My IPL has summer tires (stock). I am in the Mid Atlantic and we usually get some snow and cold temps. I have been told that summer tires do not work well in temps below 40 (one person told me that they are dangerous to drive on in cold temps).

Several people have urged me to get winter tires for the car, but I have held off because the car is not driven in the snow but is driven in cold temps. I do not want to get a tire/wheel package just tires. The car has its original tires and they have about 16k miles on them and are nearing the end of their life cycle.

Will all season's be a good middle ground? I am considering Yokohama AVID ENVigor. Does anyone have experience with these tires or other suggestions?

Thanks

 

I have and IPL and live in OHIO . I drive mine daily and I have 2 sets of rims and tires. I wouldnt advise trying to do high speed stuff with all season tires.. They just dont seem meant for that... I may be wrong. They come with summer performance tires for a reason...

 

if you are seriously considering a 2nd set of rims & tires, just go ahead and get the dedicated winters. what you have been told is correct - cold temps (and of course snow) affect summer and A/S tire grip. A/S tires suffer just as summer tires do, so only a true winter rated tire will provide increased grip in cold/snowy climates due to the soft compounds. many summer tires provide very good wet traction, so A/S will not give you appreciable gains in the wet.

better yet, buy an inexpensive winter vehicle with winter tires!

i run on Conti DWS A/S tires on OEM sport rims (225/50 all around) in the winter, and the factory B/stone Potenza summer tires (225/245) on a 2nd set of OEM sport rims after ~March. while the DWS is not a true winter, it does have limited snow capability, supposedly. this is good enough for me in case i get caught in unexpected snow. otherwise i take the wife's CRV with winter tires. so the reason i don't have winter tires on the G is i have the option of a 2nd dedicated winter vehicle.

 

I live in MD too ... we put Blizzaks on the first winter. We tried it with M&S tires (not even true summer tires) and it was horrible ... get winter tires. It won't turn the car into a 4WD monster but it helps a LOT!

 

Snow tires will make or break snow travel. Summer tires on even 1/8th inch of snow will get you stuck quick. Also using winter tires in less than 50 degree weather can lead to sidewalls cracking which affects the integrity and strength of the tire. If you only get a moderate amount of snow and the snow removal in your city is half-way decent, a good A/S tire will get you by fine. If you're going to get a winter tire, narrower is better.

 

I agree, A/S tires will be fine, lived in the northeast for 20 years and always had all season tires on all cars. RWD will make a difference so if there's more than just a bit of snow you may want to avoid driving. But the cold temps won't be an issue for all season tires. 90% of cars in the northeast are not rocking winter tires.

 

Yes but 90% of the cars are not RWD with that much power. We tried the A/S and my wife was scared to drive the car, the winter tires are Soooooo much better than A/S. Peace of mind, get winter tires and don't worry about it anymore.

Once my Blizzaks wear out I might not get winter tires anymore as I have the M37x for light snow days and an Xterra for the nasty days. The G can just stay in the garage.

 

Thanks for your insights. I better get going, because winter is here. Blizzaks seem to be the choice of many. Guess a call to Tire Rack is in order.

 

I have the Avid ENVigors on my car, winter grip seems alright on dry/clear pavement (daily driving, not sporty driving), but any snow/ice causes the tires to have very little to no grip (my traction light comes on constantly). I would not recommend these during winter.

 

I'm also running conti dws and i was running them up in Erie, PA this weekend in some moderately deep snow and they have been great. I'm also in the mid Atlantic.

If i were further up north where we got real deep show regularly I'd get dedicated snows for winter, but the dws are good enough for my needs here without being absolutely horrible in the dry.

 

ashmostro, I live in Rockville. I have used Conti's as well on another car they gripped well in the snow for an A/S tire, a little noisey, but good all around.

 

I'm up in Bedford PA right now about to head back home in a light flurry... hopefully the DWS' hold their own.

Wish me luck!

 

i can tell you i have winter tires on 18s and it is night and day diff. It seriously feels like i have 4 wheel drive..