Summer tires in the winter

JerWA · 12-13-2010, 02:26 AM

I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do. The snow we got in November was brutal, car is a death trap. Stock tires, 80% worn. I was actually making the road worse for other drivers because my nice, wide, mostly bald tires leave the road compacted and glass smooth behind me. Every gear was eek up to ~2,000 rpm, shift, slip and slide for a few seconds, repeat. 12 miles took me 90 minutes. At least I waited for all the traffic to be gone first, and tried to stay out of other peoples way.

Have a big hill before my house, didn't even try it the first night. After 2 days of partial melt, lots of sand, and plowing I tried it and spun the car down the hill (thankfully didn't hit anyone/thing, again partly because I waited for there to be no traffic).

Now I'm in a catch 22. Can't afford new tires yet, can't afford not to work. I read that chains, even "S" clearance, may not fit, and none of the alternatives (snobootz/autosocks) fit 295/35-19. Was trying to find the thread talking about alternative tire sizes for the sport wheels in the hopes that maybe one of our optional bigger sizes will have matching bootz/socks. Bleh.

"It never snows in Seattle!" they say.

m4a1mustang · 12-13-2010, 08:22 AM

Get a setup like AK has. Some 18s with a narrow Blizzak. I think he runs a 225 all the way around. For snow its best to run a square setup and the narrowest tire you are comfortable with.

For my 5.0 I am fitting some 235s on the smallest wheels that fit my brakes... some 18x9. Per Blizzak, the maximum recommended rim width for their 235 LM-22 is 9 inches, so I will be in pretty good shape for snow.

m4a1mustang · 12-13-2010, 08:49 AM

Forgot to say... check tirerack for closeout deals. I got my LM22s for 155 each.

spearfish25 · 12-13-2010, 08:58 AM

Your other choice is a second car. But buying a POS doesn't mean it's better in snow and you may still need snow tires...albeit cheaper tires than ones for the Z.

ChrisSlicks · 12-13-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerWA

"It never snows in Seattle!" they say.

If snow is really that rare in Seattle then a set of all seasons may be a more economical choice. Not as good as snow tires in the snow but will be considerably better than Summer tires. The downside is they won't have the ultimate traction of a Summer tire in the Summer, but they will wear better.

m4a1mustang · 12-13-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Your other choice is a second car. But buying a POS doesn't mean it's better in snow and you may still need snow tires...albeit cheaper tires than ones for the Z.

Agreed. A second car (with the proper tires, of course) is ideal to drive in the treacherous stuff. But RWD sports cars are definitely capable in light-moderate snow conditions with the right tire.

m4a1mustang · 12-13-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

If snow is really that rare in Seattle then a set of all seasons may be a more economical choice. Not as good as snow tires in the snow but will be considerably better than Summer tires. The downside is they won't have the ultimate traction of a Summer tire in the Summer, but they will wear better.

You can also get one of the performance winter tires which will give you pretty good dry pavement traction along with light snow traction that is still well above the best of the all-seasons. Something like the Michelin Alpin.

The problem with tires is that they are always a compromise, so if you can afford it it's best to have a winter set and a summer set if you live in a climate where you expect to do some snow driving.

kenchan · 12-13-2010, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Your other choice is a second car. But buying a POS doesn't mean it's better in snow and you may still need snow tires...albeit cheaper tires than ones for the Z.

yah, my beater runs WS60's in the winter and are kickarse.

drives like a AWD car on a/s tires. absolutely no issue in deeper snow.

msb3079 · 12-14-2010, 11:42 PM

I've been training in OH for the past few weeks. Morning have been below 10°. Days when there's now snow.. I drive but do notice that tire thumping. Days when there's snow, I go with the others training in the van the Marriott has.

I'm actually moving to Alaska and taking the Z. I bought Blizzaks and am getting them installed this Saturday (back home).

m4a1mustang · 12-14-2010, 11:52 PM

I just put my order in for some wheels and Dunlop Wintersport M3s. Should be good for the DC area.

