Winter Tires Seattle/Vancouver area

[rixter145]

Hey all,

Just wondering what are your thoughts on getting winter tires living in that area? I drive up north to Vancouver at least once a month but I mostly dwell in the Seattle area.

If I am getting winter tires, I am probably going to get wheels as well so I don't have to do that swap

[tonyfrs86]

no point. just get some good all weather tires with a good life span on them and make sure to rotate normally. if it does snow bad enough here you can always use chains but if its really bad it wont matter if you have chains or snow tires, especially if drive the hills in downtown.,are car is way to light and re-wheel drive.

[rixter145]

So you have your summer tires swapped for all season?

[RobertPaulson]

i use blizzak ws-70 once the weather averages below 45 degrees. better in the wet between 32 and 40 than all seasons, and once you go below freezing you don't have to worry as much about sliding around all over.

[rixter145]

So you keep the same wheels and switch the tires out Rob?

[Akari]

I'd definitely have dedicated snow tires and wheels if I had places that I had to make it in winter. I just end up working from home if it snows though.

A few hundred dollars on tires/wheels is better than one accident. Keep good summer tires for awesome dry traction and snow tires for the winter.

[RobertPaulson]

Originally Posted by rixter145

So you keep the same wheels and switch the tires out Rob?

stock wheels are used for my winter set up (205/50r17), i have wider aftermarket wheels running pilot super sports until the average temp drops below 45.

[Cope52]

The Pirelli Sottozero Serie 2 is perfect for you. They handle awesome on cold clear roads--so good I was almost thinking of leaving them on my old RX8 year round. They would be perfect for Seattle's occasional snow, the snow grip on plowed roads and snow braking being excellent, they're just not that good on hills. The B-Stone LM-32 would be my next choice.

[Hippophobia]

Snow tires are not just used because of snow and ice. They are made of different compounds for the colder temperatures. I swap to mine once it gets below 50 on a regular basis. I just bought some used Legacy GT wheels for them and run without TPMS. Highly recommend snow tires. You don't need to get crazy with studs and shit for just in the city either.

[stockysnail]

I have 2 sets, one summer and one winter when temps get below 40, which is for around 4 months a year in the portland area, and even more since I go to the mountain. Car is much better with a set dedicated for both vs all seasons. All seasons are masters of none. Mediocre at everything. Bridgestone RE-11a in the summer and Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 get me around when it's cold and up to the mountain without need of chains in the snow and work much better in ice and general cold than all seasons.