Are winter tires usually much rougher than summer tires?

Silly Rabbit · 03-14-2015, 07:41 PM

I swapped over to Blizzak tires on stock 18s for the winter. I didn't drive very often, but always though the car had a much busier unsteady feeling with the winter setup. It was just an underlying nervousness type feeling. I knew the car was fine with my summer wheels and tires and just went through the winter with the annoyance. One issue I know, one of my front wheel has a slight bend in the inside lip from the previous owner. Maybe that contributes? I had the wheels and tires balanced and an alignment after making the swap.

So, today I put my summer tires and wheels back on the car and it is like a whole new car. It feels so much more stable, planted and in control. Is it normal for winter tires to be that different or should I be looking harder at the damaged wheel before next winter?

maizenblue · 03-14-2015, 07:58 PM

i cant drive spiritedly when i have winter tires on, they just lose traction. not designed for performance. over 100mph and they just dont feel safe. i think what youre feeling is probably normal

90 ST · 03-14-2015, 08:43 PM

Yeah winter tires are a totally different compound, you will have a different feel for sure. And if you're on a different size that will change things also.

Chan Chee Hoe · 03-15-2015, 06:34 AM

Winter tyres are designed to drive in light snow,they got rougher thread than summer tyres..to 'bit' into the snow...

Brendan · 03-15-2015, 06:22 PM

I'm running 225/50r18 Bridgestone lm-32 and really don't have any issues with normal driving. They feel a lot better in cold weather than the summers ever did.

kenchan · 03-15-2015, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chan Chee Hoe

Winter tyres are designed to drive in light snow,they got rougher thread than summer tyres..to 'bit' into the snow...

snow tires can drive through deep snow. your chassis will bottom out much sooner than overwhelm the tire's traction. at that point, it's not the tires' fault, but the driver.

all season tires can handle light snow.. some better than others.

03-14-2015, 07:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Silly Rabbit Track Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Brookston, IN Age: 54 Posts: 683 Drives: '12 PW Touring Sport Rep Power: 619	Are winter tires usually much rougher than summer tires? I swapped over to Blizzak tires on stock 18s for the winter. I didn't drive very often, but always though the car had a much busier unsteady feeling with the winter setup. It was just an underlying nervousness type feeling. I knew the car was fine with my summer wheels and tires and just went through the winter with the annoyance. One issue I know, one of my front wheel has a slight bend in the inside lip from the previous owner. Maybe that contributes? I had the wheels and tires balanced and an alignment after making the swap. So, today I put my summer tires and wheels back on the car and it is like a whole new car. It feels so much more stable, planted and in control. Is it normal for winter tires to be that different or should I be looking harder at the damaged wheel before next winter? __________________ NISMO R Tune Intakes \ Fast Intentions RHFC \ Borla CBE \ EcuTek Tuned\ SPL Camber Arms \ Powertrix Coilovers \ Swift Springs \ Avant Garde \ Wicked CAS \ Morimoto XB Halos \ Custom Fenders \ Hotchkis Sways \ NLP Splitter

03-14-2015, 08:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 421	Yeah winter tires are a totally different compound, you will have a different feel for sure. And if you're on a different size that will change things also. Brendan likes this.

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03-14-2015, 07:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
maizenblue Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Denver Posts: 288 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 12	i cant drive spiritedly when i have winter tires on, they just lose traction. not designed for performance. over 100mph and they just dont feel safe. i think what youre feeling is probably normal

03-15-2015, 06:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Chan Chee Hoe Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 861 Drives: 370z,Yellow,7sp A Rep Power: 17	Winter tyres are designed to drive in light snow,they got rougher thread than summer tyres..to 'bit' into the snow...

03-15-2015, 06:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brendan Track Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 642 Drives: Poor man's Porsche Rep Power: 542	I'm running 225/50r18 Bridgestone lm-32 and really don't have any issues with normal driving. They feel a lot better in cold weather than the summers ever did.