pbm317

New to the area this year, and as the temps begin to dip, I am wondering if y'all switch to winter/all-season tires. In Chicago they were a must, since when the temps dipped, the performance tires can get pretty slick. Then no traction once snow hits the ground. Do y'all run your performance tires (S-02's or similar) all year long, or switch out to an all season/winter tread. I don't know how much colder it gets here.

Thanks in advance for your input!

mikegarrison

You can use a good rain tire (like the S-03) all winter long. If it actually snows (usually one or two days a year), it is best to have actual snow tires. However, since the roads are full of people who don't know how to drive in the snow, often just staying at home is the best bet.

Be cautious about black ice. In winter the fog comes in off the ocean, then settles down on the below-freezing road surface. The resulting ice layer is very thin and nearly invisible (thus the name). Black ice usually melts off as soon as the sun hits it, but shady roads after clear nights are treacherous in the morning.

If you drive in the mountains you need snow tires. You also need tire chains (because the State Patrol can require them if the conditions get bad enough). Since there are no tire chains that work with the S, I'd recommend some other vehicle for going into the mountains.

RT

I run SO-3's all year round.

pbm317

thanks for the replies, any other input?? i assume everyone here should have some opinion on this topic.

PWRMKR

Just after I got my S, we got a couple of inches of snow. I had to drive from Marysville to Puyallup. I didn

WRS2K

Go S-03!

I wonder how the PS2s do. Too bad they don't make 285/30s. Even if they did, not sure I'd run them cuz I actually think the PS2s are puffier than even the stay puff S-03s

124Spider

My stock RE050s freewheel in first gear, with no throttle applied, on an almost-level driveway, in an inch of snow. I would never drive this car in snow on summer tires; it's not worth the risk. SO-3s may be better, but I already have RE050s, so I bought snow tires for the winter.

I got a spare set of '01 wheels (cost about $300 used for a whole set), and put Blizzak LM22s on them. Now I'm ready for anything Seattle might throw at me.

Although I have another car I can drive in the winter, it sometimes happens that there is unexpected snowfall, and it really sucks to be caught away from home on summer tires.

jerrypeterson

[QUOTE=pbm317,Sep 25 2005, 09:45 PM] thanks for the replies, any other input??

pbm317

124Spider, thanks for the input on the RE050's. I actually have Bridgestone RE050A Runflats on my 330i Sport. I assume any summer tire is bad on snow.

Guess I'll just see how it goes, and I may find myself looking for some winter tires in a couple months I suppose.

Thanks again for all the input!

RT

... here a pic that I post every time this subject comes up ..... not that I'm saying you should do it too because unlike Jerry, I do feel there is much to gain from running the correct tires for a given situation but just to show you it's possible (given the skillz )......
SO-3's baby:


I like this pic too :