All-Season or Dedicated Winter Tires?

[NegativeMultiplier]

Hey all. I had a question about this.

So I picked up my S650 a little over a month ago, it's been a blast. I've been paying attention to the weather patterns in my area and it's unusually cool for this late into August - I don't think we've seen sub-70 highs here since I was a very young child. That combined with what I understand is a prediction of a very harsh winter by the Farmer's Almanac for this year has me thinking about what tires I should be shopping for come October/November.

Finding tires in the right size for this car has proven to be a bit of a challenge, as I have the performance package on mine, but so far I've landed on three different choices:

• Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4s
• Michelin X-Ice Snow
• Bridgestone Blizzak 6

You'll note that two of these are dedicated winter tires. I'm practically driving the Mustang daily (I don't believe in the idea of garaging your fun car long-term), and despite having put nearly 3,000mi/5,000km on the car already, and my allegedly exceedingly heavy right foot, the tread on the stock Pirellis is still great. I want to use up the whole of all four tires before I consider permanently getting off of them, and that's unlikely to happen before Michigan weather decides to flip sides. If I were to get all-seasons now, I don't think it would make sense to keep the Pirellis, and I don't want to be rid of them yet.

On the other hand, if I get dedicated winter tires, I'm effectively locking myself into having a dedicated Summer/Winter set for the next few years minimum, as at least the Blizzak has what I understand to be a 60,000mi lifespan. I don't see myself lowering that number by much, as I'm a much tamer driver in icy/snowy conditions than I am in the warm and dry. I can see that becoming an unnecessarily costly venture, spending $1500-2000 on a new set of summer tires every two-ish years. Not that I'm worried about the pricing too much, but it just seems excessive.

I'm usually not indecisive like this when it comes to decisions, but I want to be sure I do what makes sense. What would you all recommend? Dedicated W/S tires, or get the all-seasons?

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[rijndael]

I'm in Virginia, which is far tamer than Michigan, and I run dedicated winter and summer tires.

For an all season, you may have overlooked the Conti DWS06, it's a solid option.

I'd go X-Ice snow if I were you.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

I came to the conclusion that I'm going for the Continental AllSeasonContact 2.

They are the best tested all season in Germany and they come as close as a winter tire in the winter and a summer tire in the summer.

 

[Sofa King]

I am a firm believer in dedicated winter tires... better safe than sorry.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

But it really depends on where you live and what winters you have.

If you live in places where you have hills, always get dedicated winter tires.

I'm in a country where it can get really cold and snowy but everything is flat. And effectivly we only get around 8 to 14 days a year of real snowy days.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

Hills or not, if you drive in the snow you dont want all seasons.

X-ice are very good.

 

[wesg79]

I am in Ontario off lake huron and if you plan to actually drive in snow, get snow tires 100% (and 150lbs in the trunk)

if you just want to extend your season into November/March/April becuase of the cold temps and soft summer tires, all seasons will do. I am planning to change my Pirelli over to PS4 AS most likely, I dont track the car and Id like to Drive it up until the snow flies and soon as the salt clears. But the 0-7C is not good for the summer only tires, basically turn into hockey pucks of frozen rubber

the Nokian come in a 255 as well for a square winter setup, better than blizzaks and xice.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

Hills or not, if you drive in the snow you dont want all seasons.

X-ice are very good.

Life isn't that black and white. At least you have a free will.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

Life isn't that black and white. At least you have a free will.

It certainly is that black and white when driving a rwd car in the snow, lol.

Telling people they “dont need winter tires” is the sort of advice I often hear from people who have multiple cars, or do not live in a cold climate. On the east coast, the same people that say this are often the ones I see in ditches, or complaining they’re stuck at home because of the snow.

To the OP, if you can afford a set of dedicated winters and get snow more than a few times a winter absolutely get them and dont look back. If it makes you feel better, I’ve had my winters for four years on the Honda and they’ve still got a little life in them. This is after I burned them at tail of the dragon too. If you get good winters and store them properly in the summer, you’ll be gold and you will not regret the purchase.

Or just do what this dude did on his all seasons.

 

[Frogdog1]

Better yet, just move to a place where it doesn't snow. Snow is toxic, miserable stuff!

 

[LarryOS650]

Dedicated winter tires give you more safety and confidence for accelerating braking, plus you get the benefit of getting more years out of your all-seasons. You'll also preserve your wheels if you get a winter wheel and tire package.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

Better yet, just move to a place where it doesn't snow. Snow is toxic, miserable stuff!

No way, snow is some of the most fun you can have.

RWD in a blizzard is never a boring time.

 

[bountifulgoose]

I run michillin pilot sport all seasons 4’s on my dark horse ive driven it through gnarly rain storms and in the snow. Between the AS tires and the wet/snow mode I had zero problems with my Dark Horse.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

It certainly is that black and white when driving a rwd car in the snow, lol.

Telling people they “dont need winter tires” is the sort of advice I often hear from people who have multiple cars, or do not live in a cold climate. On the east coast, the same people that say this are often the ones I see in ditches, or complaining they’re stuck at home because of the snow.

To the OP, if you can afford a set of dedicated winters and get snow more than a few times a winter absolutely get them and dont look back. If it makes you feel better, I’ve had my winters for four years on the Honda and they’ve still got a little life in them. This is after I burned them at tail of the dragon too. If you get good winters and store them properly in the summer, you’ll be gold and you will not regret the purchase.

Or just do what this dude did on his all seasons.

I haven't told anybody that they don't need winter tires lol.

 

[CRC123]

Production on my Mustang with the performance pack will begin the week of October 20th. By the time I get it it’s going to be a slow ride home and into the garage for the rest of the winter

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