Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[1speedbike]

Originally Posted by Section147

You are correct. Tirerack sells ONE more in that category. The Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2. Apparently too new
for any customer reviews. Never said that there weren't other "Performance Winter" tires available. I was simply using
Tirerack as the source in this instance since the Blizzaks, Alpins and 3Ds are what most people gravitate towards.

Yeah I realized after I mentioned the GW3's that they don't make them any more. They do have the brand new non-runflat only Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip Ice WRT in our sizes, which are in the same category as blizzaks ws70's (not the performance ones). Sucks they're not runflat any more because a runflat snow tire was convenient, and they're not performance oriented, but they beat out blizzaks in many categories according to motortrend:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/c...a/viewall.html

[vivithemage]

I wanted to use them mostly for snow, ice happens, but with almost any tire ... you are screwed. We don't see a lot of ice, as we use salt on our roads, and MNDOT is really quick at getting the roads done and plowed. So the 3-4 days that it is snowing, and I have to drive to work/school, I really just want something that can handle a few inches, and perform well on dry/cold road as well, with good handling and decent tread life,25k +

[vivithemage]

crap, I just realized I need these odd sizes :

215/40/18
245/35/18

If I get 225/45/18, or 225/40/18 will it feel really weird for my fronts? or should I just get my size exactly? Which is only one winter tire ... Winter Sottozero Serie II Run Flat

[mzem]

Originally Posted by vivithemage

If I get 225/45/18, or 225/40/18 will it feel really weird for my fronts? or should I just get my size exactly? Which is only one winter tire ... Winter Sottozero Serie II Run Flat

I went with a square set of 225/40/18 WS60 Blizzaks last fall. I didn't notice any difference in the 10mm wider fronts. You will notice the rears being a bit squirely if you hammer on it around a corner when the roads are dry. Needless to say, you want a narrow tire on the rears when there's snow/ice on the roads. If a typical MN winter was like last year (20 inches for the season and dry roads all but a couple days), I would go with the staggered setup. Having owned a multitude of snow's, I would definately go with the Blizzaks over both Nokian and Dunlop. Nokian's are in the same class, but much more spendy. I had the 3D's on my old G35 coupe. They were fine when temps were between above 20F. They gave up a fair amount of grip in temps below that, where the Blizzaks did not. Bummer you didn't post this a couple months ago, as I sold my Blizzaks to a neighbor. I won't be needing them for the move to Orange County in October. Good luck with winter. I know that I won't miss it.

[vivithemage]

haha, lucky man, getting out of the cold weather state!

Did you ever give PA3's a thought? I am going ot run staggered with my breytons, because i do not want to pick up some rims I won't like to go squared.

I am stuck between PA3's, 3D's, and the true winter/snow WS60.

I will have to get a slight variation in size to accommodate...ie 215/40 will have to have 225/40 or so.

[Vigilante375]

Going up a size will always offer better traction and handling. Going down a size will always offer less traction and handling. Offset tires, like what our cars have, don't really offer that great of handling. Thats why a square setup is always key for a winter setup, road course racing and autoX plus everyday life too. But you can only, truly feel the difference if you actually race your car on a race track.

The 225s up front will give you a bit better handling and the 225s out back will offer less traction but who the hell can tell great traction in heavy packed snow or ice covered roads anyways? For winter always goes with a square, narrow setup so the tires are effective in a car.

[vivithemage]

I am not going to go square though, I currently have 215/40 on the front, and 245/35 on the back ..

i'll most likely be getting

225/40 on the front, and 245/40 on the rears, so staggered, not squared.

I will probably spend the extra $300 and get Michilin Pilot PA3's instead of the WS60's.

[Section147]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

Going up a size will always offer better traction and handling. Going down a size will always offer less traction and handling.

Snow Tires 101:

"So, you've decided on an extra set of wheels to put your snow tires on. If you've got 17”, 18” or even larger wheels on your
car in the summer, you really should be thinking about downsizing your winter set. The benefits are crystal clear.

A smaller and narrower tire has better grip and performance in snow or ice. This is both because the smaller tire cuts through
snow more effectively, and because the weight of the car is pressing on a more focused set of contact patches."

[Vigilante375]

I was basically saying that comment on tires in general, not just for winter. Since he was worried about traction so I kinda explained it in general. But thanks for reading and understanding my post since I guess we're in a pissing match here.......and I suggested 215s or 225s from the beginning.....

[Section147]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

I was basically saying that comment on tires in general, not just for winter.

But since this thread is specifically about winter tires, you can understand how that comment could be misinterpreted, no?

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

...since I guess we're in a pissing match here...

Hey, you unzipped first!

[Vigilante375]

Meh, its not like the OP listened to the advice anyways about a square, narrow setup with 215s or 225s.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by vivithemage

I have breyton GTS-R's

Fronts 215/40/18
Rears 245/35/18

Are these your summer wheels too? Or a second set of wheels?

[mzem]

Originally Posted by vivithemage

haha, lucky man, getting out of the cold weather state!

Did you ever give PA3's a thought? I am going ot run staggered with my breytons, because i do not want to pick up some rims I won't like to go squared.

I am stuck between PA3's, 3D's, and the true winter/snow WS60.

I will have to get a slight variation in size to accommodate...ie 215/40 will have to have 225/40 or so.

Lucky? Yes. I. Am. Finally, winter on my terms.

I'm not sure why I didn't look at the PA3's. A coworker of mine raved about the X-ice one's that he put on his Maxima. Best of luck on your selection and the pending winter. May the weather be dry and warm enough to keep the summers on well into November.

[fryguy]

I live in Boston where we get a lot of snow, but plowing is fairly good so hardly ever driving on snowy roads, and often just driving on cold roads. Based on reviews, I went with Pilot Alpins because they seemed like more of a "winter" tire than "snow" tire.

I have 0 complaints with them, and they are rugged enough to drive a bit out of season in each direction. So I almost treat them more like winter-oriented all-seasons and have them on for 5+ months out of the year up here (november->march)

Tread life and road feel are amazing.