WHOA THERE!!! You honestly think that snows don't help with stopping? Sorry, but I REALLY have to disagree with you emphatically on that one. Having driven on snows and all seasons in Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec I know that it is FACT that snows help dramatically in reducing stopping distances. Have you ever driven a 240SX with the OEM all seasons and then swapped to snows in a snow belt area? Snows probably cut the distance by at least 25%, maybe more.

Check out the link:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/saf...intertires.htm

Tire Rack may be profit oriented but the OEM tires on the Sport G just don't cut it. Do yourself and everyone else a favour and spend the $800 for saftety's sake; you just might save the G one day when it stops quicker as you see the rear end of that transport trailer looming in your windshield.

 

really, no offence, if you do not live in a really snowy area, keep comments to yourself, you are just putting your 2cents out there and confusing people who are looking for some solid info. I am just concerned people will be mislead by your baseless comments. Thanks

 

With all my respect I have to disagree with you. Winter tires helps with traction and traction needed when you are braking. So in that case helps when you brake. Believe us we experience this here in Canada or norther states a lot. I have 4 months crapy weather here a year.

Also you are right about wet traction and dry traction on those tires. But summer and winter tires are made from different compounds to handle the temperature differences. Summer tire in cold temperature can be dangerous even with dry road. Due to the temperature. If you mix it with snow you are risking your life and others on the road.

Please everybody get the tire what suits the weather condition the area you drive!

Here if you are in an accident with your car and they see you have a summer tire at winter time you can get charged.

I did not mean to bash. These are the facts. Please don't take it in the wrong way.

TG

 

What makes you think we don't get snow here? I have been driving in snow since I learned to drive! Fine, I'll stay away...................

 

Don't worry, it's not really bashing. I actually worry more about the other drivers on the road in snow than I do myself anyway. We don't get the amount of snow you guys do, well, usually anyway, so many drivers have no clue how to drive in it here, doesn't matter what tires they run!

 

I hear ya. I check my mirror every time I have to hi the brake a bit harder. Some people just following you too close. They don't realize how stupid that is. Also I a not worry about the snow. The ice and the freezing rain is the killer one.

TG

Thanks you did not take it personally.

 

ABQ_G35's initial comments have a point to them. Most tire manufacturer's don't point out that summer performance tires are "Summer" tires. Many of them just refer to them as performance tires. There are alot of people out there who don't have a clue what tire tread patterns should look like, don't want to research what tire compounds are used, thus it can be somewhat confusing to the average buyer.

Now, the points further down the road (that snow tires don't make a difference in stopping, and that tirerack is in the business of selling tires implying that for this reason they overstate the useless of performance summer tires in the snow) those are really really far off the mark, but other people have countered those comments already.

However, the initial point still stands, and is a good one, it's not entirely obvious to alot of people that summer tires aren't safe in the snow. I had a co-worker who's really intelligent buy an S4 with summer tires. It didn't occur to him that the summer tires are going to suck in the snow, even with AWD and no one at the dealership told him when he bought the car.

 

That has got to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read.

 

Cut him some slack. I took him to say that when you lose control, no tire is going to help you, you just slide till you stop. A winter tire is going to help for as long as you maintain control and traction.

Even four wheel drive won't help you in a skid.

 

Ok, so we have some real misinformation being spread here.

Just to confirm:

1. Summer tires are not supposed to be used in snow, ice and cold temperatures (generally below 45 degrees)

2. Winter tires (any any tires for that matter greatly affect traction (i.e. acceleration) AND stopping. Winter tires will help stop the vehicle faster, but nothing will prevent a skid/slide on ice, etc.

 

...Ahhhhhh, but there we are wrong. Sorry but if you throw some chains on your wheels or maybe some studs on the tires you can in fact reduce your chances of sliding on ice and allow for some actual traction. Granted, it's a pain in the a#@, and quite noisy but if you live in the Arctic Circle (North or South) then you will benefit greatly. Of course, I doubt you'll find a G in either location (maybe Greenland?), but these techniques should work.

I don't speak from experience, simply from reading a few too many car and skiing magazines. AND, I think we may be getting to the point where the horse is dead (or close to) and so we should stop flogging.

In any case, you have two good points and a simple synopsis of facts regarding tires.

 

No need to get nasty about it!

 

+1, I agree, that was uncalled for

 

^ +2. There is no need to be nasty at all. Time for everyone to just


Speaking of winter though, we got a major nor easter heading our way later today that is supposed to dump a foot of snow followed by ice pellets and rain. Yuck!

 

because I got the all season tires the storm headed to DC area this weekend turned to rain