Driving in winter... (mild 56K warning)

toxik · 01-13-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleLion

Like most generalizations, this one is deeply flawed. The optimum performance for any car is acheived when the tires exactly match the road conditions. That's why people who race seriously have a set of track tires that would perform horribly on standard roads in bad weather.

Theoretically, all season tires can perform as well as summer tires. In practice some all seasons (like Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus) do outperform many "summer" tires. The key is to consider what the car is intended to do. How many 370Z's actually need the level of performance the Bridgestone summer tires claim? If Nissan followed their own logic, only the NISMO would come with maximum performance summer tires. It's the Z Nissan says it intended for racing.

Most of the rest of us will find no performance issues with really good A/S tires. I swapped the Bridgestone Potenzas for the Michelins in October. Even on warm roads, the Pilot Sport A/S tires do better than the Potenzas on wet roads. I admit that I am not racing, but I do drive in a "sporty" manner much of the time. I live in an area that is frequently wet and has roads I can enjoy the speed and handling of my Z when I drive.

In my use, the Michelins stick better than the Potenzas. That's not to say on a track the Bridgestone's wont prove better. My point is that the Z has a special place in the sports car market. It is affordable by people who can't afford multiple sets of tires. Also, other sports cars come with A/S tires.

I wish Nissan would do the same for all but the Nismo.

Why would you want to force someone to get all season tires if they do not want them? If anything, let Nissan give everyone a choice of what tires they want on their car instead of force feeding all seasons. Most people here would go for the Summer tires, where as you would pick All Season tires....

Plenty of other manufacturers all put summer tires on their cars. BMW, Audi, all have car models that come with summer tires stock, and some of those cars are not considered traditional sports cars like the Z is.

I've had plenty of driving experience in all season tires, good brands too... and even if they are equal to summer tires, they are never better. And that's all that counts.

ChrisSlicks · 01-13-2011, 01:47 PM

The real reason that cars come with Summer tires is car reviews. People like to bench race cars on specs, and the car with the stickiest tire can win a test especially braking, slalom, and skid pad. That is the reason cars like the WRX STi made the switch because they were falling behind their competitors. Basically if one car in the class switches to Summer tires the rest are forced to follow else they risk losing a comparison test.

As for the tires that came on the car, I didn't really care as I pulled them off right away and sold them and then bought what I wanted.

Jeffblue · 01-13-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

The real reason that cars come with Summer tires is car reviews. People like to bench race cars on specs, and the car with the stickiest tire can win a test especially braking, slalom, and skid pad. That is the reason cars like the WRX STi made the switch because they were falling behind their competitors. Basically if one car in the class switches to Summer tires the rest are forced to follow else they risk losing a comparison test.

As for the tires that came on the car, I didn't really care as I pulled them off right away and sold them and then bought what I wanted.

just like steroids and baseball

01-13-2011, 01:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 655	The real reason that cars come with Summer tires is car reviews. People like to bench race cars on specs, and the car with the stickiest tire can win a test especially braking, slalom, and skid pad. That is the reason cars like the WRX STi made the switch because they were falling behind their competitors. Basically if one car in the class switches to Summer tires the rest are forced to follow else they risk losing a comparison test. As for the tires that came on the car, I didn't really care as I pulled them off right away and sold them and then bought what I wanted. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

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