Best All Season Tires? Michigan Car

[616_S4]

Winter is approaching and my current tires are shot, which i knew when i bought the car, but I was wondering what you guys would suggest for an all season tire to run on the stock avus wheels. I live in Michigan and drive in the snow a fair amount as i ski/snowboard and also coach downhill racing, but currently am not looking to buy a winter set up as I simply do not have the funds unless someone is selling a cheap winter package. So i want a good all season and so far ive heard good things about the Continentals and the Michelins. Let me hear your input! Thanks guys!

[plat]

I understand your current financial situation does not allow you to buy a set of nice winter tires. But, you do need winter tires because you live in Michigan (snow land) and go skiing/snow-boarding up in the hills/mountains. AWD won't be of much help if the tires are slipping most of the time. The rubber compounds used in All-season tires are not as good as winter tires in freezing and sub-freezing conditions. All-seasons are a trade-off between summer and winter tires. It is good to use if you live in places such as the Pacific Northwest coastal areas where it rarely dips below freezing during winter and is mostly wet. Here in Vancouver, cars are not required to wear winter tires during winter. However, when you go to Whistler or the Interior to ski/snowboard or for whatever reason, snow tires are required. The cops won't let you drive without them.

Have you tried looking for used snow tires in CL or used tire shops?

[avant1987]

I really like my BFG G-force All Seasons, I find them identical from a performance standpoint to Continental DWS tires if not marginally better for 15-25 dollars cheaper a tire.


On the contrary, I support the used winter tire suggestion from a used tire shop or even the falken winter tires. I have seen them as cheap as 70-80 dollars new, and at the end of the day the softer compound makes much of the difference.

[vavJETTAw36]

Pirelli p zeros


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[james 408]

consumer vote:
http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/turk-t...r-ice-and-snow

Scientific tests:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...&affiliate=TX3

personally i'd just be craigslisting for a used set of rims, preferably with winter tires already mounted.

[Ob3R]

Continental DWS

[lo.boost]

Michelin A/S 3s are very good also

[dalazybastard]

Regarding A/S3 3s, they are more "balanced" towards summer. I run them on my A4 and I've never had a problem in dry or even downpours(think Washington rain). I haven't had the luxury to drive them in the snow yet, but my guess is they wouldn't fair so hot compared to the Conti's.


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[616_S4]

I understand your current financial situation does not allow you to buy a set of nice winter tires. But, you do need winter tires because you live in Michigan (snow land) and go skiing/snow-boarding up in the hills/mountains. AWD won't be of much help if the tires are slipping most of the time. The rubber compounds used in All-season tires are not as good as winter tires in freezing and sub-freezing conditions. All-seasons are a trade-off between summer and winter tires. It is good to use if you live in places such as the Pacific Northwest coastal areas where it rarely dips below freezing during winter and is mostly wet. Here in Vancouver, cars are not required to wear winter tires during winter. However, when you go to Whistler or the Interior to ski/snowboard or for whatever reason, snow tires are required. The cops won't let you drive without them.

Have you tried looking for used snow tires in CL or used tire shops?

I understand what you are saying, unfortunately Michigans hills and mountains are non existent! I ran all seasons on my passat that was fwd and never got stuck.

[616_S4]

consumer vote:
http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/turk-t...r-ice-and-snow

Scientific tests:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...&affiliate=TX3

personally i'd just be craigslisting for a used set of rims, preferably with winter tires already mounted.

Haha! Im a student, what do you think I do in boring classes? Im on Criagslist all the time! hard to find the right bolt pattern and offset

[joeSfour]

Continental DWS

FTW

[LakeTahoeQuattr]

Not the most grippy "summer" tire, but I run gmax-as03s and I am on my second set. They are cheap, ZR rated, aggressive tread pattern, and tread lasts forever. Also not bad in the snow either and I have taken them offroad a few times. New they have have 12/32 versus the standard 11/32 most tires come with. I have had them up to 151 and they were fine. They also got a 50K warranty and since audis eat tires, I usually get 50% off each new set. Main problem is that they are directional tire. Just my .02

[MacDaddy]

On my work van i have nokian WRG2's, they are a snow-rated all season, i had them
On my audi before and it was like a tank in the snow.

