Hi,

I live in washington DC. For 9 out of the 12 months in the year summer tires are perfect. However, we get snow for ~6 days a year and other inclimate weather for the other 4 months. I was thinking about buying a set of all season tires for thoes 4 months. However, I dont really want to spend ~800 on new wheels and tires (I can't rock ugly rims) for the one or two weeks that I would need them. Do you think I should buy the all seasons or run my summers all year long and just not drive the hatch in the snow & slush?

 

For the 2-3 days per year that summer tires will not get you where you want to go, I don't feel it's worth changing tires for. Heck, you don't even know when those 2-3 days could be... they've been in April before, which is surely after you've switched back to your summer tires.

 

i dont think all season tires are going to be very much help in the snow.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Winlight &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont think all season tires are going to be very much help in the snow.</TD></TR></TABLE>

maybe you're not familiar with the snow we get here, but actual snow tires are overkill.

 

The real reason I want to know is beacuse I have heard that some summer tire compounds loose grip after they drop below 20 deg.

Btw. How well do summers work in ~30 deg wther?

 

that is correct, the rubber actually freezes. it isn't THAT bad, but you will notice reduced traction if you're launching the car or taking corners really hot.

 

Is what you describe during cold weather ~20 deg, or during the summer after the tires have been exposed to super cold weather?

 

well... that's another good point... i'm not 100% certain, but i do not think the rubber is the same after reaching those temps.

 

Well... in January in DC, normal highs are in the low 40s, lows in the mid 20s, and you average around twenty inches of snow per year.

If you're going to use a set of tires all winter long, then I would suggest all-seasons rather than winter tires. All-seasons will do okay in snow - not as good as winter tires, but considering your mild winters, they're probably worth the trade-offs (including better performance on your many warmer days). And if you get a massive blizzard, the city shuts down anyway.

You mention using these tires four months a year, then you say you would use them only for one or two weeks... huh?

Personally, if the cost is a concern, get cheap wheels - like used (and possibly beat up) Honda/Acura stock wheels. For most cars, you should be able to get a set of used wheels and cheap all-season tires (like the Kumho ASX, or maybe the wheels come with cheap all-seasons like the Falken Ziex ZE-512 or Toyo Proxes 4 - not what I would buy, but if you get a deal by getting them with used wheels, go for it) for more like $300-500 rather than $800.