Need feedback for winter tires in the Northwest

[ellsworth007]

Oregon winter weather in order of amounts

Rain
Early a.m. frost or slick roads
Black ice
Snow - mostly wet

Mentioned tires - B-Turanza and Continental contact extreme dws
Tire size -based on the manual 215/60/17

and

Would you buy rims to mount for winter , stud the existing tires and buy new tires or have the Dunlops ( 6,000.00 miles ) removed and winter tires mounted.

Let me know, need to go shopping soon -I drive a whopping 20 minutes to work each way on nice roads and freeways ( don't hate me ok )

thanks Boys and Girls

 

[TEF]

With respect to "studding the existing tire", are you talking about the OEM Dunlops that come on one's new Genesis? If so, I wonder how that is done. Generally, only some winter tires are molded with small holes for metal studs, but I never imagined this was possible with the OEM Dunlops. Based on the description of Oregon winters, I suspect that an all-weather tire would be suffcient rather than a true winter tire like the Blizzak or Michelin's version of the Blizzak.

 

[Gambler]

Winter tires will maintain more traction in cold weather since the rubber compound they use doesn't harden like all season tires will. Also the tread pattern is more suitable for ice and snow. The general consensus I've seen from people is to get a second set of tires for the winter if you live in a place where it gets cold/icy/snowy.

 

[ellsworth007]

With respect to "studding the existing tire", are you talking about the OEM Dunlops that come on one's new Genesis? If so, I wonder how that is done. Generally, only some winter tires are molded with small holes for metal studs, but I never imagined this was possible with the OEM Dunlops. Based on the description of Oregon winters, I suspect that an all-weather tire would be suffcient rather than a true winter tire like the Blizzak or Michelin's version of the Blizzak.

Uhhh I wasn't sure about the studding , someone mentioned it. I am looking at a separate set of tires and wheels for winter either a winter tire or studs all around. Don't do a lot of driving in the winter other than work.

 

[dg_moore]

Are studs legal in your state? They are not in lots of areas; like TEF stated I don't know if it's possible to add studs to the OEM Dunlops. In any case, I would opt for a winter tire with rubber formulated for the cold so you can maintain flexibility and maximum road contact at low temps. For convenience, get a second set of rims so you lessen the risk of damaging tires or OEM wheels during frequent tire changes.

 

[ellsworth007]

Found the following at some pretty good prices

Tires - Falken HS439 tire 235/50r-18 101V BW
Wheels- Sport Edition - Sport Edition SE -14 18x18 -look good

Tires 171 close out
Wheels 125 close out

American tire right here in Clackamas town center. The closing cost ( haha ) and all that goes with it. I am going with the TPMS .

if I pull the trigger it would be $1,260.00 with life time rotaton and all the jazz
nice looking rims for the price - check out this link

http://http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=wheelCloseUp&wheelMake=Sport+Edition&wheelModel=SE-14&wheelFinish=Bright+Silver+Paint

 

[Rey]

I live in Salem, OR and am very well familiar with Oregon weather. Currently, I use Michelin winter tires bought at Costco. It costs only $10 a tire to change them at Costco. There is simply no reason to have dedicated wheels at this price.

I am really against studded tires. They really do not "work" very well. They dull quickly and loose much of their original benefits. They require a firmer, harder rubber to hold the studs, which means the tires do not have the benefits of soft rubber winter tires.
When I lived in Minnesota in the 70s studded tires were allowed briefly. When it was apparent that they were ruining roads they were banned. Even then the benefits were marginal. Check out TireRack studies on modern winter tires. Modern winter tires do very well on slick ice. Studded tires have ruined Oregon roads, which are now the noisiest roads in the country.

There are several days each year when Oregon has serious black ice. There isn't enough black ice days to allow Oregon drivers to practice ice driving. Hence, there are many drivers out there who are very low on the ice driving learning curve. They are dangerous to you no matter what kind of tires you have. The best advice for black ice days is to stay home or take a bus.

 

[Viking]

Ellsworth007,

Did you end up buying the Continental DWSs? Also, those Sport Editions are good looking wheels - did you get them?

 

[STREETS]

Except switching tires on rims repeatedly harms the bead and sidewall.