Winter tires/rims

[dhuhtala]

Most all season tires, which the Michelin Primacy AS tires on GV are, have the M&S designation. For real snow and Ice, you need the 3 peak mountain. In fact, having winter tires during winter months is mandatory in a few places in Canada, and that requires the 3 peak symbol. All-season are a compromise tire. The newer category of All-Weather tire, supposedly have the 3 peak symbol making them a good choice for those that don't want to have 2 sets of tires/wheels. Also, of course, if you need this capability only once or twice a year, then having a 2nd set of dedicated winter tires is likely not worth it, and best to simply understand the tire's limitations and drive to the conditions when you do encounter snow and ice.

I live in Canada and I could not fathom driving in the winter with the stock all-season. Tires are the one point of contact between the vehicle and the road and one area I always ensure I invest in quality....safety first. I will be changing my stock 19" for winter tires, selling the Michelins, and will be purchasing a 2nd set of aftermarket wheels (likely 22") for summer.

You're making me second guess using my stock tires. I might be scrambling after the first big snowfall - which is, of course, the worst time to go look for winter tires. I was also wondering about using these 19" wheels as my winter wheels and buying some new summer wheels - but I think I'd just go to a 20". I am really sensitive to all the tar lines we have on highways around my town - and I drive 2 hours/day so I noticed the 19" wheels made a huge difference in comfort and tar line impact compared to the 21" wheels on the 3.5T I test drove - even with the adaptive suspension. I'd be curious if just going to a 20" would be much different. I don't think 22" would work out for me at all based on the roads I have to drive on!

 

[NeutronQuasar]

Seems like a fun restart of the discussion as winter approaches; throwing my two cents into the hat. Weirdly enough, it seems like most of the comprehensive tire tests are done in Europe with North American (NA) tests being hard to find or non-existent (maybe both). Either way, German and UK tests both have shown that in cold dry and cold wet (no snow or ice) conditions that all season tires will stop, accelerate and handle better than winter tires. Once snow or ice is present, winter tires take the lead but the all-season tires are surprisingly close and even overtake winter tires in some of the tests. It's also worth noting that the all-season tires in Europe as far as I know are the 3PMS types, not just M+S.

Just speculating here but I wonder if the rubber compound on the CrossClimate2 and other 3PMS here in NA is similar to normal M+S all-seasons but with the modified, directional tread pattern that seems to be a theme with the 3PMS tires.

It seems like there is no best tire option for the winter unless you live where the roads are covered for months at a time. Winter tires are best when the roads are snowy and icy but are much worse on dry and wet roads even when cold. 3PMS lag behind on snow and ice (sometimes) but are much better on dry and wet roads. M+S tires, assuming the rubber compound is similar to 3PMS, are worse on snow than the 3PMS but are probably the best on dry and wet roads due to their tread pattern. All of the above assume high quality tires are used.

We can debate tire viability all day but I think the bigger issue is people that put on super cheap, no-name tires and people who run tires with no tread left. There's always lots of commentary online when a video or photo pops up of someone spinning and sliding around on snow, especially here in Colorado where the person looks to be crabbing up I70 somewhere in the mountains most likely with no tread left on their tires.

Tyre Test on YouTube has a video where they compare a Michelin winter, all-season and summer in the winter in Michigan on a G70 which is pretty interesting. The summer tire does orders of magnitude worse than the other two which I expected but it’s shocking how bad the summer tire does if you’ve never seen or driven one on snow.

I'm seeing a lot of people in the Denver area have the CrossClimate2 on their cars and would be interested to hear if anyone on this forum has put them on their GV70 and once winter has taken over, what they think of them.

 

[NoGravity]

Most all season tires, which the Michelin Primacy AS tires on GV are, have the M&S designation. For real snow and Ice, you need the 3 peak mountain. In fact, having winter tires during winter months is mandatory in a few places in Canada, and that requires the 3 peak symbol. All-season are a compromise tire. The newer category of All-Weather tire, supposedly have the 3 peak symbol making them a good choice for those that don't want to have 2 sets of tires/wheels. Also, of course, if you need this capability only once or twice a year, then having a 2nd set of dedicated winter tires is likely not worth it, and best to simply understand the tire's limitations and drive to the conditions when you do encounter snow and ice.

