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Old 09-26-2007, 09:59 PM   #1
thunder_lizard_1976
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Question Tires.. All Seasons, or Winter/ Summer?

I know this one's been done in one form or another 1,000 times already, but I'm looking for advice relevant to my specific situation. I live in southeast Pennsylvania.. which is not known for it's kind winter weather, however the last few years have been surpisingly mild. With winter fast approaching, I'm considering replacement for the RE92s @only 16K. The car is a daily driver, no significant mods as yet, and will never see a track. My question is this... would it make sense to keep one set of aggressive all seasons ( thinking Sumitomo HTR+), and run them year round, or keep two sets of strict summer/ winter only tires? Just looking for pros/ cons and personal experience. Any input from fellow Mid-Atlantic/ Northeast members would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 09-26-2007, 11:16 PM   #2
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I'd rather pick a good set of all season since you are never on track or street race. Bridgestone RE960 should be a compromise between summer and winter tires.
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Old 09-27-2007, 09:08 AM   #3
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I have a summer set and I keep my re92s for winter. The winters here aren't bad enough to warrent a true snow tire IMO.
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Old 09-27-2007, 11:43 AM   #4
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check out the Bridgestone Potenza RE950 with UNI-T AQ II , which is what i'm running .
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Old 09-27-2007, 12:01 PM   #5
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RE960's are great but, no all-season tire is as good as a performance winter tire in temps below 40 degrees, in snow or on ice ....
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Old 09-27-2007, 01:13 PM   #6
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this is where i toss up the nokian WR as an all season/winter tire. All season tire that comes with a severe snow rating, mor ethan enough fo rwhat you will need in pennsylvania. And then a dedicated summer for fun in the sun.
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Old 09-27-2007, 02:46 PM   #7
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Everybody's definition of performance is so different. It's almost worthless to take any advice on any of these "best tire" threads. What one person is happy with, another says it sucks and vice versa. Some people track and autoX their cars and other don't. I think you need to figure out what you want your car to do, then pick a decently rated tire off Tirerack and try it out.
Personally, I am getting sick of switching out winter wheels and summer wheels.
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Old 09-27-2007, 04:52 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luke@tirerack View Post
RE960's are great but, no all-season tire is as good as a performance winter tire in temps below 40 degrees, in snow or on ice ....
I was checking out the tire tests on TireRack.com and, in the ice rink test, the all season was very close to the performance winter tire. I'd planned on some Winter Sport M3s but without the special compounds that the hardcore winter tires have, it didn't seem they'd be much better on ice than than a RE960 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=80).

I don't need a full winter tire and I'm more worried about hitting a hidden patch of ice than having to drive through snow, so it seemed that the AS was a good choice.

Am I missing something???
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Old 09-27-2007, 07:28 PM   #9
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Waktasz, whereabouts in SE PA are you?

Like I said the past few winters have been pretty mild. What I was thinking was going to a straight snow tire for the season, then put the RE92s back on and run them out next summer..I wasn't particularly impressed with them when they were new, now half worn, even less so. But what you're saying does make sense-AS seems the way to go, not to mention it saves me the PITA chore of mounting/ dismounting them twice a year. I want to make sure I have all the tread under me I can, just in case we get hammered this year.

I work for a Bridgestone/ Firestone Affiliated dealer, so I can get any BS/FS, Dayton or Fuzion tire I want on the cheap; I'm just not thoroughly impressed with any of them enough to consider putting Bridgestones back on the car. Thanks for the input!
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Old 09-27-2007, 07:55 PM   #10
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when my current set of RE92s wear out I will be running two different tires. I have to look into what tires but one set for winter/snow only on my 05 stock wheels. and a summer tire for the 07 wheels I recently picked up.I was happy with the RE92s in snow, the winter of 05 NYC had 28 inches of snow and the wrx was great. I'm sure there is better tires but at the time they were good enough for me.
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Old 09-27-2007, 08:29 PM   #11
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This is an easy answer: Do you wear the same sneakers year round? If so, then get all seasons. If you prefer a heavier, thicker shoe in the winter better suited to colder, slushier crap; and a lighter, more open shoe (or sandal even) in the summer, then you're probably the type who'd prefer summer and winter tires. I know I am. I want maximum traction at all times, and all seasons suck in both directions. My winter tires get more traction than all seasons in the slush, and my summer tires get more traction than all seasons in the summer.
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Old 09-27-2007, 09:01 PM   #12
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I don't know if the decision is as simple as the shoe analogy that TireRack has been using.

