Vimy101

Running them at stock and even higher pressures (39F/37R), the tramlining was just too much - think tired after driving from fighting the wheel more often than not. And rainy, wet roads with high winds really exacerbated this feeling. At first I thought it had to be alignment, but everything is spot on and it's the same alignment I use with the MPSes. It just got to the point where it was too much bother and I traded them in. Definitely did not feel as confident on snow and ice as the MPS ASes, but that's possibly due to regional road/temp differences. Perhaps in really cold climes, the MPSes wouldn't be any better (or worse) than the CECs. Dunno. Just know that for SoCal snow, I really like the grippy tread blocks and the ice compound in the MPSes better..

SBT

In all honesty, I have never experienced the characteristics you describe. Could be you had a bad tire in your set.

 

#5) Conti Extreme Contact AS (too much tramlining),

I have never experienced tram lining with my Contis though I do keep them at fairly high pressures. Of course, we don't have the siped freeway surfaces in Chicagoland for the most part. Then again, I wouldn't pick Conti EC for a year round AS in SoCal unless I was in the mountains most of the time. The tread is too aggressive for high temp roads. If you see some snow in your area, only then would Contis be appropriate for year round use, IMHO.

Well, I hope someone tells Bridgestone about this obvious problem with Directional Snows. The LM-25 and the WS-60, both excellent snow tires, are both directional. Dunlop is also going to be pissed when they realize the M3 and 3D snow tires are sub-standard due to their directional design.

Directional tires are excercises in compromise as are all tire designs. The directional design is primarily to increase gas mileage and wet performance at the expense of tread life.

True snows will have an asymetrical design so that grip and is maximized for lateral, accelerative and decelerative forces on snow. They will also be rated H and lower because the tread design is for snow and not high speed. Many winter tires sold now are directional and are advertized as "winter performance" and not "snow tires" despite the performance icon indicator . However, if you look at true snows for light trucks seeing severe duty you'll see tread designs like this:

To the OP:

Depress the accelerator 1/3 of the way to the floor. Dollars to donuts your car will start (assuming it is capable of cranking). If it doesn't, hold the accelerator against the firewall. You could have leaky injectors that are creating a flooded condition. Holding the pedal to the floor signals the ECU to try a starting procedure for a flooded engine.

I dont think these (Contis) are great tires,...

I meant to respond to tantal post but forgot.

The Contis are not in the same league as the 050s, for instance, as a dedicated summer "performance" tire. Then again the 050s cannot do what the Contis can.

The Contis are an excellent urban winter tire. Z rated and pretty good in the dry but where they absolutely shine is in snow and wet. There are those who even use them to good account in western mountains. I would trust them there too though I would definitely get dedicated snows if i were tooling around in the Rockies on regular basis. If the temp gets into the sunny 70s come springtime, you aren't going to ruin them. If you change them up for summer rubber around Easter (in my neck of the woods), they won't get cooked and lose their cold weather ability.

A word of warning is necessary however. The Extremes are an excellent four seaon directional tire. True snows are not directional. The Contis will get you going and keep you going in heavy weather but snow stopping and turning are not their forte. In snow, their directional design works best in forward grip. Turning and stopping in snow is, however, average IMHO. They are fantastic in slush and rain but that doesn't translate to thread clogging snow conditions where true snows will have a definite advantage. Of course, if you use true snows on that warm spring day on the freeway for 4 or 5 hours, you've probably half way ruined them for snow.

FWIW

definitely the best tire for the buck...although i hear they're being discontinued. might need to find another option soon...

No no no! Say it isn't so!

what makes these cars so much more finiky?

The turbo.

Quality oil and filters with severe duty OCI and you should be good to go for a long, long time.

Thanks to all who replied to my original post. After doing more research on the web. I finally decided on Mobil 1 0W40. Being that I live in MN the 0W is important. The 40 came from a report I found ...

 

http://www.performanceoilnews.com/oils_against_oils.shtml

 

Being that I really believe in synthetics this seems like the Best compromise ... Grade IV base stock, cold temp and proven performance.

You would be perfectly fine using a synthetic 5w30 even in a Minnesota winter.

--- Stability: The car is not very stable at speed on the highway. It wanders around in the lane, as much as 2-3 feet either way without giving me any feedback. It's almost impossible to put the car where I want it. It's just not planted. This behavior was better with the RE92s. However the issue with the RE92s as that snow grip sucked, and they flex too much in corners.

 

-- Availability: These tires are almost impossible to find outside of the internet/mail order channels. NO ONE seems to carry them. So if you're on a long trip and get an unrepairable flat, you're gonna be stuck while new tire(s) get delivered, unless you want to ante up for a new set, usually at expensive local-dealer / just-off-the-highway prices. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY 4 OF THESE, YOU REALLY SHOULD BUY 5. They're cheap, it will be worth it. Trust me. I'm on my 7th tire in 6 months, so I know of which I speak.

I've never noticed your stability/wandering issue. They aren't as solid as the OEM 050s but track just fine IMO. What PSI you running? I'm usually close to 40f/38.

Picked mine up (in stock) at Discount Tire.

08's come in Quartz Siler Metallic which is a lightish silver too.

06 paint is "Titanium Gray Metallic" (I think). It does look darker than "silver".

hav3 you b33n drinking again y3s it was b3autiful and it look3d cl3an.

y3s

^ B3auty colour, 3h?

Hid3s t3t dirt, 3h? Sw33t.

saw a Spec B at Bogies Golf in Oswego, Il. when i was driving out of the parking lot at appox. 1:30 pm . bosco

What year Spec.?

opps i meant Larkin and Edison

That would've been me then.

Honk next time!

Guess I will grab the relay first and go from there.

If the fans are running that means the relay has failed which means that the ECU has almost certainly been damaged.

vimy i saw your spec b when i was pumping gas at shell on S Mclean in Elgin the other day

Not on s Mclean. There is a Shell on Larkin near me.

Could there be another Spec.B in our area?

Honk next time!

I had a friggin blast New Year's Eve. Tested the Contis out on some of the steep hills from dead starts. The AWD system is amazing and the Contis gave great starting grip with minimal clutch riding. Stalled her once on Pennsylvania and got right to the edge of the Conti's abilities but she pulled away with aplomb on the second start. My passenger loved the donut shop. I actually even had legitimate reasons to make a couple of trips!

BTW, my passenger had his A6 parked in my driveway. He didn't want to take it out because he didn't think his tires were up to the challenge of 7" of snow .

This proves absurd of this poll.

 

GT and 2.5i thrown in together.

^ It's an open poll of fleet mileage. You can check who is getting what by clicking.

Nice grammar BTW.

Agreed. What's interesting though, is I recently went to visit my family in Cali. (flew) and I borrowed my parent's Grand Caravan. I hauled @$s in that thing, just had a harder time passing people.

You might want to think about upgrading your suspension.

I dont see how u guys can such good gas mileage and still having fun. I get about 12mpg on average. Sometimes I have to pump 2 full tanks a week.

For years I wondered about those late model Corvettes you always see doing 55 on the freeway. Now I know.

Unless you're the general public

It takes patience when driving a high performance AWD sports sedan. Most of the others are afraid they're going to tip over when they encounter a bend on the interstate and slow to 50 from a breakneck, almost out of control, floating, wandering, sloppy 70.