Are Snow Tires Supposed To Be Terrible On Wet Roads?

"Tripper" (tripe46)
12/11/2015 at 10:38 • Filed to: None

I think I made a mistake on my choice of winter tires. I went with Yokohama Ice Guard’s, in order to save $300 (over the price of a set of Blizzaks). They are terrible in the rain. It’s kind of fun as slides are crazy easy to control, but I lose grip at incredibly low speeds. Which makes me think, “what if I had to make a quick move in a panic situation?”

I have a set of Blizzaks for the E46, but that has not been my DD in over 3 years, so it rarely gets driven in anything but perfect weather. Still I don’t remember ever having a problem with it in the rain.

Almost every time I go with a cheaper product just to save a few bucks I end up regretting it. I can’t help but think that is what happened here.

So what’s the verdict Oppo? Are snow tires typically bad on wet roads, or did I just buy a shitty set of tires?

DISCUSSION (36)

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 10:44

shitty tires would be my vote. My truck likes to spin my all seasons if it’s wet and a bit cold but I never have that issue with my winter tires on, empty bed or not.

Moves-Like-Senna > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 10:46

What’s the temperature outside? It’s been unseasonably warm up here. I’ve been driving on both cheap and on blizzaks and both have been sliding around. I was drifting a charger last weekend on four blizzaks.

bob and john > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 10:46

depends on the temps too. once it gets past 7+C, winters get SUPER soft fold over really easy.

but I’m willing to bet shit-tier tires.

I know here in canada, as part of the ‘official’ audi snow tire package, we got some marangoni winter tires. the BEST snow tires. period. Our FWD A3 ran circles around our over car with X-ice2s on it and AWD (IS250)

were better then our neighboors car with Blizzaks and another with okians. and they fucking last too, we got 5 seasons out of our first set.

spanfucker retire bitch > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 10:47

How wet? I haven’t noticed my Yokohamas being that bad on wet roads. I certainly haven’t lost any grip yet.

Tripper > bob and john
12/11/2015 at 10:50

Temps have been up and down 30-60F (Philadelphia Burbs). It’s definitely worse on warmer days, but they’re not great when it’s cold either.

I had the option for X-ice’s but they were the same price as the blizzaks. I also got 5 seasons out of the blizzaks on the E46!

I won’t make this mistake again. I will probably only put 3k on the tires, maybe I can get a few hundred for them before next winter and put that toward a good set.

AndyG_UK > bob and john
12/11/2015 at 10:51

I 2nd this, it is unseasonably warm here in the UK at the moment and one of my colleagues at work was the other day telling me that he's had his winter tyres taken off his M135i and his summers put back on as it was such a handful on them with it being too warm and wet!

Tripper > Moves-Like-Senna
12/11/2015 at 10:52

It’s been warm recently (50-60f). It’s better when it’s cold but still pretty bad.

yitznewton > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 10:53

Tire Rack doesn’t seem to object to them terribly... #armchair

Kinja'd!!!

Tripper > spanfucker retire bitch
12/11/2015 at 10:56

Pouring rain or just barely wet roads, there is little difference. They’re really awful. They got decent reviews, but my buddy just sent me a winter tire test and they finished dead last, worst grip and longest stopping distance.

Tripper > yitznewton
12/11/2015 at 10:58

Yea! I did my research they got decent reviews everywhere. However my buddy did just send me a test from this year where they finished dead last.

bob and john > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 10:58

oh yea, the heat is 100% not helping your cause

Tripper > bob and john
12/11/2015 at 10:59

Think more pressure might help while its warm? They’re all around 39psi but they still look a little saggy.

bob and john > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:01

potentially? I’m shocked tht Audi recommends such high pressures. in our A3, its 42 front, 39 rear. check the door card for what it should be

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:02

Got a link to the test? I am winter tire shopping.

spanfucker retire bitch > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:04

That’s weird. They feel mushier than my OEM A/S tires, but it’s 50 degrees out right and that’s not surprising.

I’ve never felt out of control with these tires equipped though. Not last year and not this year. That’s really strange to hear you having these issues.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:25

Bummer.

kanadanmajava1 > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:25

In Europe the tires have a tyre label when they are sold. The label gives rating for wet grip and fuel efficiency plus a noise level value. I guess these aren’t used in the US.

The European version of the Iceguard is rated either with the second worst (snow version AKA “central European winter tire”) or the third worst (snow+mountain version AKA real winter tire) wet grip rating.

So I would guess that the US version (probably nearly identical to the European snow version) would be quite bad too.

Tripper > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
12/11/2015 at 11:26

Yea lemme dig it up, I think it was an FB link.

Tripper > bob and john
12/11/2015 at 11:27

Yea my door card says 44 and 44! I thought that was just for the summers that it came with.

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/11/2015 at 11:27

Yup, but that’s what I get for being cheap!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:35

Speaking of not wanting to spend money, I’m on my “winter” set right now (Conti DWS) and when I took off my summers (PSS) three (!) of them were starting to show cords on the inside shoulders. Going to be a big bill come spring...

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/11/2015 at 11:43

lol yup, what are you running for summers? I went through 3 (rear) sets (Pilot Super Sports) in the 20 months that I owned the E90 haha.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:49

Yeah, hard not to exercise the right foot a little... I have the same for mine. Such a great tire - so confidence inspiring in the wet!

Tripper > spanfucker retire bitch
12/11/2015 at 11:52

Mushy is expected, but these are ice skates more than tires when it’s wet. Tire rack is the only place I can find that gives them a good review, they’re not on anyone else’s top 10 list. C&D ranked em last.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/winte…

Tripper > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
12/11/2015 at 11:53

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/winte…

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/11/2015 at 11:54

Yep, definitely my favorite tires to date.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:55

Kinja'd!!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 11:56

Only reason not to run them (other than price) is if you’re purely using your car for track/autox and only on dry days.

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/11/2015 at 12:05

Yea they are not cheap. Cup 2’s for track/autox duty

Tripper > AndyG_UK
12/11/2015 at 12:09

Yea, if it stays warm through January, I might have to switch them out.

ColoradoTaco > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 12:10

I ran these on my old B5 A4 and zero issues at all. made well over 100 trips to the ski hill on them and they never let me down.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper
12/11/2015 at 12:21

Speaking of not cheap - Cup 2s!

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/11/2015 at 12:55

yea and with something like 1/3 the tread wear of super sports.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Tripper
12/12/2015 at 01:12

Snow tires generally have excellent siping that should work in water well, too. And I had some IceGuards in years past that were awesome.

plak424 > Tripper
12/29/2015 at 13:36

Probably not, but I mostly came here to say sick A3.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tripper
01/04/2016 at 12:40

My General Altimax Arctics are superb in the rain. Anything wet, cold, or remotely not good for summer tires is excellent for these. I cannot break grip very easily at all, even in a downpour whereas the all seasons I had would kick the rear end out even if I drove past a sprinkler on a tight turn. My experience with these snow tires has been nothing but amazing in the rain.