Winter Tires and Wheel Options
10-05-2009, 10:46 AM
#16
Parts Specialist
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if running "snow tires" get a second set of wheels and have them mounted - I run 18's in the summer and 17's in the winter (recently sold) but then you can just swap then wheels in about 20 minutes and drive, no additional cost or risk to your summer wheels by putting them on a tire machine to change tires.
NB - I had 17" twists with 9x55 rear and 7x55 fronts running 225/45 rears and 205/50 fronts...Blizzak LM25. this combo was a stretch but the car handled like a dream in the snow last year - just posting my numbers so in case anyone else has a NB they have some data point.
NB - I had 17" twists with 9x55 rear and 7x55 fronts running 225/45 rears and 205/50 fronts...Blizzak LM25. this combo was a stretch but the car handled like a dream in the snow last year - just posting my numbers so in case anyone else has a NB they have some data point.
10-05-2009, 11:55 AM
#17
Former Vendor
I'm going to use Yokohama Ice Guard IG30, F: 215/45-18 89Q & R: 245/40-18 96Q with 7½x18" et50 & 9x18" et 52 wheels, looks like 2002 Carrera wheel but originates from Boxster.
IG30 is a new model, full snow tire, most likely not yet sold in North America. Done very well in Nordic car magazines' tire tests. I'll get them on Friday. Oh yes, the car is '00 C2.
IG30 is a new model, full snow tire, most likely not yet sold in North America. Done very well in Nordic car magazines' tire tests. I'll get them on Friday. Oh yes, the car is '00 C2.
10-05-2009, 02:40 PM
#18
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On my C4S stock wheel I've run for the past 6 years 265/35/18 Pirelli Winter Sport 240.
The wheel does stick out so you have to watch the curbs. I also run them at 40 psi in the rear and not the recommended 44 psi. Since my first set of rears wore out in the center, lowering the pressure now has even tire wear across the whole width.
I just noticed that the new blizzaks LM-60's have a 275/35/18 these would fit better on the C4S 11' rear wheel.
The wheel does stick out so you have to watch the curbs. I also run them at 40 psi in the rear and not the recommended 44 psi. Since my first set of rears wore out in the center, lowering the pressure now has even tire wear across the whole width.
I just noticed that the new blizzaks LM-60's have a 275/35/18 these would fit better on the C4S 11' rear wheel.
10-05-2009, 02:42 PM
#19
I had a set of the 275 Blizzaks mounted on 11 inch Turbo Twists on Friday. The front face of the wheel is fine but the inside lip of the rim facing the car is exposed a bit.
10-05-2009, 03:08 PM
#20
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10-05-2009, 03:11 PM
#21
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if running "snow tires" get a second set of wheels and have them mounted - I run 18's in the summer and 17's in the winter (recently sold) but then you can just swap then wheels in about 20 minutes and drive, no additional cost or risk to your summer wheels by putting them on a tire machine to change tires.
10-05-2009, 03:25 PM
#22
FWIW, I run the Pirelli Snowsport 240s on my car, on 18" rims in exactly the same OE size as my summer tires. I find the car to be extremely capable in the snow with these, and that's without AWD or PSM.
These would be my choice if I lived in Calgary, too, speaking just for myself. You're dealing with a huge variety of surface temp conditions in the winter, from arctic cold to spring-like mildness. In that part of the country, I would worry more about temperature than precipitation, which is why I'd pick the winter performance tire over a *****-out snow tire. (Calgary's annual average snowfall is barely more than Toronto's. If I lived in Ottawa or Montreal, I might choose differently).
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys08a-eng.htm
Just another data point for you.
These would be my choice if I lived in Calgary, too, speaking just for myself. You're dealing with a huge variety of surface temp conditions in the winter, from arctic cold to spring-like mildness. In that part of the country, I would worry more about temperature than precipitation, which is why I'd pick the winter performance tire over a *****-out snow tire. (Calgary's annual average snowfall is barely more than Toronto's. If I lived in Ottawa or Montreal, I might choose differently).
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys08a-eng.htm
Just another data point for you.
10-05-2009, 03:39 PM
#23
Nordschleife Master
FWIW, I run the Pirelli Snowsport 240s on my car, on 18" rims in exactly the same OE size as my summer tires. I find the car to be extremely capable in the snow with these, and that's without AWD or PSM.
These would be my choice if I lived in Calgary, too, speaking just for myself. You're dealing with a huge variety of surface temp conditions in the winter, from arctic cold to spring-like mildness. In that part of the country, I would worry more about temperature than precipitation, which is why I'd pick the winter performance tire over a *****-out snow tire. (Calgary's annual average snowfall is barely more than Toronto's. If I lived in Ottawa or Montreal, I might choose differently).
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys08a-eng.htm
Just another data point for you.
