Has anyone tried using the Michelin Pilot all season 17 inch tire for weather right up to snow-on-road conditions? I would go for snow tires but I don't intend to drive on snow and can always tiptoe home from work 3 miles if it starts to snow.

 

Personally I would put a really good set of expensive snowchains in the bonnet during the winter just in case. Like you, my C4 will NEVER leave it ,s nice warm and cozy garage in those conditions but being caught out is a reality one must prepare for.

And practise installing them while in that nice warm and cozy garage.

 

I'm using the Dunlop Winter Sport M2 on 17" wheels and drive in the few inches of snow we get in the midwest with no problem. My C4 can handle snow up to it's ground clearance.

 

Hey Kerry,

I'm from Chicago and have a C4 as well. Have you tried any other snow tires other than the Dunlops. I use Blizzak's on my Lexus and they have worked really good. I was looking at the Dunlops but don't have any experience with them.

Thanks
Bob

 

C4 and snowhandling.

It isn't YOU, it's the otehr guy you need worry about.

My ONLY wintertime vehicle is my RX.

 

I think there is a perception that snow driving automatically causes a multiple increase in accidents. Around here, when it snows hard, people actually slow down and drive more carefully. Plus, it doesn't snow nearly enough to justify spending 40k for a snow car. Mostly, the snow is heaped up on teh side of the road anyway. Plus, the porsche is only a car so if it is destined to get hit, so be it.

 

i have driven various awd porsches in winter with various tires. all season tires are a waste-they are crummy summer tires and inadaquate winter tires. if you want to drive in winter conditions, use winter tires. you can use the porsche recommended tires (dunlop, etc), but realistically, other snows that fit will be fine, as long as you observe speed rating. a c4 with less than winter tires in snow can be a handful. winter tires will make it much easier.

 

ONLY A CAR.....

Yours maybe, not mine!

 

docjackson1

Just how crappy All Season tires in wet road, near freezing conditions would be my yardstick on this. BMW use Pilot All Seasons with supposedly decent results. I realize the Porsche experience might downgrade from supercar to GT type driving but AS's might be a better trade off than a pure snow tire which is merely running on wet cold and salt haze road surfaces.
In all I appreciate any comment or opinion on this as it is probably a judgment call with different personal weighting on the variables of driving requirements.

 

I've been wondering the same thing you are. Every time I post this question I get the knee-jerk "A/S sucks". But around here we don't get freak blizzards. Major snow storms are talked about and hyped way in advance. And people can't drive down here in snow, so you get huge multi-car accidents and all that. So the 911 will stay home in snow. My daily driver will have true winter tires.

So my question is if you are driving in a cold, nearly freezing or freezing rain, and then sunny cold days most of the winter, would A/S tires be a better choice (read few compromises) than a pure winter tire? Assuming you go right back to you Pilots/PZeros/whatever in March?

 

Yup, that's why we have insurance.

Like I always say on here, there are people who keep these cars perfect so that they can have a classic someday, people who actually use them as cars, and people who waste their time babying the car only to trade it in in 3 years for the same value I will someday get for mine, which I enjoy to its fullest.

 

I say get dedicated snow tires. I have had all types of z-rated all season tires on my lexus and they couldn't even get the car up teh driveway. they are a waste of money if you ask me.

bob