Snow tire question

[Arian]

Hey guys,

I have a question... my front tires are worn out and I need to buy some new front tires soon.

Currently I am running, Michelin Latitude Tour HP (All Season Tire) on the front and the rear.

I want to start talking more trips to Tahoe and snowy climates, would you guys recommend putting Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 (Winter Tire) on my fronts, and still have the Michelin Latitude Tour HP (All Season Tire) on the rear?

Also, does anyone know how the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 handle in non-winter conditions? I was thinking about keeping those tires on all year round, and eventually replace the rear with the Latitude...

So I guess I have two questions:

1. Would it be bad to have Winter Tires in the front while having all season tires in the rear?

2. Would it be bad to run Winter Tires all year long, even in the summer? If so, could you explain this to me?

My tires sizes are

Front: 275/40/20 -- E91/2J
Rear: 315/35/20 -- E101/2J

[JCL]

The correct name should be winter tires, as in your post, not snow tires as in your title.

You should run the same type of tire on each wheel. In some jurisdictions it is illegal to run winter tires on only one axle. It is unsafe in any case.

Tires have certain handling characteristics with respect to grip. If tires with different compounds are run on each axle, you change the handling characteristics and can end up with too much understeer (plowing) or too much oversteer (rear end breaks loose).

You don't want to run winter tires above about 7 c (45 F) because they have a softer compound that is designed to stay soft in colder ambients (for sufficient grip) but which will wear very rapidly above the temperatures they were designed for.

[ukrcan]

Originally Posted by JCL

The correct name should be winter tires, as in your post, not snow tires as in your title.

You should run the same type of tire on each wheel. In some jurisdictions it is illegal to run winter tires on only one axle. It is unsafe in any case.

Tires have certain handling characteristics with respect to grip. If tires with different compounds are run on each axle, you change the handling characteristics and can end up with too much understeer (plowing) or too much oversteer (rear end breaks loose).

You don't want to run winter tires above about 7 c (45 F) because they have a softer compound that is designed to stay soft in colder ambients (for sufficient grip) but which will wear very rapidly above the temperatures they were designed for.

Same reason why you should be putting on winter tires in colder climates... has nothing to do with the snow...all season compound does not behave as well as winter tires on colder asphalt

[motordavid]

+2 What JCL wrote...
While our 'car ego' often gets in the way, it may be cheaper in the long run to buy a set of downsized wheels and dedicated winter tires, and use them in CA 'winters' for your runs to the Mtns, vs buying a set of 20" winter tires.

There are often smaller wheel/wheel tire combos for sale on this site, eg 18s or 17s, or a set of plain vanilla wheels and winter tires, from the usual Internet tire sellers.

Even if you don't like the look of smaller winter wheels/winter tires, once you have a 'set', they are swappable in place of your 'summer' wheel set up, as in about 30 mins in the garage or driveway, or the same at the corner tire joint.

The common and somewhat misnamed 'all season' tires are really Spring/Summer/Fall tires, imo.
GL, mD

[racingbmwm3]

1. It is UNSAFE to mix winter tires with all seasons. Do yourself a favor and get a second set of wheels with winter tires. As soon as you know you won't be making anymore snow trips, put your summers back on the car and then replace the front tires with another pair of non-winter tires.
I recommend the 255/55/18 for winter tire size. Much cheaper than 20" tires, and for winter traction, skinnier tires are better than wide, and this is a common size. You don't mention what model X5 you have, so you may even have an option for 17" wheels/tires which would be additional savings in overall cost...what model do you have?

2. Additionally beyond the excessive wear in summer, winter tires offer way less grip on warm dry roads, so your X won't handle or stop as well as it would with the all seasons.

[Arian]

Originally Posted by racingbmwm3

1. It is UNSAFE to mix winter tires with all seasons. Do yourself a favor and get a second set of wheels with winter tires. As soon as you know you won't be making anymore snow trips, put your summers back on the car and then replace the front tires with another pair of non-winter tires.
I recommend the 255/55/18 for winter tire size. Much cheaper than 20" tires, and for winter traction, skinnier tires are better than wide, and this is a common size. You don't mention what model X5 you have, so you may even have an option for 17" wheels/tires which would be additional savings in overall cost...what model do you have?

2. Additionally beyond the excessive wear in summer, winter tires offer way less grip on warm dry roads, so your X won't handle or stop as well as it would with the all seasons.

I have an X5 3.0i 2002.

[Arian]

Also this questions is to everyone again, if I do by a 17inch / 18inch set for winter only conditions... when do I change the tires, before I leave the house? or along the way?

Because I am assuming half the drive will be in normal conditions... is that amount of driving fine? Or do you guys recommend that I have both sets in my car, and switch them out along the way?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by ukrcan

Same reason why you should be putting on winter tires in colder climates... has nothing to do with the snow...all season compound does not behave as well as winter tires on colder asphalt

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Arian

Also this questions is to everyone again, if I do by a 17inch / 18inch set for winter only conditions... when do I change the tires, before I leave the house? or along the way?

Because I am assuming half the drive will be in normal conditions... is that amount of driving fine? Or do you guys recommend that I have both sets in my car, and switch them out along the way?

Where are you going to store 4 tires if you change them on the way?

[racingbmwm3]

235/65/17 recommended size then. Assuming you have not put a big brake kit on the car.
http://www.tirerack.com/snow/WinterT...&performance=W

I would install the winter tires the day before you leave, re-check the torque on the bolts the day you leave, then swap the 20's back the day you return or the following day. You don't need to worry about wearing your tires out in just the few hundred miles of road trip. I would just avoid driving them everyday in SoCal. A weekend once or twice a month is ok.

Either set of wheels will fill the back of the rig along with having to fold down at least one seat. Better to leave them at home and save your space and gas mileage for more necessary items.