IAA-C63

It's starting to get cold around here, so it's time to put some all-season or winter tires on the C63. Any recommendations?

Even Money

Vredestein wintrac

shchow

Depends how much snow you get on average...

IAA-C63

Not that much snow, but my understanding is that summer tires lose grip below about 40 F, to the extent of becoming unsafe. So I'd probably be OK with all-season tires, but would consider dedicated winter tires also.

venchka

Some real world enviornmental data would be helpful. Like your general location. Then you might get real world advice from folks who "have been there & done that."

Wayne

gthal

+1

All season tires are no season tires. If you get a "real" winter, then go winter tires. If you get just cold weather and not a lot of ice and snow, then maybe all seasons would be "OK".

IAA-C63

I'm in Maryland (mid-Atlantic, east coast). Thanks for the suggestion.

shchow

If you're going to keep the summer tires, I would get dedicated winter tires.
Agree with gthal, all season tires excel at nothing.
I have a separate set on dedicated rims. Would not recommend switching the tires out on the same rims, probably too much trauma to the tires each time.
You will get better cold traction with winter tires...

IAA-C63

My rear tires just came due for replacement, so I need at least two new tires anyway.

Some others have cautioned me about trauma to the tires when switching them on the same rims, though apparently others have done it repeatedly without problems. So I'm on the fence about this, and not excited about the expense of getting another set of rims (and actually, I need to decide this for three cars).

shchow

Or you can consider using one car as the winter driver, so you wouldn't need to get winter tires for all 3 cars...

gthal

If you are only replacing the rears, I would REALLY NOT replace them with anything that is of a different performance category from the fronts. That is, if the fronts are summer performance, do NOT put all seasons on the rear. That would really upset the stability, predictability and balance of the car. I'm of the opinion that I wouldn't even use a different brand of tire on the front and rear.

AMGC60-3

What I have read and have heard is that summer tires start losing grip at under 45 F or about 7 Celcius.

drawde

Tires have grip ?? Coulda fooled me!

lol jk

IAA-C63

I definitely agree with this.

-=Hot|Ice=-

So Am I. I will suggest you get winter tires. We've been getting dumped on the past few years.

Doenermann

Michelin Alpin PA 3!

I picked up my 09 C63 in October and just got Michelin Pilot Alpin PA 3's on 18x8.5" wheels put on. Size is 235 40 18 all around.

It is an amazing Winter tire. No, it cannot handle all the tourque from take-off, but handling and braking is very good on dry and wet payment. We've only had very little snow in Michigan but so far so good!

Just switched from Blizzak LM 60s to these on a 335i as well and the difference is night and day!

IAA-C63

Since (a) I need to replace the rear tires anyway and (b) our Porsches are the cars I'm more inclined to drive hard, I'm leaning towards getting four new all-seasons. Any recommendations on a specific tire? Here's the best option that comes up on Tire Rack (Yokohama Avid ENVigor):

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....G&autoModClar=

gthal

I had these last winter on my M3... wait until you get real snow, slush and ice and then report back... I suspect your opinion may change

I loved the PA3 in dry weather or VERY light snow. Anything worse and they are like driving on glorified all seasons. I went with LM-60s this year because the trade off in bad weather and the risk I felt I was taking with the car wasn't worth the amazing dry pavement performance. I found the PA3s to be downright useless in deep snow and especially when it was icy and slushy. Best winter tire I have owned in the dry... worse winter tire I have owned in very bad weather. It performs like an all season in the dry which is why it performs like an allseason in the bad weather.

shchow

I ran the Blizzaks LM60s last winter in the Caddy with no issues. I thought the dry handling was acceptable and it handled the torque pretty well....

jvanbrecht

I live in MD as well (near Annapolis). All seasons will be fine. While we have been dumped on pretty badly the last 2 or 3 years, they roads get cleared pretty quickly, if not, the area shuts down anyways and you will not need to drive.

Winter tires work great in areas where there is consistent snow and crap on the roads, and they do not get cleared often. Winter tires wear heavily on roads not currently covered in snow and such, and handle just as well as all season do on the road surfaces we have to deal with.

jvanbrecht

Oh, and I would recommend the Conti Extreme DWS tires, however the fronts are no longer XL rated, (well the tires under 265 are no longer XL rated, or the batch I bought was not, either way, the result is the same).

Doenermann

DWS is a great tire in most conditions, not so great in snow and terrible on slush or ice. I had them on the 335i rwd and they worked fine in the cold, but I went to dedicated winter / summer tires after the first snow hit which then froze over. Never drove it in the summer, but now have PS2s for that.

Glad we're sharing opinions, the LM 60s were not bad by any means and good on snow / ice, but our roads get cleared up quickly too so the michelins should work well around here 99% of the time, or so I hope

gthal

In this circumstance, the PA3 will likely be a great fit. I had an issue a couple of times getting "stranded" at work when a snow storm hit in the middle of the day and I really didn't like it . Also, got stranded once at the airport... but you are right, if you can avoid being out in really bad weather and the roads get cleared quickly then the PA3 is a very good tire.

hullc26

Would I even need to consider winter tires if I live in Dallas, Texas? Or should i go with all season tires since it can get below 40 degrees here?

jvanbrecht

For Texas.. I would recommend summer tires, while it can get to low temps, once you get moving, after being careful initially, the tires will warm up and you would be fine for the most part.