Inclement weather tires

[Tsunamiboy]

I plan to do some winter driving with my 79 SC. After my 61st birthday I have vowed to drive the wheels of my porsche and not let it sit in the garage all winter.

Any recommendations in a 16" winter tire? I plan to cross the cascade range a few times so probably snow and ice in my future.

[onlycafe]

i ran blizzaks on mine for two winters.
terrific in snow and slop.
hated them in dry weather though.
ran 205 and 225. you could even go down a size.

if money is plentiful you could get nokias.

[LWJ]

Hey Tsunami,

I drive my SC daily in Portland (including that freak snow storm last year) and am now a pretty big fan of Continental (not sure I forgot) DWS. This is a high perf all season tire. It has a very high UTOQ rating so you get good wear and less ultimate grip. I "enjoy" my tires and have had really no complaints after about 10k miles or so. They were also pretty cheap. These compare much better than a previous set of all season Michelins for grip and wear.

When I got them, the tire guys I use (A-n-T, who are rabid rally folks and VERY highly recommended) said the tread pattern looked just like a rally pattern. The tire guy knew all about these and said he was really wanting set.

I got them as I wanted consistent traction across dry, wet, and frost. I was really not looking for the summer tires as the traction drops off very fast at temps under 45 F.

You might find JYL on this board and ask him what he thinks about these. He bought a set just after me and is also in Portland.
Good luck.

Larry

[dar636]

I am running Michelin Pilot Sports and drive in Seattle daily. I don't plan to intentionally go out in the snow but I have had no problems in rain or frost, though truthfully I have nothing to compare with as they came on the car.

The same tires are on my wifes 325xi (AWD) and we do take it skiing often where the traction is amazing. Much better than the prior Pirelli's were.

I will probably be shopping for the 911 sometime this winter so will watch this thread...

[RWebb]

you want 2 sets of tires most likely

besides Blizzaks, check out the Nokias for your trans-Cascades runs

summer tires do well in rain these days, so you will be fine there

I'd at least see what the Les Schwab in Tillamook will do for you, before going to mail order.

[spuggy]

I love my Conti WinterContacts, which are non-studded winter tires with a mountain & snowflake symbol - e.g. no chains required. They drive just great in warm or dry weather too, if you're not convinced the weather has broken yet Probably not a great idea for wear to leave it too long to switch them out in Spring.

Summer tires do very well in rain when new, but age/harden - after 3 seasons I was delighted to have worn out my last set and throw them away - they had little grip in the wet by then, and no way I was going to drive them when it got cold... Current set of Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs seem as good in rain as the Contis.

I just buy tires from TireRack and get them drop-shipped to the local preferred alignment shop (Tru-Line) to fit.

[Flat Six]

Might also consider Yokohama AVID W4s. Available in 205/55-16 and 225/50-16, which I'd assume are the 16" sizes you're looking for.

I had a set of the previous version (H4s/V4s) on a mid-80s BMW (325is -- front-heavy RWD) and drove both Snoqualmie Pass (I-90) and Hwy 2 through Leavenworth across the Cascades several times in mid-winter (rain, falling snow, and packed snow/ice -- all in a 20-mile stretch). Loved the tires; they worked so well in a variety of winter conditions that when it came time to replace tires on my 07 Audi Quattro I went straight back to the Yokohamas (current W4s) and have been delighted ever since.

One of the most important reasons I like these tires for bad weather driving in a 2WD car is that they give you plenty of warning before they lose traction -- it's very progressive and easy to feel, thus control.

Here's a link to some additional information:

Yokohama Tires

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Dale

[5String43]

I've got the Yokohama Avid ENVs on my car precisely because of my experience with this tire's immediate predecessor on my '69 in the rain. We don't get a lot of rain here in SoCal, but when we do, it can pour buckets. While they don't have the highest of speed ratings, they slosh right through deep water without aquaplaning. Works for me.

[Bob Kontak]

I have 16" Michelin Pilot Sport all-season. Took it on a two hour trip to test them in one of the bigger winter storms in NE Ohio this year. On the highway, in snow, at speed, it is a tank. On the side streets that had heavier wet snow on them it was all over the place. Could have been my driving habits not making any real changes for the snow but I was happy to get home.

I think something geared towards winter is a better choice.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Tsunamiboy

I plan to do some winter driving with my 79 SC. After my 61st birthday.

Aren't you old enought to be "Tsunamiman" by now????

Blizzaks, hands down.

Had them on my 911 and my Audi Urquattro - Turbo quattro coupe (incredible on that car).