Yeah. My other car is an Infin Q50S. I love my LR3 but the Q50 is WAY more fun on the street.

 

Plus, ya can't really track an LR3..

 

...that would be absurd.

 

I think that's my point though, I'm lucky if I break 20mph avg speed over a week commuting to work, so I kinda just gave up. I had only ever owned RWD manual trans cars before the DII (then RRS and now LR3 also). I will say, the "sporty" difference between RRS and LR3 was a little more pronounced than everyone else said it would be, but I don't really mind.

I think having the ability to comfortably go out into back country.. camping, some of my friends houses, or anywhere in the winter months, is worth losing some of the sporting ability which was just about useless here anyways - even in the middle of summer.

Much rather have my 14 speaker sound system and a comfy auto trans while being stuck in traffic, than a stiff a$$ clutch pedal, loud exhaust.. 2" off the ground going 10mph surrounded by moms in Tahoes and Expeditions that can't drive.... all week long.

 

Luckily my life hasn't come to this yet. If i had it my way, i'd never own an automatic car for a day, and I love the raw feeling of the M. Maybe as I get older it will start to take its toll, but for now thats right down my alley.

That being said, i'm looking forward to some more adventure possibilities in the LR3, that weren't available in the M.

 

So i'm in the final process of deciding what the best winter tire would be.

Have been back and forth on the Blizzaks and the Hakkas, and have sort of come to the conclusion that being in Denver, the weather/temp is going to be to good most of the time for the Hakkas, and I would just be wearing them down under normal circumstances.

This points me back to the Blizzaks more, but I was hoping for some tire size suggestions.

The specific Blizzak model is the DM-V1, and i've been looking at the 255/60R18. This equates to an overall diameter of basically 30"

Obviously, I would like the aggressive look of a beefy A/T tire, but that winter tires prove to have many limitations. Obviously I could start upsizing my tire width, but having had no experience with an LR3 before, i'm not really sure my limits. Ive read that even up to 285 has been okay for the OEM V8 SE 18in rims?

Additionally, I have been hearing good things about the BFG T/A KO2's and was somewhat interested in checking them out. Would the 265/65R18 fit on the OEM 18x8 wheel?

Sorry for some probably pretty basic questions, but Ive never been the best at tire fitment. Any help would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks

 

The 285 will most likely be fine. You need to ensure there is not a collision block on one side or the other behind the front wheel. This was added somewhere after 2005. Mine does not have it. Some folks have cut them off.

For winter road driving, I am not confident wider is necessarily better though. If you don't have a lot of tread, hydroplaning can be a possible issue.

If you do any off roading, perhaps a Nitto, or BFG, etc. might be worth considering. The Nitto suck in the mud, but did ok in winter driving for me, but I've had very limited time with them on the ice / snow. Others here may have other opinions or experience. Of course studded tires are nice for the ice, but the down side is having to change out the tires / wheels come spring. I don't even know if they are allowed at all in Colorado, or the dates..

Obviously the real advantage of a true "winter" tire, is the fact that the rubber compounds are right for the cold, so they are not hard as a rock, and have better snow / ice traction. That means they probably shouldn't hold up all that well to summer driving, aside from all seasons.

You would be amazed at what you can do with most any tire though, with the right pressure and slowing down, on top of the LR3 capabilities. The Nitto are not worth a darn on a sheet of ice, which we get here once in a while. Once you get to that stage, you turn around and go home.

 

My opinion based on living in Colorado, Chicago, Santa Fe, and now Portland. I've driven over the Rockies and through Flagstaff during blizzards many times.

The biggest issue I've ever had with snow and ice is getting out of my neighborhood in Portland due to the steep angle. Flat is completely different than a significant slope. Almost any tires will let you drive in some snow if you slow down and allow enough time to stop. Not usually safe, but possible. When they don't grip enough to stop or get going on a slope is when you have real problems without snow tires. Most tires will be drivable on the freeway at 25 mph. Stopping is the bigger problem.

Hard, wet ice is a completely different matter and is best avoided, imo. Wet ice + hills = no thanks. Have done so with chains - still not fun. The freezing rain we get a few days every year in Portland keeps me inside. Nothing kept me inside in Colorado or NM.

Have Nokians for the wife's car. I just keep chains in my Rover.

 

based on opinions ive gotten from the guys over at ExPo, and my own research, I am leaning towards getting a set of GoodYear Wrangler DuraTracs. The snow/ice performance seems to be very good, and it will allow me to more or less go anywhere at all times. Colorado clears up so quickly after a storm, that it doesn't seem worth getting designated winters. The LR3 is heavy as everyone knows, and i'll honestly just be chewing through tread by driving on dry roads the majority of the time.

I am very confident in my winter driving ability, and i'm well aware of the additional adjustments for the weight of the car. This seems like a logical path to choose.

Let me know if anyone agrees or feels strongly against this decision, haha.

Thanks

 

I would do the same, esp if you're not up in the hills. I never had snow tires and I commuted an 45 mins to the tech center in Denver.