All Season or winter tires

[ppug]

Here is my confusion and the reason for this thread. I currently have a set of conti slicks (or sucks) and its November in Chicago... time for some new tires.

I have read thru the threads discussing Blizzaks vs Pirelli Scorpions and figure I can't go wrong with either of these as a winter only tire.

But am curious if I can get by well enough with All seasons? I am not seing much on tire rack except other contis which I personally will never ride on again.

So the question is this.. I don't really want two sets of tires... so what do I get?

Question 1) Whats the best size tire taking into account availability and the look/ride feel? It seams that the stock size (225/60-18)of our tire is very hard to come by.. and if I go to a 255/50/18 that it opens up some options.

Question 2) All Season (1 set of tires) vs the summer/winter (two sets) is it really worth it?

Question 3) Which tire? This sounds like there is a lot of personal opinion that enters into this one.

[hewinutah]

Question 1) Whats the best size tire taking into account availability and the look/ride feel? It seams that the stock size (225/60-18)of our tire is very hard to come by.. and if I go to a 255/50/18 that it opens up some options.

* You can use the following and keep the size close
235/55-18 (Good luck finding this one.)
245/55-18 (Really really close to oem size)
255/55-18 (A little bigger then oem, but more choices)

** BTW I see that you are new, so I will say this as nice as i can. Try the search engine, as this is a popular topic

Question 2) All Season (1 set of tires) vs the summer/winter (two sets) is it really worth it?

*The question of the ages! Some will argue that a accident caused by all season tires is more then enough reason for winter tires. I would say it depends on where you live. If you are north of the border where the snow / ice stays on the road, then yes get the winters. If you are like me and live where the snow and ice will melt / turn to slush and then the roads dries out the all season is good. I have spent time in Alaska in Nov/Dec, and I would get snow tires there no question!

Question 3) Which tire? This sounds like there is a lot of personal opinion that enters into this one.

* I got some Toyo Proxes S/T (255/55-18). They are an suv tire that is rated for mud and snow. I only have the rwd R/T, I bet these tires would rock on an awd.

[BigBadMagnum99]

Question 1) Whats the best size tire taking into account availability and the look/ride feel? It seams that the stock size (225/60-18)of our tire is very hard to come by.. and if I go to a 255/50/18 that it opens up some options.

Question 2) All Season (1 set of tires) vs the summer/winter (two sets) is it really worth it?

Question 3) Which tire? This sounds like there is a lot of personal opinion that enters into this one.

Living in a snowbelt in British Columbia, Canada....I was converted to All-season & winter tires pretty quickly! Getting winters depends on where you live and type and how much snow you get as well avg. winter temperatures. I have always swapped out my All-season/all-terrain tires on my trucks for the softer compound (don't harden up at lower temperatures like all-season) and studded winter tires for better traction and stopping power.

Question #1: I just recently placed 255/55R18's on our Magnum RT AWD and that is the easiest size to find for the 18" rims. They are wider than the stock tires which may cause some concerns in winter driving. However, the wider winter tires I have had no issues yet. The wider tire looks sharp and fits really well in the tire wells.

Question #2: This question is hard to swallow as you will have to place a fair bit of money up front to do this. If you are thinking/leaning this way I would totally suggest to get a second set of rims (winter or a nice set of bling bling for the summer use). I have done this with my last 3 vehicles in which I have used the stock alloy wheels for winter rims and have bought some nice bling bling summer rims for the my all-season tires.

If you don't buy an extra set of rims it will roughly cost close to $200 CDN to get the winter/all season tire change each season for mounting and balancing as well you are slowly damaging your tire and rim with each mounting and balancing (2 times/yr). I figured you can have all 4 rims paid for by the 4th year that you own that car with the savings in mounting and balancing. Also, you don't have to buy tires for about 4 years after the initial costs and it is possible to even get 5 years of wear out of a tire because on avg most people change All-season tires on avg. every 2nd year if they are running on one set if they live in snowy regions.

3) I have a set of Toyo S/T's on 20's for my summer rims but I have not tried them out but I have heard lots of good about this tire.

As for winter's I have used Cooper Discovery M&S an aggressive tread that has excellent wear and a excellent winter tire. I have had them previously on my 4x4 trucks and they are unbelievible in the the snow and Ice compared to the BFG All-terrains & Mickey Thompson D**K Cepek FC II's. We recently had a snow and the Cooper Discovery performed very well on our AWD Magnum, with very little noise, good traction and very stable on the road.

Also, I have owned Blizzaks on one of our cars and they performed very well, but I was disappointed in the wear factor. However, that was 7 years ago and I am sure they have placed better compounds in the tire to increase the treadlife.

You have many decisions ahead, but good luck in that decision and welcome to the LX forum!

[shiltz]

If you don't feel like spending the money the continentals despite being crummy in dry are fairly good in the snow, I had mine on all last winter and I live in mass, I had no problems at all with them, I even went out for a drive in Blizzard conditions to push the car to see how it would handle and it was fine, handled better than any other vehicle i've driven in the snow, granted I do have an extra 100ish pounds in the back from my sub box which does help some for traction.

[MCaesar]

Pirelli Scorpions 235/60-18s for the winter

[higshemi-less]

You honestly have to consider how much driving you do on actual snow covered roads. I live up here in Canada, and given the worst storms we get. Our roads are pretty much cleared the next day at worst. I opted to go with the Goodyear Assurance comfortreads 255 60 18 all-season. Love the tire no matter what conditions Im driving in. Its smooth and quiet on the highway, Its awesome in the rain(Heavy downpour I'm talkin about) and it has pretty good traction as far traction goes in snow. I've driven twice this year in snowstorms only cause I had no choice and the tire came through with no prob. Hopes this helps you out in your decision.

Fred

[MCaesar]

the funny thing is that areas that get less snow than you take longer to clear their roads!

Plus, where I live it is farm area. So even after the road is plowed the winds will push a drift back on the road!

[ppug]

I ended up going with 255/55/HR18 Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Symmetrical from Tire rack... I will let you know how they work. Had some snow here in Chicago this weekend but I haven't had them put on yet.

[DriveATransam]

hey man, another chicagoan! what do you drive? post up in the chicago thread in the meet and greet section

i was thinking about the g-Force T/A KDWS myself for an allseason tire. if i can find some 20" rims that fit and look GOOD i will get a dedicated summer set and winter set. if you have the money, this is always the way to go imo.