New (probably Dumb) Question About Snow Tires

ncaruso

Founding Member
Apr 15, 1999
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Bloomfield, CT
Since my 2016 GT came with the performance package (summer performance tires that can't be driven below 45 degrees), and living in Connecticut, I see myself with three options. It's going to be in the 20's Monday morning so I know I can't drive my car to work that day - and it's only going to get worse as the calendar marches on! I have a 2012 Nissan Frontier 4WD for driving in snow/icy conditions but really don't want my car sitting in the garage all Winter.

Option #1 Park the Mustang from November - April (not my favorite idea, but the cheapest alternative) and only drive the truck.

Option #2 Buy All-Season performance tires and just store (or sell) the brand new summer tires (or maybe swap them out in fall/spring)

Option #3 Buy 4 Blizzaks with an extra set of wheels and swap them out Fall/Spring. (obviously the most expensive option)

Is there an Option #4 that I didn't think of?

Here's the $40,000 question... Is there a tire/wheel combination that will work better for snow tires?

My Crossfire had two different sized wheels - 18" on the front and 19" on the rear (tires were 225/40R18 - 255/35R19) , but I could (and did) buy 4 18" wheels and made up the difference by changing the tire size (18" wheels and 240's in the front, 245's on the back to make up the offset)

On the Mustang the stock performance package has wider rear tires - Front - 255/40-19 Rear - 275/40-19. I know wider tires are not ideal for driving on snow.

So - the question is whether or not I can get a set of 4 rims all the same size and run a slightly thinner tire in the rear for the winter, or not. Anybody have a story to share of what worked for them (of didn't)?
 
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Since my 2016 GT came with the performance package (summer performance tires that can't be driven below 45 degrees), and living in Connecticut, I see myself with three options. It's going to be in the 20's Monday morning so I know I can't drive my car to work that day - and it's only going to get worse as the calendar marches on! I have a 2012 Nissan Frontier 4WD for driving in snow/icy conditions but really don't want my car sitting in the garage all Winter.

Option #1 Park the Mustang from November - April (not my favorite idea, but the cheapest alternative) and only drive the truck.

Option #2 Buy All-Season performance tires and just store (or sell) the brand new summer tires (or maybe swap them out in fall/spring)

Option #3 Buy
 
I just put a set of the Blizzak tires on mine. They ride differently of course, but make a huge difference already in the rain. Even better than the Goodyear performance all season tires that came from the factory. I would take the Blizzaks over ANY All Seasons tire on the market for driving on the ice and snow. Plus Firestone currently has a great sale price on the Blizzaks right now. At least here in the Northwest at any rate. Just my 2 cents.
 
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If you are planning on having a 2nd set of wheels/tires, I would just get the blizzaks. They will perform much better than any all season tire out there. As you mentioned, skinnier tires will be better. Although I would recommend the 4wd for the snow, the blizzaks will be a big improvement in the cold.

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It's a lease so I'm not all that interested in a second set of wheels until I decide if I might keep it when the lease runs out or get something else. I'm leaning towards a good set of all-seasons and store the summer tires for now.
 
I was going to say garage it and keep the salt and mileage off the car, until I saw that you are leasing. You don't want to miss out on your mileage with a leased car.

Now I think I would get the tires and swap them out seasonally. Buying wheels to swap would be convenient but also very expensive. It doesn't cost that much to get the tires swapped out on your stock wheels.
 
Aren't the back two tires summer only and the front two are all season? I'm also thinking about this. I drove it in the cold weather and it was not very fun. Even just this morning, I was breaking loose way too easily. My plan was to buy two rims and tires for the rears. I was thinking of buying the PP look-a-likes, maybe the skinnier ones, for the back during the winter.
 