I've been running summer tires since getting my car and have used my re92s for winter, but I'm damned if I can tell the difference! I bet that if someone put me in the car (Spring-Fall) without letting me see what tires were on, I couldn't tell.

Comparing my current tires, using TireRack data for a 2003 BMW 330, I see:

..........................re92............Ecsta SPT
Dry Cornering G:....0.96............0.92
Dry Braking:..........85'..............94'
Wet Braking:.........96'..............110'

There is no way I'll notice that difference unless I'm in an emergency situation where the extra stopping distance is the difference between an accident or not.

Actually, I've been sticking with the summer/winter plan because I think it is cheaper. If I bought all seasons I'd probably spend more for the tires and then I'd change them earlier to make sure I didn't get caught in the snow with low tread. Overall, I bet my multi-year tire bill would be higher with ASs.

Last edited by leecea; 09-27-2007 at 09:40 PM.
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Old 09-27-2007, 09:16 PM   #13
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It really depends on how aggressively you drive and whether you mind driving conservatively in adverse weather.

Remember though that when you have two sets of tires, you're distributing wear among both sets. Thus, the cost of having two sets of tires isn't twice that of one set. (That said, both summer and winter tires typically wear faster than all-seasons.)

I run high performance all-seasons on my wife's car but drive her to and from work in the snow. I run summer and winter tires because I chew through all-seasons quickly (the rubber doesn't stand up to even light autocross) and want the peace of mind in the winter.
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Old 09-27-2007, 10:01 PM   #14
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How I drive.. not aggressively, but high speed, long distance.. and a lot of backroads in between. Like i said previous, the car is a daily driver, but my daily commute is 35+ miles one way.. and for the first 12-15 miles it's windy, hilly backroads that rarely see a good plowing with significant snowfall (Yay for PennDOT! ). I thought about the snow tires because a little bit of overkill couldn't hurt, and it would allow me to get the extra bit of life out of the stock RE92s. I still have some time to sort it out, and for right now I'm leaning towards the AS, as the car isn't modded for the time being.

I drive very conservatively in bad weather.. I deal with too many A$$holes everyday to risk my Scoob..

Last edited by thunder_lizard_1976; 09-27-2007 at 10:10 PM.
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Old 09-27-2007, 10:34 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thunder_lizard_1976 View Post
Waktasz, whereabouts in SE PA are you?

Like I said the past few winters have been pretty mild. What I was thinking was going to a straight snow tire for the season, then put the RE92s back on and run them out next summer..I wasn't particularly impressed with them when they were new, now half worn, even less so. But what you're saying does make sense-AS seems the way to go, not to mention it saves me the PITA chore of mounting/ dismounting them twice a year. I want to make sure I have all the tread under me I can, just in case we get hammered this year.

I work for a Bridgestone/ Firestone Affiliated dealer, so I can get any BS/FS, Dayton or Fuzion tire I want on the cheap; I'm just not thoroughly impressed with any of them enough to consider putting Bridgestones back on the car. Thanks for the input!

I'm in Ridley Township.

