The Dunlops are all season tires, meaning they are summer tires and suck the rest of the year, depending on road upkeep, experience of the driver and the speed drivin they could probably get you through a winter. Snow tires are the way to go and if taken care of properly should last at least 5 years. I'm going on 6 with my Toyos. They were so good in the snow and on ice I bought a set for the P5, and can now get up my driveway. Most of the idiots you guys were talking about in the ditches, guardrails and the rhubarb don't give any room for error and therefore end up there (not by choice but being the only option left). Winter driving is totally different and some driver's tend to forget that the elements of snow and ice determine how you will stop or control your vehicle no matter how far you can see or how good your brakes are. I'm sure everyone slides through the first stop sign (or light for you city people) of the year and realizes its time for defensive winter driving. Just my 2 cents on winter driving. I probably shovel more snow than most of you drive through in a winter. Maybe some year I'll get a snowblower.

 

No where in my post did I mention that I thought I was a good driver, so don't give me **** for that. All I am trying to say is the Dunlops can get you through a winter if you use common sense while driving. However, if you do something stupid like purposely try to lose control to try and regain it and then go into a ditch a mess up your front bumper, then not even studs will help you. (read my other post)

I'm done with this thread because it seems like its just gonna turn into an argument.

 

I said they were ok in the snow, not snow tires. What's with the attitude? I only asked "Maybe you don't know how to drive in the snow" because most people think they can. Just like people who buy SUVs and AWD vehicles thinking it will get them from A to B in snow with no problems. BUt then again I saw a Jeep Liberty, Subaru Forrester, and Lincoln Navigator either flipped over, on the side of the road, or on the guardrail on Wednesday.

Anyway. This thread is dead. The Dulops are definite not SNOW tires, but they should get your through the winter if they are semi-new.

 

Smells like a locking.........

 

I can't stand the way that my P5 handles in the snow. But then again this is my first winter in a front wheel drive vehicle I can easily out drive my self in a rear wheel drive car. And I do have snow tires.

later

 

Well, if your sister paid more attention to her tires and spent less time with studs, she'd probably not wreck so many cars!

(sorry, couldn't help myself)

 

was just in st louis for christmas we got about 8 inches on x-mas eve. the pro 5 was great in the white stuff. when it wanted to plow through a corner i just gave a little e-brake and got it right back into shape. kinda like rally driving huh?? you know how they love to take care of side streets (not).

 

It all depends on numerous factors. Try living somewhere with a ton of hills, off camber roads, etc. When I used to live near Harrisburg, PA, where it was generally flat, or very slight gradient changes, with wide, straight open roads, you had quite a bit more room for safety. In the Pittsburgh area where I now live, snow tires are a requirement on this car. This car doesn't have enough mass to get significant traction on hills with the no-season Dunlops. With a set of snow tires, the car is ok. Keep in mind, your driving conditions may vary. If I lived elsewhere, I may have decided against snow tires, but they really are cheap insurance.

 

Either way everyone will have to learn their own lesson in the end. Each person will end up not disbelieving but not applying all that's been said. Old saying Learn from the mistakes of others. Seems like a proverb but I don't know another proverb that has either been misapplied or 'un-applied' so much. I've been there and so has everyone.

I reiterate. And just because this says it all

 

Not alot of people have seen as much snow as I in their life (I used to live 500km north of Montreal), and I can tell ya, what you need in winter is a good set of tires; it makes all the difference in the world.

For the record, my summer tires are teh factory ones I had -- 195/55/15 Potenza's

and my winter tires are Firestones FireHawk(something like that) 185/65/14

The fact they are less low-profile makes them more flexible;

The fact they are slimmer makes driving in snow/mix of snow and rain/rain way easier, as the tires cut through more easily.

The fact you have winter tires makes the rubber more flexible @ very lower temperatures, -45C instead of -15C for all-season tires (temperatures @ which the rubber becomes hard and gives way less traction).

-45/-55C are common where I am from, so it's critical you have good tires.

I'm now located in Ottawa, it's close to montreal, and even tho there's less snow/cold, my tires saved me from embarassing situations more times than I can remember.

You have to take into account personnal skills in winter conditions as well, I'm the kind that turns everywhere with the handbrake when I have an opportunity, gives me an edge when I'm in a critical situation as I know better how my car will react and what I can do to get out of the said problems ..

~Sox

 

Very, very good point. where I live in rural central Vermont, the margin of error is almost nil. Steep roadside ditches, trees, terrible, hilly, skinny roads. All that stuff plays a big factor in winter driving.

If I saw snow 3 or 4 times a year, I probably wouldn't bother, but up here, we have snow, slush and ice for a solid 3 months and often more. We got over 2 feet on Christmas and are due for another foot tonight.

With my Arctic Alpins, and good common sense, I feel like I have a fighting chance. On my SP5000's... it would be crazy to travel.

 

Hey, what's with the "lowered front door locks"? Please explain that.