BRZ in snow

[cgrey]

Originally Posted by Efenys

Would anyone actually recommend all seasons? I've read that not too long ago but would it make a difference that would be worth it?

Also does anyone actually recommend getting snow tires for a few days of snow and otherwise spotless roads the rest of the year? Are there any snow tires that would hold up well in these conditions? I've read some of these snow tires wear quickly on dry so thats why i ask.

Yes i know these questions have been out there, i've read a lot and appreciate the responses.

A month ago I was in your position. This is what I think now:

The FR-S came with a perfectly good set of summer tires I have no intention of tossing away. The HPs handle well in dry and wet. Below 40 degrees they lose a great deal of traction and are terrible in snow.

If I wanted to replace my tires with only one set of tires, I would have purchased Continental DWS. the problem here is that they do not handle as well as summer tires for three out of four seasons, and what snow traction they have is quickly eroded with the miles. While better than summer tires in the cold they are not as good as a set of winter performance (not snow) tires.

In NYC we receive small amounts of snow and usually one or two big storms per year. Keeping that in mind I bought a set of performance winter tires. Their wet and dry traction, on snow free cold roads, is excellent and a great improvement over the stock summer tires in sub 40 degree weather. They do a good job with snow, as well, but will not wear out as quickly as a snow tire in the dry and lack their less than enthusiastic driving characteristics.

In the spring, summer and fall I will run the stock tires. In the winter I will switch back to these. In all conditions I wil lhave better traction and handling than an all season compromise tire, and better wear than dedicated snow.

To make it easier I'm running the wintersports on a second set of wheels.


In summary if you only want to deal with one set of wheels at any given time, and you must drive in weather cold enough to damage summer tires, get the best all seasons you can buy. They can be quite good, the DWS certainly were.

If you don't mind the second set and want the best traction (for going, handling, and stopping) possible then use a summer tire and a winter tire.

If you will be driving on snow all winter then you'd better get a real snow tire.

[BRZfan]

First question: Unless it is a record snowstorm just get out and drive and see how you do. Get the experience. Just drive cautiously. If the next day is "clear" then it wasn't that much snow. Do it several times in varying snowfall amount and see how you do. I suggest this instead of getting advice from those who do not know anything about your experience or skill/discipline. I doubt if you will decide to get snow tires.

Second Question: Alternatives: Ride with someone else you know and in their car (or yours) and see how they respond with or without snow tires - especially someone who has had much more experience. I learned how to drive on ICE, for instance, by sneaking onto an outdoor skating rink 'under cover of darkness' re policia.. one finds out how long it takes to come to a stop. Which reminds me, snow tires can, in many cases, help to STOP the car when braking.

Originally Posted by Efenys

I've read about a million of these posts. Each one followed by a post saying to get a good set of winter tires. This makes sense. But...

What should you do if you only get snow 3 or 4 times a year for a day but roads are clear the next day? It seems like a waste to get winter tires for 4 days of driving your car.

Is there any alternative? Any suggestions? Driving style changes?


/ :happy0180:

Thanks guys

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by cgrey

A month ago I was in your position. This is what I think now:

The FR-S came with a perfectly good set of summer tires I have no intention of tossing away. The HPs handle well in dry and wet. Below 40 degrees they lose a great deal of traction and are terrible in snow.

If I wanted to replace my tires with only one set of tires, I would have purchased Continental DWS. the problem here is that they do not handle as well as summer tires for three out of four seasons, and what snow traction they have is quickly eroded with the miles. While better than summer tires in the cold they are not as good as a set of winter performance (not snow) tires.

In NYC we receive small amounts of snow and usually one or two big storms per year. Keeping that in mind I bought a set of performance winter tires. Their wet and dry traction, on snow free cold roads, is excellent and a great improvement over the stock summer tires in sub 40 degree weather. They do a good job with snow, as well, but will not wear out as quickly as a snow tire in the dry and lack their less than enthusiastic driving characteristics.

In the spring, summer and fall I will run the stock tires. In the winter I will switch back to these. In all conditions I wil lhave better traction and handling than an all season compromise tire, and better wear than dedicated snow.

To make it easier I'm running the wintersports on a second set of wheels.


In summary if you only want to deal with one set of wheels at any given time, and you must drive in weather cold enough to damage summer tires, get the best all seasons you can buy. They can be quite good, the DWS certainly were.

If you don't mind the second set and want the best traction (for going, handling, and stopping) possible then use a summer tire and a winter tire.

If you will be driving on snow all winter then you'd better get a real snow tire.

all seasons will get you through if you get caught in a snow event they will get you where you need to go,as long as the snow is not deep.(define deep!)
no more than let's say 3 inches or so,then get off the road.IF you can do this,you will be ok in winter with (a.s.) they will get you home. if you get heavier snow on a continuing basis,then you got no business being out in it with THIS car "without" dedicated snows on all 4 wheels.

[dsgerbc]

Originally Posted by edward

If the temperature is regularly below 45 degrees (Fahrenheit) you should be driving on winter/snow tires.

