Please suggest all-Season tires

[lurky]

Hello,
I have a 2007 Boxster and I'm looking for all-season tires because changing them every year is a headache.
According to tire rack, these are my choices for all-season tires:
-Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Continental ExtremeContact DWS Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Yokohama ADVAN S.4. Ultra High Performance All-Season

Does anyone have any experience with these? Thanks

[lifeisgood]

Originally Posted by lurky

Hello,
I have a 2007 Boxster and I'm looking for all-season tires because changing them every year is a headache.
According to tire rack, these are my choices for all-season tires:
-Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Continental ExtremeContact DWS Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Yokohama ADVAN S.4. Ultra High Performance All-Season

Does anyone have any experience with these? Thanks

Just bought a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position Ultra High Performance All-Season today. Heard a lot of good things about it. Suppose to last much longer than those overpriced Michellin PS2 i had.

Firestone is having a Sale right now.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by lurky

Hello,
I have a 2007 Boxster and I'm looking for all-season tires because changing them every year is a headache.
According to tire rack, these are my choices for all-season tires:
-Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Continental ExtremeContact DWS Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Yokohama ADVAN S.4. Ultra High Performance All-Season

Does anyone have any experience with these? Thanks

Choosing tires for any vehicle is easy. Whatever is the most expensive Michelin for your application.
If for some reason they don't make your size I would choose the Conti's from your list.
Traditionally a conservative brand that last a long time.

[CoBeerToad]

Bought my car a year and a half ago with bald tires. Bought Goodyears (I'd have to guess they were the Eagle F1s) and I'm very pleased with them. However this is my first Porsche and these are the only tires I have had besides the bald ones so I have nothing to compare them too, but I am very satisfied with them on dry and wet pavement.

[laphan]

Originally Posted by lurky

Hello,
I have a 2007 Boxster and I'm looking for all-season tires because changing them every year is a headache.
According to tire rack, these are my choices for all-season tires:
-Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Continental ExtremeContact DWS Ultra High Performance All-Season
-Yokohama ADVAN S.4. Ultra High Performance All-Season

Does anyone have any experience with these? Thanks

I used to have the RE960AS which RE970AS replaced. They were fantastic tires, did very well in wet and dry. They were okay for light snow.
I got close to 40K miles from RE960AS, I heard RE970AS should be better than RE960AS.
My vote would be the RE970AS....

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by laphan

I used to have the RE960AS which RE970AS replaced. They were fantastic tires, did very well in wet and dry. They were okay for light snow.
I got close to 40K miles from RE960AS, I heard RE970AS should be better than RE960AS.
My vote would be the RE970AS....

I would agree, I have the RE960AS on my daily driver (non Porsche, but still performance oriented) and the overall cold, wet, and light snow performance has been outstanding.

[Autobot152]

Originally Posted by lurky

Hello,
I have a 2007 Boxster and I'm looking for all-season tires because changing them every year is a headache.

do you mean you are changing from summer tires to winter tires every year? do you get a lot of snow in your area? or are you going thru performance tires every year? more info will help with recommendations.

[thom4782]

My 100K+ 01S has had three sets of tires: Michelin, Perelli, and most recently Bridgestone RE760 Sports. I like the Bridgestone tires the best. They provide, a comfortable ride, were quiet, performed well in dry and wet conditions and lasted more than 30K miles.

I will replace the Bridgestone tires in the next few months. The only question in my mind is whether to buy the RE760s again or switch to the RE970AS model. The 970s will last about 20% longer. If I become convinced the 970s are as quiet and comfortable as the 760s, the I'll buy the 970s.

Of course, it doesn't snow where I live so I can't comment on how well Bridgestone tires perform in the winter.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by lurky

Hello,
I have a 2007 Boxster and I'm looking for all-season tires because changing them every year is a headache.

I also live where it snows. That being said, all season tires are a waste imho.
They are useless if you get caught out in fast/heavy accumulation during winter, has happened to me more than a few times, and are far from ideal in the summer. Granted having a 2nd car with AWD is probably best but I didn't have that option, I only drive weekends as it is.

I too got tired of changing over the tires and the $180-$200 charge so I simply bought a replica set of wheels ($600) mounted with legit snow tires. And even with the full snow tires there have been a few times when they were just making it up a hill. All seasons would have been sliding backwards. With a $20 race jack from Harbor Freight and a decent Craftsman or Bosch impact gun you can change from Summer wheels to winter wheels in 15 minutes. Repeat when spring rolls around. You'll put significantly fewer miles on your expensive tires and your nicer set of wheels will take less of a beating on salted roads. Wet weather performance will also be better on snow tires during cold temps.

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I also live where it snows. That being said, all season tires are a waste imho.
They are useless if you get caught out in fast/heavy accumulation during winter, has happened to me more than a few times, and are far from ideal in the summer. Granted having a 2nd car with AWD is probably best but I didn't have that option, I only drive weekends as it is.

I too got tired of changing over the tires and the $180-$200 charge so I simply bought a replica set of wheels ($600) mounted with legit snow tires. And even with the full snow tires there have been a few times when they were just making it up a hill. All seasons would have been sliding backwards. With a $20 race jack from Harbor Freight and a decent Craftsman or Bosch impact gun you can change from Summer wheels to winter wheels in 15 minutes. Repeat when spring rolls around. You'll put significantly fewer miles on your expensive tires and your nicer set of wheels will take less of a beating on salted roads. Wet weather performance will also be better on snow tires during cold temps.

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.

[Joe B]

Ok. I have to chime in. People who say all season tires are a waste, answer this. Which tires would you use to drive from Wyoming to Arizona, California, or Oregon (places I often go) in any season other than summer? My Michelin Pilot Super Sports are pretty useless in the slightest amount of snow, and Blizzaks would wear out really quickly on hot, dry roads. So why would all season tires be a bad choice? If I were only going to drive around home, where it can snow any time from October through May, snow tires on extra rims would make sense, but what about 2-3,000 mile road trips when it might snow? I've been thinking about the RE970AS Bridgestones, or these Kumhos:
Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 225/40R18XL - Free Shipping | TireBuyer.com

[Perfectlap]

^ your's might be the only situation where an all season makes sense. Most get their seasons one at a time. But that being said, I'm not sure many would brave it in places like Wyoming, with a Boxster as their primary car, on a light duty winter tire. I guess you only drive the Boxster on those tires at the very start of winter and the very end of it?

[Joe B]

I drove on the Michelin Pilot Super Sports in November (when I got the car) and in February and March, when there was no snow on the roads. Contrary to what others have said, they work fine on cold (as low as 10 degrees F) dry pavement, if you use common sense and take it easy, just as you would on snow or ice, even with snow tires. But I would like to buy a tire that would allow me to take trips in spring and fall, when it can possibly snow, even as far south as central Utah, or west going to Portland Oregon, where my daughter lives. I even got a PM from someone here asking about a May trip through Yellowstone Park, and if all-season tires might be a good idea. My response was that it certainly can snow in Yellowstone in May!

[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.

[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.

[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?

[recycledsixtie]

I bought used a set of rims and blizzak snow tires for my Boxster that apparently came off a 911. I just use the car in the city in winter with the winter tires only and never get stuck. I put them on in October and take them off in late April. The back end breaks away easily but are very satisfactory. I would never consider driving here in winter without snow tires. If I drive to Arizona or California next November then I would stick with the winter tires there and back. If there is premature wear so be it. And I did not buy the Boxster for good gas mileage either! Better than getting stuck.