FAQ: How are the stock Conti tires in Snow?

[Wizco]

Here in hilly Pittsburgh, the Continentals were OK in the snow. Just OK. But I really didn't expect much from all season tires anyway. I'm looking for spectacular in the snow. I just picked up a set of Pirelli snow tires from Tirerack. I expect they will be better in the snow, but I won't really know for a couple more months.

[blackbeagle]

Originally Posted by Wizco

Here in hilly Pittsburgh, the Continentals were OK in the snow. Just OK. But I really didn't expect much from all season tires anyway. I'm looking for spectacular in the snow. I just picked up a set of Pirelli snow tires from Tirerack. I expect they will be better in the snow, but I won't really know for a couple more months.

Did you get stock size Wizco? Did you get rims with that too or did you just get the tires? It's unfortunate that Tirerack doesn't carry the Blizzaks in that size. Blizzaks are great on ice....which worries me 5x more than snow.

[Hlf Pnt]

Originally Posted by blackbeagle

Did you get stock size Wizco? Did you get rims with that too or did you just get the tires? It's unfortunate that Tirerack doesn't carry the Blizzaks in that size. Blizzaks are great on ice....which worries me 5x more than snow.

Blackbeagle, Okay everyone has convinced me to get snow tires. Now I need to find them. Do you know if Blizzak tires are available for the front of the Smart? I have only been able to find the rear size of 175/55/15. I noticed on older threads that some in Canada who bought the Pirelli 190 snows were unhappy with their performance. I don't know what to do. I need good snow tires that handle snow and ice. I have Blizzak's on my "larger car" (Toyota Solara). They are the best I've ever purchased. Any advise on Blizzak sizes for the front? Hlf Pnt

[Wizco]

Originally Posted by blackbeagle

Did you get stock size Wizco? Did you get rims with that too or did you just get the tires? It's unfortunate that Tirerack doesn't carry the Blizzaks in that size. Blizzaks are great on ice....which worries me 5x more than snow.

I picked up a spare set of factory wheels with tires earlier this year. I've been running four rear wheels on the stock Conti's all summer. Sometime in November I'll mount the Pirelli's and go back to stock size tires and wheels on all four corners.

Blizzaks are cool tires and all. Just weren't available in the factory sizes. FWIW, I'm running Dunlop Graspics on my Mazda 3. They are spectacular in just about any depth of snow, and are about as good as your going to get on ice. Keep in mind, no tire is ever really _good_ on ice.

If the Graspics were available in the sizes I wanted, I'd probably have gone with them.

Also, keep in mind the worst winter in Pittsburgh has got be a lot less demanding on tires than an average winter in Canada.

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by jefferios

I was told that the stock tires are "junk" by a local care salsemen who is selling 4 electric cars (2 cars, 1 van and 1 truck) And he's getting the Electric converted smart in in two weeks.

You would believe a car salesman over actual owner's experiences?? Shame on you. There might be better tires but not too many companies make them yet....in the stock sizes that is. I am sure many on here will attest to having pretty good luck with their Conti's.

[Hlf Pnt]

I like what Wizco did. If I get two additional rear wheels, I can order four of the Blizzak that fit these wheels. Then I can run the same wheels on all four corners. Now all I need is two rear wheels. Does anyone want to sell their two rear wheels?

[smarteepants]

Pirelli "Winter 190 Snowcontrol (studless ice & snow)" tires from www.tirerack.com are actually the only tires besides the stock tires that are even available for the smart. At least they are all I have found. There maybe other tires available if you change the wheel size though.

[SylenThunder]

I just get the stock tires siped on the way home from the dealer. Siping gives you almost the same traction as a set of snows, makes the tires quieter, and they tend to last longer. As an added benefit, it's way cheaper and you don't have to swap out the tires every season.

[jwight]

Don't go off the deep end, but here's the Consumer Reports take on siping:

ConsumerReports.org - Siping tires

It's an owner's personal choice, but keep in mind there may be a downside. If you have the extended tire warranty (or even the standard Conti warranty) siping may void it. And is the slightly better performance in snow worth the slightly degraded performance in braking on wet and dry pavement?

[Wizco]

Originally Posted by Hlf Pnt

I like what Wizco did. If I get two additional rear wheels, I can order four of the Blizzak that fit these wheels. Then I can run the same wheels on all four corners. Now all I need is two rear wheels. Does anyone want to sell their two rear wheels?

Keep in mind, that on snow, narrower is better. Which is why I will be swapping from my summer configuration of 4 rear wheels to the original staggered setup. (I'm also considering mounting the snows on the front rims, and running those all the way around. Still haven't made up mind on that.)

FWIW, the Pirelli's are measuring 3/4" narrower than the Continentals of an identical size. (Variances between "same" sized tires of different models/makes of tires is not an unusual thing.)