So I have a new wrx hatch that was looking forward to taking up to Tahoe this winter. I've purchased a set of steelies with dunlop sp3' s on them already; but they have varying tread wear. Two look like 6/32 and the other two look like 4.5/32.

Do you think it's worth going thru this winter with these tires? I know there's issues with running different treadwear tires due to the differential but wanted to know if I could squeeze some life out of these tires.

And I'd love to hear about your guys' winter set ups as well or what's worked for you during the snow season in the past.

 

Whats a Dunlop SP3?

 

Go BLizzak or go home!

 

Prob. Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D.

I'd more concern if the tires are even safe to be driven in snow. Read the last paragraph of THIS article from Tire Rack.

 

yeah my bad,

they are the SP winter sport 3D's.

 

whether you have or don't have snow tires... you should still take it easy on the snow. Im sure, you will be fine for this season. if you have another set of wheels that you DD with...you'll be good for the next season as well.

 

dude i really want a set! but just trying to see if I can get anything from these tires, buuut doesn't really seem so...might have to buy a new set.

yeah...so maybe i may not be able to do with these tires. just trying to see how it'll fare up in comparison to my stock summers also because they do seem "treadier" than the stocks so thought they'd fare up atleast a slight bit better

 

I really wish I had not decided to rally-x on my blizzaks.

 

for my forester, i went with Micheline X-Ice Xi2's. got a nice $100 rebate too when i bought them
i think they were about $140 each

on 04 wrx wheels i got for $80

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=X-Ice+Xi3
they have better ratings than blizzaks, but more $$$
General Altimax Arctic is good too

 

This is what they look like. Top image is the one with LESS tread. And bottom image is the one with MORE tread. Whaddaya guys think?

 

Those are super clean and look like they would destroy the snow! I've found another set of the same tires I have: Dunlop SP Wintersport 3D for $336 after mail in rebate. And I'm not planning to go crazy in the snow; just want to be able to get to the resorts.

 

you really think so?

 

I've gotten to the resorts in RWD and FWD cars with summer/all season tires at least a dozen times and only had problems with weather one time - our 545i got lightly snowed in. Just check the weather before you leave and focus on driving when going over snowy/icy areas. It's not like you HAVE TO HAVE snow tires to make it through a little ski trip.

 

Then they are are already useless to you. A snow tire w/ less than 6/32" of tread is no longer a viable snow tire for several reasons, the biggest of which is that that is the minimum amount of tread needed to properly displace snow. The wear bars may be at 2/32" for water, but snow needs more tread to displace in. Additionally, many snow tires are made from a specialized winter oriented compound that only makes up the 1st half of the usable tread on the tire as that's the only part of it meant to be used in snow and ice.

 

Tahoe (especially South Lake Tahoe) is really good about keeping the roads drivable for most cars.

The only time you will *NEED* snow tires is when you go when I go and thats during a blizzard and theres 2 feet of snow on the road.

I have all seasons on my forester, and several times I have gotten around town with no issues with over a foot of snow on the ground.

Hell, my fozzy plowed right out of the driveway with a 5 foot snow drift in the way no problem. My neighbor was stuck in his lifted tacoma