So, what's the scoop with "summer tires"
 

...and Maryland (Mid-Atlantic) winters.

My car came with Michelin PS2s. What ever part of the ride is due to them, I like.

I was informed on another thread that changing the tires in the winter is "a must."

I guess because, just as normal course, I've always had some form of all-season tire, the idea is kind of foreign sounding to me...I must? It also sounds like a potentially expensive proposition.

This is my every-day car, but I do not have to drive it in winter weather events. I have 4WD pickups or in a pinch, my wife's fwd.

So, what do others with summer tires do in these relatively mild winters? I imagine asking that on a car enthusiast site, a lot have two sets of wheels.

if you have a second car... then you shouldn't have to worry about it. there's no need for you to buy summer tires and winter tires... unless your looking to get rims for your car... at that point you still would want to wear out your all seasons before you swap them out for winter tires on your stockies... driving on winter tires all year is going to burn through the tread quick and is not recommended

i have aftermarket rims on summer tires and my stock rims has winter tires on it.

winter tires aren't cheap either... i wanna say about 800 bucks for them around. 800 bucks is alot better than wiping out in the snow and a 500 dollar deductible.

my car is pretty much my only car so winter tires for me is a must. even with the winter traction control on my car is horrible in the snow... anyone with a rear wheel drive car definitely needs winter tires in winter... you'll go no where without it... front wheel drive cars is different... at least you could still move forward with front wheel drive in snow

luckily we barely got any snow last year but this year might not be the same...

being that your in MD you could relax... you guys don't get snow... lol...if someone sneezed powder on the floor you guys scream like you've seen godzilla or something. ;)

we're not as bad as NY but i'll take a picture for you this winter and show you why it's needed :)

Hey, hey, hey now...there's no call for that kind of abuse! :D

Yeah, MD roadways in a snow event are like an escaped mental patient bumper car rally.

My company has Ford Ranger 4WDs and snow means techs can't work, so I take a truck.

The winters are mild overall, but we do get included in some of those Nor'easters.

My deck 2006 (24")

http://www.rccvideo.com/2feet.jpg

i use a/s tires down here they are good enough for me. if the snow is more than what they can handle of course i'm not going anywhere, but that is rare. i definatly wont use my summer tires out in the winter. For one i don't want salt to abuse my wheels. two summer tires don't have the tread compound made for the freezing temperatures. not to mention if it even lightly snows and you manage to get going somehow you will be on a rollercoaster ride that jumped off the tracks.

I rock summer tires on my 18's and winter tires on my stock 17's.

I hate winter tires with a passion because they look ugly, and perform horribly on anything but snow. But once that first snow storm hits and your out in the middle of it, your thankful:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...17-08_1118.jpg

surprise storm when I was in class... I've been in a similar situation with summer tires, and lets just say it will be the scariest time of your life. Since you have a 2nd car... I wouldn't worry about snow tires TO much since you could just take the other car to work if theres a chance, but I did want to say that winter tires are worth the money! :)

-Wes

Summer tires are softer and provide optimum traction in warm to hot weather. When the temperature drops to like 30 - 40 degrees, the tires no longer grip and especially if you have a RWD car, the rear is easier to slide out. I have used summer tires in the winter once, even with a blanket of snow, your car will slide going 30-40 mph.

I agree with Sleeper. Look at it this way. Compare the best pair of sneakers you had to say the K-mart specials. You will be sliding around in the specials alot more then the good ones. Summer tires become the specials in cold weather without snow. Do you want to be sliding around at 60MPH?

Making the switch
 

I used to run a mismatched set of all seasons on my '01 GS430.

I am ABOUT to switch over to a dedicated set of summer tires:

Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST Runflats 275/35/18 R and 245/40/18 F

I am going to put Bridgestone Blizzaks on my stock 16" rims and they will go on the car at the first frost. (BTW 225/55/16 Blizzaks are on sale at Tire Rack for $60 each)