Choosing a set of UHP all season tires for winter use

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'm ditching my dedicated mounted snow tires in favor of ultra high performance all season for the 328i both because the roads are typically clear quickly after even heavy snow and I'm driving to MN for Thanksgiving and can't imagine doing so with snow tires. The Yokohama summer tires are useless under 40F.

Never thought choosing tires was difficult until now. I have narrowed it down to 4 choices:

Michelin A/S 3+
Yokohama Advan Sport A/S
Bridgestone RE980AS
Pirelli P Zero Nero AS

Have a set of summer Yokohama Advan Apex V601s on the car now and love them. So much better than Continental Extremecontact Sport that were on the car when I got it. The Conti's really suck.

Anyone have the tires above and like/don't like them for any reason?

The Michelins get the best review overall but have read how loud they are in many reviews.

[jyl]

I put the Michelin A/S on daughter's Element, then we had a week of ice storms and all roads were slick ice that it was tricky to even walk on. Her car with AWD was extremely good on that stuff. Better than the wife's 2WD Prius with Blizzak snow tires. My cars all stayed parked. I didn't find the Michelins noisy but the Element isn't a luxury car either.

[ZOO]

I’d look for a dedicated winter tire that isn’t focussed on snow. Michelin makes an “ice” tire, and I am sure others do to. I’d want something that can handle the cold temperatures and still be grippy.

I’ve never found an all season UHP that did anything well. We don’t get a ton of snow here, either, but true winter tires are still an asset in my experience.

[dan79brooklyn]

The M+S tires on my Benz are very quiet on the highway and ride comfortably. I think an UHP will probably have a stiff sidewall and ride rough. Get two sets of wheels and swap them back and forth. They’ll last twice as long!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks for the replies. Good to know on Michelins, thanks John.

I should have been more specific. I want as close to my summer Advans as I can get, just need a tire that can be driven at 20F more than anything.

Dan, yes, I got a another set of wheels in for the new tires. So now I have a summer tire set, a snow tire set with Blizzacks and want a winter tire set. Snowfall here has been on an off. Some years we get 6 to 9 feet of snow. Last year we got maybe a foot all season. Last thing I want to do is drive on snows for 6 months because of temp alone with no snow. I could swap over to the snows if it looks like we're in for a heavy season though.

I'll see what I can find for M+S on Tirerack. The categories are not immediately obvious on which they would be in.

[Porchdog]

Michelin A/S 3+ are fine on my Mini including light snow. They are good in heavy rain. When things get icy they can be tricky. I'm surprised at how well they do for a "3 Season" tire.

I did buy a dedicated set of wheels with Pirelli Sotto Zeros. These are excellent on Snow/ice with the front wheel drive Mini, up until I run out of clearance and start plowing snow. They are on the soft side for handling but they are better on dry pavement than I expect for a dedicated snow tire. They don't exhibit the squirrely handling or rapid dry pavement wear that I have seen with Blizzaks.

[jwasbury]

I’ve put Michelin AS/3s on a bunch of cars...including Porchdog’s MINI 🙂. I think they are a great tire. Certainly a big compromise for winter use vs. a dedicated snow tire, but I don’t find them noisy in my applications. Currently run them on my 2001 CLK55 and my 2000 SL500. Neither car is used daily, and the SL doesn’t leave the barn when roads are salty.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by ZOO

I’d look for a dedicated winter tire that isn’t focussed on snow. Michelin makes an “ice” tire, and I am sure others do to. I’d want something that can handle the cold temperatures and still be grippy.

I’ve never found an all season UHP that did anything well. We don’t get a ton of snow here, either, but true winter tires are still an asset in my experience.

+1 ^^^ This.

I loved my last set of Conti WinterContacts.

Unfortunately, I bought another set of winter wheels that came shod with still-usable Blizzaks, which seem to be wearing like they're made of iron...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I think I'll go for the Michelins.

[deanp]

I had Nokian WR G4's on a 535 wagon and they worked well in all seasons and conditions.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have the AS3 on my wife’s Flex and my Boxster. Excellent handling from a daily driver perspective and I wouldn’t call them loud by any means. They drastically improved the handling of the Flex that was still on the OEM Hankook touring tires.

[Paul_Heery]

I have the A/S 3+ on my 996. It is a good all-season tire. But, it is definitely not a snow tire. They handle well in the snow but only for a light snowfall. I'd hate to be caught out somewhere when a heavier snow came in quickly.

As others have noted, the tires are not noisy at all.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Great confirmation on the noise, or lack thereof. I only care if they do well in the wet. I can plan around snowfall. Driving to MN and back will be the only time I'll need to worry and will at least be on interstates.

[stealthn]

Minnesota in winter, I’d recommend a snow tire...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'm only going for Thanksgiving Bob, Range Rovers will be made available once I get there.

I'll keep an eye out on weather and hopefully I won't have to use the snows going out and coming back. That would suck.

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I'm only going for Thanksgiving Bob, Range Rovers will be made available once I get there.

In that case, you need a great pair of snow boots, not tires. Also warm coat, blankets, food, camping gear, a propane heater, and all the other necessities to survive when you have to hoof it or camp.

[VFR750]

I’m running General Tire G-max uhp all season.

I ran 170+ Track miles at Watkins glen in June 2019 during a DE.

Two sessions in the rain. Very good braking from >100 mph. A little vague in turn 3 when the car gets light.

Two sessions in the dry. They worked nicely and did not chunk. I clocked them at 6 seconds slower than R888Rs 😁

Tread actually held up well under high loads. They wailed and howled in protest.

They have been nice in these recent cold New England mornings.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I'm only going for Thanksgiving Bob, Range Rovers will be made available once I get there.

I'll keep an eye out on weather and hopefully I won't have to use the snows going out and coming back. That would suck.

Great in the rain, can’t comment on snow.

[greglepore]

Not on your list, but Conti DSW's rock.

[Rusty Heap]

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/g23898710/best-winter-snow-tires/

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=193