Winter Tire Help
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Santa Monica
Winter Tire Help
I haven't lived in Virginia for a winter yet, but I am not too worried about snowy roads here. However, my fiancee still lives in Pennsylvania until next summer and I make the commute to see her all the time. I am driving up there in the S this weekend and although the roads are fine here I am worried about running into snow once I get there.
To get to the point.. Anyone have tire suggestions? I have read all the winter tire posts. The only problem is I don't think the winter tires will last driving around on the dry pavement here all the time. I didn't know if there was a "snow" tire that would still give me high performance but handle better in bad conditions.
Thanks for your help in advance.
To get to the point.. Anyone have tire suggestions? I have read all the winter tire posts. The only problem is I don't think the winter tires will last driving around on the dry pavement here all the time. I didn't know if there was a "snow" tire that would still give me high performance but handle better in bad conditions.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 37,305
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No dedicated snow tire will do well, wear-wise, in extended dry, highway use. You'll wear those suckers out before the season is out. My only suggestion would be to try and find a softer rubber "all season" radial in our sizes (if they exist) and hope that when you run into the snow and ice, that they will be "adequate". I've seen a few cars around here using the Goodyear Aquatreads throught the winter but they were FWD cars. Compare the tread wear #'s on our SO2's and the ones for a dedicated snow tire like the Blizzak and find an all season tire with a wear # somewhere in between. The wear # will give you some indication of the rubber "hardness". You need something that will stay a bit more pliable when the temperature goes down. A tire that remains "soft" in sub-zero temps, even with no snow grabbing lugs will still provide a reasonable degree of grip, although nothing like a real snow tire.
