Ready for winter

[Eric91Z]

Well, they are saying rain overnight tonight potentially turning to snow tomorrow afternoon. They are saying no accumulation, but last time I thought about putting it off last year, I got caught in 8" of snow with the stock tires.

So, the stock wheels/tires came off tonight and the winter wheels/tires went on. Not taking the chance again. Got the stock wheels/tires cleaned inside and out and put away. Might try to get a couple coats of Zaino on them this weekend as it is supposed to be up in the 50's. At least bring them inside and do that so they are protected for the winter.

Back to the quiet, soft ride of the winter tires. Noticeabled difference in both compared to the stock tires. These are the original tires that came on the car and have probably 25,000 miles on them. I can't believe the weird wear of the rears. Center tread is definitely shot, but it wore really weird. I will try and get pictures to show what I mean. Will be doing 4 new tires in the spring with Carfixer's alignment specs at the same time. Not sure yet if I am going to do the stock KDWS again or go with the KDW2. Not sure if I like the look of the KDW2 tread on our cars or not. And also not sure if I want to spend that much more on the fronts for the KDW2 compared to the KDWS. Rears are same or cheaper, but the KDW2 fronts are much more than the KDWS. Almost enough of a difference to cover a new car cover for the car.

Anyway, just thought I would share. Hoping to get a nice washing done on her this weekend and get a couple of pics taken. I have never gotten any with the steelies on it.

[Canadasvt]

I switched over the the snows when it started getting cold here. The summer tires were getting a little scary in the cold wet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/Canadasvt/winterwheels.jpg

[00 Aggie]

I am working on picking up a set of 16" steelies with Pirelli scorpions, anybody got some pics of this combo?

[Eric91Z]

I am working on picking up a set of 16" steelies with Pirelli scorpions, anybody got some pics of this combo?


I will on Saturday, probably. That is exactly what I am running. This will be the second winter with them. Did excellent last year.

I understand the cold weather and tires. With my rears worn the way they are combined with cold temps, I am laying some nice patches on the 1-2 shift. Gotta love that tune!!!!

[Big Time]

Sometimes in the winter, I have to wear a wind breaker because it's so chilly out. :D:flamer::banana2::lol::bandi t::rasta:

[Black_Noise]

that snow is only supposed to be the north east corner of iowa.

mine doesnt go anywhere in the winter.... unless the streets are plowed and there is just a dusting left on the road, and then its time to play fast and furious 3 tokyo drift ! :)

[RUSTY]

Sometimes in the winter, I have to wear a wind breaker because it's so chilly out. :D:flamer::banana2::lol::bandi t::rasta:

That's just not fair!

[MENINBLK]

These are the original tires that came on the car and have probably 25,000 miles on them. I can't believe the weird wear of the rears. Center tread is definitely shot, but it wore really weird. I will try and get pictures to show what I mean. Will be doing 4 new tires in the spring with Carfixer's alignment specs at the same time. Not sure yet if I am going to do the stock KDWS again or go with the KDW2. Not sure if I like the look of the KDW2 tread on our cars or not. And also not sure if I want to spend that much more on the fronts for the KDW2 compared to the KDWS. Rears are same or cheaper, but the KDW2 fronts are much more than the KDWS.

Hi Eric91Z,

25k miles on KDWS is great mileage.
You have to remember these are Z rated tires.
If we get 20k out of them it is a lot.

In IOWA,the KDW2 may not be a good tire for you.
The KDW2 is a harder compound than the KDWS, and doesn't do well in cooler climates.
During the peak of the summer you will see the improvements of the KDW2,
but as it cools off, you'll wish you had the KDWS.

Lots of Marauder owners in the southern states have switched to KDW2 with great success.
In these states, the weather is warmer and the KDW2 performs very well there.

As BF Goodrich stated to us when they had their forums available,
the wear problem of the Z Rated tires can be improved by adjusting
tire pressure 5 -7 psi upward.
I have been running all 4 corners at 40 psi and there is an improvement in tire wear.
I know it sounds wrong, but for WIDER tires, adjusting the air up
actually gives you a firmer footprint and more even wear.
It will stiffen the sidewalls slightly and direct more tension across the tread surface.
This gives you better wear. Wider tires on highway driving tend to balloon like dragster tires on takeoff.
This is why we see the center wear accelerated.
Brining up the pressure reduces the amount of ballooning.

Try it on your next set of tires and see if you get an improvement.

BTW, the WINTER is the best time to buy your SUMMER tires.
Also, the SUMMER is the best time to buy your WINTER tires.
This is when the tires are out of demand and at their LOWEST prices...

