Performance Envelope for Winter Tires
10-21-2018, 04:10 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Performance Envelope for Winter Tires
Hoping for some advice from all the knowledgeable folks on this forum. Pardon the long preface...
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area - not known for it's snowy winters, except for those of us who like to take ski trips to Lake Tahoe of course!
Tahoe excepted, the temperatures here could range to just about near freezing, to the 70s or even 80s during the winter.
I have a Macan GTS with 21's and summer performance tires (OEM P-Zeroes) that I got in March, this car has never seen a winter.
As we know, summer performance tires aren't advisable below 40 degrees.
I've never run with dedicated winter tires but I've had a number of cars with All-Season tires.
I've been considering getting a winter wheel and tire set from Suncoast (https://www.suncoastparts.com/produc...5B19MACSC.html) in the hope that it'll give me more bandwidth during the winter months; including the option of driving to Tahoe of course. However, I am not a skier, so this is not a firm requirement for me, I can always rent a vehicle for the one or two times a year I might want to go.
I live in a condo, so I don't have sufficient garage space to frequently switch wheels and tires - I'm expecting to put them on in November and take them off in March.
Suncoast doesn't specify what brand/type of tire they offer in this package, but generally speaking, I understand that winter tire performance degrades at higher temps.
I do like to drive... spiritedly. I worry that I would be trading good performance for an edge case (occasionally going to a place with snow) for the majority case (driving fairly spiritedly in the chillier winter months).
The question for all of you is whether you think winter tires are really advisable for my use case, or if I should try All-Season tires? Does anyone have experience doing this?
Thanks in advance!
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area - not known for it's snowy winters, except for those of us who like to take ski trips to Lake Tahoe of course!
Tahoe excepted, the temperatures here could range to just about near freezing, to the 70s or even 80s during the winter.
I have a Macan GTS with 21's and summer performance tires (OEM P-Zeroes) that I got in March, this car has never seen a winter.
As we know, summer performance tires aren't advisable below 40 degrees.
I've never run with dedicated winter tires but I've had a number of cars with All-Season tires.
I've been considering getting a winter wheel and tire set from Suncoast (https://www.suncoastparts.com/produc...5B19MACSC.html) in the hope that it'll give me more bandwidth during the winter months; including the option of driving to Tahoe of course. However, I am not a skier, so this is not a firm requirement for me, I can always rent a vehicle for the one or two times a year I might want to go.
I live in a condo, so I don't have sufficient garage space to frequently switch wheels and tires - I'm expecting to put them on in November and take them off in March.
Suncoast doesn't specify what brand/type of tire they offer in this package, but generally speaking, I understand that winter tire performance degrades at higher temps.
I do like to drive... spiritedly. I worry that I would be trading good performance for an edge case (occasionally going to a place with snow) for the majority case (driving fairly spiritedly in the chillier winter months).
The question for all of you is whether you think winter tires are really advisable for my use case, or if I should try All-Season tires? Does anyone have experience doing this?
Thanks in advance!
10-22-2018, 08:58 AM
#2
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Continental DWS (which stands for Dry, Wet, Snow) and get a set of those low profile add-on tire cables in case it gets really bad over the pass while you're up there. The performance of the Contis won't degrade as much as a full snow tire.
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10-22-2018, 10:07 AM
#3
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We run A/S on our Macan year-round. It’s fine even in deep snow. Assuming the nuts behind your steering wheel are tight, A/S tires will be fine for you too.
Unfortunately the Continental DWS are not available in Macan OE sizes. I shod ours with MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR HP about two months ago and they seem fine so far.
10-22-2018, 01:37 PM
#4
Drifting
Given where you live I'd also recommend all-season versus a dedicated set of winter-specific tires. I'm not sure a pure all winter design would be worth it for you. I've been happy so far with the all around performance of the OEM N-spec Pirelli Scorpions (20" size in my case).
10-24-2018, 09:49 AM
#6
Racer
Thread Starter
Thanks all! Great advice.
I'm pretty much settled on OEM N-spec Pirelli Scorpions (with 20" wheels) for my "Winter" tires, to switch back my 21"s with summer tires in March.
I asked the parts dept at a couple of dealers about this, and apparently this request is mind boggling - as they can't sell a wheel set unless it's either summer or winter tires, and ordering wheels and tires individually seems to be a very big hassle.
I guess not too many people switch from Summer to All-Seasons
On to Tire Rack and non-OEM wheels I go...
I'm pretty much settled on OEM N-spec Pirelli Scorpions (with 20" wheels) for my "Winter" tires, to switch back my 21"s with summer tires in March.
I asked the parts dept at a couple of dealers about this, and apparently this request is mind boggling - as they can't sell a wheel set unless it's either summer or winter tires, and ordering wheels and tires individually seems to be a very big hassle.
