All Season Tires for Winter Land

Couleetdi

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Location
West Wisconsin
TDI
2015 Passat SE TDI
Bought my 2015 passat se tdi a year ago this month, DEC 2018. Love the car, nice upgrade from my 2003 Jetta TDI GL and easier to get in and out of before, during after my knee replacement. My gripe

I didn't drive much last year after the accident with my Miata and tanker semi. These Continental tires sort of suck here in Western Wisconsin. Don't grab real well in snow or on ice. Don't care to go to winter tires, but there has to be a better tire. the Generals on wife Subaru Outback are pretty good, of course much less torque to deal with there.

Anyone in similar Cold winter climate areas let me know what tires you are running, these are 17", I think 215/55's need to look again.

Got down to -41 last February, and gets up to 100 in summer occasionally, so a good All season Touring tire is what I'm looking for, not in game to pay for double sets of tires. Appreciate your thoughts and my desires.


couleetdi
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Yeah, the Conti no season tires are awful in snow/ice. I'd get some used 15 or 16" steel rims and put winter tires on those. You're going to need another set of tires eventually anyhow if you keep the car for any amount of time. You probably don't want another impact with a semi- snow tires make everyone safer.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
I have General Altimax RT43s on my Wagon. Although I have winter tires, I got caught in a November snowstorm driving to (ironically) Wisconsin last year. I was impressed with the Generals in the snow, enough that I bought a set for my son's '15 Passat, since he doesn't want winter tires. I also drove them in snow a couple weeks ago, and although they don't launch the car like snow tires, they did fine.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
I couldn't imagine living in Wisconsin and NOT having a set of winter wheels/tires, but I would think the General Altimax RT43 would be decent. We sell a lot of those here, and do not get any complaints with them. General is Continental's "less expensive" line.
 

BroncoAZ

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Location
Flagstaff, AZ
TDI
2015 Touareg Lux, 2015 Passat 6MT, 2009 Jetta (long gone), 2011 Touareg (bought back 02/18)
I live where there is about 100” of snow annually, but we don’t get below single digit temps. I have the pirelli cinturato p7 all season on my Passat. They work decently on everything except ice. If I didn’t run in 120 degree summers in southern AZ for work I would’ve gone with a Nokian tire that is basically a winterish tire for all season use.
 

JM Popaleetus

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Location
Connecticut
TDI
Signature.
Nokian WRG4 or Vredestein Quattrac Pro.

There are your two best all-season tires with severe winter weather ratings.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke

DivineChaos

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 27, 2019
Location
Minnesota
TDI
mk6 jetta sportwagen tdi
I couldn't imagine living in Wisconsin and NOT having a set of winter wheels/tires, but I would think the General Altimax RT43 would be decent. We sell a lot of those here, and do not get any complaints with them. General is Continental's "less expensive" line.
i have put a set of these on 2 different vehicles and loved them. by far the best all season ive tried. and lasted too.
 

DivineChaos

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 27, 2019
Location
Minnesota
TDI
mk6 jetta sportwagen tdi
^^^^^^ totally agree. bought a cheap set of winters this year because i just bought the wagen. On ly last car i said wth and got a set of mishalin x-ice i3 that were mounted gor 300 bucks. I was instantly hooked. Acted like i was driving on dry pavement. Was able to push through 8" of snow (this is with a 91 escort) So i had to get winters again. i ended up getting a new set of federal Himlaya ws2 winters for 250. Yes they were cheap but the differance was astounding. And i drive a lot (2-5k miles monthly)
 

DivineChaos

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 27, 2019
Location
Minnesota
TDI
mk6 jetta sportwagen tdi
Bought my 2015 passat se tdi a year ago this month, DEC 2018. Love the car, nice upgrade from my 2003 Jetta TDI GL and easier to get in and out of before, during after my knee replacement. My gripe

I didn't drive much last year after the accident with my Miata and tanker semi. These Continental tires sort of suck here in Western Wisconsin. Don't grab real well in snow or on ice. Don't care to go to winter tires, but there has to be a better tire. the Generals on wife Subaru Outback are pretty good, of course much less torque to deal with there.

Anyone in similar Cold winter climate areas let me know what tires you are running, these are 17", I think 215/55's need to look again.

Got down to -41 last February, and gets up to 100 in summer occasionally, so a good All season Touring tire is what I'm looking for, not in game to pay for double sets of tires. Appreciate your thoughts and my desires.


couleetdi
General altimax rt43, put them on 2 different cars. They were awesome in minnesota winters. Granted they are no winter tire.. But thay are excelent for the money and last quite awhile. And if you look on CL you might find a mounted set of winters for cheap.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
If you know how to drive in snow odds are you won't get stuck using all-seasons, but for me that's not why I buy snows. For me the value in having snow tires is the control and safety you get when moving or stopping. If you have to drive any distance in snow, dedicated snows allow you to maintain a reasonable speed with less stress than all seasons. I've had to drive for hours on snow covered highways, and dedicated snows make the difference between creeping along and waiting for an emergency stop or turn I won't be able to execute, and driving at a reasonable speed knowing I can steer and stop.

And since miles on snow tires are miles not used on your all (or three) seaons tires, they really don't cost much more if you have them mounted and swap them yourself. Seems like an easy choice.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
Yes, the stress reduction alone makes them worthwhile, imo. I've also been caught by surprise snow storms on the interstate with all seasons. White knuckling it at 25 mph whilst semis fly by on roads with no visible lines really sucks. You just pray you can make it to the next exit without encountering any hills.
 

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
Nokian WRG4 or Vredestein Quattrac Pro.

There are your two best all-season tires with severe winter weather ratings.
I have heard these are great all seasons that get the snow flake rating, if we aren't in the "studs or nothing camp" we'd prob look at these.

This past Oct we got 215-65-16 (a great size that gives a 1/2" lift) Haka 9 and the wife swore something was wrong with them from how aggressive they sounded, i drive the Passat when the white stuff is falling and so far they do great, made it in the driveway last week when 3-4" of fresh stuff fell, our '12 Passat with Haka 8's never would have made it due to TCS cutting power.
 
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