What Type of Tire Will You Be Using This Winter?

[blake@tirerack]

By design, all-season tires trade a little dry and wet road traction in moderate and warm temperatures to provide light snow traction in below freezing temperatures (best suited to the 20- to 100-degree Fahrenheit range). Winter tires trade a little dry and wet road handling in moderate and warm temperatures to emphasize wet, ice and snow traction in cold to moderate temperatures (best suited for 0- to 50-degree Fahrenheit range).

In order to get a better understanding of how much ice traction is provided by summer, all-season and winter tire types, members of The Tire Rack Team recently conducted an "Ice Rink Performance Drive" on the glare ice of a skating rink. We compared Bridgestone's Ultra High Performance Summer Potenza RE750 to their Standard Touring All-Season Turanza EL400, as well as to two Blizzak Winter tires, the popular Blizzak WS-50 and the new Blizzak REVO 1.

What We Learned at the Ice Rinkhttp://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?...e.jsp

Read More About the Tires in This Test.

Bridgestone Blizzak REVO 1http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?...evo+1

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?...WS-50

Bridgestone Turanza EL400http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?...EL400

Bridgestone Potenza RE750http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?...RE750

Read Other Test Resultshttp://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?...h.jsp

[Nismo_Freak]

Falken RT-615's

[PalmerWMD]

I have a set of Michelin Alpin PA2 that I bought from Tire Rack on my 350Z stock wheels.

Fred..

[skydragoness]

I'm curious what someone would recommend for me to run. Where i live (delaware) it starts to snow the heaviest in Feb. stuff like 3-7' (ugh can't stand thinking about it ) and then some winters we have are bone-dry. I don't see snow tires being too practical because even in the bad winters, the snow storms are usually far apart. It's really weird. Anyhow, I was thinking of running Avon M550 A/S and dropping the psi when it snows for extra traction. A S14 VLSD is on its way thru the mail, so at least I'll have that to my advantage.

[PalmerWMD]

I chose my Alpin PA'2 as a bit of a compromise.

Dedicated winter/snow tires that wont leave you stranded in a snwostrom like many all -seasons will, but not so soft a compund that I cant drive fast in the dry.

Fred..

[Exar-Kun]

I live In GA. I stay home on the one week a year it snows.

-Chet

[Nismo_Freak]

I live In TX. I stay home on the one day a year it looks like it's gonna snow.

-Alan

+1

[skydragoness]

I chose my Alpin PA'2 as a bit of a compromise.

Dedicated winter/snow tires that wont leave you stranded in a snwostrom like many all -seasons will, but not so soft a compund that I cant drive fast in the dry.

Fred..

Oh yeah? How long have you had them? How's the tread? Soft? I drove a friend's Z31 with Michelin X-Ice tires, once i started going over 35mph (in the dry) it felt like the car was moving side-to-side like they were made of bubblegum or something. I'm just worried about going with a dedicated snow tire on a lowered/stiff car.

[Kenrik]

I live in Florida.... so i'll be using my summer tires...

[BadMojo]

I'm curious if anyone has any opinions on the Bridgestone Blizzak Revo 1 tires? How would these compare to the WS-50's?

[blake@tirerack]

I'm curious if anyone has any opinions on the Bridgestone Blizzak Revo 1 tires? How would these compare to the WS-50's?

The Revo 1 is classifed as an Ice and Snow tire, The WS-50 is a Snow and Ice tire. In short the Revo 1 is for use in areas where ice is a bigger problem. Like if you live where it gets cold enough to snow, but it does not stick around long. The melting snow then leaves the frozen slush and ice on the road. This is perfect for the Revo 1. The WS-50 is for heavy snow that sticks around. The WS-50 is designed to claw through the snow and grab onto the underrlying ice.

[blake@tirerack]

I'm curious what someone would recommend for me to run. Where i live (delaware) it starts to snow the heaviest in Feb. stuff like 3-7' (ugh can't stand thinking about it ) and then some winters we have are bone-dry. I don't see snow tires being too practical because even in the bad winters, the snow storms are usually far apart. It's really weird. Anyhow, I was thinking of running Avon M550 A/S and dropping the psi when it snows for extra traction. A S14 VLSD is on its way thru the mail, so at least I'll have that to my advantage.

Either the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2, or the Dunlop Winter Sport M3 would work for you.

[grimple1]

Pirelli Pnero Zero M+S

[Scooby24]

ET streets....

mmm I love AWD daily drivers.

[float_6969]

Darn your Scooby! I'll be running a studded snow tire. They're still legal here in KS. I've run them on every 240 that I've had, except once, and that was the only time I got stuck. It was also the only time I smashed my car up. Darn the ice...

[skylndrftr]

unstudded nokian hakkapaleta 2's all four corners...absolute freaking blast in the winter with the good ones...man why couldn't i have been born in finland I am the only person i know who enjoys driving in snow.

[JesusLikesKFC]

falken zien..... with special fitted maxima snow chains. hope it works well without damage of any sort. I cant afford snow tires.

[skylinekin]

I just got a S13 and this is my first winter with it. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan and it snows pretty heavily here. The worst thing is in the mornings when I go to school there are little hills I have to stop on at a stop sign then start going up hill and im kinda worried that I am going to get stuck. I need some advice on tires, and any other tips. Thanks

[skydragoness]

You better get dedicated snow tires, because unless you have a set of really good all seasons and a LSD, your'e not going to get anywhere. Believe me.

I'm curious, what is the consensus on tire cables? They're less bulky than chains, and i think they'd be good for when you get the sudden snow storm and your'e stuck with all seasons. I would like to get the Michelin Alpins that Blake suggested, but $109 for a 15" tire is just a tad out of my budget and kind of insane (there's no way I'll go with Dunlops, I hate them for their unsafe lack of grip in the rain).

[skylinekin]

So if i get some Blizzaks, and I already have a welded diff will I be okay, just put some weight in the trunk and take it slow.

[silencer.1]

I bought a set of Cooper Weathermaster Plus last year and nevre had a problem with traction, even in 12in of snow on the road. I did plow a path in the snow that day though since the lip was so low on the old pignose. Packed the whole front with snow I did...

[BadMojo]

So if i get some Blizzaks, and I already have a welded diff will I be okay, just put some weight in the trunk and take it slow.

Yeah, that sounds quite reasonable. I made it through two PA winters with "all season" tires. Wasn't pretty, but I made it. Having said that, I'm getting some Blizzaks or some Hakkapelitas (not too many Nokian dealers in my area, though).

[skylndrftr]

having driven both i really prefer the noks they drive like a high performance tire for the snow i have always felt the blizzaks felt like truck tires. I also run a 250lb steel plate in the hatch area

[574-240sx]

I'm going to use all season cheapos and I'm not driving any of my cars this winter.

[EW]

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 275/35/18