All Season Tires

[rick3000]

I've got a question. I to am preparing my Boxster for the winter, aswell. I've got a few questions that fit into this thread.
Why does everyone recommend an extra set of rims, why not just get the tires changed at a tire shop using your current rims?
What is the difference between using 16" and 17" rims with snow tires (I've got 17"'s)?
Could you run two snow tires on the back and all seasons on the front?
Thanks!

[Perfectlap]

well for a snow tire to work its best the narrower the better.
And of course smaller tires are much cheaper and you more choices.
You need the same type on all four corners. The light front end of the car is going to struggle to find traction regardless of what's going on in the back if you go with all seasons in front only. That can be dangerous.

Changing tires is not as expensive as buying a whole new set of wheels/tires but it's still not cheap. Some discount places won't touch an expensive Porsche wheel for fear of scratching the paint with their low end machinery. And the places with the proper machinery can be expensive. A mid level place charged me $170 to mount my Summer tires. They see those 18" Porsche wheels and I see $$$ in their eyes.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

well for a snow tire to work its best the narrower the better.
And of course smaller tires are much cheaper and you more choices.
You need the same type on all four corners. The light front end of the car is going to struggle to find traction regardless of what's going on in the back if you go with all seasons in front only. That can be dangerous.

Changing tires is not as expensive as buying a whole new set of wheels/tires but it's still not cheap. Some discount places won't touch an expensive Porsche wheel for fear of scratching the paint with their low end machinery. And the places with the proper machinery can be expensive. A mid level place charged me $170 to mount my Summer tires. They see those 18" Porsche wheels and I see $$$ in their eyes.

Plus your choices in manufacturer and design of a dedicated snow tire are wider with a smaller diameter wheel. They're more plentiful. And the chances of sliding and running into something with the wheel are greater, damaging a cheaper aftermarket wheel is less fiscally painful than the Porsche parts.

[rick3000]

I know a guy with 16"'s for sale with Pirelli Snow tires, there the boxster 16" rims. Would that work?
Thanks!

[djomlas]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I know a guy with 16"'s for sale with Pirelli Snow tires, there the boxster 16" rims. Would that work?
Thanks!

that would work, and smaller 16s usually have smaller diameter tires, which is even better for winter driving, the narrower the better. and if you have a non-s they WILL clear the calipers.

[rick3000]

Thanks!

[edevlin]

I have two sets of 18 inch carrera 5-spoke wheels with a set of PS2's on one for summer and Falken 512's all-season for winter. I will second the comments on all season tires poor performance in winter.

The Falken tires actually do quite nicely in everything but snow. I took the Boxster to West Virginia with the Falkens and we got a fair amount of snow, I thought I would never make it out of the state. I did not realize how bad they were when I stopped on a hill and could hardly get going again.

Pretty scary stuff, two-lane mountain road, no place to turn off and park, yikes. Even though we do not get that much snow in Central Virginia where I live, I am now looking for a set of snow tires for this winter and am open to any recommendations.

Ed

[Paul]

Originally Posted by rick3000

I know a guy with 16"'s for sale with Pirelli Snow tires, there the boxster 16" rims. Would that work?
Thanks!

Yes, I have my Michelin Pilot Alpins on stock 16'' Boxster wheels. They handle well and are quieter than my P-Zeroes summer tires.