I'm debating between Khumo Ecsta SPTs and Khumo Ecsta ASXs.The SPTs are 'ultra high performance summer' and the ASXs are 'ultra high performance all-season'. It gets pretty cold here in the winter (30s, 20s, even below 0 sometimes) and snows every every once in a while maybe 1 or 3 inches.

With cold temperatures like that, will it cause the summer tires to harden and grip really bad even if there is no snow/ice, vs. the all-season tires?

Also, since both tires are considered 'ultra high performance', I don't expect either to grip very well in snow/ice. With that said, will there be much of a difference between the two, in snow and ice?

 

For snow, I'd recommend the ASX.

 

The Ecsta SPT will NOT work at all in snow/ice or in below freezing weather. Get the ASX if you need the all season capability. You will trade some all out dry and wet handling, but will pick up slightly increased durability and a ton more light snow traction. Ice traction is really something that only snow tires offer. In your area I would recommend winter tires for the winter and summer tires for the summer.

Jon

 

So just the freezing temps alone will make them grip bad? I guess I'll be going with the ASXs then.

 

I believe the "All Season" tires are made to handle well in the snow but the "Summer" tires are not capable of handling well, if at all, in the snow.

 

Well yea I know that, but that's not too big of a deal. I'm mainly wondering if the cold temps alone will make the SPTs grip poorly during winter even when there is no ice or snow.

 

I drove my yoko es100s in about 1/2 inch of snow, and the car was drivable. (It was about 60 deg when I put them on, and it snowed the next week. Gotta love the Michigan weather.) From what I experienced, summer tires don't grip as well in cold temps (30) as they do in warm temps (50+). The difference in grip is not that much tho.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaF1Fanatic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Ecsta SPT will NOT work at all in snow/ice or in below freezing weather. Get the ASX if you need the all season capability. You will trade some all out dry and wet handling, but will pick up slightly increased durability and a ton more light snow traction.</TD></TR></TABLE>



<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaF1Fanatic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In your area I would recommend winter tires for the winter and summer tires for the summer.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree that that would be a better solution, but it works best if you have a second set of wheels, along with a place to store the extra set of wheels/tires. Otherwise, if you have to use the same set of tires all year round, get the ASX.

 

Well the 2nd set of wheels w/winter tires isn't really an option cause I don't want to spend the money and end up riding around on steelies all winter. I guess I'll get the ASXs then, unless you guys have any other suggestions for good-grip all-season tires for a good price.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatch_R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well the 2nd set of wheels w/winter tires isn't really an option cause I don't want to spend the money and end up riding around on steelies all winter. I guess I'll get the ASXs then, unless you guys have any other suggestions for good-grip all-season tires for a good price.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The ASX is the best all-season tire for a good price. Nothing else even comes close. (There are a few other all-seasons that are better - not many, but a few - but all cost significantly more than the ASX.)

 

Sweet well I'll go with those then. Thanks for the help. Should the ASXs be pretty close to the SPTs in dry traction?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatch_R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Should the ASXs be pretty close to the SPTs in dry traction?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No. That's the compromise with all-season tires (any all-seasons, not just the SPT). They don't grip as well as summer tires in moderate to warm temperatures (and they don't grip as well as winter tires in snow and cold temperatures). You have to sacrifice performance in order to achieve their flexible range of operating temperatures.

 

Well yea I understand that, but is it a big difference or not that much is what I'm asking.

 

ASX's!!! Saved me a bunch of times through heavy rain and even some snow out in the NOrthWest ! Portland, OR yo

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatch_R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well yea I understand that, but is it a big difference or not that much is what I'm asking.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Its a night and day difference.

 

Dang well I guess that's the sacrifice I gotta make cause it does get cold and icy here. Maybe someday when I'm rich I'll get two sets of wheels with two different tires.