Winter driving

[dudmleh522]

Planning to drive to flagstaff and grand canyon from phoenix and i know they are getting snow currently. I have the awd model however i stil have recall replacement all season michilin primacy tires on front (pretty low tread) and have brand new hankook ventus 12 evo2 summer tires on rear (pretty new). Now i have drove across oregon passes during snow from california to washington in my old gen coupe with summer tires and it was fine. I cannot get snow tires for just this trip im taking. Should i rotate the tires so summers will be up front ans all season tire in back?

 

[EdP]

Planning to drive to flagstaff and grand canyon from phoenix and i know they are getting snow currently. I have the awd model however i stil have recall replacement all season michilin primacy tires on front (pretty low tread) and have brand new hankook ventus 12 evo2 summer tires on rear (pretty new). Now i have drove across oregon passes during snow from california to washington in my old gen coupe with summer tires and it was fine. I cannot get snow tires for just this trip im taking. Should i rotate the tires so summers will be up front ans all season tire in back?

Normally, best tires should be on the rear.
I'm hesitant to make a trip in snow with well worn tires. I would not go with crappy tires but you have to decide.
Get something like Nokian WRG3 that is snow rated but can be used year round. Would be best on all four corners. Nice car, looks better on the road than in a ditch.

 

[dudmleh522]

Normally, best tires should be on the rear.
I'm hesitant to make a trip in snow with well worn tires. I would not go with crappy tires but you have to decide.
Get something like Nokian WRG3 that is snow rated but can be used year round. Would be best on all four corners. Nice car, looks better on the road than in a ditch.

Better tire on rear means my new summer tires? Or worn out all season?

 

[EdP]

Better tire on rear means my new summer tires? Or worn out all season?

Best traction. You may want to get someone to look at them and help you decide. Depends on how worn.

 

[glennk]

Agree with Ed. You need to get new tires before the trip. If you have AWD, then you need to get four new tires to keep all the tires rotating equally.

 

[dudmleh522]

Agree with Ed. You need to get new tires before the trip. If you have AWD, then you need to get four new tires to keep all the tires rotating equally.

i got pair of hankook ventus12 evo 2 coming for my front (what i got on rear) wasn't planning to take this trip until couple days ago... or should i just get a snow chain?

 

[glennk]

i got pair of hankook ventus12 evo 2 coming for my front (what i got on rear) wasn't planning to take this trip until couple days ago... or should i just get a snow chain?

Remember, these are Max Summer Performance tires. Below 50F, the tread will start getting hard; therefore, eliminating any snow/ice traction.

 

[dudmleh522]

Remember, these are Max Summer Performance tires. Below 50F, the tread will start getting hard; therefore, eliminating any snow/ice traction.

yes i know i live in phoenix where it pretty much dry 350 days a year.. the reason why i am getting those tires is because i had them on all my cars and loved the performance.

 

[glennk]

yes i know i live in phoenix where it pretty much dry 350 days a year.. the reason why i am getting those tires is because i had them on all my cars and loved the performance.

Understood. When you have driven on these tires in the past on deep snow/ice, what was your experience?

 

[BlancaGenny]

michilin primacy tires on front (pretty low tread) and have brand new hankook ventus 12 evo2 summer tires on rear (pretty new). Now i have drove across oregon passes during snow from california to washington in my old gen coupe with summer tires and it was fine. I cannot get snow tires for just this trip im taking. Should i rotate the tires so summers will be up front ans all season tire in back?

While I do not recommend having different brand tires on a car at one time, I especially do not recommend driving with summer tires in winter conditions. Unless chains are your only route, buy some Michelin X-Ice for all four corners. Maybe even go with 235 width since narrower tires "cut" through snow better. I have Michelin Primacy 245 all around on mine and they do just fine in the snow (AWD as well). Be careful if you decide to take the trip.

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[dudmleh522]

Understood. When you have driven on these tires in the past on deep snow/ice, what was your experience?

It was on my gen coupe going through oregon passes. Just light 1-3inches on ground. it was on interstate 5 and just used engine braking on downgrade. It was scary never knew when i can spin out but and it turned out ok.

 

[dudmleh522]

While I do not recommend having different brand tires on a car at one time, I especially do not recommend driving with summer tires in winter conditions. Unless chains are your only route, buy some Michelin X-Ice for all four corners. Maybe even go with 235 width since narrower tires "cut" through snow better. I have Michelin Primacy 245 all around on mine and they do just fine in the snow (AWD as well). Be careful if you decide to take the trip.

Yea i know. My sidewall had pretty big cut on the primacy and i wanted summer tire next so i got just two pair for the rear and planning to get ones for front within couple month.

 

[glennk]

Maybe rent a car?

 

[need4spd]

Maybe rent a car?

What glennk said ^

Cheapest option. I would not drive on summers in snow for any distance more than a mile, that coming from someone who has, but only had 1 mile to go. Even that mile was frightening, with the car not turning or stopping even with a thin film on the road.

Also, many tire companies will not warranty a summer tire driven in 32F or lower temps, and tires tend to develop cracks (mine did) due to them being really hard below 40.

 

[1FstYota]

Sounds like trouble either way, I like what glennk said rent a car. Max summer tires in the back and worn in the front is asking for trouble. When this big car starts to slide just hold on because the traction control kinda locks you out and doesn't give it any power for you to try and correct. I've driven on mid grade summer tires on snow before and your not going anywhere.