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[Lotus99]

Ashmoto, so how do you find the X-Ice 3's in dry and wet for handling? (not snow and ice)

I'm running snows too, but am more interested in the wet and dry traction, than pure snow and ice, as I'm on the West Coast.

The X-Ice is rated by TireRack as a Studless Ice & Snow tire (For drivers wanting to maximize snow and ice traction from their winter / snow tires without the inconvenience of using winter tire studs).

Whereas the Dunlop 4D for example is a Performance Winter / Snow tire (For drivers wanting enhanced dry road handling from their winter / snow tires and are willing to trade some snow and ice traction to get it).

So I was going to get a tire in the Performance category because of that.

[ashmostro]

I was fully expecting weird dry traction behavior, but was happily shocked to find a very stable road feel, albeit with reduced maximum lateral grip of course. In assuming a lot of this is aided by my slightly stretched fitment.

Wet traction is just fine too.

[Lotus99]

So what do you think about the winter tire categories? Is there any real difference between them you figure, besides the max rated speed? In theory the Perf ones should handle better, no?

The Performance ones are V generally (150 MPH) vs. the Studless ones are H (130 MPH). Only thing in specs I could find different.

[ashmostro]

Personally, I would rather have max traction in the snow and not need it than slightly more traction in the dry only to crash in a storm. Particularly if I'm going with a two tire strategy.

But that's just my reasoning.

[ashmostro]

Only other winter shot where my car wasn't covered in snow:

[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Personally, I would rather have max traction in the snow and not need it than slightly more traction in the dry only to crash in a storm. Particularly if I'm going with a two tire strategy.

But that's just my reasoning.

Crash from using Perf Winter tires vs. the non studded ones? You serious? LOL.

You describe it like it's all or nothing. They are still winter tires. It's not like the Performance winter tires behave like summer tires...

[ashmostro]

Why did you ask the question if you didn't want my unfiltered opinion?

Make your own decision, hence my caveat.

You're welcome, by the way.

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Why did you ask the question if you didn't want my unfiltered opinion?

Make your own decision, hence my caveat.

You're welcome, by the way.

lol exactly.

I agree with this comment 100% as well:

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Personally, I would rather have max traction in the snow and not need it than slightly more traction in the dry only to crash in a storm. Particularly if I'm going with a two tire strategy.

But that's just my reasoning.

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Why did you ask the question if you didn't want my unfiltered opinion?

Make your own decision, hence my caveat.

You're welcome, by the way.

Who said I didn't want your opinion? I just asked you to explain your logic, as I did. I don't see how over-dramatizing the situation by suggesting you'll crash just because you're driving on Perf winter tires adds any value.

I wasn't aware we should be thanking each poster who provides their opinion in the forum...

I'm pretty sure what he's getting at is there's no point in compromising; if you're looking at winter tires, might as well get the BEST snow/ice tires possible, not ones that offer the sportiest feel but are still better than all-seasons in the winter. I would hate to be in a situation where going with a Performance Winter instead of a Studless Ice/Snow meant not being able to stop in time to avoid an accident, etc. The test results don't lie; there is, in fact, a marked distance between the two categories:

Performance Winter: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=181
Studless Ice & Snow: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=180

[Lotus99]

Cobra - wow. Nice find.

I'd seen the Test Results page on the Perf tires, though had only paid attention to the top part, where they rated the tires against each other. I hadn't seen all the scientific testing data in terms of starting and stopping distances, until now.

Thank you very much.

That's exactly what I'd need to make my decision, so I know how much of each thing (like snow vs. wet handling) I'm compromising with each tire, since the car will see wet roads like 90% of the time seeing I'm in the Pacific Northwest. For example, for the X-Ice, it says "What We'd Improve: A little more wet traction if it didn't sacrifice ice grip" which got my attention.

[ashmostro]

Originally Posted by FCobra94

lol exactly.

I agree with this comment 100% as well:

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

Appreciate that.

Lotus- just make the call dude. Don't over think it.

Originally Posted by Lotus99

Cobra - wow. Nice find.

I'd seen the Test Results page on the Perf tires, though had only paid attention to the top part, where they rated the tires against each other. I hadn't seen all the scientific testing data in terms of starting and stopping distances, until now.

Thank you very much.

That's exactly what I'd need to make my decision, so I know how much of each thing (like snow vs. wet handling) I'm compromising with each tire, since the car will see wet roads like 90% of the time seeing I'm in the Pacific Northwest. For example, for the X-Ice, it says "What We'd Improve: A little more wet traction if it didn't sacrifice ice grip" which got my attention.

No prob...yeah, the dry/wet seperation is staggering between the two categories as well. Unfortunately there is no BEST all around tire unfortunately and either way you go it's going to be a compromise...

You just gotta decide which of those factors are more important to you, your driving style, and expected driving conditions.

[ashmostro]

Swapped out my winter tires for 255 square Toyo R1r's for my track setup. Now running -2.8 degrees up front and -1.8 in back.

[ashmostro]

Another with better lighting (sorry for the sucky camera phone pics)