geebee

iTrader: (2)

When I bought my GS300, the salesman said make sure to get snow tires. Researching the forum here, it seems like most who are up north have snow tires.

However, talking with friends who have rear wheel drive cars (BMW 530 and a Lincoln Town Car), they just use their all season all year.

When we had a bit of snow this week, I found a patch in an empty lot to test at slow speed, and the car seemed fine. I live in Boston where winters can vary from almost no snow, to a ton of it. However, snowplowing is usually pretty good.

Does anyone here NOT get snow tires for their GS? I wouldn't mind saving the money and the hassle of buying them. Any opinions on if I can get away without them?

GB

looknow12

I have always had the stock low profile tires and they were horrible in the snow. That is to say since last year around march where I then picked up all season. I have yet to test them. Living in VA we don't get much, but there is a storm possible on the horizon so I might be able to let you know in the next day or so.

rickm430

Sorry, but in my opinion, you really need at least all seasons. If you have the stock Bridgestone RE-030's these are a hazard at low temperatures. I found my 430 to be unusable in even light snow. Having lived around your area before, I would really look at 16's with snows for a Boston winter. Does the GS3 come with A/S or are they the RE-030's?

Rickm430

GS430 GUY

I have 16" stock rims with all-season tires on them for the winter. It gets the job done for me and the winter weather experienced on Long Island.

LVgs400

Last year I was in Utah doing some boarding, and blizzard hit us while we were on the hill. I can tell you that having the stock 17's on my car was an absolute death trap. Even when I hit the freeway, the car felt like it wanted to start sliding out on me. But I did make it back in one piece.

mooretorque

You may get by on A/S tires but dedicated snows are a necessity for those in the snow belt who have the high performance "summer tire" option (or for those who have gone to 18s, 19s or 20s with even lower profile rubber).

All tires make compromises in balancing dry/wet traction, tread life, noise and traction in snow/low temp conditions. The RE030s have been designed as a warm weather high performance tire, so they have good dry and wet traction, a relatively short tread life (since the rubber is softer) and are moderately noisy. When the weather gets colder, the tire compound gets outside of the optimum temperature range and traction begins to disappear. And in snow, it's abysmal because it was never planned for use in snow. That's when I take wifey's AWD RX!!

geebee

iTrader: (2)

I should have mentioned that the car came with Goodyear Eagle GT+4 all season 16" tires and that I plan on keeping the stock wheels and tires.

GB