Hi all,
I live in a part of PA where winter can fluctuate a great deal - probably 2/3 years, I'll only ever need to drive on light snow - 1-2". However, from November-March (5 months) it is regularly down to freezing temps. So mostly it's either dry roads, wet roads, or lightly slushly roads. Rarely any genuinely snow-packed or icy roads for more than 2-3 days a year. Once every few years, we get pretty regular snow all season and while the roads are well plowed and salted, I'll be driving on or through several inches.
So in essence, I need to run a setup 5 months of the year that can handle freezing temps, slush, and light snow. When considering the beast is a 4000 pound RWD car w/ LSD & DSC, this says to me "all-season tire" (maybe witha pair of tire socks in the trunk to slip on in case of emergency).
So this is what I'm considering:
1. From tirerack, Rial Salerno 17x8 wheels & michelin pilot sport all season plus in 245/45/17 - $1400 shipped (roughly)
2. From tirerack, ASA AR1 18x9 wheels & michelin pilot all season plus in 255/40/18 - $1700 shipped (roughly)
3. BavAuto or similar, Beyern Mesh 18x8.5 wheels & kumho ecsta ASX in 245/40/18 - $1700 shipped (roughly)
My thinking is that a square setup is going to be best, michelin pilot sport all-seasons ride quite well, perform well, but have good longevity and modest capability in the snow. I won't mind having them on 5 months of the year, and I'll be able to reliably drive around in mild winter weather.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm wondering especially how the m5 handles mild winter weather with all-seasons on and responsible driving. I would RUN to get snow tires - but I have so little snow driving and yet have to be prepared 5 months a year.
Similarly, nearly 1/2 the rear I'll be running these wheels - so I want them to actually "fit" the car visually and ride nicely.
Feedback welcome.
Joe
P.s. For the sake of argument, this is my only car. When I have time to prep, I'd take my wife's subaru which is shod in all-seasons and does great. She's driving a ~3400-3500 pound car on 225/45/17 all-seasons and it does well. Heck, my 2850 pound FWD car running the same 225/45/17 all seasons does acceptably well.
I live in a part of PA where winter can fluctuate a great deal - probably 2/3 years, I'll only ever need to drive on light snow - 1-2". However, from November-March (5 months) it is regularly down to freezing temps. So mostly it's either dry roads, wet roads, or lightly slushly roads. Rarely any genuinely snow-packed or icy roads for more than 2-3 days a year. Once every few years, we get pretty regular snow all season and while the roads are well plowed and salted, I'll be driving on or through several inches.
So in essence, I need to run a setup 5 months of the year that can handle freezing temps, slush, and light snow. When considering the beast is a 4000 pound RWD car w/ LSD & DSC, this says to me "all-season tire" (maybe witha pair of tire socks in the trunk to slip on in case of emergency).
So this is what I'm considering:
1. From tirerack, Rial Salerno 17x8 wheels & michelin pilot sport all season plus in 245/45/17 - $1400 shipped (roughly)
2. From tirerack, ASA AR1 18x9 wheels & michelin pilot all season plus in 255/40/18 - $1700 shipped (roughly)
3. BavAuto or similar, Beyern Mesh 18x8.5 wheels & kumho ecsta ASX in 245/40/18 - $1700 shipped (roughly)
My thinking is that a square setup is going to be best, michelin pilot sport all-seasons ride quite well, perform well, but have good longevity and modest capability in the snow. I won't mind having them on 5 months of the year, and I'll be able to reliably drive around in mild winter weather.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I'm wondering especially how the m5 handles mild winter weather with all-seasons on and responsible driving. I would RUN to get snow tires - but I have so little snow driving and yet have to be prepared 5 months a year.
Similarly, nearly 1/2 the rear I'll be running these wheels - so I want them to actually "fit" the car visually and ride nicely.
Feedback welcome.
Joe
P.s. For the sake of argument, this is my only car. When I have time to prep, I'd take my wife's subaru which is shod in all-seasons and does great. She's driving a ~3400-3500 pound car on 225/45/17 all-seasons and it does well. Heck, my 2850 pound FWD car running the same 225/45/17 all seasons does acceptably well.