[james 408]

Haha! Im a student, what do you think I do in boring classes? Im on Criagslist all the time! hard to find the right bolt pattern and offset

gotcha. Not sure how comfortable you are in the snow, but I wouldn't even stress it, just get something cheap. Outside of studs or full winter/mud tread, it's just not that big-a-deal. Not sure exactly, but seemed pretty flat when i was out there, i'd just be sliding around on whatever tires I had, as long as they have tread. The top of the line performance all seasons are still pretty summer/rain focused. Narrow tread blocks, deep & wide gaps, softer compound that type of thing will help. Most of the passenger tires are all pretty generalized, just avoid a pure summer tire.

For perspective, in the monte carlo WRC rally stages where 5-20% can be covered in snow and ice, many rally teams opted for the dry tire -- basically the PS Cups:

which is more or less a max performance/competition summer tire. obviously most passenger tires have far better winter performance. You just gotta drive carefully and read the road well. Ice sheets will be slick on anything short of studs regardless.

here's the full snow tire, narrower, studded, lotsa gaps in tread blocks:


Here's an overview of 2012 tire choices from DMACK before michelin took over sole manufacterer in later years:

See how they're talking about softer compounds on the tarmac tire and still some deep/spaced grooves to deal with the snow/ice on the mixed stages. For those stages where there's lots more snow/ice, they have a deep grooved tire with tiny studs. For full winter it's super grooved with large studs.

hope that helps.

[oouellette]

DWS FTW

[palewhitemale]

Nokian WRG3

They're winter focused, but hold up well in warmer months.

[simbat]

Continental Extreme Contact DWS . Have them on all 4 cars. Used to live in AK,WI and NH and never had problem driving with newer quality all season tires.

You will be OK if you change them every 3-4 years !

Winter tires age faster and you need to trow them away after 2 maximum 3 seasons regardless how much tread is left because the rubber ages and gets harder. Ask me how I know !

[AvantGuard]

Continental Extreme Contact DWS- i live in the Toledo area, and the weather here isn't that much different than Michigan. Have never really had a problem in the snow, it is 4 wheel drive.

[BEEBOP]

Buying the cheapest winter tire will be saffer than all a/s tire.
None of them can be as flexible below 0deg celsius, and none of them have the sipping and tread need to react as fast as a winter tire. End of stories.

I will pesonally go with pirelli, but if the budget is not there, you can choose a chinese tire, it still a lot better than a a/s tire


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[MikeyB3]

I am also in the "2 sets of tires" camp. Save up, make it work. You'll thank yourself.

[james 408]

yeah, that's fully the right tude. sucks to have to change your tires cause your all seasons are out of tread depth, even if they're still perfectly good for dry weather, they'll suck in the snow. Long run it'll probably save u $

[616_S4]

Im leaning towards the DWS 06 as I hear its better in snow than others, along with Belle Tire having them for 124 a piece. I just cant afford another set of wheels and tires right now. Also I never had a problem with my FWD passat with pirelli p7's on it.

[Lanorg]

tirerack.com has some decent reviews. Find a tire who's characteristics are agreeable to YOU, then try and find a used set. We all drive different tires because we have different needs/wants from a tire.

An easier and less time consuming search would be to find the craigslist adds with winter tires mounted on rims and do a tirerack (or any other tire test data) search on the tires to find out if you'll be happy with them. Dedicated summer and winter wheels make swapping each season free (you do it). Check for plugs, tread depth, even wear, sidewall damage, and date of manufacture.

Thanks to the poster with the rally tire info - I love learning about tread pattern purpose and compound designs.

[plat]

Continental Extreme Contact DWS- i live in the Toledo area, and the weather here isn't that much different than Michigan. Have never really had a problem in the snow, it is 4 wheel drive.

4-wheel drive won't do a car any good if the tires are as hard as hockey pucks (i.e. no grip) in freezing and sub-freezing conditions. Why gamble with your safety?

[AvantGuard]

4-wheel drive won't do a car any good if the tires are as hard as hockey pucks (i.e. no grip) in freezing and sub-freezing conditions. Why gamble with your safety?

Have never experienced a loss of grip problem, but maybe I drive too sanely.