Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires Most liked posts in thread: Tires: Yokohama YK580 vs Continental DWS

If you want to compromise the summer and winter driving then get all season tires. If you want the best for both get a set of summer and winter tires and just swap them when needed. You will actually get better mileage out of them that way too.

 

I'm a believer in winter tires, but they are not for everyone. The way I figure a set of winter tires is cheaper than the insurance deductible on the car. For me money well spent. Like Scott says using winter tires makes summer rubber last longer. Your mileage may vary.

 

You might want to try a search. There are a bunch of threads here on tires, which might be helpful.

Jim

 

Search sucks when it comes to tires because so many of them have only 3 letter names. Besides there may be people that have experience with these tires. Hopefully some of them will chime in.

 

We just took Continental SSR's off and put the Continental DWS's on our MINI from Discount Tire. Looked at Kumho Ecsta 4x and the manager also recommended the Yokohama's. The ride and noise difference have improved 110%. They do feel different over the run-flats. Have not had a chance to get out on twisty roads other that getting on/off the tollway, but we still are able to go double the posted limit.
Hope this helps,
Craig
Also Discount Tire will match Tire Rack's posted price.

 

It's a Justa so 16" at 34psi.

 

I ran Tail of the Dragon on Conti Extremecontact DW tires last year - and loved them - on initial turn in they are softer than typical performance tires but the grip and hold. I actually played tag with another car over the Dragon - at a somewhat ridiculous pace and they did not let me down. The wet traction is awesome as well which is important to me.

 

I put the DWS on both my MINI and my Audi recently. They are quiet and very smooth. We don't drive the Audi agressively but in the little bit winter we did have this year they wife said the car was excellent, although that car does have all wheel drive.....

On my MINI I also like them, again very quiet and smooth although I didn't get a chance to drive them in snow this year.

While buying a separate set of winter and summer tires will get you the best of both worlds, it also means more than twice the cost as you have to buy an extra set of wheels as well as two set of tires. For most of us that isn't really a good choice. I've run all seasons on both my MINIs here in KC for the last 7 years or more and they've done well for me.

The only sets of Yokomamas I owned were noisey - terribly so. I don't know how these new ones will do.....

 

Initial costs are bit more but with the longer tread life I am not sure it would be all that much more expensive.

And it does depend a lot on the winter/summer conditions. I have a real summer and winter here so a compromise on either is not worth it to me.

 

Scott, your posts make it sound to me, like you have winter, then mild winter, then winter again.

Jim

 

Nah.....we just have a winter then summer, no fall or spring. And this winter seems to be hanging on for dear life...damn it!

 

Have the yk520 on my Scion. Like them a lot. Went with Yokahama s.drives on my justa last summer. Really liked them. Great summer tire.

I run snow tires in the winter.

 

Choosing the correct tire is largely dependent upon the type of driving you intend to do and the places you choose to travel during certain times of the year. As was stated above, many folks choose a wet tire and a dry tire, changing them as need be with the season. There's no sense in that for me here in CA but I can see why some do it.

I chose an all-season tire due to our diverse climate and my love to drive my car when-ever or where-ever I feel like it. Also, I don't track my car or feel that I have the need for a softer/smoother compound for spirited summer fun. All that said, I chose the 215-45R-17 Yokohama Avid Envigor and have been completely satisfied. I also ran the Michelin Pilots on a BMW M Roadster for a few years and loved them too. The Yokos seem to be a little softer (IMHO) than the Pilots and make the MINI ride very nicely without seeming to compromise the handling. In fact, the handling improved greatly over the OEM run-flats that were on the car when I bought it. The Yokos had very few ratings when I bought them, but seem to be well reviewed now. I may switch back to the Pilots when it comes time for tires, we'll see... Both tires are relatively quiet and, either way, I'm gonna stick with an all-season tire next go-round.

Good luck with your decision.

 

I have the Pilots on my R50. I like them they seem to handle well in the dry and the wet. I cant tell you what they do in the winter as i live in southern FL!! and they could be quieter as well. I am not overly impressed with them. When the tread on these runs out I will be willing to change to a different tire.