Anyone using Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 and/or Enkei Draco?

[MNTodd]

Hello all,

I'm a new G70 owner (AWD 3.3T Sport) and being in MN I need to plan for winter. Right now I'm thinking about 18" Enkei Draco with Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3. These are available in the stock 18" size, otherwise I'd probably go with the Michelin Alpin PA4.

I considered going with an all-season since I have AWD, but I think the shorter stopping distance etc. will be worth going to a snow tire. Anyway, has anyone used these tires in winter? I would appreciate any feedback.

Likewise, any that have used the Enkei Draco wheels, I would appreciate feedback on fitment/quality etc.

And for anyone in Minnesota area that is thinking of buying a wheel/tire combo (and ready to buy very soon), I could get you a good deal if what you want is on Tire Rack.

Thanks!
Todd

 

[Draco-REX]

I have a set of Enkei Dracos in 18" with Blizzak WS80 tires coming. I think they are due to arrive on Friday. I'll test fit them and take pictures.

 

[Gnarlly]

I just received a set of Enkei Dracos with Blizzak WS80s from Tire Rack. I have not test fitted a wheel yet but I know they fit over the Brembos (2.0T Sport) from seeing another member's car pics with those wheels. Wheels look nice (anthracite).

 

[MNTodd]

I searched using AWD 3.3T Stinger, so I suspe

I just received a set of Enkei Dracos with Blizzak WS80s from Tire Rack. I have not test fitted a wheel yet but I know they fit over the Brembos (2.0T Sport) from seeing another member's car pics with those wheels. Wheels look nice (anthracite).

I searched using AWD 3.3T Stinger, so I suspect they will fit ok.

Please post photos after you install them. Would love to see how they look.

 

[CVDH-TN]

I'm interested to hear your feedback about the rims, thinking about a similar setup but with Enkei Vulcan.
I can offer feedback on Pirelli Sottozero 3 since I had them on my (RWD) BMW 128i: I absolutely adored them. They feel very close to a summer performance tire in normal driving and were decent on the snow in Colorado. Never got to test them in Icy conditions (I suspect they would not be great). Now take it with a grain of salt: the 128i has way less torque than the G70 and we had less snow in Colorado (and in Nashville where I moved last year) than what you would experience in a MN winter. I am sure there are better SNOW tires out there but the Pirelli Sottozero 3 is a great tire that allows you to use your car daily in the winter, under cold temperature with reasonable snow on the ground without having to feel punished for 6 or more months compared to your summer tires. Before the Pirelli, I had Dunlop Winter 3D and 4D and the analogy I had when I was swapping the summer to winter was that I had the feeling to go from sports shoes to combat boots. Not so with the Pirelli S3. I know I am going for them but my winter needs are much lighter here in Nashville (short winter with possibility of no snow at all but I DD the car and I don't want to compromise with A/S tires or take a risk with the summer tires in the winter, it freezes at night here even if it is a joke compared to a midwest winter).

 

[MNTodd]

I'm interested to hear your feedback about the rims, thinking about a similar setup but with Enkei Vulcan.
I can offer feedback on Pirelli Sottozero 3 since I had them on my (RWD) BMW 128i: I absolutely adored them. They feel very close to a summer performance tire in normal driving and were decent on the snow in Colorado. Never got to test them in Icy conditions (I suspect they would not be great). Now take it with a grain of salt: the 128i has way less torque than the G70 and we had less snow in Colorado (and in Nashville where I moved last year) than what you would experience in a MN winter. I am sure there are better SNOW tires out there but the Pirelli Sottozero 3 is a great tire that allows you to use your car daily in the winter, under cold temperature with reasonable snow on the ground without having to feel punished for 6 or more months compared to your summer tires. Before the Pirelli, I had Dunlop Winter 3D and 4D and the analogy I had when I was swapping the summer to winter was that I had the feeling to go from sports shoes to combat boots. Not so with the Pirelli S3. I know I am going for them but my winter needs are much lighter here in Nashville (short winter with possibility of no snow at all but I DD the car and I don't want to compromise with A/S tires or take a risk with the summer tires in the winter, it freezes at night here even if it is a joke compared to a midwest winter).

Great feedback. Your experience is what I'm hoping for. The majority of driving in the winter is on relatively clear roads so I sort of hate to be on very "squishy" winter tires for 5-6 months of the year.

Sounds like some others here should be giving feedback on wheel fitment soon and I will do the same if/when I get the Enkei's.

 

[CVDH-TN]

I have seen enough feedback on threads about winter wheels setup that gives me confidence about using the Stinger GT as a reference for the wheel fitment (same components and more important: same Brembo brakes)... Given your winter use, I would not hesitate and go for the Sottozero 3 without a doubt, really loved mine on the BMW.

 

[TOGuy242]

Hello all,

I'm a new G70 owner (AWD 3.3T Sport) and being in MN I need to plan for winter. Right now I'm thinking about 18" Enkei Draco with Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3. These are available in the stock 18" size, otherwise I'd probably go with the Michelin Alpin PA4.

I considered going with an all-season since I have AWD, but I think the shorter stopping distance etc. will be worth going to a snow tire. Anyway, has anyone used these tires in winter? I would appreciate any feedback.

Likewise, any that have used the Enkei Draco wheels, I would appreciate feedback on fitment/quality etc.

