Im likely getting new wheels sometime this year, and was curious if anyone here runs summer tires year round? I've only ever had all seasons on my car, and am curious as to what I could be missing out on. I ask about year round, as I'm likely to be too lazy/cheap to run two sets of tires.

 

I've had UHP summer tires year-round the last 3-4 years and am actually doing the opposite of what you're doing. I'm switching to all-seasons

 

This all depends how often you drive your car. If its your daily, you will be driving in the rain. That alone should be enough to make an educated decision.

If its not your daily, Fremont gets cold in the winter but you will be fine as long as you're not driving in the rain.


Hope that helps

 

I've had no problems driving in the rain with max perf summers.

 

Been running Nitto Invos for over 2 years now; no problems here at all, rain or not.

Summer tires are fine in the rain as long as you don't drive like a douche. It snows here in Reno but I have a Jeep when it's needed.

 

Street or freeway? How confident are you that your car will properly perform in an emergency while in the rain?

 

^ Both street and freeway.

If an emergency happens, the last thing on my mind would be what tires I have.

Tires probably wouldn't make much of a difference anyway if I have to swerve so much just to miss something. If I'm gonna swerve through lanes to avoid something, you can give me brand spanking new all weather tires, and it won't save me anyway.

For everything else, summers have worked fine.

And I'm not 100% confident of my tires when driving. But I'm not confident that my engine won't blow with 450hp @ 25PSI of boost either. But I still do it.

 

I've driven summer tires year round for 3 years now. The cheapest value I found are Hankook Ventus V12 at America's tires (Discount Tires). About $740 installed. With a $50 rebate. The tires were supposed rated 20-30K but I've done 50K and it still has plenty of grip and plenty of tread left. I drive about 74 miles daily. I'm about to change it in a few weeks. Most people knock these tires because they're cheap but I've been surprised that they've held up very well in all weather, including heavy rain, I've done 60-75 mph in rain and haven't felt any slip except when I hit a large puddle. Other than that it's been a trusty value.

 

I ran summer tires all of last winter with no issues

 

I feel slip in my beater FWD honda accord with NEARLY new all seasons on puddles too.

So if it slips on it anyway, whats the ****ing point?

 

that's what I mean. Cheap or expensive tires will noticeably slip when it hits a patch of water. These Hankooks are great in rain too even at 60-75mph. So to pay $1200-1400 for highly rated tires that reacts similarly in said situation is unnecessary for the purpose.

 

You can have summer tires in the rain no problem and you will stop, go just fine. I have never owned all season tires I live in the Bay Area come on. I have Falken 452's by the way which are horrible in the rain and I have yet to have a problem on the freeway or street. Remember when it rains you are supposed to slow down and not be a douche.

 

thanks guys, this is really helpful.

No douche driving here, I'm just tired of my all seasons chirping through a tight turn, and feel that I may be missing something more of what the car can return to me with a driving experience due to my tires.

 

Dunno where the $1200-$1400 figure came from, but I'm planning on getting some 245/35/19 Continental ExtremeContact DWS - they're $200 a pop from TireRack and that includes the manufacturer's road hazard warranty. I figure $1000 tops installed, mounted & balanced and they've got great reviews. I know people who drive 'em in east coast winters on sports cars and suvs and everything in between and give 'em great reviews

 

My experience comes from using Nitto 555 on my last 2 camaros. They were great during the summer but my winters had me going up hill sideways. In all fairness, they were both heavily modded motors.

Maybe different from a V8 with higher torque than the V6 VQ engines. Either way, most summer tires say they are not designed to perform in the rain. The tread is not designed to move the water from heavy rains.