Winter tire help please =D

[gounc14]

So the 240 should be sold relatively soon, and I've got a 99 Maxima now. The rear tires are almost completely bald and the front ones are on their way. I'm in the mountains of Virginia and will be using the car for a LOT of snowboarding trips, I'd go so far to say a metric asston. I need some help picking out some good tires for the mountains here, never had any experience with em before, thanks for the help guys.

[Nismo_Freak]

You're gonna want a narrow tire with alot of sipes in the tread pattern.

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/faqs.html - FAQ on winter tires



Notice the number of sipes in the tire (the smaller cuts in the tread); the resulting edges created help to grip in low traction situations (dirt, snow, etc.)

Snow tires also have alot better resistance to plasticizing (rubber turning hard, yeilding less traction) because of their lower operating temps.

[gounc14]

Hmmms I'm assuming its a bad idea to leave them on year round?

[Q45tech]

Snow/ice tires overheat and turn hard [permanently] above 50F ambient as internally they get above 100F.

Almost everyone needs; Summer, Fall and Spring [[all temperate season]], and winter/cold weather tires, IF they want the ultimate handling in each temperature situation. One hot summer is enough to fry All Season compounds making them worthless in winter.

[aither]

Is the reverse true for summer tires used during winter (dry, no ice or snow)?

[Nismo_Freak]

Is the reverse true for summer tires used during winter (dry, no ice or snow)?

I don't think it will have as great as an effect since the tire will just be hard, not thermally decomposing lol.

It's kinda obvious when driving that true summer compounds in cold ambients because the first time you get on the throttle they act like baldy-no-grips

[gounc14]

Hmmms looks like I might have to get a hold of some steelies or stock rims to throw winter tires on then, thanks Alan for your help yet another time =D

[Timeless240]

Since proper winter tires such as my Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50's can be permanently damaged by a temperature of 50 deg F, how should we store these tires during the summer? Or are winter tires damaged by 100 deg F heat during storage? An un-airconditioned garage can easily exceed a temperature of 100 deg F on a summer day. Is that correct?

[Q45tech]

The internal temperature of a ice tires is much higher when deflecting [rolling] due to friction.

Year to year storage in a cool, dark place, wrapped in plastic to avoid ozone exposure.

People reuse them year after year but they are just progressively worse than when new.

[keepingthe240]

I'm going with tire chains or tire cables this winter.