[joegrant413]

So my 2020 Veloster N Base will need some tires for its 18-inch wheels before it gets too cold in St. Louis.

I called Costco, and they recommended *not* to get winter tires here, since we don't get many snow days, and have some days where the temperature can get up to 60 or more in the winter.

I'm leaning toward Michelin all-weather tires. The CostCo guy was pushing BF Goodrich; I'm not so inclined.

FWIW, I don't plan to drive my car at the track -- at least not any time soon. Maybe next spring when I put the stock summers back on.


Any suggestions?

Thanks,
- Joe

 

[PBN]

I recommend Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3+. I’ve run them for years on other vehicles and as long as you don’t have snow, they’re a great high performance all season. For a touring class tire, I’ve run Michelin Primacy MXM4 all year and I find they even do well in snow.

 

[joegrant413]

I recommend Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3+. I’ve run them for years on other vehicles and as long as you don’t have snow, they’re a great high performance all season. For a touring class tire, I’ve run Michelin Primacy MXM4 all year and I find they even do well in snow.

Awfully funny you mentioned these tires!

My 2007 Civic Si -- which I'm about to sell -- has been running with Michelin AS/3+ since this late spring. Best performance I ever had with that car.

Thanks!
- Joe

 

[joegrant413]

I do want to say that we *do* have snow where I live. Maybe about 5 days with at least a couple of inches of snow. Most workplaces close when it gets to be more than a few inches, thankfully.

- Joe

 

[PBN]

To be honest, I haven’t had to drive the A/S 3’s in snow, but from reviews I read, it’s just not their strong suit. Funny you mention the 8th gen Si... I once had a 2009 Si sedan which I sometimes miss because of that great k20z3! A delight to zing to redline! Although if I remember correctly, if you don’t hit redline perfectly, it’ll drop out of VTEC on the 1-2 shift, but get it right and yeah... satisfying.

 

[joegrant413]

To be honest, I haven’t had to drive the A/S 3’s in snow, but from reviews I read, it’s just not their strong suit. ...

Appreciate the info. I had not yet driven the A/S 3s in the winter.

 

[VN_Chas]

Agreed. Michelin A/S 3+ tires are a great choice.

 

[nomad17]

AS3+ were acceptable in snow, but I've never driven on a true snow tire. Really they seemed to be the best all season in warm weather but once the temps drop I'm guessing they take a backseat to the Conti's (or something like a crossclimate).

As far as the k20 a reflash or kpro bumped up the midrange and dropped the vtec point so you don't have to redline it as much. Still fun to do though.

 

[WoodmanMN]

I know a lot of people expect summer tire performance from a winter tire or all season tire. No matter what, you're going to lose some performance due to the needs of a more compliant, winter capable tire.


My go to winter tire in northern Minnesota has been a General Altimax Arctic. I have them on my 2003 RSX, had them on my 2002 Crown Victoria, and my first 1997 Thunderbird. Both RWD cars (Tbird and Crown Vic) did amazingly well in the snow with these tires. I never got stuck, was able to pass 4x4's uphill, and always had suitable traction.


Did they take corners as well as an all season? No. Will they take corners as well as a summer only performance tire? Of course not. But, in the winter in Northern MN, it's an acceptable loss to increase your snow/ice traction.


All of the cars I've had snow tires on are still very fun to drive, and once you adapt to the minor differences in braking time, cornering ability, etc you're going to be fine. The car will still make you grin when going around a corner.


If you EVER get snow, and the all season you are looking at has multiple reviews of not doing well in snow, it's not the tire I'd buy. You may not need a true snow tire, but you can get a better rated all season and only have to sacrifice minimal performance in exchange for superior drivability in the winter.

 

[PBN]

I second the General Arctic and Altimax Arctic 12 snow tires (both made in Germany). From what I recall, General is a subsidiary of Continental, and they also own the Swedish brand Gislaved (from which the Altimax Arctic was one of Gislaved’s older tire designs). I figure Sweden knows something about snow and winter tires. That said, they never let me down. Squishier, of course. I referred it as riding on marshmallows!

 

[WoodmanMN]

I second the General Arctic and Altimax Arctic 12 snow tires (both made in Germany). From what I recall, General is a subsidiary of Continental, and they also own the Swedish brand Gislaved (from which the Altimax Arctic was one of Gislaved’s older tire designs). I figure Sweden knows something about snow and winter tires. That said, they never let me down. Squishier, of course. I referred it as riding on marshmallows!

I haven't found an Altimax Arctic or Arctic 12 in sizes for 18" wheels that will fit on the PP equipped cars.


If you can run a 17" wheel on the non PP cars, I believe they become an option. I think on the 18's the tire I was looking at was a Michelin Pilot Alpine. Great ratings and seem to be a quality unit.

 

[joegrant413]

Snow showers are expected here on Thursday and I still have the Michelen Summer Sport tires. Temps during the workday in the 30s and 40s.

Should I try take the Veloster N out and drive cautiously and see how it goes? Or is it just too risky to drive with these summer tires?

 

[nomad17]

I've had them down to 41 degrees briefly, and they still had better traction than the all seasons I just put on for winter, but at some point the temp will be too low for them. The rubber compound may be more tolerable of low temps than other summer tires (seems more so than my experience with the Pirellis on the PP) but the tread just has no consideration for snow in it's design. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[WoodmanMN]

Snow showers are expected here on Thursday and I still have the Michelen Summer Sport tires. Temps during the workday in the 30s and 40s.

Should I try take the Veloster N out and drive cautiously and see how it goes? Or is it just too risky to drive with these summer tires?

It's one of those things where if you're already out and get caught in a light snow storm, don't stress it but be super cautious and give yourself way more room than you think is necessary.
Swap over to snows ASAP, or if you don't get enough for snows, good all season tires.


The cold temperature can cause harm to the rubber in the tires as they are not intended to flex below 40 degrees if I remember my reading correctly.

 

[joegrant413]

FYI, I went with the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+

So let it get cold tonight, I'm ready!

 

[azycray]

Myself i am a big fan of the continental extreme contact dws. i have run thes tires for several years on different Hyundai's i have owned. They have never let me down The d=dry the w=wet and the s=snow. they are about the best i have had over the years . i have tried Michelin , Goodyear . I have had Nexen , Kuhn tires on a couple of new cars and they were absolute crap . I get my tires through discount tire and i average 35-40 thousand miles on the tires and always get great service through discount if my tires don't get the 50,000 i get a discount on the next set . they perform great excellent dry and wet performance i even have had them in snow when i go home fro Christmas to West Virginia. for the money I haven't found a tire to beat it.