I need your advice on tires.....

[Mark_T]

Sometimes I think this winter tire business is just a load of hype to sell more tires. I've no doubt that they perform better under the conditions they are designed for, but lets remember it's only been a few of years since they came on the market and we all did just fine with our all-seasons before then.

I've been driving year round (and this is Winnipeg we're talking about) on all seasons for 30+ years now. They have always worked just fine for me, and I'm just not prepared to take a step back to the bias-ply days when we all had to change tires/wheels twice a year and then find somewhere to store the off-season set. What's next - the return of frost shields?

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

I've been driving year round (and this is Winnipeg we're talking about) on all seasons for 30+ years now. They have always worked just fine for me..

were those mostly front wheel drive cars?

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

were those mostly front wheel drive cars?

Absolutely not. I've owned very few fwd cars in my time.

[woodsman]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

Absolutely not. I've owned very few fwd cars in my time.

BUT-- you haven't driven on winters-- you don't know what your missing! Full snows have effectively softer rubber ( rubber hardens as it gets colder) and has as many serrated edges as the mfg can squeeze onto them which bite there way down the street. If you installed 4 new snows you'd laugh as you slice your way effortlessly around traffic. In some northern European countries they don't have half assed all-seasons. Try pushing your fingernail into the tread on a Nokian Hakkapaletta NR 10- the compound is meant to 'work' at -20 -30 -40 and the increased tread depth and void area allows the tread squirm to clear the grooves of snow. Since 1990 there has been a revolution in the winter tire grip available in North America and you 've missed it! Full snows provide more grip in cold weather and offer increased safety as a result.

[recycledsixtie]

I hear you all and many of you are in favor of a/s tires. I really don't like my 16 inch telephone dial rims/winter tires. It seems to sit lower than my 17 inch summer tires. Maybe it is my imagination.

Talking to my local garage(I want to give him a try and would think that he would treat my oem rims better than Costco !?!)he recommended a summer tire that is a size that is not listed in the Porsche manual. To me this is a minus. I want the exact measurement tires as listed in the Box manual. 2. He did not refuse to put a/s tires on my Box but recommended I get summer tires as I already have the winter tires.

I favor the idea of a/s to extend the fall driving season but putting on my snow tires when the snow becomes more of a problem. I think that I have to get assertive with my local indy garage.

One more thing. If there is equal wear on my summer tires then an alignment is not needed - am I correct in saying this?

[woodsman]

Originally Posted by recycledsixtie

I hear you all and many of you are in favor of a/s

One more thing. If there is equal wear on my summer tires then an alignment is not needed - am I correct in saying this?

I think you know more about the tires required in Edmonton than your mechanic
and like JOE B in Wyoming you require a more weather friendly tire than a warm climate- only track- like, balls to the wall, specialty tire. No need to get an alignment if the wear pattern's good. PS your car is very clean looking and those phone dials look better on a Boxster than on a 944!

[TeamOxford]

Originally Posted by woodsman

and those phone dials look better on a Boxster than on a 944!

Yes, those 944/928 phone dials DO look surprisingly good on a 986.

TO

[recycledsixtie]

Originally Posted by TeamOxford

Yes, those 944/928 phone dials DO look surprisingly good on a 986.

TO

To add complexity to the mix, the seller said they came off a 911!

[haz]

Can I just say something? There is no such thing as all season tires. The producers have created a new marked, that´s it. Over here, all season tires are illegal..

Summer tires are hard rubber to get asfalt grip. Winter tires have much softer rubber for snow and ice grip. It´s that simple.

Do no buy the cheap stuff. You wouldn´t buy a cheap airbag or cheap setbelts, would you? It´s your safety we are talking about.

One example to underline my point: winter tires have twice the break length on asfalt than summer tires. Vice versa..

[recycledsixtie]

I have decided on the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S + tires and should be installed next week. For all you naysayers re A/S tires my snow tires will go on if the road conditions get overwhelming. I really want to experience an extended season of driving on non snow tires.....
Thanks for all your input.

[linderpat]

Originally Posted by recycledsixtie

I hear you all and many of you are in favor of a/s tires. I really don't like my 16 inch telephone dial rims/winter tires. It seems to sit lower than my 17 inch summer tires. Maybe it is my imagination.

Talking to my local garage(I want to give him a try and would think that he would treat my oem rims better than Costco !?!)he recommended a summer tire that is a size that is not listed in the Porsche manual. To me this is a minus. I want the exact measurement tires as listed in the Box manual. 2. He did not refuse to put a/s tires on my Box but recommended I get summer tires as I already have the winter tires.

I favor the idea of a/s to extend the fall driving season but putting on my snow tires when the snow becomes more of a problem. I think that I have to get assertive with my local indy garage.

One more thing. If there is equal wear on my summer tires then an alignment is not needed - am I correct in saying this?

Love the phone dials on the Box. Now you have me thinking for my Boxster. Here is a set on my shark.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

Sometimes I think this winter tire business is just a load of hype to sell more tires. I've no doubt that they perform better under the conditions they are designed for, but lets remember it's only been a few of years since they came on the market and we all did just fine with our all-seasons before then.

You do realize all-season tires is a North America only product, in Europe they do not have such tires.