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Old 09-30-2010, 08:22 PM   #1
Byrnie
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Default Looking for Tire advice

So I just got a 2011 STI and am wrestling with the idea of needing new tires for the winter. With the exception of last winter I don't really think our winters have been that bad the past few years. What do you all think or what have you all done? Will Ultra Performance All Season tires do the job? If so, what Ultra Performance All Season tires do you recommend? I appreciate any advice you can give as this is my first AWD car.
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Old 09-30-2010, 08:34 PM   #2
Patrick Olsen
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What tires did you have on your previous car(s) for the winter?

You should be just fine with all-season tires for the winter. Last year was a freak anomaly when it comes to snowfall.
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Old 09-30-2010, 08:35 PM   #3
declansdad
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Do yourself a favor and get some dedicated winter tires on some winter wheels. The wheels don't have to be terrible expensive or fancy...besides, if one wheel gets messed up due to a pothole or something, it's an easy fix. For me, I have done this for the past 10 years! Besides, you don't wear your sneakers in the snow do ya?

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Old 09-30-2010, 08:48 PM   #4
PGT
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I ran Goodyear F1 All-Season on my '08 STI. Keep it on "i'' mode, the diff locked on 50/50 and no issues in the white stuff....just realize they're not snow tires so braking/turning require forethought (common sense snow driving really)
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Old 09-30-2010, 08:55 PM   #5
BryanH
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well...you bought a 35000 car and don't want to put decent tires on it to drive in nasty weather. I don't get it. Get some cheap rims (17" prior years takes offs) and put tires on there that are at least the most foul weather biased all seasons tire rack sells. It would be a shame to hit a pothole before VA gets out there to clean them up in the spring with those nice BBS rims of yours.
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Old 09-30-2010, 08:57 PM   #6
irish44j
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I run Dunlop Winterport 3Ds, which ride and handle like a typical all-seasons in the dry, and are excellent in snow and ice. Even with AWD, that only helps with going. When turning or stopping , you're just like any other car out there. Yeah, we don't get much snow or ice and people will say you don't need them. But trust me, once you have them, you'll never want to use A/S tires in the winter again....

I put them on around Thanksgiving and take them off in early March. 3 seasons on mine so far and no appreciable amount of wear, either.

I just use my stock wheels for the snows. I have other sets with my summer and autocross/track tires on them. Swapping tires from wheel to wheel gets $$....like stated above, just buy some cheap wheels (strong design, preferably!) and keep the winter tires on them.

Here's why you want them:
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Old 09-30-2010, 09:02 PM   #7
irish44j
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also note: a performance winter tire's true value is when it is below 32 degrees out...even on dry streets it has superior traction than an A/S tire due to the compound. And while we don't get a ton of snow here, it does get cold and we do get ice, where A/S tires are worthless.
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Old 09-30-2010, 09:19 PM   #8
PGT
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cold makes an A/S tire worthless?

ZOMG!! Panic!!!
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Old 09-30-2010, 09:31 PM   #9
irish44j
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PGT View Post
cold makes an A/S tire worthless?

ZOMG!! Panic!!!
404: Reading fail = you

Quote:
and we do get ice, where A/S tires are worthless
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Old 09-30-2010, 09:33 PM   #10
Boogalo
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my 3 year old RE960's got me around just fine last winter, had plenty of fun too. even got up my steep driveway no problem, i just let the air out a bit. they're not as awesome as dedicated winters, but we just don't get enough snow around here to really need them.
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Old 09-30-2010, 09:40 PM   #11
irish44j
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boogalo View Post
my 3 year old RE960's got me around just fine last winter, had plenty of fun too. even got up my steep driveway no problem, i just let the air out a bit. they're not as awesome as dedicated winters, but we just don't get enough snow around here to really need them.
Nobody is arguing that you can't get around in snow or winter on A/S or summer tires.My take on the matter probably differs from some people, since I head to the mountains to ski when the snow is falling....not thinking as much about local DC conditions.
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Old 09-30-2010, 09:47 PM   #12
PGT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irish44j View Post
also note: a performance winter tire's true value is when it is below 32 degrees out...even on dry streets it has superior traction than an A/S tire due to the compound. And while we don't get a ton of snow here, it does get cold and we do get ice, where A/S tires are worthless.
Quote:
Originally Posted by irish44j View Post
404: Reading fail = you
ahem. lets re-read your statement, in full...not your creative retelling of it. you said that a performance winter tire is superior to A/S below 32F, even on dry. sipes != superior performance in the dry, quite the opposite.
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Old 09-30-2010, 10:05 PM   #13
irish44j
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PGT View Post
ahem. lets re-read your statement, in full...not your creative retelling of it. you said that a performance winter tire is superior to A/S below 32F, even on dry. sipes != superior performance in the dry, quite the opposite.
who is creatively re-telling now?

you = saying I said that A/S were WORTHLESS in cold. Which, of course I did not say. A/S are fine in the cold if the ground is dry, or in snow they're decent. Not in ice. It's all about the compound.

me = saying that A/S are worthless in ICE. Which they are, of course, because they don't have sipes and have a harder compound.

fact = when the road temperature is below freezing, the compounds on a winter tire give superior traction to the compounds on an A/S. Especially since in most cases when the road temperature is below 32, there are ice crystals in the asphalt, even when the road looks dry.

