I'm considering gettting a set of winter tires for my g35x for added safety. Is this a waste of money? I reside in NJ and currently have the Bridgestone Turranza all season tires. Is this sufficient for the AWD?

 

You can get by quite well without, it all depends on your areas conditions and your own personal preferrences.

I know one 05 X owner who gets lots of snow and he said he didn't need the snows(he didn't even try them) he was happy with the stock Turanzas.

I live in an area where I get lots of snow and our roads are closed quite often, so I felt why not, with snows on it would be a beast. The advantages of switching to winter rims and tires for me are:
1/with AWD your braking on snow and ice is no better, so it is much improved with good winter tires.
2/Your tires last much longer since you are using 2 sets, so you only have to buy the snows once.
3/I mount my snows on a cheaper set of 16" alloys so the salt doesn't damage your good wheels.
4/The obvious thing is your traction is vastly improved.
Wayne

 

Cruisin75,
Where the hell in NJ are you? Up in Northern NJ? I'm in Berkeley Hts and don't feel the need for snows. I have the stock Good Years. I'm good with them through hill and snow until they wear out.

X

 

I'm in hilly Vermont and felt snow tires were necessary on my X. I put Blizzak WS-50's on and get great traction! All depends on your weather conditions. We have snow covered and ice covered roads constantly, along with steep grades.

 

I agree with vtc with the Blizzaks. The only way it could get better is if Nokia had the correct size winters for my G.
Wayne

 

If you go with the Hakkapeliitta 2 in a 16", they already have the 225/60R16 that will work well on our Gs. If you want a slightly narrower profile, early in 2005, they're coming out with a 215/60R16. The Blizzaks are a little better on ice, and the Haks better in deeper snow from what I've heard.

 

Thanks Gord thats good news about the 215s, they will be my next purchase when the Blizzaks wear out. I wanted to get something in identical od as my stockers. I sold my hakkas off my Max cause they were a bit smaller diameter.
In reality though I am happy with the Blizzak performance except for the stories I hear that they lose ice capabilities when worn 50 %.
Wayne

 

Chances are you will be able to make it up all but the steepest hills in at least a couple of inches of snow. But your braking and control will be so comprimised that getting snow tires is really the only safe thing to do, unless you plan on parking the G every time it snows and waiting for the roads to be cleared.

I remember Christmas day a couple of years ago, when all those "I don't need snow tires" folks were stuck on the hill on Interstate 87 near Yonkers. There was about 6" of snow, and hundreds of people were stuck, (as everyone was out visiting relatives for the hoiliday). The ONLY people making it through were those with snow tires or chains. Cars, SUV's and other 4WD's without snow tires could not pass that one hill; which was not even that steep....just pretty long. Some were sliding off the road, some were sliding into each other, and the rest were just spinning in place. There were accidents every 50 ft on that hill. I had an SUV with 4 snow tires, and had absolutely no problems, other than my terrified wife.