i have my winter tires on since the past weekend, i bought the continental extreme winter contacts as my winter set and i'm running 225/55R17 all around. i know that i need these type of tires since in the area i live in can be brutal in the winter, but these tires are so bad at driving normally. just yesterday, i was going through a left hand turn at about normal speed of what i would do with the potenza (not pushing it at all) and there was just so much understeer that i was inches away from hitting the curb. also every-time i step on the throttle hard the traction control light comes on. and when i reach of speeds above 140kms the steering wheel vibrates so much more than it used to. non of these situations occurred when i had the potenza on. i really hate this performance decrease

 

Gotta love Florida...

No snow tires+no road salt= enjoying the g year round.



I sympathize with you through. I just came from some balding all seasons. Perhaps try another brand next time?

 

Well that's probably the winter tires, they are not performace of any kind, that's why. I never owned a set before since our winter isn't that bad here.
Did you have different winter tires before and non of that performace decrease happened?
Im guessing it might be just those brand of "winter" tires itself.

 

Get a set of performance winter tires. Blizzak.

Althought you feel the effect of the winter tires on dry road. They are really good in snow but on dry road and wet road not so much. You are losing some performance, comfort,etc Noise level is higher also.

However when it snows those tires are good to have on your car. You installed them early.

 

i just bought the car this summer so i don't know.
but the tires is said to be one of the best in all of winter traction
the performance winter is a lot worst on braking on ice and where i live that is important

 

It sems like the tire you bought not the best for dry and handling.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...=Sport+Package

 

I would fiddle with the pressures a bit, maybe these skins have flexy sidewalls and need a bit more pressure to minimize squirming. Any winter tire is going to be a big performance hit from summers. Just a matter of getting used to them and adjusting your driving habits. If you really hate them, now might be a good time to sell them while people are looking for winter tires.

 

The extremewintercontacts got rated pretty highly is what I am seeing.... I think he just put them on too early.

I just bought these tires and am eagerly awaiting the day I can mount them. Needs to get colder though.

 

Well if that was your goal you will be very happy with the car when it comes time to drive in the snow. BTW Where do you live?

I know when I had my RWD Lexus I had to choose between the great snow driving and the ability to corner over 30 mph..

My first winter in my Lexus I had some T rated snows just like what you have, and when it was wet or just rainy i could get the back end of my car to slide out when i was only doing like 20 mph. It was pretty scary. I got used to it, but I was annoyed by it as here in Colorado it does not snow that much, and in the winter we have many many dry days.

I then switched to a V rated winter tire the Hankook Ice Bears, and they were good in the dry they felt like an all season tire, but when the snow was really bad, they did not exactly perform super great especially when they started to wear. They worked, but they did not have the excelent traction that I hoped for in the deep stuff. I always had a hard time starting with the tires, always letting the back end step out on hills and slight inclines.

Its all a trade off, but yeah i know what you are talking about. You picked a non performance tire a T rated tire, so you basically deleted your dry driving ability especially with how althletic the G35 can be. But just wait until you get in to the really snowy days. You will be pleased with your pick.. It wont be perfect, but you will be able to start and stop way better then if you had a V rated tire.

Just drive a bit slower in the dry...

 

I have had various cars with winter tires on them. The different types of winter tires do make a difference but you need to decide like others have said what is most important to you: Handling or snow traction. None of my winter tires have ever handled liked my summer or all-seasons but I know that and am happy to sacrifice to get better snow/ice traction as we get over 100" of snow a year. You may want to put them on later next year as it is a little early to do so and you will extend the life of the tires and enjoy some more time on your other tires that handle better. I also agree to play with the tire pressure. I usually have mine at 2-3lbs. higher vs. my summer tires due to the softer sidewall.

 

thanks guys for the comments, i know that it is a huge trade off, and i guess i just got so use to the potenza. I'm on the process of adjusting to the tires, but it is very week in the dry/wet. But it's snowing today, and i do have really good traction. So i guess i was just complaining about the dry/wet performance, but theses tires are good with snow and colder weather.

i live in calgary AB, canada and this place has huge weather changes plus my house is on a hill. there will be days where it's snowing and sunny all at the same time. and there is a lot of times when there is black ice on roads. plus this is the first rwd car i have ever owned, and when i was bought it everyone was making fun of me because of the winters we have here. but i thought since all the cop cars are rwd, i would be fine.

when i bought these tires, the main criteria i was concerned with was ice and snow traction and in that sense it's definitely good. i guess i was just a bit shocked at how bad they are when it's dry/wet.

overall, i'm ok with sticking with these tires, maybe i will try the X-ice xi2 for my next set.

also i do have the pressure above the factory setting. the manual suggested 33psi all around. i have my at 36psi.

 

I love my Bridgestones Blizzak LM22's.

 

The X-ice xi2 is a great tire. I run a set of those in the winter on my G. They are awesome in snow and on ice, but are also decent in the dry. All around a great tire. I've also heard great reviews on the Extreme winter contacts, as well as the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70's. But as others have said, I think you put the tires on a little early.

 

ExtremeContact DWS for me, have yet to test in snow but they have adequate traction for all seasons, definately not KDW2's, but adequate. Tire rack had them rated highly for a year round tire, so we will see!

 

well i would say i'm not that early, it is snowing already