what tire to use in winter if weather here fluctuates between 10 and 60 in winter?

[DavyNM]

I have a set of summer tires(on 19-inch wheels) and a set of winter tires(on 18-inch wheels). The winter tires were purchased when I lived up north where the temperatures were always 40 degrees or colder all winter.(which made summer tires unusable, obviously)

However, I moved to a slightly warmer state. In the last 2 winters, the temperatures fluctuate between 10 and 60 all the time. For example, this past winter, one week it was in the single digits, then the next week it wen up to 62 to almost 70... that continued for almost a week and half... then the temperature went down to the 20s for the next 2 weeks with a couple of inches of snow that turned into a solid sheet of ice due to the constant thawing and refreezing on the road.

The winter tires work fine during the cold weeks, but during the winter weeks that saw temps in the 60s, the winter tires handled badly because they get extremely soft and make stopping distance increase by a lot. Not that I'm surprised, since winter tires are not supposed to be used when it's that warm.(for the opposite reason that summer tires are not supposed to be used below 45 degrees)

I was thinking about putting on all-season tires to replace those winter tires and use them next winter. Do people do this? (having a set of summer tires/wheels and a set of all-season tires/wheels)

[visionaut]

Check out Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4s…

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by DavyNM

then the temperature went down to the 20s for the next 2 weeks with a couple of inches of snow that turned into a solid sheet of ice due to the constant thawing and refreezing on the road.

That's an issue for anything other than studless winter tires (and for so much ice, even better to have studs).

The real question for winter tire choice is snow and ice, not temperature. In my corner of Ohio temps are crazy but snow is not that common, and roads are well ploughed and salted so it's rare that there is snow or ice on major roads after snowfall stopped, and side streets get cleared within a day or two. For me, UHP all-season tires are worth it for good handling and feel in dry conditions and I'm okay with the sacrifice in snow/ice.

I also tried performance winter tires, and found them to be only a little better in snow than UHP all-seasons and worse in dry and warm temps.

Does that snow and ice you describe is left on main roads? Side roads? Unploughed driveways? Do you have the luxury of not driving when it snows (for work, etc.), waiting for the crews to clear the roads?

[freakystyly]

Drive according to the road conditions. Winters stay on end of October to end of April regardless of temperature.

[DavyNM]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

That's an issue for anything other than studless winter tires (and for so much ice, even better to have studs).

The real question for winter tire choice is snow and ice, not temperature. In my corner of Ohio temps are crazy but snow is not that common, and roads are well ploughed and salted so it's rare that there is snow or ice on major roads after snowfall stopped, and side streets get cleared within a day or two. For me, UHP all-season tires are worth it for good handling and feel in dry conditions and I'm okay with the sacrifice in snow/ice.

I also tried performance winter tires, and found them to be only a little better in snow than UHP all-seasons and worse in dry and warm temps.

Does that snow and ice you describe is left on main roads? Side roads? Unploughed driveways? Do you have the luxury of not driving when it snows (for work, etc.), waiting for the crews to clear the roads?

snow and ice not really an issue down here.... basically I just need something to drive on when the temperatures are way too cold for performance summer tires on the 19" wheels. the temps does get frigid frequently, even if there's no hint of snow. the winter tires(Bridgestone Blizzak) on the 18" wheels now are almost worn out, so I need something on those wheels before next winter starts. but I guess that gives me plenty of time to think about it?

thanks!

[Efthreeoh]

I live in central Virginia. I run Michelin AS4 on all my BMWs (which was an E46 cabrio, Z3, Z4, and an E90). The E46 and E90 are no longer in the fleet. When I got the Z4 in December of 2014 it had a fresh set of P-zeros (summer tires). I drove it the entire winter of 2014/2015 and then the following winter of 2015/2016 (I changed to Michie AS3's on December 1st 2015). Our winters here average well under 50 degrees daily, but I drove to and from work in the early mornings and late evenings when it was dark and the tarmac temps were 40 deg. and below. The Summer Pirellis did absolutely fine all that winter, I got about 20,000 miles out of them from December 2014 to December 2015.

I switched to All-seasons to gain tread life. There was no discernable change in grip levels between the summer Pirellis and the Michelin AS3's at very elevated street level speeds. I live in the Blue Ridge of Virginia and drive on fantastic mountain back roads every day.

Just get a set of high-performance All-Season tires, you'll never notice a difference on the street. You'll never out drive them.

[DanG]

I switched to Pirelli P Zero AS 3 tires. No difference in street performance than my Michelin PS4s and I can drive them all year long.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by DavyNM

snow and ice not really an issue down here.... basically I just need something to drive on when the temperatures are way too cold for performance summer tires on the 19" wheels. the temps does get frigid frequently, even if there's no hint of snow.

UHP all season tires, then. You can even use them as the only set (I do) - they are slightly less sharp and have a bit less grip then summer tires, but the difference is pretty small. They are still great to slightly below freezing on dry roads, then start to feel and grip less as the temps fall, but no issues with driving on them down to single digits or lower.

[XutvJet]

Sounds like you live in an area like me where winter temps are usually between 20 and 45 and occasionally a couple of weeks of single digits and then random 50-70 degree days. Plus maybe 10 to 20 inches of total snow with most events being 1 to 3 inches and the snow removed from the streets within 2 to 6 hours. Sound about right?

If yes, I've learned that a good all season is perfect. I had Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4s on my 2016 M235 for three seasons and it was a TOTAL waste in 99% of the road conditions I drove in. Plus, the tires were loud, ill handling, longer braking, and more prone to initial lock up. In the one time we had real snow on the street, they were pretty decent. Once those wore out in an eye-opening 12K miles, I went with Michelin All Season 4s. I also run them on my 2018 M2 that replaced the M235. The tires are fine on snow packed parking lots, slushy streets, 2" or less of wet snow, and in cold and wet temps. They are also pretty dang good in summer temps. Maybe 85% of the grip of summer PS4s.

[pbonsalb]

I have 3 sets of wheels for my 2018 M5 — snows, all seasons and summers. I live in the Northeast where we get snow. I actually left the all seasons on for 3 winters in a row and never bothered changing to the snows. They did fine, but my car is AWD and that helps. The all seasons were Michelin PS AS4, but I had a blowout due to road debris and bought a new set and changed to Continental DWS 06 Plus. Both are highly rated at Tire Rack.

I don’t enjoy snows except in snow. They handle much worse and a lot of the time the roads are clear and the snow tread is unnecessary.

Nothing helps much on ice other than studded snows, though summers are the absolute worst.

[m630]

Im in NY and if you want performance and confidence driving in temps outside of the parameters of summers, go with Blizzaks LM005s.

[JeffinOregon]

As Mr. visionaut states, the Alpin is about the best tire for retaining adequate road capabilities while still qualifying as a snow tire. The next step is IMO the Michelin X-ice. As the name states, it excels in hard packed and icy conditions vs. deeper snow where block-types excel.

The other advantage to the above two models is that they have a tread wear warranty. When temperatures transient to ~60f and above and you drive “true” snow tires anywhere near aggressively, the tire life can be wildly low.