[tinman]

I may be driving north of the Mason-Dixon Line in late December. Living in Florida I have summer tires year 'round. I believe I would be better off with some type of winter tire, but not dedicated snow tires. What do most of you cold weather folks use for All Season tires?

 

[LNF]

I've been running winter tires on all my cars for the past 20+ years now. However, I've heard great things about the Continental DWS. My father also has a set on his '12 CTS-V and I've put them on my wife's car (though still run winter tires on hers too).

 

[thelogan22]

I have used the stock Pilot Super Sports, Pilot Sport A/S 4, and now am using Continental Extreme Contact DWS06+ which are the best ultra high performance all season by far in my opinion.

I have a sedan, using 265/30R19 on a 19x9.5 front
And 285/30R19 on a 19x10 rear (note coupe fitments are different).

I live in Washington and we’re in our cold icy rain season at the moment, it’s usually around freezing or below when I’m leaving the house in the morning and these tires have been doing great. Rain performance is good as long as you know how to drive in it.

 

[tinman]

Good to know gentlemen. I will check the Tire Rack recommendation when the time comes. If I go at all. I have seen lots of positive comments on the Conti's.

 

[tinman]

One other thought I have is since I don't usually use All Season tires is to purchase a lesser expensive brand of tires and just run them until they're toast.

 

[tinman]

Conti's don't appear in the Tire Rack fitment for OEM stock wheels.

 

[Theroider]

What’s your destination and how before you return to FL?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tinman]

Headed to the Motor City area around New Year's and will be be there a good week.

 

[Theroider]

I’d get a square set of Pirelli Sottozero 3s - 245/40-18. I had them for 6 seasons on my 2 CTS Vsports. They’re great tires. I believe I saw some ATS V guys who ran this size.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tta1456]

Conti's don't appear in the Tire Rack fitment for OEM stock wheels.

Probably because they don't have the same load or speed rating as the factory tires, so Tire Rack won't even show them as an option for your car. Try searching by size instead of by vehicle and they'll probably have 255/35/18 and 275/35/18 that will fit the car. The DWS06+ is indeed a very good all weather tire.

The PSS and PS4S do get a little iffy below 40. Michelin says not to drive them below 40 for decreased traction and risk of cracking, but there's a bit of wiggle room in there. If it's around 35F-40F outside, either take it easy, take another car, or switch tires. If it's in the 20s or lower I would not even move the car on the PSS / PS4S tires. Brand new cars running the PS4S that get delivered in the winter in colder climates can often have cracks in them from just pulling the cars on and off the transporter in the cold... GM even sent out a bulletin about it.

 

[tinman]

Probably because they don't have the same load or speed rating as the factory tires, so Tire Rack won't even show them as an option for your car. Try searching by size instead of by vehicle and they'll probably have 255/35/18 and 275/35/18 that will fit the car.

The PSS and PS4S do get a little iffy below 40. Michelin says not to drive them below 40 for risk of cracking, but there's a bit of wiggle room in there. If it's below 35F outside, probably best to take another car or switch tires. If it's in the 20s or lower I would not even move the car on the PSS / PS4S tires. Brand new cars running the PS4S that get delivered in the winter in colder climates can often have cracks in them from just pulling the cars on and off the transporter in the cold... GM even sent out a bulletin about it.

Good advice on looking at tires by size, not vehicle. And I'm aware of the cracking, precisely why I want 'winter' tires. Thank you.

I’d get a square set of Pirelli Sottozero 3s - 245/40-18. I had them for 6 seasons on my 2 CTS Vsports. They’re great tires. I believe I saw some ATS V guys who ran this size.

I'll take a look as I get closer to decision making time, which is coming up soon! Where do you live? (thinking of shipping).

 

[Theroider]

I'll take a look as I get closer to decision making time, which is coming up soon! Where do you live? (thinking of shipping).

Actually, I also had them on my Audi S5 Sportback. Got a winter wheel package from Tire Rack and ran them 2 winters. I can’t remember the size but they may have been the same size as the square set I ran on the Vsports. I know I dropped down from the 19” summers.

I’m in north Jersey. We’ll get snow and an occasional big load but the streets are cleared quickly. I like having the winter rubber mainly for the cold temps.

Unfortunately I can find only one option for “winter” tires for my 5BW - Cooper all-seasons. Having them put on next week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wanderer54]

Living in northern NJ with my 16V, all season tires are a must. Temperatures often are much below 40 degrees and summer tires would not handle that. I had the Michelin Pilot Sport all season tires. They were so incredibly noisy that I had to ditch them after only 7K miles. I switched to the Continental DWS tires and I DID get them from Tire Rack. They had them to my Dealer in only 3 days. Fitment on this car is rather limited due to the staggered large sizes. I like the Continentals. Much quieter, good handling. I do not regret my purchase. Should have got them when I bought the car new and the car had the summer tires on it.
I don't track the car and I am not an aggressive driver either. IMO, Continental DWS is the way to go.

 

[jgt]

Winter tires are designed to be driven when the ambient temperature is below 45degF. If you put the tires on in Florida, depending upon where you start, you could be driving up to a 1000 miles at presumably 70mph, before you reach consistent low temperatures. That will have the same effect as driving rain tires on dry pavement.
Explain to whomever you buy tires from your plans.

 

[LNF]

I’d get a square set of Pirelli Sottozero 3s - 245/40-18. I had them for 6 seasons on my 2 CTS Vsports. They’re great tires. I believe I saw some ATS V guys who ran this size.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm in NJ and this is the exact setup I have on my ATS-V for the winter. As someone mentioned later in this thread, warmer weather on winter tires could be problamatic:

Can You Drive Snow and Winter Tires Year Round?

www.bridgestonetire.com

 

[Theroider]

I'm in NJ and this is the exact setup I have on my ATS-V for the winter. As someone mentioned later in this thread, warmer weather on winter tires could be problamatic:

Can You Drive Snow and Winter Tires Year Round?

www.bridgestonetire.com

That's true, but there is no simple way to do this. Does the OP drive to his destination then have the new tires installed? What does he do with the takeoffs? Does he put them on when he's outside the "warm belt?" Again, what does he do with the takeoffs? If you read some Tire Rack reviews of the Sottozeros, some drive them year round.

 

[FL103Dave]

You could probably rent a car local for a week to drive up to Detroit for a week for less than a set of tires

 

[jgt]

You could probably rent a car local for a week to drive up to Detroit for a week for less than a set of tires

Or fly and rent a car in Detroit.
If you are intent on buying tires though, I would suggest getting 17x7 steel wheels and installing 205-55-17 tires. The tires are a common size and by buying the rims, you save the on and off labour each season. The narrower tires will have better stop/go traction at the expense of side traction.
Just brushed 10 inches of snow off the truck. Nothing though compared to what Buffalo is going to get.

 

[Theroider]

Or fly and rent a car in Detroit.
If you are intent on buying tires though, I would suggest getting 17x7 steel wheels and installing 205-55-17 tires. The tires are a common size and by buying the rims, you save the on and off labour each season. The narrower tires will have better stop/go traction at the expense of side traction.

I don’t think 17 inchers for the V.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tinman]

Nor steelies for the brakes.

My nomenclature 'winter' tires is really meaning All-Season. I should have clarified. Being a 'Florida Man' (ohhh, be careful here, lol) my idea of winter is 32 degrees and colder, lol. I used to be an Ohio boy so I know what I'm getting into. All Seasons are good for me. Then I'll probably just use them up. I had the PS4 A/S on my old CTS wagon and they were fine. For this one trip to the snow belt I can get by with a less expensive set.