[Eric91Z]

Hi Eric91Z,

25k miles on KDWS is great mileage.
You have to remember these are Z rated tires.
If we get 20k out of them it is a lot.
As BF Goodrich stated to us when they had their forums available,
the wear problem of the Z Rated tires can be improved by adjusting
tire pressure 5 -7 psi upward.
I have been running all 4 corners at 40 psi and there is an improvement in tire wear.
I know it sounds wrong, but for WIDER tires, adjusting the air up
actually gives you a firmer footprint and more even wear.
It will stiffen the sidewalls slightly and direct more tension across the tread surface.
This gives you better wear. Wider tires on highway driving tend to balloon like dragster tires on takeoff.
This is why we see the center wear accelerated.
Brining up the pressure reduces the amount of ballooning.

Try it on your next set of tires and see if you get an improvement.



Since I spent plenty of time on here before getting my Marauder last year, I knew about the air pressure increase to help with tire wear. As soon as I picked the car up from the dealership I got air and have almost always ran 40 psi in all 4. The last couple months I did drop down to 38psi, but have always had it more than normal. Maybe that is what helped get 25,000 miles out of them.

The Pirelli Scorpion winter tires, on the other hand, have about 10,000 miles on them or so and look brand new. I know, different tire, different compound.

Thanks for the input on the KDWS vs. KDW2. It definitely can be cool around here in the spring and fall, but the summers definitely get warm. Then again, I have no complaints with the KDWS. They did well for me in my book. May just save the extra of the KDW2 fronts over the KDWS and just go with the KDWS all around again.

[Sully008]

I am working on picking up a set of 16" steelies with Pirelli scorpions, anybody got some pics of this combo?

Here ya go: 215-65-16 on the front, 215-70-16 on the back...

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/2/9/6/0/FrontWheel.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/2/9/6/0/RearWheel.jpg

[Hack Goby]

I am working on picking up a set of 16" steelies with Pirelli scorpions, anybody got some pics of this combo?

I got these last year and they worked great.http://home.comcast.net/~hack_goby/DSCN2477a.JPG http://home.comcast.net/~hack_goby/DSCN2475.JPGAnd I have the chrome hubcaps to go with them.

[Eric91Z]

that snow is only supposed to be the north east corner of iowa.

mine doesnt go anywhere in the winter.... unless the streets are plowed and there is just a dusting left on the road, and then its time to play fast and furious 3 tokyo drift ! :)


So much for it only being NE Iowa. I am in Urbandale right now (suburb of Des Moines) and it went from rain, to sleet, to now snowing in about an hour time frame. Nothing to hard, but it is kind of heavy and wet and accumulating on cars, but not on the roads yet.

Either way, it is nice peace of mind to know the good winter tires are on the car now.

Update: It is now about 30 minutes after when I put this post up and we now have heavy, big flakes coming down and probably a good inch or so accumulation so far. VERY glad I put the winter wheels/tires on last night.

[quota]

Ready for the winter...
MM is in its garage. Waxed it twice. Summer rims and tires...for the next summer. Will drive the my MGM LSE with winter tires and studs.

For those interested, I am selling a full set of MM 215 x 65R16 Blizzack on 16" black steelies. My MM came with that new set from Alberta. I mean on the train from Alberta. I drove my MM to my garage (60 miles) with the winter combo...and that's all.

I can bring the combo to the US/Quebec border or to Ontario.

JP

[2003DOHC]

Changed to my winter set up 2 weeks ago this saturday. Snowed about 2 inches today. You never know when winter will start in wisconsin.

[Black_Noise]

thats why i said supposedly

[Ed Tarras]

Since I'm keeping my MM, I need to pick up some snow tires. What sizes do you recommend?

[Eric91Z]

I have 215/65-16 front and 225/70-16 rears on 16" steel wheels that I run. That is on an '04 with TC and have had no issues with the TC being set. The front-to-rear size difference is almost the same as stock front-to-rear difference. I have the Pirelli Scorpion tires. They are listed as a light truck tire on the Tire Rack website, but they work wonderfully in the winter.

By the way, it is nice and sunny today so I got the car washed. I should have some pictures up soon of the winter wheel/tire setup on the car.

[Ed Tarras]

Thanks for the info. I'm sure the tire dealer will think I'm nuts asking for light truck tires. But if you say they work, well its worth the investment.

[jgc61sr2002]

My Marauder is covered in the garage. Usually doesn't come out in inclement weather.:D

[Eric91Z]

OK, here are a couple of pictures taken today with the winter wheels/tires on:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/1/1/3/5/Winter2.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/1/1/3/5/Winter5.jpg

Couple more in my gallery.