I've been searching around trying to find an answer to no avail. I live in good ole southern Maryland where the winter weather varies from day to day from mid 50's to low of 20s in the mornings, but no snow or ice (yet). We barely get any snow in this area and if we do, it's plowed up quickly. I have a set of Blizzack snow tires on stock VIII rims and debating on whether or not I should throw them on. What I gathered was my summer tires (Potenzas) lose traction below 40 degrees, but also that snow tires tend to wear quicker on dry surfaces. Would it be beneficial for me to throw my Blizzack's on these cold winters on a dry surface or just keep using my summer tires? I just don't want to put these on and have them wear out driving on dry pavement most the time. I should have gotten all season tires, so when the winter tires die, I guess I could put them on the stock rims for colder weather and to keep my BBS' clean. Thanks in advance.

 

Wouldn't you rather wear your winter tires out and be safe or leave on your summer tires and get in a accident,wreck your car costing you alot more money and headache.Maybe you should have gotten some all season tires instead of Blizzacks.

 

Yeah but they came free when I purchased the car, so did not have that option. I don't want to sell them out and get all seasons, but don't want to get stuck in some ice or snow *if* there's ever any. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth it to put these on and just drive with them during winter months even though it stays pretty dry here.

 

Last weekend . . . Seriously, if you count the number of months you'll run the snow tires, add up the mileage, you may own these longer than they'll last before they start to dry rot sitting around in your garage (Assuming you're not putting on thousands of miles a month). I run my snow tires to save my all-seasons, not the other way around. Plus, it’s always better to be safe than sorry as they say.

 

Put them on! It's the middle of December, and you guys are bound to get some snow soon. We've already had 2 blizzards in the state here this year, so I'd rather be prepared than get caught off guard!

 

If its getting down into the 20's, even with no snow or ice yet, its definitely winter tire time.

 

it's better to be safe than sorry. you don't want to go out for an evening and get caught off guard.

i always hate switching to the snow tires. it's like officially giving up on summer and spirited driving, but it must be done.

 

Get some performance winter tires. I will say, my Hankook W300's and my dad's Dunlop Winter Sport M3's handle really well considering they are snow tires. Frankly, they feel better than a lot of high performance all-seasons I've driven on which I can live with for a few months every year.

 

Well guess I might as well do it. The last thing I want is to get caught off guard and hav eno snow and the tires dry rot. I just checked the tires and they are in fact Hankook Icebears W300. They've been in my storage shed since I purchased the car last year, so wasn't sure the brand.

 

They're good tires. Mine are on their 3rd winter so they're going to need replacing after this season, but they are still performing well in the snow for me.

 

I've got Hankooks, too. They work fine. I bet the winter in MD is a lot like the winter in CT (Except for the NW CT hills).

 

I ended up putting them on and they felt good on the street. Now it just looks odd with stock VIII rims on my ride but at least I don't have to worry. I should have done like everyone else and had them power coated black but this will have to do it. Thanks again for everyones assistance, now I won't have to worry about being another statistic.

 

Good choice man! Enjoy 'em! I've got a taste test of my first dedicated winter set of tires this year, and there is no going back! Hopefully you guys get some snow out there soon so you can really enjoy your evo in the winter!

 

Typical install time for snow tires is Thanksgiving and removal around tax season. Regardless of ice/snow on the road surface, I wouldn't have summers on in temps below 40 deg. Glad to see you took the summers off.

 

I live above you in MD and mine went on a couple weeks ago. We had some ice this past weekend, so I know that snow is only weeks or a strong wind from the lake effect snow away...