2004 9-5 Aero Tires

My wife bought a 2004 9-5 Aero in December. It came with the Pirelli P Zero tires. We live in the midwest. Within a couple of weeks she realized the car was not drivable in the snow, despite being told the tires were all season tires. We had to spend over $800 for snow tires. Car is fine with the snow tires.

Anyone else have this same problem? Doesn't seem fair that we had to buy new tires within a couple of weeks of buying the car.

Reply to
Steve
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Seems fair to me. The was is drivable in all conditions, even in the snow with some care. But you want the extra safety of special snow tires.

Reply to
Johannes H Andersen

You did the right thing by buying a set of snow tires and here is why: The tires that come with most cars are not very good compared to the tires meant to be sold directly to end users. I was told by someone I know in Goodyear management that the tires they sell car manufacturers to put on new cars are not of the same quality (cost) as the ones they sell aftermarket, even when they have exactly the same markings (model name and size). Other tire manufacturers are probably in the same situation to provide a low cost product to car manufacturers. Additionally, "all season" tires mean that they do an adequate but not excellent job in all or most types of weather. The old saying "jack of all trades, master of none" applies to tires too. Additionally, the concept of "all season" and the performance associated with that type of tire is in the eyes of the beholder, or in this case, the manufacturer.

Reply to
Walt Kienzle

It is perfectly normal. In Sweden and some other Nordic countries, winter tires are even mandatory, no question asked. Anyway, it is not really an addtional expense since the summer tires are in storage and not wearing at all.

Reply to
Saintor

"all season" tires are a marketing fabrication. They're sort of OK in the winter, and sort of OK in the summer. Better to buy a set of dedicated snow tires (I prefer Nokian; made in Finland), and a second set of summer tires. I just switched today, in fact, betting that Wisconsin won't be getting much if any more snow this season.

The only downside is storage of a second set of tires, but the cost works out OK since each set is only wearing out half as fast. Some people actually don't mind the handling of "all-season" tires in the snow, but since you've obviously noticed the difference, might as well do it right.

Saabs have always had the reputation for handling exceptionally well, no reason to cripple them with a compromise tire.

Dave Hinz

Reply to
Dave Hinz

All reply points well taken. In our family, we have a '99 9-5SE and a '00

9-3SE conv. In 2001, after running a winter season on Green Diamond Tires, an Icelandic tire invention using embedded silicon carbide particles in the tread compound, on a Porsche 914... and experiencing traction on Colorado ice and snowpack far greater than expected, we purchased 2 sets of 4, dedicated snows, for each of the Saabs. These tires were and are superior to the studded (but worn) Gislaveds that they replaced. So far we have 3 seasons on each set and will replace them with the same design for the coming winter season. But at about $70. per tire, they were and are a real bargain.

Reply to
Richard Gostenik

Interesting that you don't like the Pzero Nero tires on your Aero. My '02 Aero came with Michelin Pilot Primacy tires, and they were an absolute deathtrap on snow. Unbelievably bad. We get very little snow here in Colorado so I limped along with them for one winter, then replaced them (with only 27k miles on them) the second season with the Pzero's.

The Pzero's are a huge improvement over the Michelins, in snow and in most other respects. The Michelins were very noisy. The major complaint I have is that the Pzero's tend to "tramline" on rain grooves.

Anyway. Be glad you have the Pzero's and not the Michelins that used to come with Aeros. The Pzero's may not be good enough for midwestern winters, but the Michelins were MUCH worse in snow.

Gary

Reply to
Gary Fritz

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