Re: Winter tires

[Bryan Kamerer <kamerer@madriver.com>]

At 03:07 PM 10/29/98 -0500, you wrote:
>I find myself in need of getting winter tires, and I'm a little bit stumped
>about what I should do.
>

Bryan Kamerer says:

Here's a re-print of a post last fall sent by Bob Neidinger:




I've been lurking for a few weeks, and think I can actually contribute
something on this topic.  I've had Pirelli P210s and Yokohama Guardex
600s, and driven a friend's car with Bridgestone Blizzaks, all in
Cleveland winters.  My rankings are:

Dry handling:  P210, Guardex, Blizzak
Wet handling:  P210, Guardex, Blizzak
Snow:  Guardex, Blizzak, P210
Ice:  Guardex, Blizzak, P210
Wear/Tread Life:  P210, Guardex, Blizzak

The P210 is the best handling tire; the Blizzak the worst by far, IMO.
The P210 and the Guardex both wear quite well; the Blizzak wears very
rapidly (at least the "winter" layer of the tread).  The Guardex is
amazing (for a non-studded tire) on ice.

These tires are all compromises…it just depends on one's priorities.
For my money, I'd buy the Yokos again…

Bob Neidinger
84 5kst


Bryan adds:

I followed Bob's advice and bought the Yoko G 600s.  I have long trips like
Dan alluded to (LOTS of weekend/week trips R/T from NYC to VT with high
hiway miles between snow bouts).

I have NO complainst against the Yokos.  I thought they were GREAT.  I do
not have lots of experience to call them "the best," they were the first
dedicated snow I ever used, but I am very happy and finally pleased to see
the CR test give some validation to my experience.  Compared to the Yokos,
the BFG VR4's I used the previous winter where hardly any better than the
street race ZR's I suffered through the prior winter.  Snow tires ruled and
all all-season's I have tried were vastly inferior when confronted with
snow/ice.  Comments on Guardex:

1) I am using it in stock size on a V8 (215/60-15).  No need to go -1 for
excellent performance in untracked snow (have used it in up to 8" untracked
plowed, no problems.  Safe handling in those conditions up to 40 MPH, good
tracking and excellent stopping grab/tracking)

2) Do need to have separate "summer" tires as this tire gets soft in temps
over 55-60 F (I ASSUME all snows do but don't have the experience to assert
that).  Can't run in summer/fall w/o serious wallow because of side wall flex.

A happy Yoko fan,

Bryan Kamerer
V8/5spd.