Please suggest all-Season tires

[johnsimion]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

I couldn't agree more. All season tires are a compromise. If you were looking for a skinny 15" tire, AS tires might be fine because they could compromise towards the snow ability. But we're talking about a 16"-18" tire that has to be capable of 150mph speeds. What direction do you think they'll compromise towards? It's not snow capability. If you lived in the mid-south, maybe you could get by with an AS tire, but not in CT.

And if you plan to keep them on year round, you'll be disappointed with the high performance capabilities too. Jack of (almost) all trades, master of none.

Perfectlap nailed it. Get a 2nd set of wheels and a dedicated set of snows. I don't have an impact wrench but can complete the job in 30 min with my race jack.

Sure, all-seasons are a compromise. They are a compromise that is ideal for those of us who live in cold climates where we use the Porsche as an occasional weekend car. We don't take the Porsche out if it's going to snow -- duh! -- but it's sure nice to be able to drive on those weekends when it's cold but not snowy. We live in the Midwest where it may be 25 degrees this weekend, 70 the next, 15 the next, 55 the next, etc. etc. Under those circumstances it hardly makes sense to invest in buying, STORING, and changing an entire second set of tires/wheels -- for what, one or two weekends a year?

I bought Bridgestone Potenza RE970s about 1500 miles ago because my OEM Michelin Pilot Sports had dry-rotted in 15,000 miles while sitting in my garage in four, yes, four years. And why, do you ask? Because I had to leave my car in the garage all winter long for four, yes, four years, while UNABLE to drive it because it had the stupid summer tires on it and I was not interested in spending a couple of thou for a set of wheels/winter tires that would only be needed for a few hundred miles a year. So, I just let it sit in the winter. Well, no more. The dry-rotted tires were a wake-up call. I do not need to have tires that go rotten because of non-use, nor do I derive much enjoyment from seeing my car sitting in the garage all winter. The Potenzas are the compromise that lets me drive the car year-round with no hassles, no storage, no further expense. I guess if you drive often enough to justify it, maybe it would be worth spending the $$$ and time to buy and change out winter tires/wheels. That may be your cup of tea, but it isn't mine.

Disappointed with the handling? Have you ever actually driven on high performance all-seasons or are you just reading car magazines? Dunno how good they would be in a race, but I don't care because I don't race. They feel good on the street and give me a sense of confidence that I'm not stranded because a cold front suddenly rolls in. I can tell you I'm really happy with the cornering and braking under the conditions I use the Potenzas. I can also certify that the Potenzas handle MUCH better than dry-rotted Michelin Pilot Sports. Anyway, if I exceed the handling limits of the Potenzas, the safety device that always sits in the passenger seat kicks in and stops me anyway. LOL

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by johnsimion

Sure, all-seasons are a compromise. They are a compromise that is ideal for those of us who live in cold climates where we use the Porsche as an occasional weekend car. We don't take the Porsche out if it's going to snow -- duh! -- but it's sure nice to be able to drive on those weekends when it's cold but not snowy. We live in the Midwest where it may be 25 degrees this weekend, 70 the next, 15 the next, 55 the next, etc. etc. Under those circumstances it hardly makes sense to invest in buying, STORING, and changing an entire second set of tires/wheels -- for what, one or two weekends a year?

I think you've successfully argued that all season tires are more convenient for your wallet and garage space. No one is debating that.

The difference of opinion here seems to be based on your impression that a winter tire's only benefit is treading snow. Does it rain during winter where you are? I'm pretty sure it does. Which means you've driven over patches of ice. The amount of snow you get is really just a secondary consideration. Whether you get a little snow or a lot more you're going to be driving over ice all winter long, ditto for sleet and freezing rain just the same. It's called a Winter Tire because it's for all of winter's challenges, not just snow. It really doesn't take very much of a mishap for a driver to lose control and wreck the underside/suspension of a Boxster. And winter is the best season to test the limit of your tires. The compromise during summer for an all season tire isn't really the issue. It's that you are compromising summer performance for very little additional winter performance. So in essence you're giving much for very little. You may think that your all season tire is performing well because you're carrying speed but that's not really the true test. It's when you really need your tires and have to lay into the brakes or take a sharp turn of the wheel to avoid collision. It's sort of like saying "I'm getting along fine without my seatbelt when I drive 80 to 100 mph."

