I use Firestone weather grip. All weather tires find it very good in all conditionsI am looking at 2 options for a '23 Subaru Outback. We live in Northern Michigan, drive entirely on roads, and get a fair amount of snow (100"/yr) and a limited amount of ice. We travel south a few times per year and Michigan temps vary a lot during the spring and fall so we are considering all-weather tires.
Option 1: All Weather
a. General Altimax 365. Pros: Excellent snow and ice traction, less rolling resistance. Cons: Average wet and dry braking, average (60K) life
b. Michelin CrossClimate2 Pros: Excellent snow, better wet and dry traction, long life (85K) Cons: Average ice traction, more rolling resistance
Option 2: Winter tires / All season tires. Looking at Continental Purecontact LS or Michelin CrossClimate2/ Michelin Xice3 or Blizzak WS90 for snows
cons: hassle to store, seasonal changeouts, not ideal in varying temps pros: slightly better winter and summer performance.
What would you do? Please suggest different tires or a different mix.
Do you buy the studs separately and install them yourself?A vehicle is only as good as the tires . A.W.D. , tech or not . That's why the COOPER Evolution winter with studs are used . Help to get up and down icy driveway of a 30 > 35 degree angle . One early morning slid out into main road on black ice with BRIDGESTON WS60s ( or was it 70s' ? ) .Went to studded snows after and no issue . Little sliding , take time going down it when ice or snow . Did have to park at bottom a few times thanks to 2 > 3 " thick ice .
Without studs .
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With studs .
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Do you buy the studs separately and install them yourself?
Nah, the AWD with AS in the winter crashes because they can’t stop or turn.It defies logic, but I've been caught with my RWD Lexus on A/S tires and 2" of snow. The car has trouble. With the snows on all corners as is the way today, none. Again, it defies logic. Prolly with FWD or AWD one can get away with A/S in the winter.
Edyvw is wrong. Colorado has the worst winter conditions you'll find anywhere. It snows deep year round. Brutally cold. The sun never shines. I warn you to stay away!The problem in reality is braking and handling. And that is all about compound. I lived in Detroit. I would never run vehicles without snow tires there. Actually, regardless that CO is associated with skiing, mountains, we have very nice winters, and in Front Range, it is much easier to “get away” IMO with A/S tires than any Midwestern or New England state.
Still, I run all vehicles on snow tires.
Sure, that'll happen when every other car on the road is a Subaru. I visit Boulder occasionally, and driving through downtown it looks like I'm driving through a Subaru dealer's lot LOL.Classic mistake, mostly done by Subaru folks bcs. Subaru marketing (here it is Subaru graveyard every snow storm).
Haven't read all the replies, but if price is no object, a set of dedicated winter tires on factory alloys late October to early April. Figure at least $1500 but you could do the change over in your driveway in an hour. And the tires will last twice as long, being used only half as much. Plus greater resale value with the extra wheels or you could sell them separately when you trade it in.I am looking at 2 options for a '23 Subaru Outback. We live in Northern Michigan, drive entirely on roads, and get a fair amount of snow (100"/yr) and a limited amount of ice. We travel south a few times per year and Michigan temps vary a lot during the spring and fall so we are considering all-weather tires.
Option 1: All Weather
a. General Altimax 365. Pros: Excellent snow and ice traction, less rolling resistance. Cons: Average wet and dry braking, average (60K) life
b. Michelin CrossClimate2 Pros: Excellent snow, better wet and dry traction, long life (85K) Cons: Average ice traction, more rolling resistance
Option 2: Winter tires / All season tires. Looking at Continental Purecontact LS or Michelin CrossClimate2/ Michelin Xice3 or Blizzak WS90 for snows
cons: hassle to store, seasonal changeouts, not ideal in varying temps pros: slightly better winter and summer performance.
What would you do? Please suggest different tires or a different mix.
Yep. And they are first in the ditch, closely followed by JEEP’s.Sure, that'll happen when every other car on the road is a Subaru. I visit Boulder occasionally, and driving through downtown it looks like I'm driving through a Subaru dealer's lot LOL.