Although no good for the coming winter, if I were you I'd get me a set of re01rs for next spring.
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Old 09-28-2007, 01:10 AM   #16
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To Waktasz:

I'm in Hereford Township, Berks county.. way north..am familiar with the RE01 Rs.. but not impressed by the price, even at dealer cost, hence the lean towards the Sumitomos, also looking into Yokohamas, Generals, and even Rikens or Falkens..however.. was intrigued by reviews of the BFG G Force KDW.. hence if I went with the two tire setup.. could run the 92s for next summer.. then the winters.. likely Nokian or Dunlop... and then get the BFG's in the spring. Ridley I know is close to the main line, so a corresponding increase in traffic volume..out here it's no volume, and as such, equally lousy road maintenance. remember the storm last Valentine's day?
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Old 09-28-2007, 07:44 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BoondockSVX View Post
This is an easy answer: Do you wear the same sneakers year round? If so, then get all seasons. If you prefer a heavier, thicker shoe in the winter better suited to colder, slushier crap; and a lighter, more open shoe (or sandal even) in the summer, then you're probably the type who'd prefer summer and winter tires. I know I am. I want maximum traction at all times, and all seasons suck in both directions. My winter tires get more traction than all seasons in the slush, and my summer tires get more traction than all seasons in the summer.
Fine and dandy analogy but I mount and dismout my shoes a few times a day. I do not see me doing the same with a car.

Would you mount your Blizzak WS-60 in November knowing that last year it was 50 in January? Real winter came in February and you might have worn down your special winter compound before snow came.

Tires need to cover much larger variety of conditions than shoes. At least in MA during winter.

Krzys
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Old 09-28-2007, 07:57 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krzyss View Post
Fine and dandy analogy but I mount and dismout my shoes a few times a day. I do not see me doing the same with a car.

Would you mount your Blizzak WS-60 in November knowing that last year it was 50 in January? Real winter came in February and you might have worn down your special winter compound before snow came.

Tires need to cover much larger variety of conditions than shoes. At least in MA during winter.

Krzys
Exactly!

Quote:
Originally Posted by BoondockSVX View Post
This is an easy answer: Do you wear the same sneakers year round? If so, then get all seasons. If you prefer a heavier, thicker shoe in the winter better suited to colder, slushier crap; and a lighter, more open shoe (or sandal even) in the summer, then you're probably the type who'd prefer summer and winter tires. I know I am. I want maximum traction at all times, and all seasons suck in both directions. My winter tires get more traction than all seasons in the slush, and my summer tires get more traction than all seasons in the summer.
What tire is equivalent to a sandal?

This is exactly what I am talking about.....all seasons suck in both directions??? That's so vague.....suck how? 100% pushing your car to the limits of traction? If you race all over town everyday and drive like a rally racer in the winter, then yes, you may want 2 sets of tires I guess. I think for most, all seasons will be just fine.

Your last statement is obvious.

Last edited by Farnsrocket; 09-28-2007 at 08:06 AM.
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Old 09-28-2007, 09:01 AM   #19
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You want a high performance all-season tire with some kind of winter rating.

Try this: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...None&x=27&y=10
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Old 09-28-2007, 10:40 AM   #20
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Ya forgot this one.........has some good ratings!!!! And cheap!!

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ExtremeContact
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Old 09-28-2007, 10:59 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krzyss View Post
Fine and dandy analogy but I mount and dismout my shoes a few times a day. I do not see me doing the same with a car.

Would you mount your Blizzak WS-60 in November knowing that last year it was 50 in January? Real winter came in February and you might have worn down your special winter compound before snow came.

Tires need to cover much larger variety of conditions than shoes. At least in MA during winter.

Krzys
I know at least one person who uses aggressive snow/ice tires in winter and aggressive tarmamc tires in summer and carries around a full set of gravel tires on days he knows he'll be driving on gravel.
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Old 09-28-2007, 01:51 PM   #22
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For most driving situations, you'll be happy with a good set of performance all-season tires (see Tirerack for some ratings). If you must be able to get around in the worst winter conditions, then a separate set of wheels and snows is a great choice. I could not believe the improvement in how my (old) car handled on snow, slush, and ice with snows. I felt like I had a whole new car and was much more confident. Plus, with a dedicated set of snows, you can upgrade your all-seasons once they wear out for a little more performance. In the long run, the only added cost is the extra set of wheels because you'll be wearing your tires at the same rate.

