11-18-2014, 12:36 PM | #23 |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
My writing could have been clearer. I intend to replace my PSS with AS3 tires as my three season tire. Then, I will swap to winters. I will be checking out interest for anyone who wants PSS with only 1600 miles on them. We have too short a season here to really enjoy them for a while.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-18-2014, 06:34 PM | #24 |
Lieutenant
76
Rep 506
Posts |
I will be getting through the winter quite nicely on my Michelin PSS tires. It was 78 degrees here today. Sorry, I couldn't help it!
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-18-2014, 09:30 PM | #25 |
Private
6
Rep 94
Posts |
I'm planning on wrapping the stock 18's with winter boots and then getting myself a set of summer wheels in March or April. Does that sound feasible? Do price and available tires significantly change when moving up from 17 inch wheels?
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-18-2014, 09:57 PM | #26 | |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
Quote:
My Track Package 18" wheels with PSS tires have 1600 miles on them and are in winter storage. If that kind of set up interests you, since we are so close, shoot me a note as we get to the end of Winter. I am seriously thinking of going the other way and getting some BBS 17" wheels with Michelin AS3 tires as my three-season (really 2.5 with our weather) set-up on the lousy Michigan roads. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-18-2014, 10:22 PM | #27 |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
I respectfully disagree. I've owned both the WS and Michelin Xice3. I thought winter traction and braking were comparable (excellent for both) and Tire Rack's testing seems to have conformed this. But the WS has substantially less tread life. I assume that is because the rubber is so soft, you can notice how much softer by just running your finger over the tread. The other thing is as the WS tread wears down, it seems to lose it's winter abilities much faster than the Michelin. If Tire Rack was to test tires that are 50% worn, I believe they would see a huge difference in winter ability (both traction and braking) between these two tires. Finally, to get this level of winter ability, you don't have to give up handling to the extent you do with the WS. The Xice3 has substantially better handling. I think even an average driver would quickly notice the difference, it's that obvious. Always felt to me like the WS's had relatively sloppy handling because of soft sidewalls. On the other hand, the WS's were the more comfortable riding tire by a noticeable margin, assume again that has to do with soft sidewalls.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-18-2014, 10:29 PM | #28 | |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 01:20 AM | #29 | |
Private
6
Rep 94
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 08:18 AM | #30 |
Captain
463
Rep 779
Posts |
The guy lives in Michigan: "the Land of the Pothole" therefore I think he made a correct choice by going with the softest 17inch winter setup available. This will protect wheel-rims and suspension as well as minimize rattles.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 08:53 AM | #31 | |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 10:04 AM | #32 |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
Yes WS80. I don't agree that Tire Rack seemed to pick a clear "best of the best". I assume you are looking at the same Tire Rack test as I am where they tested both of these against a Yokohama and a Dunlop. The WS80 had slightly better acceleration and the Xice had slightly better braking, so i thought the results of the test were a draw, which pretty much mirrors my personal experience (that the tires, when new, seem to have similar winter capabilities) In fact Tire Rack said there was not a significant difference in the test results for all 4 tires. Here's their summary: "If you want surefooted traction on winter's most slippery roads, Studless Ice & Snow tires deliver when it comes to ice traction. All four tires in our test performed well in our ice acceleration and braking test, with a small advantage for the Bridgestone Blizzak and Michelin X-Ice Xi3 tires. Not too far behind were the Yokohama iceGUARD iG52c and Dunlop Winter Maxx tires." In terms of winter ability I would not at all agree with you that the WS80's "prevails over all others" (even when brand new). Beyond that the WS80's seem to lose their winter abilities far quicker than the Xice3, and at least for me, that's just as important as their abilites when they are brand new. Perhaps that explains why the Xice3's have a 40k miles treadlife warranty, and the WS80's have no treadlife warranty at all. Of course my observation is completely seat of the pants, and I'm no expert. Too bad Tire Rack did not test tread life and also re-run the winter ability tests after the tires were half worn.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 10:21 AM | #33 | |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
Quote:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=191 And, I do realize it was at a Bridgestone event, but it remains Tire Rack's assessment. As to wear, I am on my third season with WS70 on one car, and tread depth is quite adequate, so I am not experiencing the wear you describe. As a disclaimer, I become a very different driver in the "season from hell", so I am probably not treating the tires the same way as you or others. I reserve all of my fun for the other three seasons. However, you make a great point about testing tires half-worn....would be quite interesting. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 10:55 AM | #34 |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
It's not that the WS80's are wearing unusually fast. My overall experience with winter tires is that you generally can't expect to get great tread life, and I've long assumed that's due to the soft tread compound. What's notable is that I seem to be getting double the tread life on the Xice3's versus any previous winter tire I've owned.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 12:33 PM | #35 | |
Colonel
197
Rep 2,802
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 12:34 PM | #36 |
What goes here?
452
Rep 1,356
Posts
Drives: 2019 G30 M550i
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Florida Space Coast
iTrader: (4)
Garage List 2019 BMW M550i [0.00]
2021 BMW M3 Competi ... [0.00] 2019 BMW M5 Competi ... [0.00] 2016 BMW M3 [0.00] 2014 BMW M235i [0.00] |
I'm running 225/40-18 Dunlop Wintersport 4D's on the stock M235i staggered wheels - really impressed by their performance thus far.
__________________
2019 G30 M550i
GBNF: 2021 G80 M3, 2019 F90 M5 Competition, 2016 F80 M3, 2014 F22 M235i |
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 12:52 PM | #37 | |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 01:19 PM | #38 | |
First Lieutenant
9
Rep 347
Posts |
Quote:
Got the winter tires installed this morning, just in time for the snow. Went with Nokian WRG3s - 225/40R18 on a square set of 18 X 7.5 wheels. Looks like I took the opposite tack to you. The WRG3s are a winter-rated "all weather" performance (v rated) tire, with a 65,000 km (40,000 mi) tread warranty, which *could* be driven year-round. I intend to use them only for mid-November to mid-April. Since our climate is fairly mild by Canadian standards, I felt that was the best best balance.
__________________
F22 * (N55 + 6MT) ÷ PSS = FUN
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 02:18 PM | #39 | |
Colonel
197
Rep 2,802
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 02:32 PM | #40 |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
You conclude that from my orange, track package, 6MT 2 Series.....or that I detest winter and all that comes with it, as I did as a kid and ever since? I would have made a lousy Canadian! If I lived where I'd prefer (and one day I will), in SoCal, the entire year would be fun! I dream of never seeing another flake of snow in person.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 03:12 PM | #41 | |
Colonel
197
Rep 2,802
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 03:17 PM | #42 |
Major General
4654
Rep 6,032
Posts |
...and the point is? Hated winter for all those years and in the rest of the year, enjoy the benefits of Skip Barber racing training. Age is a mindset, as is which seasons one enjoys or wishes to escape from. I know "old fart" mindset 20-somethings, both here and in Ontario!
Moving on...... |
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 04:14 PM | #43 |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-19-2014, 04:27 PM | #44 | |
Private
6
Rep 94
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|