All season versus snow tires
01-28-2021 | 07:02 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2019
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From: NoVA
I am running the Bridgestone Potenza 980AS on my 20” inch wheels (11” classic width) and they are fine. Same situation as you- I don’t drive in snow but want to get out when cold and I don’t track the car or drive crazy speeds. The tires are decent so far. Would some Mich summer tires be better in the summer- probably but I don’t have to switch my tires twice a year and time when to do it. I’m sure I give up some performance that I will never use so works for me.
01-28-2021 | 08:27 PM
#17
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This is completely false. All season tire compounds are specifically formulated for the tire to perform well in a wide temperature range and all weather conditions. That is why they are called "all season".
Are all season tires as good as full winter tires in ice and snow? Of course not. Are all season tires going to perform as well as a high performance summer tire in hot dry conditions? Again, of course not. An all season is a decent performer all around but with performance compromises compared to condition specific tires.
As others have written, for serious winter driving it is best to have dedicated winter tires on a spare set of wheels. If you daily drive your 911 and occasionally drive in cold weather with light snow all season tires might be great for that.
Are all season tires as good as full winter tires in ice and snow? Of course not. Are all season tires going to perform as well as a high performance summer tire in hot dry conditions? Again, of course not. An all season is a decent performer all around but with performance compromises compared to condition specific tires.
As others have written, for serious winter driving it is best to have dedicated winter tires on a spare set of wheels. If you daily drive your 911 and occasionally drive in cold weather with light snow all season tires might be great for that.
01-29-2021 | 12:54 AM
#18
Rocky Mountain High
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Good feedback, not planning to drive in snow only looking to be able to get in more nice weather days when the temps are too cold for summer only tires. So, all season should give a bit better performance than winter but less than sticky summer tires. Also, I should be able to use the same wheels. That's where I've landed from this thread. Now it's decision time. Thx!
01-29-2021 | 02:55 AM
#19
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This is completely false. All season tire compounds are specifically formulated for the tire to perform well in a wide temperature range and all weather conditions. That is why they are called "all season".
Are all season tires as good as full winter tires in ice and snow? Of course not. Are all season tires going to perform as well as a high performance summer tire in hot dry conditions? Again, of course not. An all season is a decent performer all around but with performance compromises compared to condition specific tires.
As others have written, for serious winter driving it is best to have dedicated winter tires on a spare set of wheels. If you daily drive your 911 and occasionally drive in cold weather with light snow all season tires might be great for that.
Are all season tires as good as full winter tires in ice and snow? Of course not. Are all season tires going to perform as well as a high performance summer tire in hot dry conditions? Again, of course not. An all season is a decent performer all around but with performance compromises compared to condition specific tires.
As others have written, for serious winter driving it is best to have dedicated winter tires on a spare set of wheels. If you daily drive your 911 and occasionally drive in cold weather with light snow all season tires might be great for that.
https://www.wheels.ca/news/all-seaso...th-or-reality/
My point was that winter tires specifically designed for winter temperature ranges and shifts were far superior in winter than All seasons.
If you live in a climate that regularly goes below 5 degree celsius and sometimes it snows then winter tires are absolutely necessary and all seasons won't save you. This is if you are mostly in the North East and Northern part of the states. If you live in Florida or California then you can probably get away with just Summer tires and definitely a good set of all seasons.
I basically backed up everyone saying get winter tires because they're purposely engineered and designed for winter climates. It's strange being said "You're wrong" and then reading "Winter tires are better in the winter" in the same post. It's just weird and inconsistent.
All seasons are "jacks of all trades" types of tires and will never excel in cold weather performance or hot weather performance. Hell, all seasons aren't even necessarily better at wet performance than many ultra high performance summer tires, either.
My point still stands and I think it's good advice. If you live in a climate that has extreme temperature swings (like much of Northern US) then you should have a set of good winter and summer tires.
01-29-2021 | 09:15 AM
#20
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Actually, winter tires do not perform as well as all season tires in non-snow conditions. Up to a point, even summer tires are better from a braking and traction perspective. Traction and braking performance of a winter tire is compromised *because* they are designed to work on snow, with wider sipes - take a look at this interesting video -
.
Now, it should be noted that those tests were done on new tires, and as we all know, performance changes drastically as tires wear, so the following is also informative - https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/...erformance.htm
The TL;DR; version - it's really not as clear-cut as people think it is w.r.t. tires. If you live in a cold climate without much in the way of snow, and you want to have better braking and cornering performance, then all-season or 3 peaks tires are a better option for winter driving, with summer tires for summer. If, on the other hand, you want to optimize more for snow, then full on winter tires are a better option for winter.
Now, it should be noted that those tests were done on new tires, and as we all know, performance changes drastically as tires wear, so the following is also informative - https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/...erformance.htm
The TL;DR; version - it's really not as clear-cut as people think it is w.r.t. tires. If you live in a cold climate without much in the way of snow, and you want to have better braking and cornering performance, then all-season or 3 peaks tires are a better option for winter driving, with summer tires for summer. If, on the other hand, you want to optimize more for snow, then full on winter tires are a better option for winter.
