Winter separate or same tires year round

[sdskinner73]

I live in central Indiana. Our winters are nothing too bad compared to the lake effect I grew up with. (I’ve never had problems with driving conditions different from any other vehicle here). I’m getting another GT. Can’t decide if it’s worth keeping 2 sets of wheels and tires, or have a good all season year round. If 2 sets, I’d likely have staggered summer and go to a square 235 setup for winter. If I stay all seasons, likely go 275x4. Not had enough experience to know the best answer here.
*I am not going boosted, some minor mods (LTH, cat back, tune)

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[MAGS1]

I’d always advocate for 2 sets just because summer tires are really good for these cars and if you like the staggered look you can get the sizes you want. Being in Central IN away from the lake, you can probably get away with all seasons in the winter.

All seasons year round are fine too, I’m speaking more from my personal preferences. I run Blizzak’s in the winter here in Chicago

 

[sdskinner73]

I’d always advocate for 2 sets just because summer tires are really good for these cars and if you like the staggered look you can get the sizes you want. Being in Central IN away from the lake, you can probably get away with all seasons in the winter.

All seasons year round are fine too, I’m speaking more from my personal preferences. I run Blizzak’s in the winter here in Chicago

This was my first year using blizzaks. Never used a winter tire on any vehicle before this. Huge difference. I already have the extra set of winters, but I’ll likely switch them out if I keep 2. Friend gave them to me cheap, but they’re the track pack wheels with 245s in them. An 18” wheel is probably better in winter, I assume

 

[EFI]

Think of your driving during the winter. Do you commute 5 days a week no matter what the weather eg. doctor or firefighter etc.? Do you have things that you do every day regardless of weather?

If so I would say you probably do need a really good set of all seasons or some basic snows.

Me personally I don't go into the office that much, and definitely wouldn't when it snows. My kids take the bus to school, so even on snowy days they either take that or school gets cancelled. I don't really see a time that I would absolutely NEED to be on the road if it snows. So for me, it doesn't make sense to get snow tires because I'd rarely if ever get caught out in more than an inch of snow.

 

[sdskinner73]

Think of your driving during the winter? Do you commute 5 days a week no matter what? Do you have things that you do every day regardless of weather?

If so I would say you probably do need a really good set of all seasons or some basic snows.

Me personally I don't go into the office that much, and definitely not when it snows. My kids take the bus to school, and even on snowy days they either take that or school gets cancelled. I don't really see a time that I would absolutely NEED to be on the road if it snows. So for me, it doesn't make sense to get snow tires because I'd rarely if ever get caught out in more than an inch of snow.

Daily driver, 5 days a week or more at work. 30-40 minutes each way. Valid points

 

[EFI]

Daily driver, 5 days a week or more at work. 30-40 minutes each way. Valid points

So if you don't have the option to work from home in inclement weather, eg. you go in regardless if it's sunny out or a blizzard, I would say get at the very least the best of the beast all seasons. Michelins has introduced a new one that does really well in snow, it's got like the triangular tread pattern.

 

[sdskinner73]

So if you don't have the option to work from home in inclement weather, eg. you go in regardless if it's sunny out or a blizzard, I would say get at the very least the best of the beast all seasons. Michelins has introduced a new one that does really well in snow, it's got like the triangular tread pattern.

I’ll look into those. I used to use continental DWS06. But never had them on the V8.

 

[EFI]

I used to use continental DWS06

Those are solid, they do well up to 4-5" of snow.

 

[sdskinner73]

Those are solid, they do well up to 4-5" of snow.

95% of my driving is highway, so if I see more than that, things have went very very wrong lol

 

[junits15]

Daily driver, 5 days a week or more at work. 30-40 minutes each way. Valid points

If you daily drive it you will like real snows.

I’m about to switch to all seasons for the rest of the year, because I’ve had issues in early spring, fall, and in the rain on summers. Might be worth considering that too for the future depending on how you drive and what the weather is like near you

 

[MAGS1]

This was my first year using blizzaks. Never used a winter tire on any vehicle before this. Huge difference. I already have the extra set of winters, but I’ll likely switch them out if I keep 2. Friend gave them to me cheap, but they’re the track pack wheels with 245s in them. An 18” wheel is probably better in winter, I assume

18’s so you can get the taller sidewall are ideal but 19’s aren’t a terrible option either. The sizes and brands available for 18” for winter tires are more abundant than for 19’s, but there are some decent selections for 19’s as well. More sidewall and narrower is better for snow. The stock size of 235/50r18 has worked well on my GT in snow, no issues at all

 

[Balr14]

I don't need snow tires on my car anymore, since I'm retired and have an SUV if I need to drive in snow. But when I did need to commute, I used Blizzaks on the smallest, narrowest rims that would fit my car. For example, I put 16" Toyota rims on a Lexus 430SC. It looked very NASCAR, but worked great. Narrow rims with tall sidewalls bite into the snow much better than big wide rims and tires, which tend to ride on top of the snow.

 

[sdskinner73]

18’s so you can get the taller sidewall are ideal but 19’s aren’t a terrible option either. The sizes and brands available for 18” for winter tires are more abundant than for 19’s, but there are some decent selections for 19’s as well. More sidewall and narrower is better for snow. The stock size of 235/50r18 has worked well on my GT in snow, no issues at all

That was exactly my concern if I just go all seasons year round. I’d rather have a 275/19, and that could be problematic in the snow

 

[EFI]

Narrow rims with tall sidewalls bite into the snow much better than big wide rims and tires, which tend to ride on top of the snow.

I've always heard that, don't always get it though. Wouldn't more tread bite into the snow better and get more grip.

I think of it like using fingers...wouldn't grabbing a tool with 5 fingers be a lot stronger grip than grabbing a tool with 2 fingers?

 

[sdskinner73]

If you daily drive it you will like real snows.

I’m about to switch to all seasons for the rest of the year, because I’ve had issues in early spring, fall, and in the rain on summers. Might be worth considering that too for the future depending on how you drive and what the weather is like near you

We’ve had the oddest winter this year. Snowed decent maybe twice. This week has been mostly 40s and Sunday/monday will be high 70s. That seems to be a trend the last few years. Which is why I’m considering this. Winters aren’t the best idea when it’s like that, but I’m also not going to switch tires daily for the drastic changes of winter/spring

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