Subject: Winter 210's as Dry tires Reply-to: buckland_at_xmission.com Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 08:55:23
in a dialogue about Pir' Winter 210's, Carl, Todd and Tom write:
Todd
> > The 210's do seem to be the best compromise between a pure snow tire,
> > yet something that will still let us zip to tracks in drier/warmer
> > climes during the winter months. Even in the 225/45's, the M3 is a
> > monster in the snow.
> >
Carl
> > >I have the 205's, as the Factory recommended,
> >
>
Tom
> I'm late with this return post, but I really had a good time last year
> with the M3 up in Minoqua, WS. Blizzard conditions and near zero temps
> most of the time. We were driving logging roads on P210s in 215/45/17
> size. They don't look so funny when the snow is a foot deep and the M3
> is real serious fun on long 40 mph drift turns. The balance is perfect.
> We drove home at 80 to 85 mph most of the way and the car handled fine.
> They ride better than the MXX3s too.
>
> -TB
>
>
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Regarding Winter 210 SIZING, and USE on DRY pavment:
First, I have to correct myself. I said that the manual recommends *205*/45/17. Not true. It is *215* and that is what I have. However good that size may be for maximizing traction in the snow, it is entirely too small for dry payment driving. I suppose it somewhat depends on the state of tune that your car is in, but I find that with the 215's, I can spin the tires on hard acceleration in the first three gears. This gets pretty dicy in traffic; kind of fun, but definitely not optimul. Lack of dry traction is a combination of size AND tread and rubber compound. We can't change the tread and compound of our snow tires, but we CAN change the size.
My next set of Pirelli Winter 210s will be 235/45's. That size may not give optimul snow traction, but for the other 75% of the time that we are driving our snow tires on DRY pavement, the added rubber will be good. It will also LOOK more proportionate. The 215's really do look awfully small. Also, since many of us have upgraded our factory wheels from 7.5" to 8" or more, the 235's will fit better. A 215 looks even smaller on a wide rim, and has to stretch to fit at all.
I repeat my comments on the practice of downsizing to 16" rims, just to be able to install Blizzaks. The 16" wheels don't look good at all on the M3, but more important, I don't think that you get adequate brake ventillation. Further, we know that the Blizzaks, as good as they are, are only designed to work their magic for the first 2/32 or so of tread life. After that, they are no different than any other good snow tire. In my book, not the way to go.
The Pirelli Winter 210 is a H rated tire, and handles relatively well as a dry tire, especially if it is selected in a reasonable size. 225 minimum, 235 is even better (and the fact that the 235/45 is a little taller than stock is perfect; slightly higher gearing in the rear gives better "start up" traction).
Carl
