Please suggest all-Season tires

[recycledsixtie]

Originally Posted by lurky

Im the OP. I live in Connecticut so Snow and Ice are a factor. If its really bad I don't drive the Porsche. How great is the difference between winter tires and all season in the snow? Would my best option be to get a second set of wheels and change them myself? Wouldn't you then need balancing and alignment from a shop which is the headache I'm trying to avoid?

I have no idea how all season radials are in the snow. As my previous comment says, snow tires in the winter and summer tires in the summer. So it is an inconvenience to have two sets of rims but it is an easy changeover even if u do it yourself. As the above poster says the expensive summer tires last longer because you are using them only half the year. Get them balanced - both sets and be done with it. Nothing worse than getting stuck in all season radials. We have 3 feet of snow in our backyard. Drivers are getting stuck in the streets here with the recent 10 inches of snow and I would put $$$$ on it they are using all season radials. This is the first time this winter that I have not driven the Boxster on the streets because of the snow depth. Here if you use winter tires you can get a discount on your auto insurance as well. Plan for the worst case scenario and you will be better prepared.

[stephen wilson]

It all depends on your usage. If you don't PLAN on driving it in the snow, and just want to be prepared if you get caught, IMO dedicated snows would be a waste, and they handle like crap on dry roads.

[CoBeerToad]

Do all season tires get better mileage (not mpg, but wear) than... "summer" tires on average?

[recycledsixtie]

Originally Posted by CoBeerToad

Do all season tires get better mileage (not mpg, but wear) than... "summer" tires on average?

I am not a tire expert but I would think that winter tires are made of softer rubber so would wear quicker(especially if driven on dry pavement).

The above poster says that all season radials should be adequate for some snow.
My response is basically how lucky do you feel?

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by lurky

How great is the difference between winter tires and all season in the snow? Would my best option be to get a second set of wheels and change them myself?

To answer your questions: (1) night and day (2) yes

Here's my experience with AS and snow tires. My cars are daily drivers, so they must go in the snow.

I bought a new 01 MR2 Spyder in Jan 01. It came with Yokohoma Advan qualifying tires, which needless to say were worthless in the snow. I immediately bought a set of Firestone AS tires. I got around fine (not great), but they were 15" / 55 series tires.

Four yrs later I traded MR 2 on my first Porsche - an 01 Boxster S. As my first winter approached, I decided to do the AS tire again as I had no plans to track my car. I bought a set of Kumho AS tires. They were horrible in virtually any depth of snow. I was using the wheels that came on the car, so we're talking 18" tires. I generally bummed a ride with a pretty young lady who lived down the street from me and worked at my office that winter. That next winter I bought a set of Blizzaks and reused the 18" wheels and my 01S got around great in snow.

I've used that same set of Blizzaks on my 08 Boxster S LE, my 07 Cayman S, and they're currently on my 08 Cayman S Sport. I bought a set of Cayman wheels when I bought my LE and all my 987s have done great in snow. After 6 seasons and probably close to 20K mi on them, they still work and have plenty of tread left.

If you didn't live in the snow belt, an AS would be fine. Everybody except Joe B has reported that AS tires aren't good in snow. I'm sure tire companies have made advances in tech since I bought my AS tires, but again, they're a compromise. If you're driving in a snowy environment, you don't need a compromise.

If you're wanting to skimp on spending money on mounting and balancing, then I think you're missing the big picture. How much will it cost you to repair your Box if you wreck it trying to sneak home in the snow? Snow season is almost done this year. Why not look around this summer for a set of wheels that are inexpensive because they have some rash and then get a set of snows next Oct-Nov?

[Perfectlap]

same experience here, legit snow tires will last a very long time. which makes it a win win. And its pretty tough to flat spot them like with a cheap tire, well at least that was the case with my Pirelli SnowSports (discontinued tire). As long as clearance is not an issue, they will get you home in one piece in real snow, not a 1" or less dusting, they have excellent wet weather performance in freezing rain, and can easily last five seasons, which means your spring/summer/fall tires will last a lot longer with the snow tires taking the brunt during winter.

and to the OP, you don't need to balance the wheels each time you switch over.
You can get one of these handy tire trees and just tuck them away in a corner.

Home Page > ECS News > Wheel Tree

Originally Posted by husker boxster

I bought a set of Kumho AS tires. They were horrible in virtually any depth of snow. I was using the wheels that came on the car, so we're talking 18" tires. I generally bummed a ride with a pretty young lady who lived down the street from me and worked at my office that winter. That next winter I bought a set of Blizzaks and reused the 18" wheels and my 01S got around great in snow.

I've used that same set of Blizzaks on my 08 Boxster S LE, my 07 Cayman S, and they're currently on my 08 Cayman S Sport. I bought a set of Cayman wheels when I bought my LE and all my 987s have done great in snow. After 6 seasons and probably close to 20K mi on them, they still work and have plenty of tread left.

[Bmod986]

I said it once and I will say it again. The mich pilot sport A/S are by far the best all seasons i have driven on. Do a search on them on the forum to find some of my postings. Around $859 installed and balanced at Costco.

[paintboy]

Originally Posted by Bmod986

I said it once and I will say it again. The mich pilot sport A/S are by far the best all seasons i have driven on. Do a search on them on the forum to find some of my postings. Around $859 installed and balanced at Costco.

I have these and they are great, unless you fancy yourself an Andretti. After 8000 miles, no signs of wear at all, and my 2.5 can't push her hard enough to get me into anything these tires are not up for.

[cheese]

Unless you track your car, it is illegal to go 150 mph. Having said that, I will say I enjoy the quiet and confident ride I get from Continental Extreme DWS. I only have them on the rears though and here is why. Originally bought the DW's but the right rear got slick within 10000 miles. Looking at the tread wear ratings, I replaced both rears with DWS, since my 986 is my daily commuter now. Using the butt dyno, I do not notice any difference of traction. As comparison, my cars' previous driver had kumho ecsta on and it was feeling very dangerously loose in cold weather and rain. Continental Extreme contact was an upgrade for me. I work in the body shop of a German car manufacturing facility and have nothing to gain from my recommendation. Just sharing my experience, hoping it is helpful.

I have been over 135 mph on these tires though, but I forget which road I was on...

[springer123]

Continental DWS

[jotoole]

Conti DWS UHP