01-29-2021 | 09:41 AM
#21
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From: Rhode Island
I just put a set of Michelin Alpin PA4 winter tires on my 991.1 C2S, and couldn't be happier. The grip in both dry and wet cold is amazing. No regrets at all. I'm on 20" wheels as well. New wheels can be pricey, so keep an eye out on the classifieds. Wheel sets come up for sale all the time and you can pick up a set of genuine Porsche wheels at a fraction of the price of new ones.
01-29-2021 | 10:13 AM
#22
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https://www.machinedesign.com/commun...d-winter-tires
https://www.wheels.ca/news/all-seaso...th-or-reality/
My point was that winter tires specifically designed for winter temperature ranges and shifts were far superior in winter than All seasons.
If you live in a climate that regularly goes below 5 degree celsius and sometimes it snows then winter tires are absolutely necessary and all seasons won't save you. This is if you are mostly in the North East and Northern part of the states. If you live in Florida or California then you can probably get away with just Summer tires and definitely a good set of all seasons.
I basically backed up everyone saying get winter tires because they're purposely engineered and designed for winter climates. It's strange being said "You're wrong" and then reading "Winter tires are better in the winter" in the same post. It's just weird and inconsistent.
All seasons are "jacks of all trades" types of tires and will never excel in cold weather performance or hot weather performance. Hell, all seasons aren't even necessarily better at wet performance than many ultra high performance summer tires, either.
My point still stands and I think it's good advice. If you live in a climate that has extreme temperature swings (like much of Northern US) then you should have a set of good winter and summer tires.
https://www.wheels.ca/news/all-seaso...th-or-reality/
My point was that winter tires specifically designed for winter temperature ranges and shifts were far superior in winter than All seasons.
If you live in a climate that regularly goes below 5 degree celsius and sometimes it snows then winter tires are absolutely necessary and all seasons won't save you. This is if you are mostly in the North East and Northern part of the states. If you live in Florida or California then you can probably get away with just Summer tires and definitely a good set of all seasons.
I basically backed up everyone saying get winter tires because they're purposely engineered and designed for winter climates. It's strange being said "You're wrong" and then reading "Winter tires are better in the winter" in the same post. It's just weird and inconsistent.
All seasons are "jacks of all trades" types of tires and will never excel in cold weather performance or hot weather performance. Hell, all seasons aren't even necessarily better at wet performance than many ultra high performance summer tires, either.
My point still stands and I think it's good advice. If you live in a climate that has extreme temperature swings (like much of Northern US) then you should have a set of good winter and summer tires.
Last edited by Carlo_Carrera; 01-29-2021 at 11:16 AM.
01-29-2021 | 02:28 PM
#23
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From: Cincinnati, OH
I just put a set of Michelin Alpin PA4 winter tires on my 991.1 C2S, and couldn't be happier. The grip in both dry and wet cold is amazing. No regrets at all. I'm on 20" wheels as well. New wheels can be pricey, so keep an eye out on the classifieds. Wheel sets come up for sale all the time and you can pick up a set of genuine Porsche wheels at a fraction of the price of new ones.
01-29-2021 | 10:55 PM
#24
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From: Northern Virginia
01-30-2021 | 10:37 AM
#25
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I spent *decades* commuting in and out of Boston, every day, on all-season tires. Boston commute is pretty much Death Race 2000 without explosives. Even Detroit traffic (and road condition) is better.
No wrecks.
The tightness of the nut behind the wheel is more important than the type of tire.
If you are going to routinely drive before the plows do their thing or drive on dirt roads in Maine during the winter then get dedicated winter shoes.
If you’re only going to drive in winter when it’s cold but dry, all-season tires will be ok.
Tire compounds have come a LONG way in the last 20 years. And that is a main point in one of the articles posted by Mr. All-season-tires-are-the-work-of-the-Devil.
On the other hand, if the nut behind the wheel is only hand-tight, then by all means winter tires are a must from September to June.
The most important tidbit is that Summer-only tires should not be used when it is wet and cold and only very carefully when cold.
No wrecks.
The tightness of the nut behind the wheel is more important than the type of tire.
If you are going to routinely drive before the plows do their thing or drive on dirt roads in Maine during the winter then get dedicated winter shoes.
If you’re only going to drive in winter when it’s cold but dry, all-season tires will be ok.
Tire compounds have come a LONG way in the last 20 years. And that is a main point in one of the articles posted by Mr. All-season-tires-are-the-work-of-the-Devil.
On the other hand, if the nut behind the wheel is only hand-tight, then by all means winter tires are a must from September to June.
The most important tidbit is that Summer-only tires should not be used when it is wet and cold and only very carefully when cold.