Pirelli Winter Carving Edge
 

Hey guys I got a set of 16" Pirelli Winter Carving Edge tires on steelies (205/55/16). Driven over 300km on them now and I notice the traction control is coming on sometimes when I take a turn a bit quick (>25km/h). Right now we are just getting rain, so the roads are a bit wet, worried it will be worse when it snows.

Are the tires bad or should I not worry about it? Not sure if it's the RWD, the car's light weight or because these are more of a snow tire than a performance winter. The shop recommended these but I kinda want to send them back.

I put 225 45 hankook ipike studded tires on the stock wheels. The were on my car for about three days. They made the car break loose easily on any corner. I took them off and sold them.

So I think what you are describing is normal for winter tires.

put vsc sport on it won't be as sensitive

And yes, this is what snow tires feel like, they are meant to grip in negative temperatures but to the point of a summer tire.

I don't know why people assume that a good winter tire is going to maintain the same grip levels as a normal tire would in the summer time.

Your simply getting some grip as opposed to little grip of an all-season.

Also keep in mind that winter tires could be overcooked, if you drive on them hard when it's dry out you'll over heat them and they won't be as sticky when the temperatures drop, this goes for burnouts, drifting and even prolonged driving

you gotta pump the brakes and drive slow homie

Ice&snow tires (even if studdable) will be slippery on the tarmac. That said - give it 100-200 miles, and they might get better after they've scrubbed off their outer layer (and this goes for all new tires).

Well the thing is that I'm not driving it that hard, just talking right turns on the street normally and the traction light comes on and I can feel it slip.

It's just weird that tires that are suppose to help in the snow and ice are slipping in the wet. I was ready for the car not to handle as well but I thought traction would be better than the summer tires.

Are you finding that these tires are super noisy or have a whining sound to them?

Yeah more road noise for sure but I usually have the stereo up so it doesn't bother me too much.

Mine are doing the same, but I think a big part of it are the larger side walls of the 16" tire rolling over. Also, it had been unusually warm, (almost 70) when I put mine on, but now that it is back down in the thirties, they are not doing it as much. I think the sidewalls need the cold to stiffen them up on a winter tire.

Good to know its not just these tires then. I'll just see how it goes when it gets colder.

Also what's the correct tire pressure should we running with our cars in 16"?

Hmm, good point. I got my tires and rims as a package from a shop that I trust, they came to me at 47 or so, so maybe it would be a good idea to over pressure a bit. Check the sidewall for max though, and do not go that far. If you get to the max, our car being so light, the tires will wear all in the middle because they will be bubbled out in the center.

Dear Person driving snow tires in rain,

The purpose of tires treaded for driving in snow is to cut through the snow to the road surface. In order to do this snow tires have aggressive deep tread patters which reduce the surface area of the contact patch, so more pressure from the weight of the car is applied on the tire bits that contact, which in turn pushes the tread deeper into snow covered road surfaces.

Due to this reduced contact patch regardless of what you thought, winter tires are actually pretty dangerous for normal driving in a rear wheel drive car. Keep the car in whatever setting provides the greatest traction control to reduce slipping even in the dry.

Always remember to do things smoothly, no abrupt changes in acceleration or deceleration, or fast turns. The tires aren't made for performance, they are made to allow you to drive in snowy conditions.

I assume you own steelies and at least the OEM set of wheels, if that's the case, in order to be safe and to also reduce wear to your winter tires, get used to swapping them in and out based on road conditions, instead of just keeping your winter tires on because it's winter time. Be smart about it, don't get caught in snow on your summer tires because you didnt look at the forecast before you left the house.

Sincerely,
A concerned citizen

I guess you're trying to help. I get what you are saying. I was just surprised a bit because I am not driving aggressively at all. These are simple right turns at intersections.

My experience with previous winter tires were unlike this at all. I had Michelin pilot alpins on my RSX and they handled quite well. They were a performance winter and maybe I should of went with that instead of their recommendation.

Anyways the guys at tire shop said its time to put them all and there's a bunch of people in the city I see with there steelies on. Weather in Vancouver is quite unpredictable.