[kropscamaro16]

lol whats cold weather?

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by kropscamaro16

lol whats cold weather?

I think that's when you use a sweater.

[Corrado68]

One question for those who opted for option 3: which summer tires do you have?

The reason I ask is that I have the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 and I think that they're a bit too extreme: very, very "hot summer" oriented. Here in northern NJ we already see the low '60s in the morning and if the roads are also wet, the ABS light is turning on a bit too often for my taste.

I'm OK with running summer & winter tires alternatively, but with those Eagles you might end up with winter tires for 9 months per year, which is not my idea of fun.

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by Corrado68

One question for those who opted for option 3: which summer tires do you have?

The reason I ask is that I have the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 and I think that they're a bit too extreme: very, very "hot summer" oriented. Here in northern NJ we already see the low '60s in the morning and if the roads are also wet, the ABS light is turning on a bit too often for my taste.

I'm OK with running summer & winter tires alternatively, but with those Eagles you might end up with winter tires for 9 months per year, which is not my idea of fun.

Chicago here, I'm not really seeing any slipping with the couple 50-ish morning we had, and certainly not 60's, unless I try to rip em loose, so I'll be using the stockers for the foreseeable future. With my snow tire experience, 50 degree temps turn them into an adventure all their own and they start chunking with any real spin.

Cold + wet + cold tires is just gonna be a bad time until they're warmed up.

[gosutag]

Am I the only one actually considering just running my summer tires all year except for in the deep snow?

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by gosutag

Am I the only one actually considering just running my summer tires all year except for in the deep snow?

I did this in my Gen5 with the stock tires, I'm lucky I didn't crash more than once. One day it took me 2 hours and like 15 runs to get up my partially icy driveway as the snowstorm was coming in.

It's doable, but it was horrible.

[gosutag]

Originally Posted by Sp00ner

I did this in my Gen5 with the stock tires, I'm lucky I didn't crash more than once. One day it took me 2 hours and like 15 runs to get up my partially icy driveway as the snowstorm was coming in.

It's doable, but it was horrible.

I've looked around a bit and can't decide whether to get wheels with winter tires or just the winterm tires. If I'm gonna be bringing it to a shop to change either way I'm thinking of the cheapest option for changing only twice a year.

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by Corrado68

1) Winter tires with current 20" rims (prices around $1,500).
There aren't many choices, mainly just the Pirelli Winter Sottozero, for winter tires on 20" rims and Camaro sizes. You can have the older series II in the OE sizes or the newer (?) Sottozero 3 by putting a wider 285/35 at the rear.
PROS: I'll have the best tire for every season.
CONS: need to visit a tire shop to swap tires on rims twice per year. Pricey option compared to #2. No run-flat winter options.

I just ordered a set of Sottozero's in the OEM size for the SS. 245/40R20 and 275/35R20. To avoid having to swap them twice per year I also ordered an identical set of gray machine face rims with sensors and centers. It's a big expense up front but I typically keep my daily drivers eight years so it's worth it. I did this with my old GTO and enjoyed having the perfect tire for the season and have my car always look the same. True snow tires are awesome in the snow.

[Corrado68]

I just made my move, so I thought it would be fair to update you all (and take the chance to thank you for the advice).

I went for option #2 (A/S tires on the original rims) and bought a staggered set of 20" Conti DWS 06.

I know that summer+winter tires do a better job than all-seasons (I always took that choice when I was living in Europe). However, I considered a few factors in the choice:

1. My commute is only a few miles, so the GY Eagle F1 summer tires never really warmed up, except in the hottest days of the year. For the rest of the year, A/S tires are actually performing better for me than those aggressive summer tires.
2. I never track my convertible, so I don't really take advantage of the extra performance of the summer tires.
3. Snow gets removed pretty quickly around here, so there's hardly more than one inch of snow on the roads from my home to the office. And I can always hitch a ride on my wife's SUV when it gets too tough.

So far, I'm really happy with my choice. We dropped in the mid '30s in the morning already, and I could definitely feel the difference for the better with the DWS06's. And the ride is so much smoother and quieter, without sacrificing too much of the sportiness of the car.

Thank you again for all your help!

[SDG23]

I was going to say go with #2 and the Conti DWS06, it's a great tire and I've used them in fairly deep snow on RWD with good results. They ride well too and make a great all around tire.