The stock tires should be the same all around. FYI, you don't typically want mismatched tires between front and rear for driving in inclement weather. Yes, the rear tires are propelling the car forward but you need the traction up front if you plan on stopping and turning. It may be OK if you are only driving in dry conditions, but not if you plan on encountering snow or other slippery conditions. I'm not saying you plan on doing this...just making sure you are aware. Also be aware that you will eventually see more wear on those front tires than any of the rears because you will be using them more throughout the year.

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Get some Michellin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tires and call it a day.

In my experience, all of the "Summer" tires I had underperformed the all-season tires; even during Summer.

I had some Pirelli SottoZeros last Winter. I didn't see enough of an improvement over the P Nero Zero all-seasons to justify the extra $50-75 per tire. In general, I haven't seen the advantage of Winter or Summer tires. I think it is simply a marketing tactic to sell higher volumes of tires to guys like us looking for separate tires for separate applications. The perfect tire is a high-performance all-season tire. Otherwise you need an old, slow front-wheel drive for when it ices out. Or studded tires (if they are legal in your state).
 
I had Sottozeros on my Crossfire and they were amazing tires. I had a lot more traction than I did with any all-season tire I tried. Now that I have a 4WD pickup, I just need tires that will work when it's cold - not when it is snowy or icy.
 
Since my 2016 GT came with the performance package (summer performance tires that can't be driven below 45 degrees), and living in Connecticut, I see myself with three options. It's going to be in the 20's Monday morning so I know I can't drive my car to work that day - and it's only going to get worse as the calendar marches on! I have a 2012 Nissan Frontier 4WD for driving in snow/icy conditions but really don't want my car sitting in the garage all Winter.

Option #1 Park the Mustang from November - April (not my favorite idea, but the cheapest alternative) and only drive the truck.

Option #2 Buy All-Season performance tires and just store (or sell) the brand new summer tires (or maybe swap them out in fall/spring)

Option #3 Buy 4 Blizzaks with an extra set of wheels and swap them out Fall/Spring. (obviously the most expensive option)

Is there an Option #4 that I didn't think of?

Here's the $40,000 question... Is there a tire/wheel combination that will work better for snow tires?

My Crossfire had two different sized wheels - 18" on the front and 19" on the rear (tires were 225/40R18 - 255/35R19) , but I could (and did) buy 4 18" wheels and made up the difference by changing the tire size (18" wheels and 240's in the front, 245's on the back to make up the offset)

On the Mustang the stock performance package has wider rear tires - Front - 255/40-19 Rear - 275/40-19. I know wider tires are not ideal for driving on snow.

So - the question is whether or not I can get a set of 4 rims all the same size and run a slightly thinner tire in the rear for the winter, or not. Anybody have a story to share of what worked for them (of didn't)?

Luckily most people here are knollegable. I have the Stock P Zero Nero All season. I live in NJ. I bought my car last December. I got through the winter fine. The tires do suck, but they worked in light snow and cold weather. That's the big difference between summer and all season is the compound of the rubber and when it softens or stays hard.

I was planning on keeping these for the winter and buying good summer tires in the spring and just swap them each season. But after doing some research and what people have said here, maybe get the best All Season tire you can get and forget about it......
 
For daily driving, high performance all-seasons are usually fine. But the best all season cannot be compared to the best winter or best summer tires. Most people just don't encounter the conditions that necessitate the best tire. All seasons typically work for a wide range of conditions including light snow and cold weather. I guarantee that the best all season tire is no match for a great summer tire on a track. Just like the best all season is no match for a set of blizzaks in heavy snow.

I'm not refuting that the best all season is all that most people need. Just clarifying that every tire has its place.

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This is what I drive when the weather is bad...

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I have found winter tires to be so far superior to an all season on cold dry, cold wet, icy and snow covered roads that I swap the all season tires that come on most of our cars.

I would go as far as saying my wife's FWD car with winter tires is better than an AWD with all seasons.

My Mustang with winter tires and using snow mode was so good last winter (the worst in Bostons recorded history) that I didn't bother to use my beater 4x4 truck.

Dave
 
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