who started the flame here?

I say get less of a snow tire, but more of a dry/ice tire for where you live. Thats why I bought the Mickelin pilot alpins. they were more of a dry or ice tire than a snow tire.

the guys in the rust belt, and further north have different requirements than me, which are more than yours in VA. if you get a better dry tire, you can just leave them on from thanksgiving to easter which covers the period you would need it.

 

Yeah, but then I lose my extra-sticky Dunlops for my normal zipping around. That car only has 80 hp... I need to maintain all the momentum I can!

BB.

 

Tom R.

This doesn't seem to have hit flame mode yet, but for some reason this damn topic incites riots on other forums. Still can't comprehend why though?????

You are correct about the compound hardness and wearbility factor though. Nokians are somewhat soft, but do me well here in the rust belt. Harder compounds will wear better and may give better dry weather control. I, like you, leave them on for 5 months straight so that must go into the equation.

No easy answer for any of this, since geography, driving habits and price weigh so heavily into the equation. Need some new snows for my VW winter beater so I may do a little experimenting this season...hence my interest.

 

With 80 HP the better winter tires are gonna stick just fine. I had the michelins on my 230hp legend coupe, and they stuck just fine. took about three hours total driving to realize i had to take turns just a little slower. didnt have to alter my highway driving on dry much.

in fact i almost left them on when i sold the car in march. instead i swapped them with my brother's all season michelins, and he used the snows last year on his 84 NA. that was after i put about 14k miles on them. and they are ready for another year.

cheaper to buy better tires and put them on for the season. get the 185s. for the snow you guys are gonna get you will have plenty of traction, and have some decent handling in the dry.

just dont buy them used from me cuz i will hose you. Right Marc!

 

yea, Damn crook!

 

yeah i have Hakkapeliita's on my 951 and they're fantastic. i can get out of my steep driveway with 6 inches of snow, and my roommie can't get out in his volvo 740...

-A

 

Cool!

Thanks for all of the info, guys! In a month or two, I'll take a look at the finances and the expected snowfall for the winter and take it from there. I definately want to do this, but can't help but realize that it's also the bulk of the cost of the 968-style wing that I want.

Oh, if only I had more money...

BB.

 

There are tradeoffs in dry pavement vs. snowy pavement performance when using snow tires. Some of the "pure" all-out snow tires, like Blizzaks perhaps, will not make good dry pavement tires. I run Michelin Arctic Alpin's on my Passat. They give up a little bit of grip in deep snow compared to Blizzaks, but are reasonably decent on dry pavement. Even though we get our share of snow in New England, the roads are cleared out pretty quickly so I spend most of the time in winter driving on dry (or wet, but not snowy) pavement. That's why I chose the Michelins.

 

jjjr944,
I won't take offense, if you make it up to me with a beer, if we ever cross paths. Otherwise, I'll have to get all pissy and stuff. ;-)

Is that good enough to start the flames?

To get back to topic, I found the Nokians for pretty cheap at my local BMW dealer, but they gave me everything at wholesale. (I spent way too much money there.) But, "cheap" was equal or less than everything on the tirerack, once I factored in shipping and mounting.
-J

 

You are correct Tom, contact patch generally does not change its area (as a quantity) given different wheel and tires sizes for a car at rest (all other things constant). What can be changed is the shape of the patch and that is what will affect different types of driving performance.

 

FWIW (after all the other comments), I'm using Bridgestone Blizzacks on my 951 (205/55) and they are great in the snow. My 325Xi and wife's 525i are also using Bridgstone snow tyres (can't remember the model) and they are also great.

The 325Xi will go pretty much anywhere with these tyres although there is the benefit of AWD, ASC, ABS etc. etc.

Regards,

Gary.

 

I used to use 6 and 7"x16" Boxter wheels with Vredenstein snows (spacers in the front) on my 968 coupe. The car would zip through snow up to 5 inches or so. Above that it got a little squirrely, but it still would drive.

 

Marc- it is not the sidewall you feel flexing, it is the tread itself (called tread squirm). We own a partial stake in Nokian tires BTW (Bridgestone that is).
Beer burner, if you are willing to pay freight I think I have a set of 155/80/13 Winterfires I would sell you for, I dont know, lets say 140 bucks plus shipping? Shouldnt cost but 40 dollars or so to ship and even paying someone to mount them. I also, likely, have a set of last years Blizzaks in the 14" size you need. Let me know if you are interested.
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BTW I mean set of 4, I noticed you said pair.
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Hey, how are those on the dry? Are they noisy?

I actually just got a notice that we are going to be selling them now. Everything I hear about them seems to be good. I hear they have a huge following in the Saab/Volvo crowd.