stock Goodyear Eagle LS tires in winter driving conditions

[digitalrain]

Hi, I've just gotten a new Yaris with stock Goodyear Eagle LS tires and I'm just wondering from those that have driven for a few winters what you think of the tires in the snow? I'm thinking of going thru the Rockies in late Nov and am wondering will I get stranded out there.

I found the stock tires on the Echo were fine, but they weren't Goodyears tho'.

[Bluevitz-rs]

do yourself a favour and get a set of snows.

[MUSKOKA800]

Don't even think about it unless you like white knuckles and dirty shorts.
1/4" of snow was all it took to send me scurrying to mount the winter tires I had waiting at home.

[digitalrain]

Thanks for the warning guys. Better to know now than end up in a ditch in the Rockies with no one coming around for hours.

Is there anyone out there that says they're ok in the snow at all?

Does the LS in Goodyear Eagle LS stand for Lousy Snowtire???

Steelies with snowies sounds like the way to safe driving.

[sjones]

I think you answered your own question. The point of snow tires is that they will grip the road better when the temperature falls below a certain level. All season tires will become hard and lose grip at low temperatures. Doing any mountain travelling in the winter absolutely requires winter tires and possibly chains. Don't risk your life and others by not having the basics covered.

[A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby]

stock tires are very horrible in snow. driving straight on highway at 45mph in slush
you do have good control. however...that is all they can do.

stopping, starting, trying any small grade in snow, very bad.

the M/S rating is really a long stretch.

[yaris2010RS]

all the other cars i have driven had all season tires in the snow and did alright, the yaris on the other hand with those stupid LS tires felt like i was using no tires at all, i have never had such a cheap set of tires

[digitalrain]

I was pretty surprised when I saw on the other thread that the life of the tires was so low for you. And then I saw Muskoka800 add that they were terrifying in very small amounts of snow. I've had many different brands of M+S tires and they performed well in moderate snow conditions when brand new.

So I went outside and looked at the tread, there's not much space between the rubber to kick out the snow.

stock tires are very horrible in snow. driving straight on highway at 45mph in slush
you do have good control. however...that is all they can do.

stopping, starting, trying any small grade in snow, very bad.

the M/S rating is really a long stretch.

[A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby]

yup I am pissed that they spec such a ratty tire on the Yaris.
it is OK in dry, and great in interstate puddles when new, but
in snow, forget it.

I remember never worrying about winter in a front wheel drive car
with M/S tires on them. well, goodyear LS suck, no question.

I have real winter tires to install soon, and next year I am gonna get
a much better M/S tire for summer, or go straight for pure summer tire

[digitalrain]

I think you've got every right to be really PO'd to get only 20,000 miles on the LS's. I would be too.

I second that about never worrying about snow with new M/S tires on a front driver. I would have gone to the Rockies with them if I didn't see your thread here.

I was looking at the local tire store info and it shows the Goodyear Eagle LS as a performance tire. @canadiantire.ca > I know it says M/S on the side walls, but this would make sense when you look at the low tire life and the tread pattern...

What winter tire do you use? How do you like them?

Do you have any opinion on these tires. >> Continental ExtremeWinterContact

[MUSKOKA800]

Michelin X-Ice work like a charm and are reasonably quiet on dry roads. Watch for them, among others on sale at CTC.

NOTE: my Pirelli P-Zero Nero's state M/S on the sidewall. Ya right! They very temperature sensitive and lose most dry grip when the mercury drops below 50F. Can't imagine them near or below freezing let alone on the white stuff.