Snow tires are not only for snow but......
10-18-2000, 04:03 AM
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Snow tires are not only for snow but......
also for lower temperature. Rubber commpund of summer tires don't perform well in lower temperature. So, it is a good idea to switch to winter tires now even if snow is not around yet.
That is my understanding. Am I right or wrong?
I have 02-pp and pilont Alpine.
That is my understanding. Am I right or wrong?
I have 02-pp and pilont Alpine.
10-18-2000, 04:53 AM
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tire choice and observations
My experience from living in cold weather climates (Ottawa & Boston) is that
in cold but dry conditions you're better off using performance tires rather
than winter ones. While it may appear that softer rubber should give better
performance, winter tires inevitably have taller tread blocks and many more
sipes, which tend to fold over on themselves under braking and going around
corners. This more than offsets any gain you might get from having softer
rubber.
The tires I've driven on in winter are
* Michelin Pilot XGT Z4's (all-season)
* Bridgestone Blizzaks (snow tire)
* Goodyear RSA's (all-season)
* Goodyear GT+4's (all-season)
* Michelin Pilot Alpins (winter)
My impressions of the Blizzaks were they were great for ice and snow, pretty
good in wet weather (because of the depth of the groves), but their
performance in dry conditions bordered on being dangerous. At one point, my
wife had a fender-bender while using them on dry roads because someone
turned in front of her and she couldn't stop in time (she wasn't going fast
either). The rubber compound on the Blizzaks is so soft I can insert my
finger in between the sipes.
The Pilot Alpins have the same high-density of sipes as the Blizzaks, but
the tread blocks aren't as high, and the rubber compound is much firmer.
Ice performance isn't as good but snow handling is acceptable, and they're
head and shoulders above the Blizzaks in dry conditions. The all-season
tires I've tried do fairly well in all conditions, but really can't compete
with the winter tires in ice/snow.
Ideally, I'd use summer tires all the time, changing to winter tires only in
for the worst weather (ice/snow/freezing rain). Since this is impractical
(too many tire changes, too hard to predict bad weather), in colder months I
run winter tires that still perform moderately well both in the dry (which
constitutes a significant part of my winter driving) and in ice/snow.
Rory
'01 S4
'97 awd Talon
in cold but dry conditions you're better off using performance tires rather
than winter ones. While it may appear that softer rubber should give better
performance, winter tires inevitably have taller tread blocks and many more
sipes, which tend to fold over on themselves under braking and going around
corners. This more than offsets any gain you might get from having softer
rubber.
The tires I've driven on in winter are
* Michelin Pilot XGT Z4's (all-season)
* Bridgestone Blizzaks (snow tire)
* Goodyear RSA's (all-season)
* Goodyear GT+4's (all-season)
* Michelin Pilot Alpins (winter)
My impressions of the Blizzaks were they were great for ice and snow, pretty
good in wet weather (because of the depth of the groves), but their
performance in dry conditions bordered on being dangerous. At one point, my
wife had a fender-bender while using them on dry roads because someone
turned in front of her and she couldn't stop in time (she wasn't going fast
either). The rubber compound on the Blizzaks is so soft I can insert my
finger in between the sipes.
The Pilot Alpins have the same high-density of sipes as the Blizzaks, but
the tread blocks aren't as high, and the rubber compound is much firmer.
Ice performance isn't as good but snow handling is acceptable, and they're
head and shoulders above the Blizzaks in dry conditions. The all-season
tires I've tried do fairly well in all conditions, but really can't compete
with the winter tires in ice/snow.
Ideally, I'd use summer tires all the time, changing to winter tires only in
for the worst weather (ice/snow/freezing rain). Since this is impractical
(too many tire changes, too hard to predict bad weather), in colder months I
run winter tires that still perform moderately well both in the dry (which
constitutes a significant part of my winter driving) and in ice/snow.
Rory
'01 S4
'97 awd Talon
10-18-2000, 04:59 AM
#3
Re: Snow tires are not only for snow but......
Performance rubber will still be better in dry conditions unless temps get VERY cold, however from a practical standpoint I put my HR rated snows on in mid-November until late March.
10-18-2000, 06:12 AM
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I don't think the rubber compound of summer tires in cold temps (m)
has anything to do with it. Tires/wheels/brakes generate/dissipate heat safely throughout the range of most winter and summer climates. I think the biggest scare with using summer tires when temperatures drop is that it usually doesn't stay dry. When there is precipitation, snow and/or ice usually results, and I would not want to be caught in those S-02 Pole Positions.
Unless you mount your snow rims yourself, beat the rush at the tire store and do it early (October or November). I have the Pilot Alpin and I find they are the most performance oriented snow tire out there. The dry weather handling is OK and the ride is pretty quiet (only a little noisier than stock tires).
Unless you mount your snow rims yourself, beat the rush at the tire store and do it early (October or November). I have the Pilot Alpin and I find they are the most performance oriented snow tire out there. The dry weather handling is OK and the ride is pretty quiet (only a little noisier than stock tires).
10-18-2000, 06:53 AM
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Dude, you been sniffing glue?
I got my S4 halfway through last winter. The RE040s were stiff as a board...I slid around so much, even in dry cold weather. Screw that...not doing that again.
By the way...my Dunlop M2s have fantastic dry grip.
By the way...my Dunlop M2s have fantastic dry grip.
10-18-2000, 06:54 AM
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Michelin have been overtaken by Goodyear Uniroyal Dunlop Conti and Pirelli
according to a new test by AM und Sport (2000-10-04). Pilot Alpin was weak in dry braking and only good Versus very good for the Ultra Grip 6 in the snow tests.
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10-18-2000, 06:57 AM
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Actually, John is wrong and Toshio is right... More
Winter coumpounds are designed (mostly) for temsp of 45F and lower. Against what many think, a temendous amount of snow and almost all of ice traction comes from compound technology, not treat pattern. Example: If tread pattern were the main factor, all of the big off road tires with big lugs would work great in snow, and they don't.
A set of h or v rate snows will brake much better on pavement at freezing (dry or wet road) than a set of summer specific performance tires. Snow tire compounds stay soft and fexible at very low temperatures, where softer high performance compounds turn into rocks below 45-35F.
Hope this helps!
Mike
A set of h or v rate snows will brake much better on pavement at freezing (dry or wet road) than a set of summer specific performance tires. Snow tire compounds stay soft and fexible at very low temperatures, where softer high performance compounds turn into rocks below 45-35F.
Hope this helps!
Mike
