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legacy in snow not so great

18 messages,  Last post on Jan 24, 2011 at 7:07 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 3

#13 of 18 Re: Snow beasts [atalaya505] by rsholland

Jan 05, 2011 (6:01 pm)

Replying to: atalaya505 (Jan 05, 2011 5:39 pm)
I put hose same Continentals on my '09 WRX this fall. They replaced the summer tires that came standard on the WRX.
 
So far I'm very pleased. They are a bit slippery when it gets cold, however. In fact, all 4 tires broke loose several weeks ago while taking one of my favorite country road corners at a rather brisk clip. I slid half way into the other lane; good thing no one was coming in the other direction. In warmer weather that same speed through that corner would have been no problem.
 
The day after Christmas, while visiting my daughter and her new husband, we got 14" of snow. The Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires handled it with ease (just need to remember to turn off the Traction Control when starting out in deep snow).
 
Bob

#14 of 18 Re: Snow beasts [atalaya505] by xwesx

Jan 05, 2011 (6:13 pm)

Replying to: atalaya505 (Jan 05, 2011 5:39 pm)
Once you have driven a good AWD car with proper winter tires in the snow, you will never go back.
 
Yes, I have to admit that to be the case! I used all-seasons for seven years here in Fairbanks, Alaska (that's six months straight of snow/ice driving) - no problem. Once I decided to get a set of winter tires (commensurate with a new car), though, I would never consider settling for year-round all-seasons again.
 
As you say, it is not extra money spent (unless one drives very few miles annually) because it simply offsets the frequency with which any one given set of tires is replaced. I used to replace all-seasons every two-to-three years. Now it will be more like four-to-five (four for the winter tires, five for the summer).

#15 of 18 Re: Snow beasts [xwesx] by paisan

Jan 06, 2011 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 05, 2011 6:13 pm)
DWS are good tires. I put a set on the CTS-V and drove it well into the cold this year while waiting on my STi paperwork to get squared away. I like em as an all-compromise tire. So far the Michelins Alpine 3 tires are doing well and I consider them a "3 season" tire.
 
-mike

#16 of 18 Re: Snow beasts [paisan] by atalaya505

Jan 06, 2011 (9:19 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jan 06, 2011 7:07 pm)
"All-compromise" is an excellent description. That is exactly what these tires are.

#17 of 18 Re: Snow beasts [atalaya505] by paisan

Jan 07, 2011 (9:05 am)

Replying to: atalaya505 (Jan 06, 2011 9:19 pm)
Similar to cars or any mechanical device, it cannot be good at EVERYTHING. If it has a wide range, then there will be compromises on either end of the spectrum, for me on my Subaru, a dedicated summer/race tires and dedicated snows work for me. On my SUV which doesn't need all out performance, I run AT Tires and on my CTS-V I run All Season on the street and race tires on the track.
 
-mike

#18 of 18 Re: legacy in snow not so great [jtny1] by rs6er

Jan 24, 2011 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: jtny1 (Dec 12, 2010 9:13 am)
If you look at the tire survey on the stock tires at Tirerack.com you will find out that they are terrible in snow and a generally crappy tire. The only thing they are good for is comfort. Subaru has a history of putting lousy Bridgestones on their cars (even though Bridgestone makes some great tires.)

Messages Page 3 of 3

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