These would be my choice if I lived in Calgary, too, speaking just for myself. You're dealing with a huge variety of surface temp conditions in the winter, from arctic cold to spring-like mildness. In that part of the country, I would worry more about temperature than precipitation, which is why I'd pick the winter performance tire over a *****-out snow tire. (Calgary's annual average snowfall is barely more than Toronto's. If I lived in Ottawa or Montreal, I might choose differently).
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/phys08a-eng.htm
Just another data point for you.
10-05-2009, 03:52 PM
#24
I went with the OE spec size for my car, which was 265-35-18 on the back and 224-40-18 on the front, so I didn't run into that obstacle. Tirerack has three brands in these sizes, I think. Bridgestones, Dunlops and Pirellis.
10-05-2009, 04:01 PM
#25
Nordschleife Master
ah. ok. I know pongobaz is running 295 or were they 285's in the rear but they are not available anymore.
10-05-2009, 05:01 PM
#26
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I just got off the phone with the local Porsche dealer and he said that he has Pirelli Sottozero's in the 295/35/18 available but that they only come in 235/40/18 for the fronts. Anyone have experience with these tires on a C4S?
10-06-2009, 12:19 AM
#27
On my 1999 C4 (NB) Coupe:
17's for winter
Front: 205/50/R17 on 17 x 7.5 Offset 52
Rear: 255/40/R17 on 17 x 9 Offset 47
No spacers required.
I swap to 18's for summer. IMHO - that is less $ in the long run, since the change is easy in the garage or $5 tire if your feeling lazy or don't have a floor jack. Otherwise you pay for mount/balance each season (2 seasons, 2 changes, $20/tire = $320). Typically, I can get two winter seasons out of a set. You could push it to three safely for "point A to B" driving, but the performance drop with worn winters is far more significant in the snow that worn summer tires on the dry. Once the depth of the "sipes" get low, they being to lose their grip. ...at 50%, they will still be better than all-seasons due to rubber compounds and aggressive tread designs.
I am in Colorado, where we get lots of sun in the winter - between storms. We have lots of days with dry roads up to the ski areas. Thus, I use a "winter sport" speed rated tire (LM-25, unfortunately discontinued in the above sizes on the LM-60).
I have run snow tires (Nokian, Blizzak), including studded tires on a number of cars. The snow and ice grip is amazing with studs, but the sacrifice is that the studs are slippery on dry, they are loud and wear fast. I'm tempted to try running the C4 with studs, but it is low on the "mod priority list," for such a specialized component. However, if I lived where ice was on the road much of the winter, it might make more sense. Presently, on other cars in the family, I run Nokian winter truck tires on an SUV and Dunlop M3D on an Audi wagon.
17's for winter
Front: 205/50/R17 on 17 x 7.5 Offset 52
Rear: 255/40/R17 on 17 x 9 Offset 47
No spacers required.
I swap to 18's for summer. IMHO - that is less $ in the long run, since the change is easy in the garage or $5 tire if your feeling lazy or don't have a floor jack. Otherwise you pay for mount/balance each season (2 seasons, 2 changes, $20/tire = $320). Typically, I can get two winter seasons out of a set. You could push it to three safely for "point A to B" driving, but the performance drop with worn winters is far more significant in the snow that worn summer tires on the dry. Once the depth of the "sipes" get low, they being to lose their grip. ...at 50%, they will still be better than all-seasons due to rubber compounds and aggressive tread designs.
I am in Colorado, where we get lots of sun in the winter - between storms. We have lots of days with dry roads up to the ski areas. Thus, I use a "winter sport" speed rated tire (LM-25, unfortunately discontinued in the above sizes on the LM-60).
I have run snow tires (Nokian, Blizzak), including studded tires on a number of cars. The snow and ice grip is amazing with studs, but the sacrifice is that the studs are slippery on dry, they are loud and wear fast. I'm tempted to try running the C4 with studs, but it is low on the "mod priority list," for such a specialized component. However, if I lived where ice was on the road much of the winter, it might make more sense. Presently, on other cars in the family, I run Nokian winter truck tires on an SUV and Dunlop M3D on an Audi wagon.
10-06-2009, 08:03 AM
#28
Rocky Mountain High
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I think the other thing to consider is that in snow, a tire that is slightly more narrow (a 265 vs. a 295) will probably provide better traction. If you are driving mostly in cold weather and not snow, then the 295 should be fine.
10-06-2009, 11:55 AM
#30
This is the conventional wisdom for deep snow, but it doesn't apply if the issue is traction on slippery surfaces. Speaking for myself, I don't drive the car in really deep stuff, so my preference was for a larger contact patch rather than the ability to cut through stuff. On ice/wet pavement/very cold pavement with modern winter tires, that gives you more margin of safety.