I've never bought winter tires for a car. I have some questions.

#1, what is the difference between performance and snow tires?
#2 how will the handling and ride of the car change with winter tires?
#3 what is the best winter tire for our car, and how much can I expect to spend?

 

1. The S comes equipped with Summer tires. These tires are high performance tires with a unique compound that give optimum traction in temperatures above 45F. However, below this temp, they become very greasy and as one member said, they slide like hockey pucks when cold.

2. A good performance winter tire designed with the needs of a performance car in mind, will offer 80-90% of the performance of the summer tires while providing superior traction and control during the winter season where temperature are usually low. Ride should be the same if not slightly better because of the slightly "squishier" sidewalls of winter tires (in my experience). You may also experience slightly higher that normal tire noise from winter tires due to their tread pattern.

3. I'm not sure where your located (i.e. how much snow you get), but for light snow and general winter use, the Dunlop M3 Wintersport is a great tire that has received rave reviews. If you live in an area where snow is more frequeny and/or more heavy consider looking at Blizzaks - specifically LM-22 or LM-25 or some such. I have limited experience with them, but am told they perform well in the snow, with the trade off being a touch more road noise when the roads are dry.

 

[QUOTE=vishnus11,Oct 14 2006, 10:50 PM] The S comes equipped with Summer tires. These tires are high performance tires

 

Well when i put snow tires on my old rsx, I brought the summer tires in the house and turned them into a set of seats. I got a seat cover off of 2 chevy silverado seats and stuffed the tires in there and leaned it up against the wall, then stuffed the holes with a bunch of pilliows and duct taped the seat cover closed. They were actually pretty comfortable to look at, but not to sit in. I was just bored and gave it a try. Now I just throw them out in a shed i built.

-Ian

 

Here's a copy/paste from Wikipedia on "Tyres/Tires":
[QUOTE]
Winter (snow and ice) tires

 

if your looking for winter tires...stay away from studded tires and get some studless winter tires. My friend works at Discount Tire and he told me that the studless tires handle better than studded ones. I went ahead and bought Dunlop Graspics for my car and it handles GREAT. I dont fishtail, i dont spin out. Another good choice would be the Hankook Icebears.

Go look up reviews on the studless tires you will soon find out they are a coice chosen over any other winter tire

 

Blizzaks LM 22.The bests.