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Help me choose between two tires

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WhipperSnapper

WhipperSnapper

Lifer
I need to put new tires on my 2002 Saturn SL2. Winter driving performance (snow, ice) is very important but I also need an all year tire since I can't swap between winter tires and summer tires.

Which of these two do you think I should get? Firestone Affinity Touring (came with the car, they were OK) or the Michelin Harmony?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Affinity+Touring

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Harmony

I can get the Firestone Affinity tires for $340 installed and the Michelin Harmony for $402 installed.
 
DWS have been reported to sub-par now in snow once its in the 7/32 area. I think i read like 4 reviews from people stating that.

brand new they were rock solid and everyone loved it for the light snow and etc. But once the tires got down the 7/32 it wasn't cutting it for the snow. They just came out this year or last year so reviews of these tires at under 70% tread isn't as common as reviews of it at 90-95% tread.
 
T2urtle said:
DWS have been reported to sub-par now in snow once its in the 7/32 area. I think i read like 4 reviews from people stating that.

brand new they were rock solid and everyone loved it for the light snow and etc. But once the tires got down the 7/32 it wasn't cutting it for the snow. They just came out this year or last year so reviews of these tires at under 70% tread isn't as common as reviews of it at 90-95% tread.
Click to expand...

That's about right..Tirerack says 6/32's is needed for adequate snow performance - http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=51
 
The Michelin Harmony is an excellent tire. I have it as a summer tire. This tire lasts a damn long time, plus it has excellent grip in the dry.
 
T2urtle said:
DWS have been reported to sub-par now in snow once its in the 7/32 area. I think i read like 4 reviews from people stating that.

brand new they were rock solid and everyone loved it for the light snow and etc. But once the tires got down the 7/32 it wasn't cutting it for the snow. They just came out this year or last year so reviews of these tires at under 70% tread isn't as common as reviews of it at 90-95% tread.
Click to expand...


Thats true for all snow tires, as Jlee's link also says, not just DWS.
The S will wear out when it gets to low for snow then the W then last the D. Its a built in measure tool for the DWS tires.
Dry
Wet
Snow
 
The Continental DWS's aren't available in my area and I don't want to have to wait for shipping. (They aren't even available on TireRack in my size, 185-65-15.) I think I'm probably going to roll with the Michelins.
 
jlee said:
That's about right..Tirerack says 6/32's is needed for adequate snow performance - http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=51
Click to expand...

Marlin1975 said:
Thats true for all snow tires, as Jlee's link also says, not just DWS.
The S will wear out when it gets to low for snow then the W then last the D. Its a built in measure tool for the DWS tires.
Dry
Wet
Snow
Click to expand...

just wanted to let the OP know that. the first couple of post could of mislead him into thinking DWS were the one stop shop type of tire. I dont have them but i dont think DWS are better then any other tire similiar in that group.

BFG traction TA is what my GF has on her lancer that she drives year around and no issues for the past 2-3 years now, i think they are at 6/32 now. I like them but i wouldn't say they were "performance winter tires" like the OP wanted. But of the 2 he selected i think the traction TA should be on top of those.

Yokohama Avids are another decent all-season tire that worked well for me in some snow.
 
As long as I've owned my SL2 I've bought the cheapest tires I could afford, the salesman always tries to upsell some brand name tire and I always respond "no thanks, the cheapest tires you've got will last longer than the car." I'll roll over 200k miles in the next couple months without any serious repair issues, I can't say cheap tires are the reason for my good luck (actually it's adding oil every time I buy gas that has kept the car running) but I'm not going to jinx the car by installing tires that cost much more than $200 mounted and balanced
 
T2urtle said:
just wanted to let the OP know that. the first couple of post could of mislead him into thinking DWS were the one stop shop type of tire. I dont have them but i dont think DWS are better then any other tire similiar in that group.

BFG traction TA is what my GF has on her lancer that she drives year around and no issues for the past 2-3 years now, i think they are at 6/32 now. I like them but i wouldn't say they were "performance winter tires" like the OP wanted. But of the 2 he selected i think the traction TA should be on top of those.

Yokohama Avids are another decent all-season tire that worked well for me in some snow.
Click to expand...


Actually if you read the links you would see the DWS blows away other tires in the same group for snow and wet driving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo1sudvLNNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl5iNU84vKY
 
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