And for anyone in Minnesota area that is thinking of buying a wheel/tire combo (and ready to buy very soon), I could get you a good deal if what you want is on Tire Rack.

Thanks!
Todd

I have the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 on my 3.3T Sport, and drove on them last year in the Toronto winter. Overall they were outstanding, still felt great grip and didn't have the back end slip out at all unless I was trying! I live in the city, so mostly dealing with slush and cold - ie. not sure how they'd do in deep snow - but overall I'm really pleased with them!

 

[CVDH-TN]

I have the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 on my 3.3T Sport, and drove on them last year in the Toronto winter. Overall they were outstanding, still felt great grip and didn't have the back end slip out at all unless I was trying! I live in the city, so mostly dealing with slush and cold - ie. not sure how they'd do in deep snow - but overall I'm really pleased with them!

Did you keep a 19" setup or did you go for 18", 225 on all 4 tires?

 

[TOGuy242]

Did you keep a 19" setup or did you go for 18", 225 on all 4 tires?

Went with the 18" non-staggered.

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[sethsquire]

Had Sottozero 3's on my miata and they were great. Excellent for playing drift-hero in snowy parking lots. For reference, on all-seasons that car was comically bad in the snow, so the difference was substantial. Good performing and riding tire as well.

 

[Friday]

I agree with the all of the comments above about the Sotterzero 3s. I had them on my previous car and had them on my G70 3.3T Sport last winter.

You will not feel too sport penalized for going with a winter tire like the Sotterzero 3s. I even think the 18" Sotterzero 3s have better steering feel than the 19" PS4 tires. Of course, the PS4 have a ton more grip on the dry and warm.

I also feel that they are better in the winter than all of the various all seasons I have experienced. The all seasons for me have ranged from performance orientated tires, just regular car all seasons, and SUV all seasons.

It rains mostly rather than snows in the winter where I live. The Sotterzero 3s have been really good for me in the rain. If you look at Tire Rack and Consumer Reports, the popular and best snow tires do a terrible job in the rain. Look at the long braking distances. This is another benefit of a performance snow tire like the Sotterzero 3s over a regular snow tire.

The Sotterzero 3s are much noisier than the PS4 tires. But the PS4 tires are an exceptionally quiet performance tire.

I also want to point out that when I had a G70 3.3T AWD Prestige for a service loaner, I thought the Michelin MXM4 all-season tires on it were not any noticeably quieter than the PS4 tires.

Overall, I think if your winter conditions are not too bad, the Sotterzero 3s are going to be ideal.

 

[Draco-REX]

Just test fit the winter setup. The Enkei Dracos look really good.

Winter wheel & tire packages?

I'm getting ready to purchase a set of winter wheels and tires for my G70. I'd prefer to go through Tire Rack as I have purchased from them before and had a good experience, but Tire Rack does not have winter wheel and tire data for the G70 in their system yet. I've called them, trying to use...

genesisowners.com

 

[MNTodd]

Just test fit the winter setup. The Enkei Dracos look really good.

http://[URL]https://genesisowners.c.../winter-wheel-tire-packages.23003/post-338335

[/URL]

Do you have any photos that you would be willing to post here?

Thanks!

 

[Draco-REX]

Do you have any photos that you would be willing to post here?

Thanks!

I linked directly to my post, but I can put them here too.

Just test-fit my winter wheel and tire setup.

Enkei Draco 18x8+35 wrapped in 225/45-18 Blizzak WS80 tires. I used Tire Rack and chose a Stinger GT AWD fitment. There were a couple wheels I liked, but the fact that the Dracos look like the 10 spoke wheels that have been powdercoated kind of sealed the deal.
(New phone went kind of wild with the HDR on its own..)

 

[Truck Norris]

Went with Michelin Alpin PA4 for the Atlantic Canadian winter here. Not mounted yet, just in the basement. Would have gone for the Sottozero but they were much more per tire and didn't feel the benefit would be worth the extra dollars.

 

[MNTodd]

I linked directly to my post, but I can put them here too.

Thanks! I agree, they look great!

 

[MNTodd]

Went with Michelin Alpin PA4 for the Atlantic Canadian winter here. Not mounted yet, just in the basement. Would have gone for the Sottozero but they were much more per tire and didn't feel the benefit would be worth the extra dollars.

Based on reviews the Alpin PA4 was my first choice, but I didn't see that they offered the OEM size (at least on Tire Rack). I realize that I could go with a different size, but looked into the Sottozero 3 and it seemed like an even better fit for me. I think either tire should work well from what others have said and the reviews that I've seen. Thanks!

 

[salage]

I linked directly to my post, but I can put them here too.

that's a GREAT looking combo on your car, I like the look of the Enkei Dracos.. thank you for posting the pictures!

Question for you: did you purchase a new set of TPMS sensors from TireRack to go with the winter wheels/tires and how did you program the G70 to see them. I've called local tire stores, TireRack and Genesis and everyone is unsure how to do this but insist i must bring the car in for them to program it. Wondering if it's as easy as my old E90 335i where the car would automatically recognize the new sensors/wheels once i drove it for 1-2 miles. thank you!

 

[CVDH-TN]

That is how it worked for mine (set from tire rack), the car recognized the sensors after a couple of miles.