Re: Snow tire life?

["Rudy Consolacion" <rconsolacion@kumhotech.com>]

> From:          tomh@metrics.com (Tom Haapanen)
> Date:          Wed, 1 Oct 1997 08:52:09 -0500
> Reply-to:      tomh@metrics.com (Tom Haapanen)
> To:            quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:       Snow tire life?

> While I'm waiting for my new Pirelli Winter 210Ps to arrive for my A4
> quattro, I'm hoping that someone on the list might be able to enlighten
> me on my other snow tire issue.
> 
> My wife's GTI has an older set of snows (Pirelli Winter 190, actually),
> that are not yet worn out.  However, they *are* getting old.  What is
> a reasonable number of winters to drive on a set of snows?  And when would
> they actually become unsafe to drive on?
> 
> Thankful for any enlightenment ...
> 
> -- 
> [ /tom haapanen -- tomh@metrics.com -- software metrics inc -- waterloo, ont ]
> [ "always do your best.  what you plant now you will harvest later"          ]
> [                                                            -- o.g. mandino ]
> 

>From someone that works in the tire industry, I say that it all 
depends on how the tires are used and stored.  If you store them 
during the summer in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, then 
they'll last longer than if you did the opposite.  The key is to 
minimize the tread compound aging or hardening as this effects the 
compound's traction.  Also, avoid running the tire hot...like 
high-speed driving during early spring.  A high temperature operating 
range hardens the compound.  I've run some Goodyear snows for seven 
seasons.  I tried to take good care of them, but I could tell that 
the last two seasons were down for snow performance.  

Tread depth is also a function.  It's difficult to answer your 
question.  My recommendation is when the snow falls, go drive the car 
and determine if the grip limit is to your satisfaction.

Rudy Consolacion
87 5ktq
97 a42.8q