winter tires

[ak330i]

which is better?

205/50R17
215/45R17

in safety?

in performance?

what would you put on?

[johnlew]

Taller/narrower better for snow traction. The 50s

[Patrick]

Those sound like LARGE snow tires.

I have 15" wheels for winter - 195/65 15 Nokia snows.

They are actually still on my car ... me l a z y .

Patrick

[·clyde·]

Originally posted by Patrick 320d
Those sound like LARGE snow tires.


I think of the all seasons on my wagon as "winter" tires, becusae they sure as hell aren't summer (read: performance) tires. :confused:

[nate]

My winter tires are 225/50 16s :angel:

[CD-55]

My winter tires are 205/55-R16.


<b>EDIT:

MINE ARE, Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 and I like them just fine.</b>

[geomax]

205/55/16 is a good all-round winter tire. Taller with a smaller contact patch (which is want you want), while still providing a bit of performance handling, but offers better protection from potholes, etc, than lower profiles.

[ak330i]

Originally posted by nate328Ci
My winter tires are 225/50 16s :angel:
i didnt know you have snow in TX...

[·clyde·]

Originally posted by CD-55
My winter tires are 205/55-R16.

my summer tires are 205/50-R17 :(

[ak330i]

which brand is a better winter tire?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22
Michellin Pilot Alpin
Pirelli Winter 240 Snow Sport
Dunlop Winter Sport M2

wear problem?
ride comfort/noise?

thanks

[nate]

Originally posted by ak330i

i didnt know you have snow in TX...

That doesn't mean there isn't winter :angel:

edit: and it does snow in TX. Not very often in Houston, but Dallas ususally gets a few inches per year...

[ak330i]

Originally posted by nate328Ci


That doesn't mean there isn't winter :angel:

edit: and it does snow in TX. Not very often in Houston, but Dallas ususally gets a few inches per year...
ic

[geomax]

Originally posted by ak330i
which brand is a better winter tire?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22
Michellin Pilot Alpin
Pirelli Winter 240 Snow Sport

wear problem?
ride comfort/noise?

thanks

I believe the Blizzak is the tire of choice of most people here, but the Alpins are also very good.

I'm so impressed by my Pilots Sports that I'm going with a set of Pilot Alpins this winter. :D

Read the reviews of each tire on tirerack.com

But be sure to get only an H rated tire - I think you'll be disappointed with any lower rating in terms of handling.

[ak330i]

what kind of mileage (wear) can you get from these winter tires?

[rwg]

Most people will tell you smaller/narrower for traction in the snow. I decided that the one or two days a year I really needed snow tires shouldn't cause me to suffer on the other days, so I went with 225/45r 17 (I think - I am sure they were 225s). I never had a problem with traction even on the days when we got a foot of snow all at once. And they provided lots of grip on days when it wasn't snowing - you know, most of them.

[Patrick]

Originally posted by ak330i
what kind of mileage (wear) can you get from these winter tires?

It really depends on the weather conditions that you drive in.

I drive in snow and ice for about three months of the year and theoretically, these snow tires should last about three winters. However, I have worn them out in one summer because I am an idiot. :confused:

Oh well.

Patrick

[Patrick]

Originally posted by rwg
Most people will tell you smaller/narrower for traction in the snow.

I had 145R75 on 15" wheels for a 1967 Volkswagen Squareback that I had for years here in Finland. Studded snow tires. I swear, with a bag of sand in front and a full gas tank, I could drive that VW up verticle walls!

Narrow is better in snow and ice - look at WRC rally cars when they race in Sweden (winter rally) or Monte Carlo (snow when they get up in the mountains). They have almost stupid looking skinny tires!

Patrick

[rwg]

Originally posted by Patrick 320d

Narrow is better in snow and ice

Agreed. My point was you don't necessarily need "better" and there are considerations other than snow and ice traction to think about. Like what about the other 99% of the winter.

[ff]

Originally posted by ak330i
what kind of mileage (wear) can you get from these winter tires?

My Blizzak MZ-01's are very soft (the rubber compound), and after about 6000 miles of driving on them last winter, seem to still have above 75% tread remaining. At this rate, I should easily get 15,000 winter miles out of them.

[IndyMike]

Originally posted by ak330i
which brand is a better winter tire?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22
Michellin Pilot Alpin
Pirelli Winter 240 Snow Sport
Dunlop Winter Sport M2

wear problem?
ride comfort/noise?

thanks
Just the other day I presented the following question to Tire Rack:

"I am contemplating purchasing a 2003 BMW 325 Sport Wagon. I am a resident of the Indianapolis, IN area and the question for me is whether I can get by with just the standard rear wheel drive (RWD) Sport Wagon.

During the winter months at the very most we may get 6 days where snow may accumulate up to 4 - 5 inches. Most days during the winter are normally dry with little to no precipitation on the road. I also have a slight incline of about 20 degrees to ascend to get into my garage. I would like to just get the RWD Sport Wagon and during the winter months (November - March) and replace the stock 225/45R17 performance tires with an all season or snow tire.

What tire(s) would you recommend that will give me some peace of mind of being able to handle the conditions I described above, yet will not detract from the mostly dry pavement conditions that we usually will encounter?"

I received the following answer:

"A dedicated winter tire such as the Bridgestone LM-22 or the Dunlop Winter Sport M2 will provide excellent winter capabilities for the RWD vehicle. Performance wise the Bridgestone will give an edge on ice and packed snow and the Dunlop an edge in loose snow and clear road performance. Both tires are excellent all around winter tires, and the previously mentioned "edges" are subtle rather than major differences.

As the Indy winters are not notoriously harsh and you would experience a fair amount of "clear" road operations I would probably bias in the direction of the Dunlop. This tire is available in either 16 or 17" fitments for your vehicle and we would recommend a wheel/tire package as being the most efficient and overall cost effective way for winter tires. Hope this info helps."

So you can use this as a gauge if you like in determining what tire you should get. If you'd like an individually catered answer I recommend that you contact them via their web site.