My tires are killing my Beetle experience

"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
02/14/2018 at 15:12 • Filed to: None

This is my first Minnesota winter in a while. And while I have enjoyed sledding with my daughter:

My 3 year old stomping up the hill for another time in -5 degree weather

cross country skiing(check out these driving shoes):

I would never actually drive in these things

and being back in my home state in general. What I have not enjoyed is the two part onslaught of disappointment of putting my 911 away for the winter because it seemed to be the smart responsible thing to do because it is shod in summer performance tires, all while I’ve been sliding(not in a fun way) around town on the worst tires I’ve probably ever had in the winter on my “responsible” front wheel drive, turbo beetle.

When I bought my beetle I noted that at the least the tires were name brand, and were more or less brand new. The Eagle LS2 name didn’t ring any bells but how bad could they be? I had some initial problems keeping traction down in certain conditions in the first couple of fall months. I figured I was just being generous with the gas pedal and didn’t think about it too much. But then the snow hit and I still wasn’t set on blaming the tires. I am quickly realizing that its not that I forgot how slippery snowy road conditions can be that is the issue, but instead that my tires are just that bad in the snow.

And its been both unfortunate and frustrating.

It is unfortunate, because the Beetle is a fun little car when I can get on it. The transmission is smooth, the engine is quick, and the cabin is a decent place to be. I can tote around a weekend’s worth of gear with my three year old behind me and my wife next to me. I still can’t deliver anything resembling decent gas mileage and I think even with good tires, a set of sportier shocks/springs wouldn’t hurt.

Maybe you are saying, “they probably aren’t that bad.” I don’t know if you mean in general or in the snow, but trust me, they are that bad. I recently googled them and located this on TireRack:

And not surprisingly, lots of Eagle LS2 tires appear for sale on the local craigslist with not much use.

It’s frustrating because now I’ve been debating in my head if I should replace the tires on the beetle, maybe just the fronts. Or if I’m going to spring for tires, why not get something more all season for the 911. But both debates have been completely hushed by saving up for our house with closing in one month. And by the time that passes it will be spring.

DISCUSSION (22)

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 15:32

I can relate on the house buying and selling thing being expensive. My plan was to do the first road race weekend in May of this year up in Colorado, but we’ll see if that actually happens.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 15:39

Minnesota in the winter on all-seasons, and apparently crappy ones at that, that’s your problem. Get a 2nd set of wheels with some winter tires (General Altimax Arctic 12s work great and are hard to beat for the value). And replace all 4 tires, not just the front two.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 15:40

By front wheel drive turbo beetle you mean you’re just driving the 911 backwards, right?

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 15:43

Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires changed my whole car in rain and light snow. Given, mine was a Scion tC, but what a change.

Chariotoflove > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 15:44

Chains.

Just kidding. You should be able to get cheap used winter tires at tire shops around that will get you through. Of course, you’re at the mercy of available inventory there, but worth a look.

wafflesnfalafel > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 15:56

Interesting - many of the reviewed that popped up show them as a low end light truck tire. I wonder if they aren’t really supposed to be on a Beetle which makes them even worse?

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
02/14/2018 at 16:34

I’ve had really good “all season” tires in the snow. Heck I’ve driven my whole life without dedicated winter tires and never had much complaints. These tires are the worst I’ve ever had. I’d actually rather try to stick with good all seasons.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > wafflesnfalafel
02/14/2018 at 16:35

Very possible. The beetle has pretty big tires to I think mask it’s belt line and size I think. So it could be that this is just what the dealer had in stock.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 16:37

I’ve driven a 4Runner with really good all-seasons and an FR-S with dedicated winter tires. There’s no doubt the FR-S was a better winter car, which by no means should it have been. Try winter tires. You won’t go back.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/14/2018 at 16:38

Genius. I’ve actually only heard good things about 911s in the winter which again is part of the reason I find the whole thing so dumb. Although, there is no way my skis would fit in a 911 but I’m still considering putting a rack on the hardtop(drilled and installed not the one rack).

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/14/2018 at 16:40

It’s a little frustrating because I feel like purchasing things has been on hold for 2 months now but honestly; I’m buying a house so fun purchases are put on hold almost indefinitely. Ha.

deekster_caddy > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 16:47

I can’t recommend strongly enough to go for two sets of tires. “Fun tires” for the non-snowy season and full on snow tires to rock the winters. It’s just so pleasant driving with snows on. I’m from New England and yes I know you can get through winter with all-seasons, but why fight your way through winter when you can cruise instead?

Side note - I thought the first pic was your tire tracks coming down the hill until I scrolled down further and saw the kid walking up and realized it was a sled track. I was thinking “Damn you shouldn’t be running racing rain-slicks in a Minnesota winter no wonder you are complaining!”

deekster_caddy > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 16:48

Also - “Would buy again: 3.3 out of 10" hahahaha

deekster_caddy > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 17:04

I’ve been driving for 30 years and did my time on all-seasons, and even mostly-bald ones from time to time. I’ve never had many complaints either, it can be done. But spend a few winters on dedicated snow tires and you’ll inevitably end up at “why didn’t I start doing this sooner. Really, why?” The difference is real. I get it, you don’t “need” them. But you do... ;)

deekster_caddy > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 17:05

Just put it in reverse all the time and you can pretend you are driving the 911!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > deekster_caddy
02/14/2018 at 17:31

Yeah, that’s a really bad rating.

wafflesnfalafel > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 17:35

time for some nice Contis or Michelins!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 17:51

Just wait until you actually the move in. Even in a house that isn’t a fixer upper, it sparks a whole new round of spending money. You want a room a different color, what were the previous owners thinking with those curtains, furniture doesn’t quiet work like you want it to in a space, why is there not a towel rack where there should be, the list goes on...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 18:10

Do it!

shop-teacher > wafflesnfalafel
02/14/2018 at 20:40

They make them in big sizes for SUVs. I had them on my ‘12 Malibu as the factory tire. They were hot garbage.

shop-teacher > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
02/14/2018 at 20:46

Oh man, there’s your problem. I had Eagle LS2s as the factory tire on a Malibu I had for a bit. Those things are utter garbage! I replaced them with General Altimax RT43s. Those are an excellent and fairly cheap all terrain tires.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
02/19/2018 at 14:44

We are done with the inspection and moving towards appraisal, and you couldn’t be more right. I’ve spent the last week looking through the pictures debating what we might want to paint or change before we begin moving in. Haha.