C&D Winter tire comparison 11-09

[Greg W / Oregon]

Good article in the current issue of Car & Driver testing different categories of winter tires on snow. It really helps explain the tradeoffs between:

- Ultra-High Performance All-Season
- All-Season
- Performance Winter
- Snow & Ice

[mryakan]

Thanks for sharing

[AlpineBmwM3]

Thanks for sharing with us. I subscribe to Car & Driver and read this article. It contains a good amount of information!

[Chazwick05]

i actually read this article yesterday. interesting how they tested different stages of winter tires, instead of just different brands. at the same time, however, it would have been nice to offer data of other manufacturer's tires as well, instead of just "comparable to" suggestions.

i personally run studded nokian hakkapeliitta 5s, the ultimate snow tire.

[mryakan]

To be honest none of this is surprising, but it is nice to see "real world" test results confirming common sense and learned experience. That being said, I am sure this info may come as a shock to many who though snow tires are not necessary.

P.S. I especially like the little side note on AWD. I have always argued that but people with AWD come back with how they have AWD and do not need snow tires and have been fine, bla bla bla. They just think about off the line at a stop light situation, but never think of emergency situations when you really need all the traction you can get.

[Greg W / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Chazwick05

i actually read this article yesterday. interesting how they tested different stages of winter tires, instead of just different brands. at the same time, however, it would have been nice to offer data of other manufacturer's tires as well, instead of just "comparable to" suggestions.

Doing these tests is a huge undertaking. I thought the slant of this article was interesting and not a comparison that is usually done.

[Chazwick05]

Originally Posted by Greg W / Oregon

Doing these tests is a huge undertaking. I thought the slant of this article was interesting and not a comparison that is usually done.

oh, no i agree with you 100%. usually you see comparisons of one brand's ultra high performance blah blah blah winter/summer/rain/mud tire against another brand.

what was refreshing to see was one manufacturer's options for varying types of winters that different climate zones experience. a virginia winter will no doubt be different than a minnesota winter, and that's exactly the point of the article.

i was in architecture mode at the time of my first response and would have liked to have seen "a further iteration" lol

[2000mkoop]

Originally Posted by mryakan

P.S. I especially like the little side note on AWD. I have always argued that but people with AWD come back with how they have AWD and do not need snow tires and have been fine, bla bla bla. They just think about off the line at a stop light situation, but never think of emergency situations when you really need all the traction you can get.

Exactly....when people find out I drive a BMW (or any of my past RWD cars) in the snow they act all surprised like that's impossible? Back in the day pretty much everybody had RWD, crap brakes, terrible tires, etc....

AWD gives (naive) people false confidence.....they accelerate fast and assume they can stop/maneuver fast as well......not without snow tires!

edit: Kinda wish we had mandatory snow tires in Michigan winters....it would speed things up a little and reduce accidents

[Greg W / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Chazwick05

i was in architecture mode at the time of my first response and would have liked to have seen "a further iteration" lol

Are you an architect? I am.

[Chazwick05]

Originally Posted by Greg W / Oregon

Are you an architect? I am.

student, actually. i'm in my fifth year at carnegie mellon! i've been seriously pondering about staying for a master's in construction management, however.

[Greg W / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Chazwick05

student, actually. i'm in my fifth year at carnegie mellon! i've been seriously pondering about staying for a master's in construction management, however.

Not a bad idea - then you could go into either architecture, construction, or private industry.