Just for your clarity, though.....Please note again that I said "traction" not "response" or "handling," which of course are the weak points of a winter tire vs. A/S. Nobody is arguing that on a dry street in the winter a car on Blizzaks will outhandle a car on Pilot Sport A/S...

--



I bet Rotas don't perform as well in the winter either, do they?

Last edited by irish44j; 09-30-2010 at 10:10 PM.
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Old 09-30-2010, 10:24 PM   #14
PGT
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dude! Your exact words =

"also note: a performance winter tire's true value is when it is below 32 degrees out...even on dry streets it has superior traction than an A/S tire due to the compound."
what am I missing?
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Old 09-30-2010, 10:42 PM   #15
irish44j
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PGT View Post
dude! Your exact words =
"also note: a performance winter tire's true value is when it is below 32 degrees out...even on dry streets it has superior traction than an A/S tire due to the compound."
what am I missing?
To clarify, I'm referring dry streets where the surface temperature is below freezing.....not "dry streets" in general. The softer compound gives the traction when the surface temp is below freezing. The A/S still is going to "handle" better due to solid treadblocks and stiffer sidewall (usually). But in ultimate grip in the cold, a softer compound is superior to a harder compound.


but whatever....this is a pointless argument lol. If he has the means to get a winter set, there's no real downside to it (It will help if ice/snow is on the road and it won't "hurt" anything if the road is clear). If he doesn't want a 2nd set of wheels, an A/S will work year-round.
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Old 09-30-2010, 10:51 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BryanH View Post
It would be a shame to hit a pothole before VA gets out there to clean them up in the spring with those nice BBS rims of yours.
Before this got sidetracked....this is the best reason to get a cheap set of rims and alternate tires for winter. Gigantic potholes suck.
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Old 09-30-2010, 10:55 PM   #17
irish44j
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BryanH View Post
Before this got sidetracked....this is the best reason to get a cheap set of rims and alternate tires for winter. Gigantic potholes suck.
true story.....this is indeed a good reason, especially around DC where the potholes can eat little children.
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Old 09-30-2010, 11:55 PM   #18
Byrnie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BryanH View Post
well...you bought a 35000 car and don't want to put decent tires on it to drive in nasty weather. I don't get it. Get some cheap rims (17" prior years takes offs) and put tires on there that are at least the most foul weather biased all seasons tire rack sells. It would be a shame to hit a pothole before VA gets out there to clean them up in the spring with those nice BBS rims of yours.
I never said I didn't want to do it, I was merely asking if All season tires would fit the bill for typical NoVA winters. I said I was wrestling with the idea only because I work across the street from my apartment so I could always walk if it's really bad. I'm married and my wife has a car if we really need to drive somewhere when it's bad out. I just wanted to clarify and thank you (and everyone) for the advice though.
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Old 10-01-2010, 08:52 AM   #19
BryanH
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oh...well that changes things a bit. If you don't really need to drive it when it is bad out I would go for a more aggressive set of all seasons on some older year take offs. Just make sure you are home for actual snow!
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Old 10-01-2010, 09:13 AM   #20
mla163
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IMO, winter tires aren't worth the .05% of the time when you need them.
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Old 10-01-2010, 09:18 AM   #21
Jared703
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I think a dedicated set of winter wheels/tires is your safest bet. Sure, not every winter is as rough as the last one but the potential is there. Plus you'll get a little more life out of your summer setup.

I found a used set that was in perfect shape for $500 for both wheels and tires for my MS3.
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Old 10-01-2010, 09:30 AM   #22
jagcars26
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<< best of both worlds,,Michelin Pilot ultra high performance A/S on my LGT.
If it gets really bad I drive the wifes 09 Forester.
IMO I think you'll be just fine with a good A/S tire considering you can walk to work.
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Old 10-01-2010, 11:32 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by declansdad View Post
Do yourself a favor and get some dedicated winter tires on some winter wheels. The wheels don't have to be terrible expensive or fancy...besides, if one wheel gets messed up due to a pothole or something, it's an easy fix. For me, I have done this for the past 10 years! Besides, you don't wear your sneakers in the snow do ya?

Michael
This.

I picked up 4 wheels and blizzaks on them for $400 from a guy on here back when i bought my 07 STi. I swap them out every year around thanksgiving...its the way to go. I drove to DC to see a caps game at the height of the frist huge storm we got this year. STi/WRX + Snow Tires = unstoppable.
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Old 10-01-2010, 01:36 PM   #24
Snig
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Pffft. Just use high performance summer tires all year round and throw the dice. I mean, you're paying insurance for a reason, right? Worst case, you have to get a new car. lol.
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Old 10-01-2010, 03:17 PM   #25
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I ran Blizzaks on my STi last year. I was going uphill in 8 inches of unplowed snow like it was nothing. YMMV.
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