With the impending nor'easter and constant temps in the 30s and 40s, I switched from 19" PS2s over to 18" Conti Winter Contacts today. This will be my first winter in the 911 and was the first time I'd ever driven it on 18" tires. What a difference! It rides like a freaking Lincoln Town Car on those things.

Everyone always laughs at me and shakes their head when I tell them I'm going to drive the 911 through the winter. I'm not worried at all. Of course, I won't be driving it through actual snow, but as long as there's no snowpack on the streets, I'm good to go!

Already snowing here in central NJ. They're calling for 2-5 inches tonight. (insert your own joke here...)

 

I too just switched over to my Conti DWS on 18 inch rims this weekend. This will be my 2nd winter on them. It is a very different car compared to my 19" rims and summer tires (Hankook Ventus), but still enjoyable as my daily driver. I'm really impressed with the DWS grip in the cold rain/slush that we get in Maryland. I'm a happy customer so far.

 

Even with 19s and snows it is a different car. But I'd rather run snows than drive another vehicle.

 

I'm also planning on winter driving, we get the cold, light snow winters here in NC, we do get ice often though.....guess I feel a little better with the 4S.....

 

rotes - Don't take chances in cold and wet (or even just cold) conditions on your summer tires. The rubber compound changes under ~45 degrees and becomes much less grippy. If you're driving through the winter, get winter tires.

 

The reason it feels looser on show tires:
1) The winter tires have thicker tread blocks, which can 'squirm' under the weight of the car
2) The winter rubber stays soft to a lower temp, and thus 1 is worse

Now if you run the winters hard on non-cold pavement, they wear out more.
But, when there is snow pack on the ground, or sub 45 degree pavement, that winter rubber will be so much better than the sliding around effect you get of low traction, hard as a rock, summer performance tires.

 

We have only seen flurries here last week, no significant amount snow yet. If your looking for a place to store your summer tires we have these handy Porsche Service Bags.

 

It won't be a winter without at least a few shots of you Southern boys in a multi car pileup on ice.
Take it from a Northener...2,4 ,or 6 wheel drive, ice is not your friend.
Leave the good car in the garage.

 

that is good advice, wish I had a garage, and out of my flock, the Pcar was the least expensive hehe.....but you're right: Ice isn't freindly in the least....
unless....

 

I would really hate to drive my 911 on salt covered roads during the winter. That's what my Tahoe & Suburban are for.

 

wow sir you have/have had a lot of cars!

 

Agreed, but still, on nice dry winter days I'm sure nothing beats pulling out the C4S.

That's our plan.

 

That's my plan too! Here's hoping.

 

I run my 944 most winter days, but went to 18s and winter rubber on the 997 last year and was very glad I did. Lots of sunny dry winter days to enjoy the 997 and it seems that someone is always unloading 18" wheels at reasonable prices ( I paid 950 for Carrera 3s with winter tires mounted).

 

oh yeah! there are those days that there needs to be some fun!
I tend to clean my cars a lot, and I'm ALWAYs cleaning my wheels.....
so I'm feeling pretty good about it...
there are a lot of traveling detail guys too in my area.....
I'm even getting new wheels in a few weeks lol....

off topic: I was born in Montreal years and years ago