P5 handling
 

I love my P5's handling on dry roads, but wonder if others are considering a change of tires to accomodate wet roads and/or snow. I haven't had my P5 for a winter yet, and wonder if those who drive in Great White North conditions recommend winter mods, i.e. snow tires/all-season tires, etc.

Any ideas about rain handling? Anybody else have these issues?

The tires sacrafice some wet/snow performance for performance in the dry. I drove a couple of times in snow with the Dunlops, and they were slippery but still drivable. For winter I use Pirelli SnowSports 210 195/55/R15 mounted on steelies. They work very well in snow and yet deliver some very impressive wet and dry performance. I recommend them.

Re: P5 handling
 

i got 14" steel rims with michelan alpin tires as my winters...they grip like a MOFO in the winter

hehe i honestly think i get better off the line performance with my winters then i do with my dunlops

Re: Re: P5 handling
 

Because your 14" rims offer less rotation intertia, they'll spin faster than the stock 16" rims.

I have 15" steelies w/ winter tires (dunno which brand). If you live in a snowy area, you definitely want to avoid using your alloys in the winter, particularly if they salt the roads. Road salt eats alloy rims for breakfast!

Thanks!

dru

Actually me and a few others in western Canada were really impressed with the stock Dunlops in the winter. I drove from Calgary to Winnipeg last x-mas and they were great. All other posters are right though . . . better traction and more longevity for the alloys if you have winter wheels. Mind you I use my alloys as winter wheels and they held up great . . . almost like new after last winter. Cheers.

M

my drive through the past winter was ok. the dunlops weren't thhhhhaaaat great but drivable. but the grip is very good in the dry though. i'm thinking of going with steelies and snow tires next winter.

I had my P5 for the tail end of last winter, and I can tell you that I'll definitly have steels and winter tires for next season. I agree with everyone else, the dunlops ARE all-season, but I definitly feel they're made for more dry weather than wet/icy conditions. I found I was slipping a lot more than the tires on my old escort were...

Hey u Calgary and Edmonton guys saying that the dunlops were ok for winter - Don't forget we didn't really have much of a winter this last year. For the most part the roads were in pretty great shape. I'm gonna be prepared this year cuz i have a feeling it's gonna be a rough one. Plus I don't want to wreck my alloys...

Point taken. I have to say though that I have driven on much worse all-seasons in the winter. I will likely throw some winters on the alloys when the Dunlops are gone, but for now they are driveable in the winter. I side with everyone that nothing beats winter tires, so there is no need comparing them. Sheesh, I thought the last few months of winter in Calgary were pretty damn cold and we got dumped on at least 2-3 times. :)

M