Winter tires are like religion. Some of us believe in them, and some of us don't. It's probably pointless to try and convert one side to the other. I know which camp I'm in - winter tires work for me - and those of you who believe in the other camp can do what you want - as long as you're not doing it where I am.
And then there are weirdos like me: true believers in the factual science behind winter tires, but whose personal experience makes them question their faith.
I’ve read and continue to read countless comparison tests between 2WD cars on winter tires vs. AWD cars on all seasons, I’m fully aware of all the irrefutable objective arguments for winter tires (including the advantages of the winter compound in the cold, even when roads are dry, etc.), and would never even begin to suggest that all that data is anything other than entirely truthful, nor would I ever dream about discouraging anyone from investing in the best winter tires they can afford. But my subjective experience with winter tires was such a letdown that I opted for all seasons for the winter on my new SE.
I drove my previous FWD car, a VW Jetta diesel wagon, for two winters on its OEM all seasons and three winters on Michelin X-Ice Xi3s, and I couldn’t discern any advantage from the IceXs. After hearing so many owners over the years describe the “night and day difference” between dedicated winters and all seasons, I was prepared to be blown away — but from my own experience, I have no idea what they’re talking about. (To be clear, I don’t doubt their account of their experiences, my experience was simply different from theirs.) And the X-Ice Xi3 isn’t exactly a shabby winter tire.
(The one time in my many years of driving that I
did experience a “night and day difference” with superior winter traction: the first time I effortlessly climbed a very steep snow-covered hill in my AWD VW Golf R32 on its OEM all-season tires — I couldn’t believe the winter roadgoing ability of that car compared to all the 2WD cars I’d had before it! But I digress…)
Again, NOT trying to discourage anyone from going with winters — unquestionably a smart choice! But given how underwhelming my experience with them was, combined with how infrequently we get serious snows where I live, and how rarely I ever really
need to go out in dicey wintry conditions, I figure the
excellent all seasons on my SE will safely get me where I need to go while arguably giving me a nicer (if not objectively
safer) drive on the dry roads I encounter the majority of days in the winter — and with the bonus of not having to worry about wearing down the softer compound of winter tires when temperatures fluctuate to unseasonably warm levels on odd days here and there as happens every year during the winter months.
So I am absolutely a proponent of winter tires. Just not an enthusiastic one. Had a really great winter tire with a very good eco rating been available when my SE was finally delivered on December 20 — a month and a half later than I had originally expected it, when winter tires can be hard to come by even in years without massive supply chain issues — I very well might’ve gone with them with the hope that they might actually impress me this time around. But I
was able to get my first choice in an all-season tire, and so far I’m very happy with them. (But don’t worry,
@revorg, I’ll keep my distance!
)