Nope. That's only true of 'winter' and 'A/S' had the same tread design, which never applies. Winter "Ice and snow" tires SUCK at 45F. Winter 'performance' tires are okay in 30F-45F in the dry, but only about as good as a decent A/S tire. Don't buy winter tire and expect it to be better just because it's 44F.

[Enemies]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

car cost $25,000,and i have never driven off the road into a ditch in 45 years
with any car.where you live "snow tires" would be considered "mandatory" but NOT here,and NOT for me for the reasons previously stated.

Nah, not mandatory here at all. It's warmer where I live up here in Canada than where you live and we see less snow as well.

I think it really comes down to if you know how to drive in the snow. For instance, all you need to do is look at places where it usually doesn't snow and watch videos of when it happens. San Francisco is especially fun because of the steep hills.

Snow tires just give that extra layer of protection for better traction, stopping distances, etc. I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about the other people out there that are driving around on all-seasons and expecting that they can stop in the time they are used to in the warmer seasons when there is snow on the road or black ice.

[jmaryt]

i don't worry about this because i ain't out in it so the "nut balls "can take a shot at me! i get off as soon as i can,and let the plow boys do their thing! if what you say is true,then you are right! you don't need 'em either,and you are also correct by saying they do offer an extra margin of safety,but only if you have to be in the snow driving around all the time! again, this does not apply to me. another thing to,is every winter
people around here have to learn to drive in winter conditions all over again,because they seem to forget they have to "slow" down when the first slippery conditions develop. just sayin'

[BRZfan]

Originally Posted by jmaryt

i don't worry about this because i ain't out in it so the "nut balls "can take a shot at me! i get off as soon as i can,and let the plow boys do their thing! if what you say is true,then you are right! you don't need 'em either,and you are also correct by saying they do offer an extra margin of safety,but only if you have to be in the snow driving around all the time! again, this does not apply to me. another thing to,is every winter
people around here have to learn to drive in winter conditions all over again,because they seem to forget they have to "slow" down when the first slippery conditions develop. just sayin'

WTF, The "just sayin" phrase is getting Booooring! Just sayin'.

[A5D5TRYR]

Originally Posted by tomt5078

Can you now get up the same slight incline that you couldn't before?

Yeah, definitely. I had some weight in the back with the all-seasons to try and help get more grip and it still got stuck way too easy. Haven't gotten stuck yet with the snows and I don't even have weight in the back any more. It's also a fair bit less tail-happy when I'm accelerating from a stand-still as well.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Efenys

Would anyone actually recommend all seasons? I've read that not too long ago but would it make a difference that would be worth it?

Also does anyone actually recommend getting snow tires for a few days of snow and otherwise spotless roads the rest of the year? Are there any snow tires that would hold up well in these conditions? I've read some of these snow tires wear quickly on dry so thats why i ask.

Yes i know these questions have been out there, i've read a lot and appreciate the responses.

There are different types of winter tires. Example:

This is a Bridgestone Blizzak LM60:


Note that it looks not unlike a regular passenger tire, but it has taller tread blocks and the little squiggly lines in them. This tire uses a silica compound, unlike all-seasons, which allow you for added traction in slippery surfaces.

Now look at this Nokian Hakkappeliitta LT snow tire:


Notice the tread blocks are a lot chunkier and there's a lot more space between them. Those little holes you see are where studs can be installed for extra ice traction. This is a dedicated snow tire for climates with frequent significant snowfall.

So which tire do you need? For temps consistently below 45 degrees and occasional snowfall, a performance winter tire like a Blizzak LM-60, Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 or Pirelli Winter Sottozero II is the choice I'd recommend.

All-season tires are a compromise no matter how you slice it. They might be just enough to get the job done in the winter, but they're only just enough to get the job done in the summer, too. Why compromise in such an uncompromising car?

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

...Why compromise in such an uncompromising car?

Toyota and Subaru did.

The stock tires that come with our cars are not high performance summer tires. Good? Sure. And definitely balanced toward summer performance over, say, winter. But they're still compromise tires.

So, in the grand scheme of things, if you only want to work with one set of tires, go ahead. Research to find the best tire for you and your driving situation. (Those Continental Extreme Contact DWS are pretty popular.)

But, for sure, to get the best (and safest) performance out of your car, go HP summer Spring - Fall and go with dedicated Winters when the snow flies!

[rhoyle]

It's amazing that we humans managed to survive before all the fancy winter tires even existed. I live in KS. We have had dozens of days well under freezing temps and even a few snow events. I'm on the OEM tires and haven't had any issue. I've driven RWD cars in cold climates for a long time and have never purchased winter tires. I just don't drive like a jackass.

[a2cpc]

Kind of like saying it is amazing humans survived before medicine. Yea, people died, but we survived.

[be6sti]

Another blizzard here in Iowa.... The frs doesn't get going very fast but on stock Bridgestone turunzas atleast it's going


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by BRZfan

WTF, The "just sayin" phrase is getting Booooring! Just sayin'.

ok! noted! (lol)