n0uk said:
how much of a difference in traction and/or performance is there really between dedicated Winter tyres and high-performance (or ultra HP) all season's?
Now, I do live in Minneapolis, so I will be dealing with extended driving in real winter conditions. However, I'm not exactly a newbie to winter as I've been here for 18 years now.
Currently, Alice has the OEM 16" run-flats. I am kind of vascillating between getting a dedicated set of Winter wheels/tyres, or replacing the RFs with all season tyres.
Thanks in advance for your sharings...
Chris
If you've got the stock all-season tires (or any all-eason tire), experience in driving in snow, and the sensability to know when to get off the road, you'll be okay. I lived in Rochester, MN for 3 years, and don't recall there being that many "stay off the roads" days (unlike Vermont).
If you have the stock "performance" tires, which are available with the Cooper's sports package,
do not attempt to use them in the snow. Since you're going to need to get another set of tires in that case, I'd recommend getting a second set of 15" wheels, either cheap alloys or cheaper steel wheels, and put dedicated snow tires on them, and keep the stock wheels, replacing those tires when necessary with more hihg-performance tires. That's what I do.
It may pay to get familiar with the sidewall markings on tires...
An all-season tires will have some combination of "M" and "S" on the sidewall somewhere, for mud and snow. A dedicated snow tires will have a snowflake in a mountain. If you've got neither of those, don't try to rely on the tires as having any safety on snow.
look here:
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/severe.html