Pirelli 21’s in Snow Mode

[Riviam]

YMMV, buy my 21 Pirelli's are down to 3/32 tread and had no issue yesterday in 10 inches of snow. Likely about to switch to 275/60/20 or the 21 Michelin Defenders...but the performance on the Ps has been great.

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[Der]

Thanks to all that posted here, I am reminded about a pakked car sliding, I had forgot.

A wise reminder.

You making fun of the way I tawk?

 

[Bullwinkle]

YMMV, buy my 21 Pirelli's are down to 3/32 tread and had no issue yesterday in 10 inches of snow. Likely about to switch to 275/60/20 or the 21 Michelin Defenders...but the performance on the Ps has been great.

The Pirellis are adequate in deep snow--not great on ice--no tire is, but the Michelins are definitely a couple notches better.

 

[bigsky]

This is a somewhat related situation. I had to take my Model S out of storage and drove it this week. On Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 (the OEM Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires were garbage.) At any rate, drove in a couple inches of snow. I see now why some call all season tires no-seasons. The car felt very unsure on those pilots AS. Lost traction in spots. It slid a little bit, and I am driving 30 35 mph. Not driving it if there is snow on roafs. Should I decide to drive it in winter, I will replace those pilots with Hakka EV 10s, studded to boot. If I want Nokian Hakkas for my R1S, have to get new wheels, switch 21s to 22s. Maybe later.

 

[Doctor Z]

Went out this morning in the 3 inches of snow we just got here in Atlanta. Was being very careful and almost slid into my community’s entry gate. Managed to get back up the incline to the house and parked her in the driveway, which is also inclined. Twenty minutes later I looked out the window and the truck had slid 20 ft down the driveway and was sitting in the middle of the snowy street. WTF?

I’m no newbie to winter driving, born and raised in Maine. But I expected a bit more in terms of traction. This was a complete fail. I suppose it’s the street Pirellis?

Well then….i feel your ‘pain.’ In Salisbury, NC this morning after a wintry mix event during the night. Parked on the street with an approximately 15 degree downward grade behind a Lexus SUV. Started to exit my vehicle a ‘23 R1T (in snow mode) with Pirelli Scorpions as it began to slide eerily close to the Lexus. Startled me. Applied brake which held. Let up with morbid curiosity and sure enough, it inched closer to the Lexus. Had ample traction to back up without sliding as I parked elsewhere. The issue IS real.

 

[chandlerr85]

I was thinking last year about picking up wheel chocks but now am wondering whether they would work at all. If the rear wheels are on ice, the chocks would be on ice as well.

since the parking brake is in the rear and not the front, wheel chocks might help a little if you used them on the front wheels.

 

[André]

No AT or AS tires are "adequate" in real winter conditions. People who don't believe that learn the hard way unfortunately.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Went out this morning in the 3 inches of snow we just got here in Atlanta. Was being very careful and almost slid into my community’s entry gate. Managed to get back up the incline to the house and parked her in the driveway, which is also inclined. Twenty minutes later I looked out the window and the truck had slid 20 ft down the driveway and was sitting in the middle of the snowy street. WTF?

I’m no newbie to winter driving, born and raised in Maine. But I expected a bit more in terms of traction. This was a complete fail. I suppose it’s the street Pirellis?

My gen 1 originally came with the 21's, and I drove them in the snow for one winter before they wore out. Those tires are shit they are even slippery in the rain. There is no tread depth on them, even when new. The new 22 Pirellis are much better, I was driving in the same snowstorm here in East TN yesterday and today and the snow handling is far superior to the old 21's.

 

[Greg Chick]

The Pirellis are adequate in deep snow--not great on ice--no tire is, but the Michelins are definitely a couple notches better.

I have great appriciation for the Michelins !

 

[bigsky]

I have great appriciation for the Michelins !

Does this mean that all the videos, reviews, studies on winter tires and on ice are poppycock?
Tend to think not.
Of course, if you feel like going Mario Andretti with your car on ice, no winter tire will measure up or even save you.

I have Nokian studded tires on my old SUV. The huge better diference on ice and snow with them as opposed to all seasons is higher than night and day. Not driving like a maniac, they feel grippy and extremely secure.

The Michelin Pilot 4 all seasons on my Tesla S are total bs in the winter, let alone ice, period. Looking into getting the Nokian Hakkapeliittas even with studs, for real winter driving. They are some of the best out there, apparently. My SUV sems to show it. Heck, even the name has such a nice ring to it.

 

[Greg Chick]

My professional carrer involved the 3rd. party testing labs repoert on products. I even sat on a Standards committee that vetted things. As such I fully buy into the facts and standards of the testing and reports. All it takes is to watch some videos of tire performance differences done in an unbiased fashion and the differences are as undeniable as the price differences. Sometimes however even the price is better as well the performance is better, none the less, results speak for themselves. My main objection to the Pirelli Scorpion Verde is the tread life! The next is the price!

 

[bigsky]

The local DT shop quoted me $1,600 for a set of four NOKIAN HAKKAPELIITTA 10 EV (studded) for my Model S.
Does that jibe with what you Nokian owners have paid? Includes lifetime balancing.
Do you think that the studdedless version is just as good?

 

[Greg Chick]

I think Ca. prohibits studded tires. But I would use a pair of Spike Spiders if I needed to climb a 30 degree slope in most any all wheel/4x4.

 

[bigsky]

I think Ca. prohibits studded tires. But I would use a pair of Spike Spiders if I needed to climb a 30 degree slope in most any all wheel/4x4.

Some states like mine allow them nov 1 - mar 1.
Spike spiders?
Moved way north from way down south. AS tires on my cars were fine there year-round. Over here, no way. Learning what is like to drive in real winter with tons of snow and ice and want to take no chances. Soaking up any and all advice fron winter veterans. As the famous ad says: "because so much is riding on your tires."

 

[runningdenver]

The local DT shop quoted me $1,600 for a set of four NOKIAN HAKKAPELIITTA 10 EV (studded) for my Model S.
Does that jibe with what you Nokian owners have paid? Includes lifetime balancing.
Do you think that the studdedless version is just as good?

I have the 21 inch wheels / pirellis, so bought the 20 inch wheel and nokian set from EVS. They came inflated, balanced, and with tpms in about a week. I got the bottle jack too and changed them out myself. So now I have the pirellis for the summer and the nokians for the winter, prolonging both sets. If you have the 20s or 22s, then yeah - cheaper to get the tires. That seems a good deal, but I'm keeping my R1S for years, and like being able to switch the sets over myself.

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