Winter tire question for an '04 Allroad - Thoughts from Gary/Anyone greatly appreciated!
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Winter tire question for an '04 Allroad - Thoughts from Gary/Anyone greatly appreciated!
We are an avid ski family, and we drive from New York City to my parent's home in Vermont most winter weekends. It is a 260 mile trip that is usually dry pavement on the interstate for the first 230 miles (average speed 75mph), some paved back roads for about 30 miles that are clear of snow most of the time (though this section is snowy, and kind of hairy, 5 or 6 times a year) and then a mile and a half of a steep dirt road that can have as musch as a foot of snow, but is generally packed, plowed snow with sand on top.
Matching winter tires for this use is tough.
Last year I ran the Michelin PA2s on my old allroad (long story on why I no longer have that car or its tires...) which I thought balanced the trade-offs quite well.
This year, after doing some research, I'm debating the merits/tradeoffs between the Michelin PA3s, Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds, Nokian RSi's or Blizzak WS60s. I know the first two are better in dry and the last two better in snow/ice, but would trade a lot of dry performance.
I have the stock 17" single spoke rims. Last year I stuck with these, but would be willing to do 16" rims this year if it made sense.
Any thoughts/commentary would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
Matching winter tires for this use is tough.
Last year I ran the Michelin PA2s on my old allroad (long story on why I no longer have that car or its tires...) which I thought balanced the trade-offs quite well.
This year, after doing some research, I'm debating the merits/tradeoffs between the Michelin PA3s, Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds, Nokian RSi's or Blizzak WS60s. I know the first two are better in dry and the last two better in snow/ice, but would trade a lot of dry performance.
I have the stock 17" single spoke rims. Last year I stuck with these, but would be willing to do 16" rims this year if it made sense.
Any thoughts/commentary would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
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Re: Winter tire question for an '04 Allroad - Thoughts from Gary/Anyone greatly appreciated!
Choosing between these two categories may be difficult and is mostly a personal preference choice for the tradeoff between snow traction versus dry road handling.
I've noticed two main attitudes/thought processes regarding this decision. One is that most of the time you'll be driving on dry or well plowed roads, so you should lean towards one of the H/V rated performance snow tires like you did with your last set. The other thought is that driving on dry roads is pretty easy even with a more aggressive snow tire (not as fun...) but that tire will deliver maximum traction and safty when you need it most as snow conditions can be challenging. For my decade-old A4, I tend to err on the conservative side lean towards the more aggressive winter tires and use the WS-60.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR8&url=/winter/index.jsp">winter</a></li></ul>
I've noticed two main attitudes/thought processes regarding this decision. One is that most of the time you'll be driving on dry or well plowed roads, so you should lean towards one of the H/V rated performance snow tires like you did with your last set. The other thought is that driving on dry roads is pretty easy even with a more aggressive snow tire (not as fun...) but that tire will deliver maximum traction and safty when you need it most as snow conditions can be challenging. For my decade-old A4, I tend to err on the conservative side lean towards the more aggressive winter tires and use the WS-60.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR8&url=/winter/index.jsp">winter</a></li></ul>
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Re: 16" Dunlop or Michelin. 225/55-16
Thanks - silly question - what do you mean by "roundness"?
I'm feeling like I'm leaning Dunlops (the Michelin PA3 tread just doesn't "look" (at least in the pictures) like it would be that great in snow. I know that is a very scientific approach!
Would you get 16 inch rims or stick with the 17 inch and just change the tires twice a year?
I'm feeling like I'm leaning Dunlops (the Michelin PA3 tread just doesn't "look" (at least in the pictures) like it would be that great in snow. I know that is a very scientific approach!
Would you get 16 inch rims or stick with the 17 inch and just change the tires twice a year?
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Re: Winter tire question for an '04 Allroad - Thoughts from Gary/Anyone greatly appreciated!
Thanks Gary - I'm leaning Dunlop. Debating whether to get separate rims (although tirrack website should no 16" winter wheel combos...)
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Round is just that. I'd go 16, no question.
Unfortunately, most tires are not really round. This results in vibrations that do not originate in wheel balance. I get lot sof tires that vibrate at speed, and cant be balanced out. Sometimes road force balancing fixes it, but that's a band-aide, and expensive.
Now I buy good tires. As noted, Dunlops are OK, not great, IMO, and that of several installers.
Grant
Now I buy good tires. As noted, Dunlops are OK, not great, IMO, and that of several installers.
Grant
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Grant - Thanks; Gary - question
Grant: Thanks a lot for the advice. Never knew that about tires!
Gary: I think I've decided to do the dunlops with 16" rims. Problem is that Tirerack doesn't seem to have any 16" rims for my 2004 Allroad! Suggestions?
Gary: I think I've decided to do the dunlops with 16" rims. Problem is that Tirerack doesn't seem to have any 16" rims for my 2004 Allroad! Suggestions?
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