I live in Canada and I could not fathom driving in the winter with the stock all-season. Tires are the one point of contact between the vehicle and the road and one area I always ensure I invest in quality....safety first. I will be changing my stock 19" for winter tires, selling the Michelins, and will be purchasing a 2nd set of aftermarket wheels (likely 22") for summer.

Yep. This is exactly what i've done as well. stock 19's for winter, new aftermarket 20's for summer ( Wanted 22's but wife will not approve of ride quality haha )

 

[vin0770]

My 19’s are going back on soon and the 21’s in storage. The 21’s have great Continental’s but want to be easy on the new Ferrada rims.

 

[Dennis777]

Seems like a fun restart of the discussion as winter approaches; throwing my two cents into the hat. Weirdly enough, it seems like most of the comprehensive tire tests are done in Europe with North American (NA) tests being hard to find or non-existent (maybe both). Either way, German and UK tests both have shown that in cold dry and cold wet (no snow or ice) conditions that all season tires will stop, accelerate and handle better than winter tires. Once snow or ice is present, winter tires take the lead but the all-season tires are surprisingly close and even overtake winter tires in some of the tests. It's also worth noting that the all-season tires in Europe as far as I know are the 3PMS types, not just M+S.

Just speculating here but I wonder if the rubber compound on the CrossClimate2 and other 3PMS here in NA is similar to normal M+S all-seasons but with the modified, directional tread pattern that seems to be a theme with the 3PMS tires.

It seems like there is no best tire option for the winter unless you live where the roads are covered for months at a time. Winter tires are best when the roads are snowy and icy but are much worse on dry and wet roads even when cold. 3PMS lag behind on snow and ice (sometimes) but are much better on dry and wet roads. M+S tires, assuming the rubber compound is similar to 3PMS, are worse on snow than the 3PMS but are probably the best on dry and wet roads due to their tread pattern. All of the above assume high quality tires are used.

We can debate tire viability all day but I think the bigger issue is people that put on super cheap, no-name tires and people who run tires with no tread left. There's always lots of commentary online when a video or photo pops up of someone spinning and sliding around on snow, especially here in Colorado where the person looks to be crabbing up I70 somewhere in the mountains most likely with no tread left on their tires.

Tyre Test on YouTube has a video where they compare a Michelin winter, all-season and summer in the winter in Michigan on a G70 which is pretty interesting. The summer tire does orders of magnitude worse than the other two which I expected but it’s shocking how bad the summer tire does if you’ve never seen or driven one on snow.

I'm seeing a lot of people in the Denver area have the CrossClimate2 on their cars and would be interested to hear if anyone on this forum has put them on their GV70 and once winter has taken over, what they think of them.

Hello from Denver,

What have you used last winter? I got the car in February and it seemed to be OK on the stock tires but as the winter approaches and I do plan going skiing every weekend, I'm curious if I should switch them

 

[NeutronQuasar]

Hello from Denver,

What have you used last winter? I got the car in February and it seemed to be OK on the stock tires but as the winter approaches and I do plan going skiing every weekend, I'm curious if I should switch them

I also go skiing every week or multiple times a week if I can. I used the stock 19's with the Michelin Primacy and they did fine but I never drove through any of the bad storms. I drove to Winter Park the morning after a storm and US40 was still covered but was pretty compacted by the time I got there and the tires did fine. My current situation allows me to be pretty flexible so I can avoid driving on days that a storm is in the forecast, even on a weekend and still get some skiing in that week.

Currently I'm on 20's with Continental DWS06+. I'll be running those this winter (as long as they aren't horrible; haven't used them in snow yet).

 

[dhuhtala]

I also go skiing every week or multiple times a week if I can. I used the stock 19's with the Michelin Primacy and they did fine but I never drove through any of the bad storms. I drove to Winter Park the morning after a storm and US40 was still covered but was pretty compacted by the time I got there and the tires did fine. My current situation allows me to be pretty flexible so I can avoid driving on days that a storm is in the forecast, even on a weekend and still get some skiing in that week.

