Winter vs Summer tyres on X-drive

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Why not use year 'round below 43° latitude or why not a test on oily surface?

First one is the rubber gets super soft above 50°F so they will shred and three tread blocks will turn "squishy" and you lose overall control.

Second one, I would love to see a test of summer, winter, "all" season on realistic copy of oily city streets.

For those skeptics out there, find a very high traffic feeder street like what goes to a high density neighborhood and when it's safe with no cars around, panic stop from 35-40 mph.

On dry ground it will take substantial pedal effort to get abs too kick on.

With summer tires on oily surface it will take HALF the effort to skid the tires.

With my studdless tires it takes 80-90% of the dry road pedal effort to engage abs. Enough that it's extremely rare even when the road is wet to engage ABS on a panic stop.

It costs more to maintain two sets of tires than one set of winters including the faster summer wear as long as the similar conditions are met as described for my case.

When ABS kicks on it greatly increases stopping distance. I first discovered this in my Z28; at least 30% longer stopping distance when on slippery surface and all season tires. (never had snow tires on that car and summer tires; pointless in snow; couldn't drive over a 1" bump of snow, not an exaggeration)

When the road is wet, I can just barely get abs to kick on if the roads are clean, but at perhaps 50% brake pressure, no problem on oily+wet to get abs to kick on even with studdless tires.

I have wife's e70 today with the "all seasons". I will see if I can get a g-force reading on a couple example streets where I can recreate the situation once I get the new tires on. I would love to show objectively what I've been describing.

I'm acutely aware of the difference in grip largely in part due to the change in grip of the same model tire at end of life.

When the tread is almost gone the sp winter sport turn into all season tires automatically as the sipes aren't the full depth of the tread blocks. They get slippery on wet just like all season tires. Exchanging for new I get the amazing grip back.

I drive more at 60° and below than above, that is a key to my decision to run on winters only.

I've used at least half a dozen different winter tires, all from new. I'm just saying that the Wintersport 3D was the worst in the snow of all of them. They trade snow traction for dry performance, which is probably why you like them so much as an all season. Because they really are basically an all season.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

I've used at least half a dozen different winter tires, all from new. I'm just saying that the Wintersport 3D was the worst in the snow of all of them. They trade snow traction for dry performance, which is probably why you like them so much as an all season. Because they really are basically an all season.

What width? PSI? I had 235s and 255s. there was absolutely no comparison between the two I was blown away by the 235s and the 255s were like you described.

I would describe the 255s similar to how you described them as a very decent all season tire 235s a true Nordic winter grip. ¹/₂ g braking force on slush over cement at 2C.

I have no problem whatsoever driving on fresh 15 inches of snow With the 235s. 255s definitely float on top once you get deeper than about 10-12" But I never had a problem plowing through a foot of snow on the 255s

I have parked my car in 3 inches of water in the morning drove out of solid ice Without spinning the ti.res. That may have been With the 235s I have to look at the photos

With the 255s I have no fear of driving down into a ditch with 5 inches of snow to tow out of car that went off the road. I drove in and out about four times to pack down the snow before pushing the car out of the ditch with my car.

This will not happen with 6000# car and all seasons.