[s-cars] G35x Debate

[mlp]

If you are going to insist on these for winter driving usage, could we
suggest "Get thee to a sipeing machine ASAP"?

In the FWIW category, having had recent opportunity to spend some time on
two different tire systems 

(1) driving studded Michelin "Invalda" (the tread pattern on these sure look
like the new Michelin "Ice-X")
on the new Audi A4's at Audi's Seefeld winter driving course (aka "tire mit
nails" in German); and

(2) at the Bridgestone/Toyota Winter Drive facility in Steamboat in 2005
Toyota 4Runners equipped with Blizzak winter tires. 

I found that in response to a comment I made about how superior "tires mit
nails" must be to plain snows, even the Blizzaks on the 4Runners, the BWDS
staff were adamant that in testing, the newest winter tire technology has
reduced the advantages of studs, even on ice, to a very narrow temperature
window that exists just around the point where the water (or whatever
chemical concoction your local state highway department is laying down these
days) on the road is turning to ice ~ much colder than 32°F (or whatever the
freezing point is), and they claim the non-studded tire is very close, if
not equal to any legal US studs at stopping or starting a car on ice
conditions, and far better where dry pavement is concerned.  That's their
claim anyway.

mike


>-----Original Message-----
>From: s-car-list On Behalf Of Kevin Day

.........

>Here's a picture of the Daytona's tread (BTW, I'm not 
>recommending these
>tires): 
>http://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/images/news/2004images/DaytonaZR2004.jpg

Again, just for what it's worth.  The only reason I'd prefer snow tires with
this car given my usage is for better braking.

-Kevin