Absolute Dearth of All-Season Tires for CT5-V Blackwing

[5VBW Nick]

The truth is, these high performance, summer tires do crack in very cold conditions. I was on another forum recently and we were discussing the same thing and guys were sharing pictures of their actual tires that had large cracks in the sidewalls from below freezing temperatures.

I want my blackwing to stay salt-free and not get all rusty and corroded, so mine will sit still for the winter months while the roads are pure white and just looking to ruin any vehicle that comes in contact with them.

 

[5VBW Nick]

For anyone who is interested:

 

[T.O.Blackwing]

For anyone who is interested:

View attachment 28815

View attachment 28816

Interesting, thanks.
I recall reading the same storage and warm up recommendations for the PS4S tires that are on the Blackwing.
To follow them I don’t put the summers back on my car at the first sign of warmer weather but after at least a week or so of it so they’re properly warmed up (they’re stored in an unheated garage).

 

[TonyP]

I really appreciate all the info on this forum. Unfortunately it looks like I must choose another next vehicle due to this. I am honestly disappointed. I live in northern Illinois, I cannot afford an extra car, even a beater, and have nowhere to store it so was hoping this would be my daily driver.

Yes, I can work from home in bad weather, but I cannot take a chance of not being able to navigate midwest winters. My current GTI has snow tires on extra rims I swap out and was hoping for the same. Went to my local dealer and they confirmed that they had nothing and were surprised when we went to site after site to find no match.

My manual options are drying up and it looks like I might need to settle for the Integra Type S or M2/M3 as both have ample snow tire offerings.

I will say that this forum is awesome and you all are lucky to drive the car I wanted.

 

[CB34]

I really appreciate all the info on this forum. Unfortunately it looks like I must choose another next vehicle due to this. I am honestly disappointed. I live in northern Illinois, I cannot afford an extra car, even a beater, and have nowhere to store it so was hoping this would be my daily driver.

Yes, I can work from home in bad weather, but I cannot take a chance of not being able to navigate midwest winters. My current GTI has snow tires on extra rims I swap out and was hoping for the same. Went to my local dealer and they confirmed that they had nothing and were surprised when we went to site after site to find no match.

My manual options are drying up and it looks like I might need to settle for the Integra Type S or M2/M3 as both have ample snow tire offerings.

I will say that this forum is awesome and you all are lucky to drive the car I wanted.

Multiple winter tires along with sizes that fit have been suggested in this thread. No, you won't find something that matches OE sizes exactly but you will find combinations that will work and fit around the brakes.

 

[T.O.Blackwing]

I really appreciate all the info on this forum. Unfortunately it looks like I must choose another next vehicle due to this. I am honestly disappointed. I live in northern Illinois, I cannot afford an extra car, even a beater, and have nowhere to store it so was hoping this would be my daily driver.

Yes, I can work from home in bad weather, but I cannot take a chance of not being able to navigate midwest winters.

Oh c’mon now, eh, just get yerself some good win’er boats and meets me at the rink.

 

[minn19]

Why do people still think it is the 1970s? I’ve lived in MN for most of my life and honestly the only rust I usually see now is on older model pick up trucks. As long as you wash it as you should, you shouldn’t have any problems. At least not for many many years (decade)? It’s a bummer that so many people buy these things as museum pieces. But, it’s their money their choice.

More on topic. I just bought a 19 inch square set from tire rack. I don’t intend to drive it in heavy snow or ice, but I got PA5s, just in case I have to. There were plenty of A/S choices as well. My top two pics being the Conti DWS06 and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4. Both great tires that could get you through light snow as well.

 

[minn19]

I really appreciate all the info on this forum. Unfortunately it looks like I must choose another next vehicle due to this. I am honestly disappointed. I live in northern Illinois, I cannot afford an extra car, even a beater, and have nowhere to store it so was hoping this would be my daily driver.

Yes, I can work from home in bad weather, but I cannot take a chance of not being able to navigate midwest winters. My current GTI has snow tires on extra rims I swap out and was hoping for the same. Went to my local dealer and they confirmed that they had nothing and were surprised when we went to site after site to find no match.

My manual options are drying up and it looks like I might need to settle for the Integra Type S or M2/M3 as both have ample snow tire offerings.

I will say that this forum is awesome and you all are lucky to drive the car I wanted.

I’ve driven many RWD sports cars and trucks through MN winters with no issues. But, it is up to your own comfort level and experience. Is it ideal, of course not. But, if you don’t do it often as you’ve indicated, I wouldn’t let it stop you from buying the car you actually want.

