What is everyone doing for winter tires? Last year was the first with the LS. It has the stock Dunlops and didn't handle snow very well. I bought a second set of rims, now need some good tires that are good in snow and still provide a quality ride.

 

I run Nokian WR's on my 03's winter rims. Made a BIG difference.

Frank

 

I'll be running my Dunlop Winter Sport M3s on dedicated rims from Tire Rack for their last season. I've been very pleased with a combination of city and highway use in several heavy snowfall situations here in Illinois.

Will most likely have to buy another set due to wear for next year.

 

One advantage to the Nokians, is that they last. This will be my 4th winter on them and they still have a lot of miles left in them.

If you drive mostly in a city, you probably don't need an "ULTIMATE" snow tire. Here in Mpls/StPaul there probably aren't 10 days a winter when we actually need all the traction the Nokians provide, the rest of the time it's just wet, or dry pavement. But for those 10 days the Nokians really take the pucker factor out of the LS on snow, and cost less than my insurance deductable.

The Nokian WR's can actually be driven all year long if you so desire.

 

glad to hear that b/c I just bought a set of M3 DSST for my GS

 

I bought the Dunlop Sport M3s and couldn't be happier. Good traction in the snow, and quiet on the highway. Again, based on the Tirerack.com recommendation.

 

Frank T -- Looks like I may need to look at those Nokian's as I am being considered for a role up in the upper Midwest - even further North than the Twin Cities. Why'd you go with the WR's versus the full winter tires like the HAKKAPELIITTA 2 or RSi?

Not sure the Dunlops I have will last a full winter given the longer time period being really up North!

 

I went with the WR's because usually one or two days after a snow the roads here in the Twin Cities are cleared and just wet. I'd say that 95% of our winter driving around town is on clear roads, so the WR's work just great, are fairly quiet and wear extremely well (my WR's have 24,207 miles on them and still probably have about 50% tread remaining).

If I were in a rural area where the roads didn't get taken care of quite as good then I might look harder at the HAKK's.

FWIW The WR's I run are 215/65R16's.

Frank

 

I really want to keep the soft ride and quiet with snow tires. I'm looking at Michelin Alpin or Dunlop Wintersport M3. Probably be buying in the next couple weeks.

 

I don't notice any difference in the ride quality between my Nokians and the OEM's. They do have a slight noise penalty, but I think any winter tire will.

Frank

 

I agree on the noise increase with my Dunlop M3s. Not terrible but you can certainly tell the difference.

The area that I'm considering is certainly much more rural than the Cities. So I will take a look at both versions. When do you typically mount your winter set? I've been putting mine on here in NW IL just before or after Thanksgiving since we have done some trips over to visit family in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids in MI and seem to always hit a good strong snow storm going around Lake Michigan on I-94. Last time we made the trip we hit 11" of snow and were traveling during the middle of the storm. The only vehicle I remember passing me on the roads was an Audi Allroad with snow tires on it, I know cause we met up at a gas station and I looked.

 

Actually, I run Pilot Sport A/S when I don't have the M3s on, and I actually find my M3s quieter that the Pilots.

 

I have run Pilot Alpin for three years. Last long, ride great, very quiet!!

 

We got our first snow here this morning, and I told the LS out just to see how it would be with snow tires. Other than a few slippery spots (that the traction control handled just fine), it felt solid, stable, and great for a big RWD car. I am running Dunlop Winter Sport M3s, and I do definitely recommend them!

 

I usually put mine on between the 1st and 15th of November and off the end of April.

Frank