I didn't get any of the tires I was considering

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
12/03/2016 at 17:48 • Filed to: Tires

I got a set of Michelin X-Ice that had been used for one season for $350. One of the mechanics I know had them in storage for a customer who bought them last year, but got a new car this year and they don’t fit it.

These would’ve been something like $850 for a new set, so I’m pretty pleased. The car drives really well on them too, and they have good grip in the rain. I’ve yet to try them in ice or snow. The ride is softer too, the old all-seasons that were on before clearly needed replaced a while ago, all hard and cracking.

This means I need to buy summers in the spring, but having winters should be nice if I feel like going anywhere that’s more likely to have snow. It’s supposedly going to snow here tomorrow, but I’m not sure if I believe that.

DISCUSSION (13)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > gmctavish needs more space
12/03/2016 at 17:54

If there’s cold white stuff on the ground, then it probably snowed.

Monkey B > gmctavish needs more space
12/03/2016 at 18:04

I have the same tires on my Outback, previous owner lived in Vermont and rode them all year. If I drove it regularly I wouldn’t do the same, but only drive it a few times a week and never far. Other than having a little less traction in the rain they are fine. I’ll be curious to see how they perform in the white stuff, you’ll see that before me so I’ll look for your thoughts. My only winter tire experience is with Dunlop Winter Sports.

DasWauto > gmctavish needs more space
12/03/2016 at 18:05

I have a set of these on my Golf and I like them a lot. So much so that I already have a set for the WRX I have on order. It should arrive next week.

Good dry/wet/snow/ice traction, negligible effect on fuel economy/road noise. Excellent all around winter tire.

gmctavish needs more space > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
12/03/2016 at 18:08

It hasn’t snowed yet, and hardly ever does here. That’s why I’m doubtful that it will snow tomorrow

gmctavish needs more space > Monkey B
12/03/2016 at 18:18

Wow, all year? Weird, these will definitely be winter only for me. I shall update after I’ve run them in snow and/or ice

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > gmctavish needs more space
12/03/2016 at 18:23

I can tell you from experience with my mom’s 3.6r that they are great in the wet and cold and ice but not so great in the snow. They just don’t grip as well when there’s snow on the ground as something like a blizzak.

gmctavish needs more space > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
12/03/2016 at 18:47

That works for me, it snows here approximately once every 4 years. If I go anywhere with snow I’m sure they’ll still be better than the all-terrains on my Blazer were

Danger > gmctavish needs more space
12/03/2016 at 19:33

I live in CO at 7,000 ft and use the truck version on my 4Runner. Due to relatively close spacing of the lugs, they wouldn’t be my first choice for deep snow, but that’s not what they’re made for. I love them on ice/slush covered roads. Really great compared to AT tires for real world winter driving. They do OK when the snow piles up, but really shine on icy pavement.

gmctavish needs more space > Danger
12/03/2016 at 19:34

That’s very good to hear, we always get ice and slush here, basically never actual snow

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > gmctavish needs more space
12/03/2016 at 20:17

I love snow tires of all varieties. It was hilarious leaving the ski mountain today in Vermont. You would think people at a serious ski mountain would all know the value of snow tires. But there were quite a few cars struggling to get up small hills on the road out to the highway and even more cars lodged in the ditch. Thankfully we were staying only 5 minutes away so the 30 minutes it took due to these asshats wasn’t so bad. We had smooth sailing when moving due to snow tires and driving cautiously.

gmctavish needs more space > Monkey B
12/05/2016 at 16:05

Alright it actually snowed today, and they seem to do okay. Slush they’re handling like it’s nothing, but on snow they clearly have less traction. Still perfectly comfortable with them, but they’re definitely not as good as my dad’s Nokian Hakkapeliittas. I was only on snow on low speed residential streets, the main roads were all salted and slushy.

Monkey B > gmctavish needs more space
12/05/2016 at 16:12

from what I understand the Nokian’s are in a class among themselves.

gmctavish needs more space > Monkey B
12/05/2016 at 16:16

When I can afford to casually drop $1000 on tires, that’s what I’ll be getting