I’m a long time BMW guy/M car fan. I just traded in my MT G87 M2 for my 5V BW. Couldn’t wait to get out of it. Great car, comfortable, very quick and capable. But unfortunately like most BMWs and German cars nowadays, it wasn’t the most exciting car. Also, unfortunately the second worst MT I’ve owned. Mushy shifter, very long clutch with vague pick up points and a lot of rev hang during daily driving. Made it very hard to drive smoothly. Not to mention the maddening CDV (read G87 forums about that). Last, no offense, but the worst MT I’ve driven is the GTIs. My friend is a long time VW/GTI fan. He’s driven a MT GTI for the last 7 years and now has a brand new MT R. I’ve driven them quite a few times and the GM shifter/manual experience is night and day better IMO.

 

[BlackwingSwanny23]

Valid points @minn19. Also comparing a 100K car vs. a 40K car (GTI) - Lol

 

[sonny200]

I really appreciate all the info on this forum. Unfortunately it looks like I must choose another next vehicle due to this. I am honestly disappointed. I live in northern Illinois, I cannot afford an extra car, even a beater, and have nowhere to store it so was hoping this would be my daily driver.

Yes, I can work from home in bad weather, but I cannot take a chance of not being able to navigate midwest winters. My current GTI has snow tires on extra rims I swap out and was hoping for the same. Went to my local dealer and they confirmed that they had nothing and were surprised when we went to site after site to find no match.

My manual options are drying up and it looks like I might need to settle for the Integra Type S or M2/M3 as both have ample snow tire offerings.

I will say that this forum is awesome and you all are lucky to drive the car I wanted.

If you're looking at an Integra or M2/M3 as a comparo, then I think you should be looking at the 4BW instead of the 5BW.

There are plenty of A/S tires available for the 4BW OE wheels.

 

[ViaDale]

Anybody actually know of cases where the OE Michelins have failed due to cold? I suspect liability language....

Example of a failed tire... Drove a Mini as a spare run-around through the winter with summer-only's on it. All was fine until the first highway trip in the spring. The tire literally wore out in 100 miles. The photo may look like an alignment issue, yet it was not (I verified it and had the local shop verify it).

 

[flipray]

Example of a failed tire... Drove a Mini as a spare run-around through the winter with summer-only's on it. All was fine until the first highway trip in the spring. The tire literally wore out in 100 miles. The photo may look like an alignment issue, yet it was not (I verified it and had the local shop verify it).

View attachment 28831

Thats an alignment issue, reaaaaaaly bad toe will eat that tire faster than bad camber. If its tire failure, you'd be chunking it.

 

[ViaDale]

Thats an alignment issue, reaaaaaaly bad toe will eat that tire faster than bad camber. If its tire failure, you'd be chunking it.

To your point, it may not have failed due to the winter-spring cycle.

Yet, it was not an alignment issue. Please let me explain... The replacements had over 10k when I sold the car, and they were perfect. I am confident that they peeled apart in that one trip because I had just pre-inspected the car for PA inspection the week before (8/32). After making the 100 mile trip, the car had a shimmy. That is when I found the tire like that. Maybe it wasn't the freeze-thaw cycle, yet the appearance of cracking and the accelerated wear led me to believe it was.

 

[minn19]

Valid points @minn19. Also comparing a 100K car vs. a 40K car (GTI) - Lol

Fair, but I was just comparing manual gear boxes. You can probably option up a G8X M3/4 close to 100k and the MT still sucks. That was my main point. The 45-55k Honda/Acura MT is light years better than the BMWs and VWs, which are one of the best remaining MTs IMO.

Or as someone else said, I think you could get a nice MT 4V BW for high 50s/low 60s.

 

[1Evil55]

If you can afford a 5V BW, you can afford a winter car with good tires. There is no reason to be driving a 670hp rwd performance car in the snow unless you wanna have fun and spin around a parking lot.

I bought a 400+HP Focus RS a couple weeks ago for winter driving and fun. Also came with a factory set of winter wheels/tires.

^^^This is the way^^^

 

[minn19]

^^^This is the way^^^

I get the sentiment, but that’s not what this thread is about.

I have a Mach E Rally I use for the winter, but that still doesn’t mean I want to store my 5V BW for 4-6 months for various reasons. Biggest one is I love driving it.

 

[Cadillahack]

After much research on tire sites and forums, for my CT5
BW, i decided to go with Toyo Proxes Sport A/S+ 275/35R19 up front and Proxes Sport A/S 325/30R19 on the rear. Impossible to find 275/35R19 Proxes Sport A/S for the fronts and Toyo doesn't make a 325/30R19 Sport A/S+ for the rears.
So I will have a little stiffer sidewall up front and will possibly change the rears to the A/S+ if and when they make them. My use will be driving from Canada to Arizona in the early winter and back in the spring. This was the best solution for me.