Pisces312 · 12-15-2010, 01:35 PM

Conti Extreme Contact DWS tires may be a partial answer. I spoke to my tire dealer about the conti's. He says the new version is flying off the shelves. They are not a panacea but the are far better the OEM's that came with the car. He claims they are also much quieter than the Bridgestones.
The price for the set on my 19" wheels is a bit over $1000.00 complete.
Looks like that will at least give me a fighting chance in the cold, rain, and light snow.

wilsonp · 12-15-2010, 05:55 PM

I had them installed. They are quieter, though they still pick up every pebble and fling it against the wheel well.

I may get a chance to find out how they do in the snow tomorrow.

JerWA · 01-10-2011, 04:00 AM

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.

370zproject · 10-27-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Agreed. A second car (with the proper tires, of course) is ideal to drive in the treacherous stuff. But RWD sports cars are definitely capable in light-moderate snow conditions with the right tire.

m4a1mustang · 10-27-2011, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zproject

Post whore

12-13-2010, 02:26 AM	#46 (permalink)
JerWA Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 53 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 15	I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do. The snow we got in November was brutal, car is a death trap. Stock tires, 80% worn. I was actually making the road worse for other drivers because my nice, wide, mostly bald tires leave the road compacted and glass smooth behind me. Every gear was eek up to ~2,000 rpm, shift, slip and slide for a few seconds, repeat. 12 miles took me 90 minutes. At least I waited for all the traffic to be gone first, and tried to stay out of other peoples way. Have a big hill before my house, didn't even try it the first night. After 2 days of partial melt, lots of sand, and plowing I tried it and spun the car down the hill (thankfully didn't hit anyone/thing, again partly because I waited for there to be no traffic). Now I'm in a catch 22. Can't afford new tires yet, can't afford not to work. I read that chains, even "S" clearance, may not fit, and none of the alternatives (snobootz/autosocks) fit 295/35-19. Was trying to find the thread talking about alternative tire sizes for the sport wheels in the hopes that maybe one of our optional bigger sizes will have matching bootz/socks. Bleh. "It never snows in Seattle!" they say. __________________ 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]

12-13-2010, 08:22 AM	#47 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Get a setup like AK has. Some 18s with a narrow Blizzak. I think he runs a 225 all the way around. For snow its best to run a square setup and the narrowest tire you are comfortable with. For my 5.0 I am fitting some 235s on the smallest wheels that fit my brakes... some 18x9. Per Blizzak, the maximum recommended rim width for their 235 LM-22 is 9 inches, so I will be in pretty good shape for snow. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

12-13-2010, 08:49 AM	#48 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Forgot to say... check tirerack for closeout deals. I got my LM22s for 155 each. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

12-13-2010, 08:58 AM	#49 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Your other choice is a second car. But buying a POS doesn't mean it's better in snow and you may still need snow tires...albeit cheaper tires than ones for the Z. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

12-14-2010, 11:52 PM	#55 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	I just put my order in for some wheels and Dunlop Wintersport M3s. Should be good for the DC area. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

12-14-2010, 11:42 PM	#54 (permalink)
msb3079 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: collingswood.nj Posts: 133 Drives: 12 Touring Sport 6MT Rep Power: 16	I've been training in OH for the past few weeks. Morning have been below 10°. Days when there's now snow.. I drive but do notice that tire thumping. Days when there's snow, I go with the others training in the van the Marriott has. I'm actually moving to Alaska and taking the Z. I bought Blizzaks and am getting them installed this Saturday (back home).

12-15-2010, 01:35 PM	#56 (permalink)
Pisces312 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4 Drives: 2009 370Z GG Auto Rep Power: 15	Continental tires *Conti Extreme Contact DWS* tires may be a partial answer. I spoke to my tire dealer about the conti's. He says the new version is flying off the shelves. They are not a panacea but the are far better the OEM's that came with the car. He claims they are also much quieter than the Bridgestones. The price for the set on my 19" wheels is a bit over $1000.00 complete. Looks like that will at least give me a fighting chance in the cold, rain, and light snow.

12-15-2010, 05:55 PM	#57 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 17	I had them installed. They are quieter, though they still pick up every pebble and fling it against the wheel well. I may get a chance to find out how they do in the snow tomorrow. __________________ 2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

01-10-2011, 04:00 AM	#58 (permalink)
JerWA Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 53 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 15	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]

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