Quote:
Originally Posted by that_guy
I ran Conti ExtremeWinterContacts in 205/55R16 last winter without a hitch. Even made it to work and back during "SNOWmageddon" which crippled the city in over a foot of snow.
Winter driving comes down to 2 things: the right tire and knowledge behind the wheel. No tire will make you invincible, but they are a good start.
|
Snowmageddon is the only day I got stock last winter, but it was my own fault for trying to drive through about 10" of unplowed snow in a parking lot. My old jetta would plow snow out of the way, but the FRS just floats up on top of the snow (the bumper shape and flat under pan see to this!). As long as there was less snow than ground clearance I didn't get stuck, but there was a day at a relative's house where I had a hell of a time getting up a VERY slight incline with very wet snow that packed into almost ice when you drove over it. Even their S4 was struggling a bit though, so I know it was BAD.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suberman
Nokian still make one of the best. However, Continental are nearly as good in snow and better when the roads are bare. For experienced Canadian drivers in a car like this you should consider fitting high performance winter tires. You give up so much grip on bare roads to get ultimate snow and ice grip when you get true studless winter tires. Although the studless will stop you a bit shorter in really bad conditions they will brake much less effectively on bare roads than higher performance winter tires. I go for max performance winter tires and drive accordingly. Traction won't be an issue with these cars in winter: Torsen LSD rear axle is all you will need.
I fit 225/45 x17 Pirelli Sottozeros on stock rims. Dry road handling is a hoot, more stable than those awful Primacys.
Don't fit even narrower tires for winter. The stock width is already too narrow.
|
We've been through this already, but it still bugs me.
"Performance" snows are barely better on dry pavement, and way worse in snow/ice. There's also so much crap on the roads in the winter (salt, sand, etc) that you rarely ever get clean pavement. If it's a second car, you're fine with performance snows, but if it's your only car and you don't want to be stranded when there's snow on the road get proper snow/ice tires.
You definitely want narrower tires, going to a 225 is a big mistake IMO. My 205 snows are actually wider than the stock 215's (which measure more like a 195 in reality). There's simply no sound argument for going with a wider winter tire.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPu9lR0Egeg"]Tire Rack - Choosing Between Performance Winter and Studless Ice and Snow Winter Tires - YouTube[/ame]
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=125
Notice that on dry pavement the ice/snow actually stopped shorter, it's only in the wet that the performance snow stopped shorter.
For me it's a no brainer, I need to drive when there's snow so why compromise that? The car is still fun with studless ice/snows, unless you're racing on dry pavement in the winter that's the smart choice.