yeah, i am storing my stock tires/rims for the whole winter, should i deflate them before storing or just leave it as is?

thanks for helping out!

 

Just inflate to normal psi.

Actually, I store my wheels/tires at my tire dealer (in a heated garage). I pay a fee, but do this to avoid condensation inside the tire and moisture against the inside part of the wheel.

--Spike

 

thanks spike.. so my stock tires are inflated to normal psi , i guess i am fine?

i store my tires/wheel in my office in the basement, which is heated..:-) does that really make a difference?

 

I think it's a good idea to store summer performance tires in a climate controlled space. Notice how hard the tire's compound becomes when you approach freezing. I really have no idea if prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures damages this type of tire, but my guess is that this type of environment can be harmful. I think your storage solution is wise. Even if prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures is not harmful, storing the tires in your office basement minimizes condensation inside the tire and against the inner wheel.

--Spike

 

thanks again spike..

by the way, what psi shoudl i run for my winter tires?

 

35-37 psi.

--Spike

 

lol..thx spike..it's funny cos when i get my snow tires on today, my 350Z rides like a luxury 4 door sedan.(not a sports car anymore with winter tires)..tires are so soft....i almost fall asleep while driving in my Z...lol

 

i let the air out of my r compounds when they're not in use.

 

I notice the same thing.

• My summer setup is performance tires (245/40-18” front and 245/45-18” rear).
• My winter setup is snow tires (225/55-17” all around).

The ride-comfort on the winter tires is much better than the summer/performance tires. I suppose most of this is due to the 17” wheels and higher tire/sidewalls I use in the winter, but I guess the softer compound-makeup of the winter tires also contributes to the softer and more comfortable ride.

Something else I notice is that the winter/snow tires run more quietly than the summer/performance tires. I would think that it would be just the opposite, but actual experience shows that is not the case. It's certainly not what I would expect.

--Spike

 

that's good. i am not the only one feeling that way...

btw, spike, do u happen to know the difference between STUDLESS ICE AND SNOW tires and PERFORMANCE WINTER Tires?

 

Good question...

Studless Snow Tires (just another way of saying true snow tires) are different than Performance Winter Tires.

Performance Winter Tires

• This tire is designed to provide a better driving experience in winter conditions. This design has a stiffer sidewall than Studless Snow Tires. Performance Winter Tires are available in sizes that fit 17” and even 18” wheels.
  
• The compound used in Performance Winter Tires is remains soft and adaptive in very cold weather, and performs better than All-Season tires; but Performance Winter Tires do not match Studless Snow Tires when running in significant snow depths.

Studless Snow Tires (aka “true” snow tires)

• This tire is designed for any type of winter condition. It performs well in very cold temperatures and on ice and in snow. The compound remains soft in the coldest weather.
  
• 17” is the most common wheel size for Studless Snow Tires.
  
• If you are in a climate that often goes below freezing and also has snow storms dropping more than an inch, Studless Snow Tires are better for everyday use than Performance Winter Tires.

--Spike

 

million thanks spike!!! it's very nice of you ..you are always trying to help!!!

thanks again!! btw, i have the Studless Snow Tires and it works amazingly well on snowy/icey roads

 

I agree. Studless Snow Tires are great.

I have run Winter Performance Tires (225/45-18” front with 235/45-18” rear), and did not like this setup at all. The climate in my area is very harsh during the winter months (arctic temperatures, lots of ice on the roadway, and some snow).

In retrospect, I have no idea why I even considered a “performance-labeled” tire for winter conditions. I mean… who in their right mind would drive hard on ice or in snow.

Now I’m running Studless Snow Tires (225/55-17” all-square) on dedicated winter wheels (17x7.5”) and find this setup just great for winter driving on ice and in snow (as you also report).

Thanks for your comments and advice.

--Spike