I'm pretty much set on getting the SP9000s. Have heard a lot of good things about them. Just want to make sure it will function in the snow. Not looking for superior snow performance, but I managed last winter on the RE040s. Any comments?? Thanks.

 

Just from looking at the tread, they might do well enough in the slush, but snow and ice???
I have my doubts (I change to snows in the winter in Cincy.)<p>Ming/Melange
psk/tip/cold/bose/pref/xenons
aftermarket cd changer
debadged
17" Ronal R7's with Dunlop SP 9000's
smiling ear to ear

 

Until there is some major breakthrough in rubber chemistry, a high performance summer tire is never going to be worth a @#$ in snow. In terms of tread design, a summer tire is designed to put rubber on the road, in a "low void" tread design. A snow tire, conversely, has a "high void" design to allow the tread to purge packed snow.

In addition to tread design, rubber compound is critical in a snow tire. High performance tires are designed to survive when run hot, which means they need to get pretty warm to perform. You've seen race cars swerving across the track to warm their tires?

On the other hand, snow tires are designed to be sticky in cold weather. Hot weather driving will tear them up pretty quickly. At winter temps a snow tire's rubber is still sticky, while a summer tire (RE040, Dunlop 9K, PP's, you-name-it) will essentially be frozen up.

Nobody yet has made a tire that's worth much for warm weather performance driving AND snow performance. The requirements for each are diametrically opposed. So for the time being, if you want decent performance in summer and winter, I think you still need two sets of tires. If not, you're accepting major compromises. The better the summer performance the worse the winter performance, and vice versa.

And since the Dunlop 9000 is a VERY high performance summer tire, it only follows... that it's a good tire to avoid for snow/ice/cold weather driving.

DMoore
'00 S4

 

Neither tire is comounded to all season (snow/ice) driving, also when you are dealing with a summer only tire, they lose their grip & become harsher riding & more brittle in colder temps (say under 40'f or so, depending on tire type)

Problem beoimg the lack of true all season compounds in the 17" sizes.

Hope this helps- call me with any questions!

Eddie
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Bimmer.org E46/Audiworld.com Wheel/tire Forums Moderator
Personal Web: http://www.e46fanatics.com/eddie<p>Call me direct to order, or list "Eddie 369" as your previous contact if you order online so I can track it for you!
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