The video below does an excellent job of showing what happens on all seasons when you really need your tires to keep from slamming into the car in front or when the back end steps out in a turn and you end up in the oncoming traffic lane.

YouTube - Winter Tire vs AS over ice

[husker boxster]

[QUOTE=johnsimion;333159]Sure, all-seasons are a compromise. They are a compromise that is ideal for those of us who live in cold climates where we use the Porsche as an occasional weekend car. We don't take the Porsche out if it's going to snow -- duh! -- but it's sure nice to be able to drive on those weekends when it's cold but not snowy. We live in the Midwest where it may be 25 degrees this weekend, 70 the next, 15 the next, 55 the next, etc. etc. Under those circumstances it hardly makes sense to invest in buying, STORING, and changing an entire second set of tires/wheels -- for what, one or two weekends a year?/QUOTE]

In your situation, AS are a good choice. And if you reread the last sentence in the first paragraph you quoted me on, I said they make a good alternative if you live in the mid-South. I think Missouri qualifies as that (don't you play in the SEC now?). Connecticut, not so much.

And unless your weather people are better at predicting than they are here in Husker-land, you can get caught by a bad forecast. There have been plenty of days when you listen to the forecast the night before or before going to work and they say it's going to be nice. Then look out your window at 10am and it's snowing to beat the band. What if you drove your Box because it was supposed to be a non-snow day?

This has turned into quite the thread. Maybe we should calm down by discussing less controversial topics like oil brands, football, or whether IMS failures are hocum. Maybe Perfectlap and I should pipe down and let people answer the OP's original question on which AS tire is best. We've given our opinion and he can take it for what it's worth. We're just trying to assist him in not making a $1K mistake that could turn into more $$$ spent if he wrecks his Box because he chose the wrong tires.

[Dave S.]

I run all season tires for three reasons.
1. I live at 8700 ft in the mountains of Colorado. I drive the car on nice summer weekends only, but often travel over high mountain passes, where it can snow even in the middle of summer. You never know when you might pass through a freak storm that leaves snow behind. And, it can get cold, even when it's warm when you leave the house as you travel up in altitude.
2. I have no plans to track my car.
3. They tend to last longer and are easier on my wallet.

I think I'm going to try out some Continental DWS all seasons this time. A friend out here with a 993 swears by them.

[Joe B]

"Everybody except Joe B has reported that AS tires aren't good in snow."
I didn't say that. I have Michelin Pilot Super Sports on my Boxster and they are very very bad on snow!

[Perfectlap]

Ow

Originally Posted by husker boxster

This has turned into quite the thread. Maybe we should calm down by discussing less controversial topics like oil brands, football, or whether IMS failures are hocum. Maybe Perfectlap and I should pipe down and let people answer the OP's original question on which AS tire is best. We've given our opinion and he can take it for what it's worth. We're just trying to assist him in not making a $1K mistake that could turn into more $$$ spent if he wrecks his Box because he chose the wrong tires.

People forget that this is a rear wheel drive car and one that can snap away from you easily. Two not ideal factors for a winter car. I had several seasons of autocross under my belt when i first got the Boxster and still managed to get it spun 180 on a cold damp surface in the first week. Some have posted on here telling of how a very minor spin in the rain got them into a curb/divider and the impact broke the wheels clear off the car. A total loss barely doing 30 mph. These cars are fragile and lightweight.

As far as AS's where there's icy roads...People place far too much confidence in a tire compromise that's not really a compromise because the tread pattern and depth for winter is not remotely similar to what is provided by a non-winter tire. You're neither here nor there. A more flexible compound during freezing temps is only going to give you a marginal advantage over the general capability of a summer tie. Its sort like wearing two layers of swimming trunks to go skiing. Better than oney layer of swimming trunks I suppose...just make sure you stay upright on them skiis. That snow stings.