Last edited by Zebe; 09-28-2007 at 01:53 PM. Reason: typos
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Old 09-30-2007, 11:43 PM   #23
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Lightbulb If your poor, all-seasons. If not Dedicated Summer/Winter

I think I am in the same situation living in the middle part of Wisconsin. Our winters here have been pathetic, but we can get the occasional snow storm. I look at tire selection like this***8230; (substitute for your situation) Q: When do I need to get somewhere? A: When I go to work. Side notes: There are very few times that I need get somewhere; aside of going to work. The job I have now, I start work at 8:30am. By that time the plows almost always have the roads clear. My previous job I left for work at 4-4:30am depending on the weather. Getting to work sometimes was interesting to say the least. I don't worry about getting stuck in deep snow; being that I have AWD. I have been stuck one time (for about 30mins.) with the REX and that was the morning I took a shovel with me. Glare ice underneath 10-12in of wet snow. So for me if I was to buy winter tire it would be for the improved handling you get on the ice and snow. I have used all-season tires the whole time (in order: RE92, Pirelli PZero Nero, Continental Contiextreme Contact). *I will get to the RE92s later. By this time you may be thinking that I would recommend going with a good all-season and be done with this post. Umm***8230;. Well, Yes. If you are short on cash then All-seasons will do just fine. It sounds like you want to have a dedicated summer/winter tire, but you wonder the performance is worth it. I too want the same thing but, I cannot afford that now. My plan is to save some moneys and buy 18x8s with dedicated summer tires on them and put a winter tires on my stock rims. Like Boondocksvx, I want the best traction I can get (within reason). I love it in the winter when everyone else spinning their tires taking off from a stop light and I just go. I also love it in the summer when it is raining cats and dogs and everyone is driving 20mph under the speed limit to avoid hydroplaning and I can drive the speed limit. True Summer tires are going to be hella better than all-season tires in summer and winter tires are going to be hella better than all-seasons in the winter. Hey, if having dedicated summer/winter tires keep you from having one accident they would be worth it.
Out of the three tires I would go back to the Pirelli's. They are not as good as the Conti's in the winter, but the Conti's were the tires I got stuck in. The Pirelli's had very nice wet/dry traction and ok in the snow. And the Bridgestone RE92's***8230;. I will keep this short for now and will post this when I am able. THE BRIDGESTONE RE92 ARE THE WORST TIRE I HAVE EVER OWNED!!! Hands down. I had made that decision before I read any of the reviews about the tire. If you are someone that thinks this tire is ok seriously need to get out more. This tire is only useful for people that live in Arizona where you don't have to worry about snow or rain. Wait***8230; never mind. The tire is $162 a piece. Its not that I got in accident with these tires. It's just that the Pirelli's and the even the Conti's are so much better than these tires. One would think that Subaru would want to put a decent tire on the cars they sell. It is because of the RE92's that I will never buy a Bridgestone tire. It's a shame, I really want to try the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 and the Potenza RE960AS Pole Position.
Right now if I was to pick a winter tire it would be the Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSI. For summer tires it would be a tough call. I like the dry performance, but I also want a tire that wont hydroplane. The Pirelli's did both very very well, but I have been looking at the reviews and the test scores of the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3. I think it was Car and Driver magazine that dubbed them the best rain tire ever. I think the tire did very well in the dry also. So I am curious to see how they do.

Last edited by Sinstick; 09-30-2007 at 11:56 PM. Reason: forgot a word
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Old 09-30-2007, 11:58 PM   #24
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Cough cough, my bad.

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Old 10-01-2007, 12:27 AM   #25
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Well I'm pretty much in the same situation as you, living in central MD.

I'm going to go with All-seasons because I don't have a spare set of wheels and I don't feel like getting them taken off and mounted.

Refer to this IMO: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=87
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