Let me start by saying that I did my first auto-x yesterday and it was a blast! I definitely will be going again next Saturday to try and improve my time.


Recently, my factory bridgestone summers are worn down and currently are low on tread. Since winter is just a few months away and with occasional snow, I was looking at the Continental DWS all-season tires which have gotten great reviews for wet traction handling. However, they are not known for handling the best on dry pavement compared to other tires.


For the daily driver and occasional auto-x car, should I go with the DWS, or keep buying summer tires?

 

Congratulations.

You will have to compromise. I like all-season tires. All-season tires are precarious for autocross. Not a big deal. You will learn a lot about throttle control.

 

My bad for not giving you a ride on Sat. I am not sure if I will be in Woodbridge this weekend, but I will be in Winchester on the 17th. If you want.....you can ride with me. Results are posted on the CDC website in the forum area if you are not sure what your final time was or how others did.

I run Dunlop Star Specs on my car, and they are great.....though not suitable for winter weather.

 

Well you’ve got the bug now. Each time you go out you will want to be more competitive and that means a good set of performance tires (Star Spec, RE11 or AD08). None of those are good winter tires, so the best thing to do is a second set of wheels with winter tires that you can put on at the end of the season.

 

I didn't know there was a CDC group here. I race with the BMW NCCA folks. I might have to start racing here as well to get my autocross fix. Anyone going to trackdaze this month?

 

If you don't have the budget for a second set of wheels + two sets of tires, I like the Kumho ASX. Nowhere near summer grip, but very progressive and easy to drive with decent grip, and great all-weather performance (though they suck in snow, like pretty much everything else).

 

Come on out....the more the merrier. I won't be doing another track day until FATT at Summit Main on Aug 20th.

 

+1 on the Kumho ASXs. When newer, they're pretty good in the dry or wet.

As far as "sucks in snow" -- I managed to get in and out of a parking lot behind a guy on Blizzaks -- and HE was slipping and sliding around about as much as I was. So, they're not "magic" in the snow, but they're pretty good.

 

ha, I was actually thinking Blizzaks when I wrote "everything else." Rubber + frozen water in any form = not much grip. Studded tires, on the other hand...

But yeah, the ASXs are as good as any all-season I've driven, and they're pretty darn cheap, too.