I guess not too many people switch from Summer to All-Seasons
On to Tire Rack and non-OEM wheels I go...
10-24-2018, 12:58 PM
#7
Rennlist Member
Here is another option. No affiliation and not sure if they are still for sale... They are located in your region. https://www.macanforum.com/forum/mac...gn-wheels.html
You could order the tires from TR and have them installed wherever you want...
You could order the tires from TR and have them installed wherever you want...
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10-25-2018, 12:28 AM
#8
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I used to live in the Bay Area and know Tahoe snow very well. All-seasons would be a bad choice in my opinion; they would be close to useless in the deep snow and frigid temperatures for your jaunts into the mountains, and would sacrifice performance for the majority of your driving in the dry at home. The best option is to swap wheels; you’ll love it in the snow and also love it in the dry.
10-26-2018, 11:00 AM
#9
Rennlist Member
A couple of years ago, we purchased the 19-inch Winter Wheel Package from our local dealer. They matched the price from Suncoast. The sales tax vs. the freight from Suncoast was a wash. The wheels came with Dunlop N-rated Winter tires and we've been pleasantly surprised with the ride quality and low noise level. The switch allows us to clean up the 21-inch Turbo wheels for storage and saves them from the ravages of Winter weather, salt, slush, etc., not to mention saving the tread wear on the Summer set. I agree with k3v7n...The peace of mind will be well worth it.
11-02-2018, 10:04 PM
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
@sonorous you are the man. Purchased those wheels and got the dealer to fit some Latitude Tour HP’s same day. My 21’s with PZeroes are now stocked away in storage waiting for Spring to return!
I won’t be going into the snow all that often, and will have cables when I do.
I won’t be going into the snow all that often, and will have cables when I do.
Here is another option. No affiliation and not sure if they are still for sale... They are located in your region. https://www.macanforum.com/forum/mac...gn-wheels.html
You could order the tires from TR and have them installed wherever you want...
You could order the tires from TR and have them installed wherever you want...
11-03-2018, 09:23 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
@sonorous you are the man. Purchased those wheels and got the dealer to fit some Latitude Tour HP’s same day. My 21’s with PZeroes are now stocked away in storage waiting for Spring to return!
I won’t be going into the snow all that often, and will have cables when I do.
I won’t be going into the snow all that often, and will have cables when I do.
11-06-2018, 03:15 PM
#12
Drifting
I have lots of cold climate friends that don't believe in snow tires.
I suggest they can wear their Stan Smith tennis shoes all year.
981-GT4 - good for you for running snow tire in the mountains.
A dedicated snow tire is the bomb, in the POW. Plus you get to spread your millage over a few sets of tires.
I burn through a set of all seasons, every three years. Running two sets? twice the time.
I doubt in California you will have this discount. Here, snow tires get up to a 5% discount on your insurance.
Every bit counts.
I suggest they can wear their Stan Smith tennis shoes all year.
981-GT4 - good for you for running snow tire in the mountains.
A dedicated snow tire is the bomb, in the POW. Plus you get to spread your millage over a few sets of tires.
I burn through a set of all seasons, every three years. Running two sets? twice the time.
I doubt in California you will have this discount. Here, snow tires get up to a 5% discount on your insurance.
Every bit counts.
11-19-2018, 04:32 PM
#13
Rennlist Member
Thanks all! Great advice.
I'm pretty much settled on OEM N-spec Pirelli Scorpions (with 20" wheels) for my "Winter" tires, to switch back my 21"s with summer tires in March.
I asked the parts dept at a couple of dealers about this, and apparently this request is mind boggling - as they can't sell a wheel set unless it's either summer or winter tires, and ordering wheels and tires individually seems to be a very big hassle.
I guess not too many people switch from Summer to All-Seasons
On to Tire Rack and non-OEM wheels I go...
I'm pretty much settled on OEM N-spec Pirelli Scorpions (with 20" wheels) for my "Winter" tires, to switch back my 21"s with summer tires in March.
I asked the parts dept at a couple of dealers about this, and apparently this request is mind boggling - as they can't sell a wheel set unless it's either summer or winter tires, and ordering wheels and tires individually seems to be a very big hassle.
I guess not too many people switch from Summer to All-Seasons
On to Tire Rack and non-OEM wheels I go...
For two of my P cars I’ve bought used OEM rims on eBay to much success. I like new as much as anybody, but when wheels are for the winter it makes some sense. For our Macan we have Pirelli Scorpions and they work great...my wife even refers to them as a great Xmas present.
11-25-2018, 11:49 AM
#14
Rennlist Member
My macan was worthless in the crap pirelli all seasons.
Got snows (pirelli sottozero) like like for all my other cars, and will switch to summers when the all seasons expire.
Good luck
Got snows (pirelli sottozero) like like for all my other cars, and will switch to summers when the all seasons expire.
Good luck
