Just wondering if there are any people who know the tread designs on tires...

Was just in tire kingdom getting my snow tires put on, and while waiting I noticed some PATHETIC snow tires, as in practically no tread whatsoever, and it just got me wondering how they could sell them as snow tires.... and how good my snow tires are (cooper zeon zpt M+S)

So does anyone know any tips to tell how good a snow tire is gripwise? does more and wider horizontal gaps mean better grip?

 

Cooper zeon zpt are NOT snow tires regardless of their "M+S" rating. They're "all-season" which really means "all-season unless you get a lot of snow and then only three-season".

True snow tires will have a compound that stays soft in cold weather (you can't see this) and siping or thin slits in the treadblock (you can see this).

Check out this GIS for "snow tire tread". Look closely at some of the pictures. Notice the fine zig-zag pattern on the treadblocks? That's one of the hallmarks of a true snow tire.

For the record, this is what I have on my car for the winter. They are infinitely better than the previous all-seasons I had before (Falken Azenis Ziex ZE-512 M+S) that it's literally night and day in the snow. It says "all-weather" mostly, I think, due to the fact that the rubber isn't quite as soft as a conventional snow tire though it still has a snow tire tread pattern.

 

Nokian Hakka R thats a real snow and ice tire.

 

it will say "BLIZZACK" on the sidewall

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/...jsp?techid=125

 

^ nuff said

 

+++ ^^^

 

yeahhh found out yesterday that they were all seasons, bummmerrrrr


Yeah I know blizakas are the god of snow tires from what Ive heard, If I get some snow tires I would def go with them.



SO I guess the real question is how do you tell actual snow tires from all seasons.... since they both have M+S and both have similar tread lines.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_tires

 

I'm running Toyo Garit KX, pretty decent. I have not spun nor ended up in a ditch, so I guess these are pretty good, but I drive a lot less aggressively in the winter. They suck on ice though, but all stud-less tires are. I also had the Hankook W300 before, these felt more sporty than the Garit KX, firmer sidewall but felt less grippy in thicker snow.

 

Last year I bought Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 Performance Winter / Snow tires. The price for these tires were good and there was a 50 dollar mail in rebate offer. These tires performed well for me. I would buy these tires again.