OE tires for portland winter

[JRTritsch]

Should I be looking for some all seasons or will the stock tire suffice save a couple days? I just moved here from Texas, and while anecdotally I have heard about the winter, I've never experienced it. I'll be driving the car all winter but only in heavily travelled roads in portland/beaverton/hillsboro area.

btw I'm new to the area but not winter driving, I drove a miata through several wisconsin winters. Best winter car ever.

[Decay107]

Originally Posted by JRTritsch

Should I be looking for some all seasons or will the stock tire suffice save a couple days? I just moved here from Texas, and while anecdotally I have heard about the winter, I've never experienced it. I'll be driving the car all winter but only in heavily travelled roads in portland/beaverton/hillsboro area.

btw I'm new to the area but not winter driving, I drove a miata through several wisconsin winters. Best winter car ever.

There is no winter here, only rain. Stock tire will be more than adequate, unless you are planning trips up to Mount Hood.

[WRB-DZA-BRZ]

I've read and experience that the stock tires lose quite a bit of grip when the temps are below 40ish degrees. Which, depending on when you drive, means from December through February.
Here is my winter setup:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...3&postcount=57

[wheelhaus]

The tires do fine in the wet for the most part, but when tems approach freezing, they harden and lose a lot of grip. If they use mag chloride or other liquid formulas to prevent the roads from freezing over, it'll be even worse. Definitely avoid snow and ice. Yes you can still get around, but you'll be at the limit of traction by simply moving. I've been driving on snow for nearly 15 years (Ohio and Colorado) among 8 different cars and dozens of tires, and these tires gave me the biggest scares. I immediately ordered a set of snow donuts.

If the roads only get wet and rarely snow pack or freeze you might be fine; be careful and keep an eye on temps and road conditions and make your best judgement.

[Freeman]

You'll be fine, but if you had the money to do it I'd put on some winter tires. Better safe than sorry.

sent from my locker... help!

[humfrz]

I'm up here just south of Seattle and have the same decision to make. But, since I'm retired, I don't have to go out on the few bad road (snow/ice) days that we do have. I can wait till the wife gets home with the FWD car.

My last car was a Miata with "summer" tires. They were down right dangerous on snow ....

If the FR-S, with summer tires, is your only form of transportation, and you have to drive it every day, I recommend you invest in a set of all season tires ....

humfrz

[JRTritsch]

Thanks for the input. I will drive to work during the week but we have another car that will be the family hauler. I'll give it a shot with the OE tires but if it starts to get ugly I'll just order up a spare set from Tirerack. I hate the idea of basically throwing away the OE tires and I already plan to replace them next spring with a proper summer tire.

[JRTritsch]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I'm up here just south of Seattle and have the same decision to make. But, since I'm retired, I don't have to go out on the few bad road (snow/ice) days that we do have. I can wait till the wife gets home with the FWD car.

My last car was a Miata with "summer" tires. They were down right dangerous on snow ....

If the FR-S, with summer tires, is your only form of transportation, and you have to drive it every day, I recommend you invest in a set of all season tires ....

humfrz

I once was a bit impatient in the spring and mounted my fun tires (azenis) in march. Drove around with the top down on a 70 degree day, parked, came out and found an inch of snow on the ground. That was a scary drive home. But with some good tread the miata is a hoot in the snow and very controllable.