Winter is here and I really need Snow Tires

[pusaterkm]

Winter finally came to NE Ohio. (in a big way). I got my 2011 4.6 last spring so I haven't had to drive it in the snow til yesterday. I have not had to drive a RW drive car in the winter since 1990 (my 442 is RW drive, but it doesn't even see rain). I forgot how different it is to drive RW in the snow. We were coming back from Canada yesterday when the lake effect storm hit. All the way down 79 in PA and across 80 into Ohio it was really scary. It continued to snow here in Boardman over night to the point where my son had a 2 hour delay for school. Well I think that driving on these Dunlop sports through winter will be a mistake. I went out today and some spots on the road were really bad the ESC was going crazy. I stopped at NTB, Pep Boys and the Dealer today. NTB wanted $1035 for 4 Alpins, PepBoys was just under $1000 after the 4th tire rebate. Preston Hyundai can give me Blizzaks for $213 plus $15 to mount and balance. The service manager gave me a 10% coupon too. I think that is a pretty good deal. I'm tempted to buy just two and put them on the back. What will I gain by buying all four?

Thanks
KMP

2011 Titanium 4.6
2011 Venza
1972 442 Convertible

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

The OM says 4 snow tires, a matter of handling.
Fwiw, my dealer offered to store snows/rims for me at no charge when I had my Gen rather than mount/dismount seasonally on the OEM wheels.
Maybe yours will offer that too?
Oh. Many here use the Blizzaks and swear by them.

 

[scottdk]

Winter finally came to NE Ohio. (in a big way). I got my 2011 4.6 last spring so I haven't had to drive it in the snow til yesterday. I have not had to drive a RW drive car in the winter since 1990 (my 442 is RW drive, but it doesn't even see rain). I forgot how different it is to drive RW in the snow. We were coming back from Canada yesterday when the lake effect storm hit. All the way down 79 in PA and across 80 into Ohio it was really scary. It continued to snow here in Boardman over night to the point where my son had a 2 hour delay for school. Well I think that driving on these Dunlop sports through winter will be a mistake. I went out today and some spots on the road were really bad the ESC was going crazy. I stopped at NTB, Pep Boys and the Dealer today. NTB wanted $1035 for 4 Alpins, PepBoys was just under $1000 after the 4th tire rebate. Preston Hyundai can give me Blizzaks for $213 plus $15 to mount and balance. The service manager gave me a 10% coupon too. I think that is a pretty good deal. I'm tempted to buy just two and put them on the back. What will I gain by buying all four?

Thanks
KMP

2011 Titanium 4.6
2011 Venza
1972 442 Convertible

you must put on 4 winter tires on the car. What good is 2 tires for the back? It gets you moving, but doesn't assist with turning. Watch the video for massive understeer and the car going in the ditch.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB7hpWhqIA"]Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter Tires: Mixed vs. Matched Tires - YouTube[/ame]

 

[EXBMWGUY]

Ditto what Scott said. No reputable dealer should even agree to sell only two for the rear with a summer or all-season tread pattern and compound on the front.

 

[pusaterkm]

Bought 4 Blizzak LM 60s

 

[BuddhaMike]

I'm about to purchase a 2012 V6 Genesis (w/ Tech/Nav packages). For those of you who have driven the V6 with Bridgestone Blizzaks, how well does it drive in the snow? I live in an area where there's no way to get home except for going up steep hills, but we're lucky to usually get a few 4-6 inch snows per year and not much else. But when it does snow, I have avoided using my front wheel drive Honda and stuck with my 2000 Isuzu Trooper (4WD), which is one of the best performing vehicles I have ever driven in the snow.

I'm wondering if it would be a complete waste of money to outfit the Genesis with snow tires. If it performs very well with snow tires, despite being rear wheel drive, I can justify the $1,000+ cost. But if it's still sketch on the snow even with Blizzaks (particularly when going uphill), perhaps I should save my money and use the Trooper on days when we're expecting more than an inch of snow?

Thanks for any help you can provide. What a great forum! It's answered so many questions I've had going into this buying decision. I take it most of you are happy with your Genesis purchase?

Mike

Note: I have a home business and my wife is a stay at home mom, so we have no reason to both be out driving at the same time in the winter (wife absolutely will not drive in snow). I figured the '2 cars driven at the same time' question might come up, which is why I added this.

 

[dg_moore]

...But if it's still sketch on the snow even with Blizzaks (particularly when going uphill), perhaps I should save my money and use the Trooper on days when we're expecting more than an inch of snow?

I use Blizzaks in the winter on all 4 corners and have never had a problem getting up hills. I learned to drive with RWD over 50 years ago and haven't forgotten those skills. OTOH, if I had a spare Trooper or the like available I'd use it all winter and save the Genesis for better weather.

 

[scottdk]

OTOH, if I had a spare Trooper or the like available I'd use it all winter and save the Genesis for better weather.

I agree with DG - Why drive something nice in the winter if you have another vehicle to drive? I store my Genesis during winter (in my garage) and drive my other car. It's like getting a brand new Genesis every Spring when it's time to drive it again This year is the longest that I have ever driven a car into the winter season and I am still driving my Genesis. We have no snow at all where I'm at and it's been damn near 50 the last few days. It's usually very cold in January. I suspect I have another week, then I'll put the car away for 3 months before spring.

 

[pusaterkm]

My 1972 Olds 442 Convertible is the car in storage, so the Genny has to drive in the winter. The day that i ordered the Blizzaks the temp went to 58 and everything melted. Next week I'll buy a snow blower so we can open the pool?

 

[scottdk]

My 1972 Olds 442 Convertible is the car in storage, so the Genny has to drive in the winter. The day that i ordered the Blizzaks the temp went to 58 and everything melted. Next week I'll buy a snow blower so we can open the pool?

Ha ha ha ha ha! That's too funny!

I run the Firestone Winterforce winter tires on my other cars. Love them! If I were to by winter tires for my wifes sonata, I'd buy the General Artic Altimax. If I'm correct, I think the biggest tire size in these are a 17. Kinda limits many cars, but her 2006 V6 Sonata has 17's.

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[pusaterkm]

Blizzak LM-60 tires installed yesterday. Of course no snow to test them in but it is under 45 degrees here today. No issues with them, in fact I like them better than the Dunlops that I just put into storage. They ride smoother and quieter and seem to be more responsive. No handling issues at all. Maybe I should just run on these year round. Final price from the dealer for all 4 mounted and balanced with a wheel alignment and wash....$1025 including tax.

 

[dg_moore]

Blizzak LM-60 tires installed yesterday. Of course no snow to test them in but it is under 45 degrees here today. No issues with them, in fact I like them better than the Dunlops that I just put into storage. They ride smoother and quieter and seem to be more responsive. No handling issues at all. Maybe I should just run on these year round. Final price from the dealer for all 4 mounted and balanced with a wheel alignment and wash....$1025 including tax.

I think they're a tad noisy for year-round use, and the softer rubber compound won't give you as much tread life as your fair weather tires. I ditched the Dunlops for Continental DW's - great non-snow tires: good ride and very quiet.