Anyone enjoying their snow tires?

[blalor]

I've had WS70s on my BRZ for about a week. The handling is definitely compromised, but it also makes hooning easier. I'm planning on doing a trip with some friends up to Happy Valley-Goose Bay next month, so I went for the studless snows instead of performance snows (hopefully Newfoundland has snow…). I had a set of Nokian Hakkapeliitta on my last car (E30 BMW) and also have them on my MINI. The MINI doesn't have that driving-on-pudding feel that the two RWD vehicles have, maybe due to the shorter wheelbase, but based on my experience, I'd say this is all totally normal and the price you pay for being able to go forward in the snow.

Frankly, the grip on warm wet asphalt is only slightly less than those "great" Primacy tires. I bet those damn things won't even burn well.

[Sovran]

I've had my Michelins on the car for a couple of weeks. As others have said, they make cornering an adventure, and I found myself drifting a little even on my suburban commute. I haven't had any problems on the highway, though with certain pavement types the winter tires are hellaciously noisy. I blame that on MA roads.

[bladesamurai]

I have the Xice3 tires and all I can say is I'm tired of this warm weather. Bring on the snow! The tires themselves seem to be fine on the car. It's a bit noisier, the suspension is a bit less harsh because the tires are softer, and I have noticeably less grip in the dry, but that's all to be expected.

[WRXGuy1]

I hate it, handling is much worse.

Although on the plus side, when I get my stock tires back on it will feel like a brand new car!

[FRiSson]

Michelin does make some very interesting high performance winter tires. Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3's. These are not designed for heavy snow, but for areas with relatively light winter conditions. Michelin claims that these are nearly as good as summer performance tires.

Anyway, I ended up going for the heavy snow tires. But if I lived south of New York, I would have gotten the PA3's.

[Turbowned]

Anyone got Hankook Winter iPike? I got a set for my MR2 but they saw no use. I'll be putting 'em on the BMW in a few weeks...

[NRGBalanced]

Originally Posted by Sony

They probably feel similar to my truck tires with the huge sidewall. It seems snow tire sidewalls are fairly thin and flexible. They make cornering...interesting.

Much of the driving feel from studless ice/snow tires comes from "tread squirm". Most of those tires have VERY tall tread blocks filled with sipes. They flex like crazy. You can squish the tread blocks on those tires using just your hands!

[WRXGuy1]

Originally Posted by NRGBalanced

Much of the driving feel from studless ice/snow tires comes from "tread squirm". Most of those tires have VERY tall tread blocks filled with sipes. They flex like crazy. You can squish the tread blocks on those tires using just your hands!

This is exactly what I notice. I don't mind though, as my sole purpose for winter tires is to have my car perform the best it possibly can in the snow that we will be getting.

[#87]

I went with all seasons for that very reason. And I am so glad I did.

[speedracer38]

I'm still rocking the summer tires and having a blast in the cold weather

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by speedracer38

I'm still rocking the summer tires and having a blast in the cold weather

rock on! bro! just be careful,old man winter
may have a "stiff one" waiting for ya!..just sayin'

[Deslock]

Originally Posted by FRiSson

Anyone enjoying their snow tires?

Yes.

As expected, the Ice-X2 tires deaden the steering feel, but it's still decent and I like how easy it is to break them lose.

It's more fun in the snow than ether my RX8 or WRX (I got to play quite a bit on Dec 1st). Not quite as toss-able as my MX5, but almost.