Currently I'm on 20's with Continental DWS06+. I'll be running those this winter (as long as they aren't horrible; haven't used them in snow yet)

 

[dhuhtala]

I've been thinking about getting 20s. Do you think they provide a harsher ride or can you tell the difference from the 19s? Ride quality is crucial for my very bad roads!

 

[resdoggie]

If I take delivery by end of Dec, I'll be putting 18" on mine. I just need to buy winter rims and put the Michelin snows on which I already have. Or, sell the snows and leave the Primacy's on which would probably do fine.

 

[NeutronQuasar]

I've been thinking about getting 20s. Do you think they provide a harsher ride or can you tell the difference from the 19s? Ride quality is crucial for my very bad roads!

Over bumps and expansion joints it’s definitely a sharper feeling impact. Although I think some of that has to do with the stiffer tire I put on. Normal road driving feels the same.

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[dhuhtala]

Over bumps and expansion joints it’s definitely a sharper feeling impact. Although I think some of that has to do with the stiffer tire I put on. Normal road driving feels the same.

Thanks...I'm thinking I'll stick with the 19s - comfort is more important than appearance right now.

 

[Amtip]

If I take delivery by end of Dec, I'll be putting 18" on mine. I just need to buy winter rims and put the Michelin snows on which I already have. Or, sell the snows and leave the Primacy's on which would probably do fine.

If you're getting a Prestige make sure the 18s clear your brakes, mine didn't. Others have had success, as indicated by this thread. My 18s didn't have a large enough drop center by a small amount . So I ordered some 19s, which turned out the spokes don't clear the calipers without spacers. If you have an opportunity to test fit before buying definitely do so.

 

[resdoggie]

Good point. I could use the the 18" rims if I buy wheel adapters (provided the wheels clear the calipers) to change the bolt pattern from 120 mm down to the GV70's 113.5 mm. My concern with this is if the 1" thick adapter would push the wheel outside of the fender wells. If it wouldn't, I will just buy the adapters.

 

[Lionorion]

Tyre Reviews just released its UHP All Season comparison test for those wanting to replace their Primacy’s:

 

[Amtip]

Hakkapeliitta R3 SUVs on the vehicle. Only took my existing 18s not fitting, then my new 19s not fitting without spacers, then needing slightly larger spacers, then finding out adding 5mm to your lugs because of 5mm spacers do not equal out and you have to chop your new lug bolts like 1/4". Definitely worth it, can already tell how much these things grip even though the snow (mostly) melted already. Very surprisingly the ride on the 21s is better, maybe because these are knobbly.

 

[dhuhtala]

Are those 19 or 20" wheels? Notice any improvement in ride quality over the 21s?

 

[Amtip]

Are those 19 or 20" wheels? Notice any improvement in ride quality over the 21s?

Hakkapeliitta R3 SUVs on the vehicle. Only took my existing 18s not fitting, then my new 19s not fitting without spacers, then needing slightly larger spacers, then finding out adding 5mm to your lugs because of 5mm spacers do not equal out and you have to chop your new lug bolts like 1/4". Definitely worth it, can already tell how much these things grip even though the snow (mostly) melted already. Very surprisingly the ride on the 21s is better, maybe because these are knobbly.
View attachment 49047

 

[dhuhtala]

Thanks...I will read instead of look at the picture next time.

 

[bing_d]

I got the 18" package they offered from the dealer so I could finance them mainly, but the reviews of the tires on the 18 were better than the ones on the 19 (I think the 18s are pirelli and 19s were michelin)

Zero issues in Edmonton with the 18s, I think the car helps a lot in snow mode and with the four wheel control. I have the top trim 2022 gv70

 

[Dogone]

I appreciate the responses regarding winter tires. Has anyone used the « Auto Sock » listed in the GV70 manual as the only type of tire chain that can be used? All wheel drive cars are required to carry chains in bad weather when crossing mountain passes & wondering if anyone has experience with these?