Winter Tires in PNW

[bullet123]

Do you need winter tires in PNW since it does not snow a lot, mostly rains? I live in Eugene, OR.

[katchup]

I never have, on the few days we get snow in Portland I just don't leave the house or take the wife suv.

[bullet123]

Originally Posted by katchup

I never have, on the few days we get snow in Portland I just don't leave the house or take the wife suv.

I was needing a new set of tires. Thanks for your response.

[danchee]

You don't need it until you do. The mornings drop to 40s here in Seattle and summer tires are hard like hockey pucks. Does the car still move? Sure. Does it stop as well when it's wet and cold? No. I never put much thought into it until going down a really steep hill one morning when it was 36F out. Stepped on the brakes lightly, just tapping it to start slowing down and the ABS kicked in. Looked down and I was only going 15mph.

[M4SSIV]

If it just rains I'd probably drive a tad slower with summer tires.
If it does snow i used "Continental ExtremeContact DWS06" worked great in snow.

[delta]

Originally Posted by bullet123

Do you need winter tires in PNW since it does not snow a lot, mostly rains? I live in Eugene, OR.

I use Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's from mid-Nov to late Feb. Not concerned about snow, but the temps, as danchee states above, make my summer tires "...hard like hockey pucks." (As I write this, I noted it's 35º in Bellevue and 29º in Eugene, where you live.)

I'm chiefly concerned with grip. Our summer tires have diminished grip below 40º F on dry and wet roads, and little if any control on snow and especially ice, the latter of which can be a crap shoot. The Alpins have definitely given me better control in cold temps and at least a modicum of confidence in icy conditions, and surprisingly with our rear-drivers, do quite well in snow.

Oh, and there's always the possibility of introducing cracks in our summer tires due to cold temps, though I haven't personally experienced that sort of damage.

[anko]

If it's your only car and you cannot be kept home by the weather, you need winter tires. Otherwise, you can safely drive 99% of winter days on summer tires.