Which all seasons do Vancouver 1ers use?

[1descending]

Just wondering which all season tires you guys use and what the best place is to buy them and have them installed. (I assume in the states is the way to go)

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by 1descending

Just wondering which all season tires you guys use and what the best place is to buy them and have them installed. (I assume in the states is the way to go)

When I lived in Vancouver for 10 years, I used winters in the winter. All Seasons are no seasons.

Others may differ.

[ZIPNBYE]

If you must use an all-season, use the Continental Extreme Contact DWS (Dry, Wet, Snow). They're actually pretty decent, but still will be no match against a try winter tire, or even a Nokian all-weather tire.

When ordering Conti DWSs for our 135i (shoulder season tire for spring / fall), I got them through Tire Trends in BC for cheaper than what they would have been from Tirerack out of the US.

[1descending]

Do people really not use all seasons in Vancouver? It rains 8 months of the year and many of those months are not really suitable for winter tires or summer tires.

[CM]

A decent set of all seasons is enough.

But if you are planning to go up to the mountains get a set of winter tires. I have Michelin x-ice and never had a problem when going snow boarding.

[Katkarot]

Originally Posted by 1descending

Do people really not use all seasons in Vancouver? It rains 8 months of the year and many of those months are not really suitable for winter tires or summer tires.

Like others have mentioned, all season is really no-seasons.

And no, Vancouver does not rain 8 months of a year

[1descending]

Can you spare me this "all season = no season" trash? You're welcome to recommend winter tires instead but at least post something useful instead of spouting off some cliche.

And I don't know what you'd call the weather from October through May, but those water drops perpetually falling from the sky are known as "rain".

[Katkarot]

Fair request. I will not judge.

I have used Dunlop Winter Sport 3D previously and they were pretty good.

Currently I am running a square setup of Nokian Hakkapeliitta R 225/40/18 on the 135i for Winter.
They are great tires. Quiet (soft being winter tires) but handles well accordingly.

For summer, I run PSS.

Good luck

[litebulb]

I found my 135i to be completely drive-able year round with proper tires, which I have dedicated summers and winters. My Michelin Alpine PA3 (performance winters) are holding up really well.

[1descending]

Has anyone tried Michelin PSS A/S 3's? They appear to perform well for an all-season

[Wescuddles]

I ran PSS all winter and had no issues. Keep you're foot out of it, don't follow closely, dsc on and avoid pooling water/snow and you'll be fine. When it snows 7 days out of the year you can manage taking the bus. My point is its more about how/when you drive as opposed to which tires you choose - as long as the tires are in good shape.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by Wescuddles

I ran PSS all winter and had no issues. Keep you're foot out of it, don't follow closely, dsc on and avoid pooling water/snow and you'll be fine. When it snows 7 days out of the year you can manage taking the bus. My point is its more about how/when you drive as opposed to which tires you choose - as long as the tires are in good shape.

I agree. Why sacrifice performance? Choose a top end high summer performance tire, and when the temp gets below 2 deg C - or if there is a chance of snow - park it. If you plan to drive to Whistler or up the local mountains then get winter tires.

The drivers in Vancouver are mostly clueless about winter driving, so you are always afraid of being clobbered by some moron driving a Dodge Caravan with summer tires on if it snows.

[1descending]

I guess I should have mentioned that I don't take the car out at all if it snows. Even if I had winter tires, I don't NEED to drive anywhere and don't really want to deal with the idiot drivers around here on a good day let alone when there's snow on the ground.

I'm running the oem Potenza RE050A run-flats and just concerned that they might not cut it on rainy days with single-digit temperatures.

[Wescuddles]

Originally Posted by 1descending

I guess I should have mentioned that I don't take the car out at all if it snows. Even if I had winter tires, I don't NEED to drive anywhere and don't really want to deal with the idiot drivers around here on a good day let alone when there's snow on the ground.

I'm running the oem Potenza RE050A run-flats and just concerned that they might not cut it on rainy days with single-digit temperatures.

You would be correct the runflats are very inconsistent in the wet and cold. They are very hard and take a long time (if ever) to heat up. I am fbo and could spin them thru third.. Moved to PSS last winter and they were great - when cold and wet they warm up nice and give excellent traction especially in the dry. A little pricy at $700-$800 for the rears only if I remember correctly (at stock size 245/35) but well worth the money. I drive quite spirited and in 15,000 KMs there is still nearly 80% tread.