_trucks/article_56.shtml

I routinely rip past crashed and/or stuck SUV's, Audis and WRX's when we get snow here.

 

[muohio]

Even though we only have a couple bad driving days a year, I'm going to fork out the money for a set of snow tires and steel rims. Seems such a shame to spend $500 for a set for a few days of actual use, but after messing up my rim on the ice, it's worth the cost. I can see why all those in Canada and up north need a set for the season.

 

[rocketspeed]

Mine have been on since the 2nd week I had the car

 

[SaaBaaDoo]

I have those Blizzak WS-50's...all I can say is that they are awesome!!!

 

[ChopstickHero]

summer time = use summer tires.
winter time = use winter tires.

 

[mazdaspeedpower]

I have noticed an increadible difference with my snow tires compared to my stock P5 tires(when I had it). Youcan't say braking distance is the same, I have noticed that I can slow the car down in a much shorter distance. Granted, if I'm going really fast, I still slide alot, just not as much as I did on all seasons. I fell the tires gripping teh ice and snow, rather than skating across it. I have more traction accelerating and cornering aswell. Of course, the best mod to go with snow tires, is driving carefully and defensivley, but I can do all of theta much safer now with snow's. You obviously have little to no idea what you're talking about when you say snow tires make no difference, it's all driver skill. There is driver skill involved, just not your 80-20 ratio, it's more like 60% driver, 40% tires. They do make a difference. You wanna tell me different, come here, test my car on snow and ice, once with stock rubber, once with snows. We'll se who is right.
This is not a flame, I just disagree with your opinion, and posted my opinion...

 

[Pska]

I threw some sweet Toyo Winter 15's on my MSP and I drive it like its stolen, drifting around corners in my hood in pretty deep snow... almost hit a stop sign once, but was able to e-brake/spin JUST out of the way... man snow driving is awesome s***

 

[Pska]

summer time = use summer tires.
winter time = use winter tires.

GENIUS! lol, finally someone said what should ahve been said as the first reply.

 

[rocketspeed]

What about spring and fall?

 

[ping]

040's until there's even a CHANCE of snow, then snow Semperits, then 040's when there's NO chance for snow. Learned that lesson long ago

Good advice, Rocketspeed, fully agree. My car has the same number of tires braking and steering as any SUV, with far less mass and a lower center of gravity. I've walked several SUVs this winter already, including a very poorly driven H2! Loved the look on her face as this little black sedan simply drove away from her.

And Dex, sorry to disagree, but I absolutely don't think it's BS that Mazda put the 040 on the MSP. What is BS is that the dealer doesn't tell folks that these aren't for all-season use - and they could sell snows and finance 'em so it's even in their best interest!

As for AWD vs FrontWD, I really DO like the front wheel drive and turbo in the snow - with the proper tires. With the LSD, this thing's almost a jeep! A subie or SUV in decent tires will walk away from me on uphills, tho, but turns and braking is the same (tires and driver skill taken as constants). I never checked, but I don't think the subie handles e-brake turning as well, and doesn't rotate as well under LFB. I like this MSP in snow...

 

[muohio]

What about spring and fall?

They have new fall and spring tires

It is funny reading these threads because those in Canada and northern US seem to think in terms of black and white. It's not so simple when you live in a place where it snows bad a couple days a year or rarely like the southern east coast. For us, snow tires can be a waste since the roads are either clear or ice. Even in Cincinnati, I can count on one hand the number of times in the last 3 years where snow tires would of helped. On the other side, when I lived in Cleveland, I can't count the number of times that they where helpful.

Therefore:

Winter in Northern US or Canada = winter tires
Winter for others = stay home
Summer = summer tires

 

[Damaga]

You know, tire makers would make a lot more money if people realize that driving in winter with winter tires is the smart thing to do...
for some reason, people think that all-season tires will do it in winter time...I mean, they're fine for city driving where snow is quickly removed but that's it!
Highway driving = winter tires during winter!

 

[ping]

muohio - I'd still not wear the 040's if there's a chance of snow and would have another set of shoes available, make 'em all-seasons, not snows. Tha'ts what I used to do here in NJ, had a set of Yoke A378's that were pretty good in snow, then performance tires for summer. The 040's and other performance tires actually get hard when they're cold (no smart remarks, there, Beavis), get noisy and don't grip as well, so all-seasons are a good alternative in your situation, but have to be driven more carefully in snow than snows do. It's nice to have a change of pace, keep some miles off your good summer tires, and keep those low-profile setups out of the way of winter potholes. Snow tires actually can pay for themselves that way.

That, or just change the 040's out for all-seasons when they wear out (which, by many accounts, happens pretty soon, around 24kmiles...).

 

[Dexter]

And Dex, sorry to disagree, but I absolutely don't think it's BS that Mazda put the 040 on the MSP. What is BS is that the dealer doesn't tell folks that these aren't for all-season use - and they could sell snows and finance 'em so it's even in their best interest!

you are foolish for taking my post seriously

 

[velokid]

muohio - I'd still not wear the 040's if there's a chance of snow and would have another set of shoes available, make 'em all-seasons, not snows.

Another alternative would be the new Nokian "All Weather" tires: http://www.nokiantires.com/newsite/tires_popup.cfm?id=6

They are a compromise between dedicated snow tires and all seasons, but still meet the severe service regulations for being a real snow and ice tire (rather than the meaningless mud and snow designations that most all seasons have).

I'm not sure if any other companies make somthing similar - I hope so, 'cuz I'm sure the Nokians aren't cheap...

 

[kevducridr]

I have lived in Michigan all my life, which sucks in winter time:mad:, and have driven on many different types of tires. I owned a P5 for the last two years and the Dunlops on it were "ok" in the snow. You had to plan ahead but they were still decent. After getting my MSP this January, I couldn't even get down my own street. They offer no traction in the white stuff and are scary as hell in slush in heavy traffic. I went out to see one of the guys on the board about some winter tires/wheels and ended up getting 15" steelies and some BF Goodrich All-seasons and he "siped" them for me for extra wet/snow traction. Spent under $500.00 for the set of 4. These things rock in the snow, now I am moving faster out there than some of the 4X4's with no fear at all. I could not believe how poor the Bridgestones were in the snow. I had read about them on the board, but until it took me 45 minutes to go 2 blocks down my own street two weeks ago, I was convince they were no good in the snow and I went and spent the $$$. Plus you don't have to worry about potholes as much and your RE040's will last that much longer with less mileage on them.

For those that don't know, the RE040's are a summer tire. Actually get down on your knees and look at them, they have no tread on the edges of the tire. They are 100% summer driving tires. If you go look at any all-season or snow tire, they have much blockier tread and more importantly tread on the edges of the tire. The "siping" I had done provides more flexibility in the tread and actually pushes the water/snow out to the edges of the tires.

Go buy some winter tires and wheels if you can afford them. Just my $.02.

 

[MazdaspeedNJ]

Yeah.....I am definitely getting some steelies and snow tires next year. Stockies get no grip whatsoever. People were passing me and honking as it was snowing like mad and the roads were sh!tty.