Are Front-Wheel Drive and All-Season Tires Enough for Winter Driving?

iluvmycsx

Mr Csx
Vip Member
3,216
1,317
Regina - The City That Rhymes with Fun
Vehicle Model
Acura Csx
Body Style
Sedan

07TLX

Well-Known Member
4,436
1,596
Somewhere in SEPA
Vehicle Model
Pontiac
Body Style
G8 GT
I don't know of any all season that works well.... It can be a PITA to have to change out the wheels every year but the traction of snow tires can not be beat.... I was helping people dig out and get out of parking spaces cause there A/S tires had no traction and all I had to was put the car in 1st and slowly roll out....

Another good snow tire is General Altimax Artic
 

Nix

Jötunn Moderator
10,765
8,162
Lew-vul, KY
Body Style
It's A Fast Pig!
I had a disappointing experience with General Tires. I ran altimax HP's on my accord. Over 65mph I got bad shaking. After reading many many reviews on tirerack and elsewhere there seemed to be an underlying issue of the quality of the tire.

Basically every so often General would do a poor job of constructing the plies in the tire and the overlap would end up too close or right on top of each other creating a heavy spot you couldn't balance away. Also tire pressure seemed to be a large factor in whether or not you felt this. Mine did not become a problem until I had put 5000 miles on them and the wear/break in introduced this factor. I was far beyond returnable. I also felt that they had an incredibly soft sidewall which led to a loose wobbly feeling in the car. I ran close to 38psi in all tires and the car became much more stable. Overall a nice looking, well priced, quiet riding tire that unfortunately hides a flaw until slightly worn. I have over 25000 miles on them now and can say they do wear well but a second tire is beginning to "hop" a little. They do have a 50,000 mile, tread depth only says the store, warranty - but since I haven't been able to wear them down I can't exchange them.

Never bought another thing from the shop I got them from since they kinda said eh sorry dude, buy new tires.

I did see the altimax arctic. Looks decent but they may have the same issue. It was very hard to find several reviews with the same issue so it really seems like they are hit or miss or the reviewers hadnt gotten enough miles. It's obviously not a consistent problem but is quite unsettling when it happens to you.

I know it's the tires cause I ran them as summers and switching to the snow tires on the same wheels stopped the problem.
 

07TLX

Well-Known Member
4,436
1,596
Somewhere in SEPA
Vehicle Model
Pontiac
Body Style
G8 GT
This is my 2nd set of Altimax Artics.... I sold the first set on my steelies with good tread on them. I put another set on my old 16inch rims and running the second season with them and no problems at all even at 80mph they are stable, sidewall is a bit soft but they are winter tires, nothing like 38psi to help a bit...
 

dentrecords

Polar Bear
Vip Member
3,252
2,547
I just picked my Michelins up yesterday! I need to spraypaint my winter rims again so they don't look like rust. I'm thinking flat BBQ black but... I've seen some pretty wild fluorescent jobs. What do y'all think, eh?
 
Top