Summer tires in the winter

JerWA

Problem with all of the solutions is that I'm broke. I'm not kidding either, I mean broke like 2 digits in the bank in between bills.

I found a deal on a single 285/35R19 DWS and bought another new. I know, you want narrow and square, but I can't afford that either. The deal on the one tire was good enough that it made buying another one new cheaper than any other option.

Can't afford fronts yet of course, so that will be interesting. I know it's a bad setup, but the winter isn't getting any better (had snow on the ground for over a week again already which parked me, thankfully we were able to borrow a truck but that's gone now too). The stocks are so bad that I couldn't get out of my driveway. Roads cleared 2 days later meant literally nothing to me because I couldn't get down a 300 foot long flat piece of driveway.

The plan is to put DWS on the front sport wheels as well when money permits. Then these will likely become my winter wheels/tires and I'll work on new wheels to start over for summer. What a giant PITA. Very light snow and cold cold roads are the norm, and I think the DWS will be perfectly fine in that. This crazy 4+ inches on the ground for 10 days at a time thing, bleh.

On the plus side, the TrailBlazer SS on Toyo Proxies II is rocking it. Thing eats up the snow and ice too surprisingly. Stops like a bus (when doesn't it), but turns and accelerates like the snow isn't even there.

Really, really wish I could park the Z for the winter. I'm more afraid of other drivers than anything else. And the 2 big hills haha but I can always park at the bottom and have the g/f pick me up in the TBSS.

__________________
2009 370Z Base/Sport A7 — Black — [ Stillen G3 CAI • ARK GRIP • NISMO S-Tune Body Kit • +Tune +Nav +Sub +Tint • DWS 255/35R19 Front, 285/35R19 Rear]

370zproject

yep im gonna probly get fired i cant afford a second set XD

__________________

Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

JerWA

Still rocking the bald stock fronts, with 285/35 R19 DWS rears.

Much better than stock, drivable at least in the snow. Made it up the big hill last year after putting these on, but didn't feel comfortable trying the downhill side (where it spun before hehe). For normal driving I'm fairly happy. Their wet traction isn't what I'd hoped it would be, but they break loose so predictably that it's almost more fun sliding it around than it would be if they just hooked up anyways.

Probably going to put some 255/35 R19 DWS up front and keep the stock wheels for winter driving and do some big Vossens or something for summer. Mostly driving the TBSS now to avoid miles on the Z's front tires which are beyond their lifespan for sure. I think the 255/35 was the closest match I could find.

PS: The never snows in Seattle thing was me being mad because that's what I was told, and it has snowed 5 of the 6 years since I was told that lol. This year they say is going to be another bad one, so make that 6 of the last 7. Already down to 34 degrees at nights, so all it's going to take is some water added to the mix.

__________________
2009 370Z Base/Sport A7 — Black — [ Stillen G3 CAI • ARK GRIP • NISMO S-Tune Body Kit • +Tune +Nav +Sub +Tint • DWS 255/35R19 Front, 285/35R19 Rear]

ChrisSlicks

255/35 would be way off in diameter from the 285/35 based on the manufacturer information (almost 1" diff). 245/40 would be a much closer match.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

370zproject

how much are the tires ?


anyone know how falken 452's do in the snow..... ? they do greatt in rain

__________________

Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

ChrisSlicks

Haven't driven them but based on the tread design I would say pretty poorly. Snow traction comes from lots of biting edges which requires small more square tread blocks.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

m4a1mustang

Rain traction is all about evacuating water from underneath the tire. Chris is right, with snow traction, it's all about biting edges. If you look at snow tires they have almost an off-road look to them, and the tread blocks have tons of jagged sipes designed to grab snow. They also have a compound that won't harden up when extremely cold, like all summer tires and some all seasons.

The 452s aren't going to do well in snow at all.

__________________
- Steve

Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!)
LIKE us on Facebook!

kenchan

falken 452's are garbage in the cold (sub 35F) even in the rain. i speak from experience on a wheelset i bought locally for my honda fit years ago. comparing that to even the low-end bridgestone Fusion tires for tuner cars, Fusion tires were night/day improvement in the same condition.

452's will NOT work on a RWD car on a snow day or any cold day for that matter.

370zproject

452's work great in the summer

__________________

Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

JerWA

Got my fronts today. The size difference is right on the outside edge of recommended, but so far so good. It took the rears a solid 200 miles for the shine to wear off and for them to stop feeling like traction was a thing of the past so I'll give the fronts at least that much time before commenting on how they behave.

They do look a bit small in the wheel well due to the lost height. And I know some have said they look too busy and clunky, but I kinda like the look. I'll post pics eventually, as that will require I wash the car. :P

I already know it's not going to be good in the snow, it just has to be enough to get me home if I get caught out in it. I still won't be taking it out to intentionally get in the snow hehe.

255/35R19 front, 285/35R19 rear, DWS all around.

__________________
2009 370Z Base/Sport A7 — Black — [ Stillen G3 CAI • ARK GRIP • NISMO S-Tune Body Kit • +Tune +Nav +Sub +Tint • DWS 255/35R19 Front, 285/35R19 Rear]

tjlazer

Let me know how they do, I am thinking of getting these for my Z too. My tires are about shot. I am running the stock Nismo setup of 245 40 19 and 285 35 18.

__________________
2009 370Z Monterey Blue,Nismo Conversion,RE-11's, K&N Typhoon intakes,Blue Kickplates,Homelink,FI 18" CBE,ERZ HFCs,Hotchkis sways, Swift Spec-R, EVO-R Highwing, UPREV

370zproject

like have 18's for the rear for snow and 19s stock summer tires XD would look ghey tho

__________________

Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

JerWA

I can already tell you, despite the low sidewall, the fronts are too soft. I can feel the tire flexing in hard turns and then sort've rubber banding back. It's unnerving.

The rears do the same, but it being tail happy isn't a big deal and is actually kinda fun. The same feeling from the front...

Definitely going to have to put something else on the front when summer returns. Maybe some DW (minus S) hehe.

PS: I guess I should also say that with so few miles on it maybe it's just a different sensation from the stockers and is throwing me off. I'll post again after a few hundred miles, and probably a snow storm or two, and we'll see if it's worth it hehe.

__________________
2009 370Z Base/Sport A7 — Black — [ Stillen G3 CAI • ARK GRIP • NISMO S-Tune Body Kit • +Tune +Nav +Sub +Tint • DWS 255/35R19 Front, 285/35R19 Rear]

370zproject

dumb question can u mix your rims so that you only have to buy 2 lol (i would never do it who wants 2 diff rim types )

__________________

Brake Upgrade Package ate blue, hawk hp ceramic pads, and slotted rotors

m4a1mustang

What do you mean mix your rims?

__________________
- Steve

Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!)
LIKE us on Facebook!