No, I haven't converted to the dark side. my S hasn't become my daily driver. BUT, i will be in need of suggestions for snows on an S60R that i just ordered.

my lease is up on the QX4, and my new wife already owns a jeep. two 15-16mpg vehicles don't make sense. therefore, 300hp/awd/volvo safety and it doesn't stand out like crap in a punch bowl in the parking lot.

tire rack says the vehicle is too new and they have no specific rec's. everyone has said, "go with the blizzaks" but very few have driven with them.

any thoughts from the daily drivers?

-mdb
(p.s., thanks to the sluggish economy, you can get an s60r at less than msrp right now.)

 

Welcome back from the dark side of the wedding, Mike Why not bring your bride to Fall Colors 03 out in Hagerstown on the 10/25 - 26 weekend

Hmmmm, should I move this to the Tires & Wheels forum for you? I've been happy with Blizzaks on my S2000. Maybe you should *try* this new guy with the OEM tires and add some extra weight in back for the winter

Btw, I have a little surprise to snail mail to you...can you PM me your east shore office address ? The ac-pc website has a different address from the bus card that you gave me last year

 

thanks for the reply. saw one s2000 in italy (asissi) on the honeymoon. i'll try to get a picture up.

i didn't put this in the tire forum just because i knew you had tried the blizzaks.

the fall colors is a thought, but we are still trying to get our heads above h2o (literally and figuratively). between the wedding, the honeymoon, a new job for her and much damage from isabelle...its been a loooong month.

the address on the ac-pc website should be the right one. the other one was prior to the move.

the OEMs are not a good option. volvo states right up front that snows are recommended for the 18" wheels.

-mdb

 

Nice choice for the all season car ...havn't had a chance to drive one yet but the sound great on paper.

On my other "S" car I use Mich Pilot Sport Alpins...great in the snow...they are very stable at speeds up to 120...never exceeded that w/ snows...they are almost good enough for all year tires...but handling does fall short when pushing the car above the normal 8/10s driving limit.

(I'm giving you both sides)
On the compaint factor, the sidewalls are prone to bubbling...had it happen to one in a 2 winter season (9k)... I have heard other people w/ the same problem...if you go with them, get the tire insurance.

Personally, I like trying different tires, so I will be going to a different mfg...but these seem to last and last...I hope to get another 2 winters out of them.

I have had Blizzacks in the past...good tire...great in the snow and ice...but they got real unstable at 85-90...wouldn't recommend highway driving w/ them...and they do wear out faster.. I wish I could remember which model tire it was but it was a long time ago

sorry for the long post

ghag_S4

'01 S4 6-speed
'01 S2000 6-speed
'81 CJ-7 4-speed

 

much thanks!

the guys at tire rack are still looking in to it for me. i've heard the same complaints about blizzaks from friends here...great in the snow, but if it is a dry winter they aren't a whole lot of fun.

has anyone tried the pirelli snows?

 

I would go with the Blizzaks. I've heard from Tire Rack and others that if you're going with primarily a snow tire and want good ice traction too, they're great and surprisingly better than decent on dry. The Pirelli's didn't do as well as the Blizzak's or the Dunlop Winter Sports in a Tire Rack test either.

I was going to get them (Blizzak's), but compared to where you live, out here further east in Jersey, it's rare if we get 2 considerable snowfalls a year (knock on wood). I opted for Dunlop SP 5000's instead, figuring if we do get anything heavier than a couple inches, I'll just stay in bed and wait for the snow plow's. .........I hope I didn't just curse myself.

 

i used the pirelli winterice tires and found they worked very well. the reason i chose them is because the owner of Sports Car Tire in wilmington had them on his porsche, and recommeneded them because of their strengths in RWD/Front Steer applications. they did very nicely in the cold temps, too. just my opinion. the other tires mentioned here are all good tires, but the RWD thing sent me to the pirellis.

 

i spoke with tire rack last week and they are recommending the blizzaks with the pirelli's as a close second.

then came the sticker shock... ...4 tires and wheels will cost almost as much as 2 car payments...

the next decision is to have the snows mounted year 'round, or to On-off them each fall/spring?

 

you shouldn't leave snows on year-round, because their rubber compound is designed to work in the colder weather. you'll tear them to pieces in no time once the weather gets warmer. i'd on-off them - i used the pirelli's on my stock rims; my tire guy stores my winter tires during the summer and vice-versa.

 

wow, i didn't realize it had been so long since i had hit the site...
...what i meant was: buy separate rims for the snows and leave them mounted, so that it would be easier to swap out each spring/winter, vs. having to on/off on the stock rims 6-7 times over the next 39mos.