spooltime

Just as another data point, I was running summer Bridgestone "N" spec tires (20" stock size) a couple of weeks ago when we had the now infamous "Snowmageddon" in Atlanta that crippled traffic in the city. Interstate 75 was a sheet of snow and ice, and never once did the CTTS falter or lose traction, even with the performance summer tires on it. No doubt it would have completely dominated with snow tires on it.

Of course, growing up in the snow belt and learning how to drive in winter conditions helped too. It's a skill not everyone possesses.

JohnnyBahamas

Winter tires just make such a huge difference that I'd never go back to winter driving without them.

Winter tires are really something special in the cold.

John Welch.

Summer tires are bad in the winter. Period.

If its cold, the summer tires turn to hockey pucks, and hockey pucks don't really stop all that quickly on ice.

It really doesn't matter what your "opinion" or anecdotal experience has been, driving with summer tires in the cold is not the best plan.

CaptJim

I am expecting another 12 inches of Snow Thursday. Guess which car I am not driving. Don't get me wrong, I love my new Cayenne. All I was trying to say is that I never had any car with this type of profile on the tire and I cannot trust it in the snow without another type of tire. Its not my only car, I will save it for rides to the beach house and the Boat.

Hammer911

Seems a shame to invest in such a wonderful vehicle then leave it sit for want of $1600 in proper tires, but it's your choice.

Jimbabwe

What's 'snow'?

tgavem

+100

fast_freddy

Does the pope **** in the woods?

Shawn Stanford

Keep in mind how daggone heavy the Cayenne is (we don't call it a P!g for nothing). Newton is a motherf*r.

Put on a set of Blizzaks, leave'em on: http://www.roadandtrack.com/winterdr...s-track-tested:

CaptJim

Thanks Everyone. In my local area, We have been getting more snow than normal this year. I understand how much better the Cayenne could perform, and I am sure I would be happy with it if I put Winter tires on her.

I have a Turbo Diesel F-250 that will eat snow all day long with my BFGoodrich all terrain KO's Plus, I don't like getting salt all over the Cayenne.

If I lived in a place where snow is constant, I could see using winter tires, this winter the car sits. Maybe I will get a pair of Winter tires for next year? I can locate sum when its 100F out and get a good deal. Its going to be April 1st soon, and it is rare to get snow after that date.

XR4Tim

I totally get what you're saying. I've got an X5 with 20" Summer-oriented "all-season" tires, and when there's more than ¼" of snow on the road, they are absolutely useless. However, snow tires are about $1,200 for that vehicle, and there are really only a handful of days where I would need them, so I divert to my Merkur with snow tires on those days. There are other things I can do with that $1,200.

Slow Guy

People are missing one of the main points, it's not just the snow, it's the low temp. The rubber compounds are different and designed for the lower temps.

dryadsdad

I see some of us have fallen for the tire manufacturers' ads. Well, that's what they're meant to do.

Dennis C

Some of us have experienced the difference too. It really does matter.

dryadsdad

As I posted earlier, I run 'winter' tires on my 4 x 4 year round due to using it in deep snow and mud. I know there is a difference. My point was refuting the posts here saying that running summer tires in the winter is a death wish. Sure, a summer tire isn't as good in snow as a winter and probably less good on cold pavement too, but I have always done this and while I need to exercise some caution and driving skill, I have never had a serious problem doing this and saved gosh knows how much on tires and wheels.