Do I need to put winter tires on my 2006 VW Passat 2.0T???

Answer 1

But Do I Really Need Winter Tires?
The primary concern that our customers express is that they don't want to get "stuck" in the snow (or in the ditch) during the winter.

While in cities like Atlantic City, Memphis and Seattle located at the extreme edges of the snow belt, relatively new All-Season tires will probably work just fine. But the odds change as you move further into the snow belt or the All-Season tires have a few years of wear on them. And who wants to gamble...especially when their collision deductible and future insurance premiums are on the table.

We all know that tires are a compromise. One tire can't be the fastest on the track, most controllable in the snow, and longest wearing. The Ultra High Performance tire that grips the track with tread temperatures of 200° is incompetent as its tread compound becomes like "hard plastic" at below 32°. Today's 80,000-mile tires require tread designs and compounds that maximize long, even wear... not winter traction. And while many of today's all-season tires (Original Equipment, touring and performance) address some of these issues, they still emphasize longer wear, a quieter ride or greater performance...not winter traction.

Only winter tires are designed to excel in the colder temperatures, slush, snow and ice that many parts of the country experience for three or more months a year.

It's also important to note that the recent advancements in electronic driver aids, such as ABS and traction control don't provide more traction. They only help prevent drivers from over braking or overpowering the available traction of their tires. The only thing the driver can do to increase traction...to actually get more grip and control... is install better tires.

Read Why Electronic Driver's Aids and Four-Wheel Drive Systems Aren't Enough

Won't All-Season Tires Work Just Fine?
By design, All-Season tires are a compromise intended to provide acceptable traits under a wide variety of conditions. However, that compromised goal prevents them from being a master of any one of them. The All-Season tire tread designs and compounds that are engineered to provide extended mileages and durability under the summer's sun are less effective in winter's freezing temperatures, and through snow and on ice. Specific winter tires deliver much better snow and ice performance than All-Season tires because their tread designs and tread compounds are engineered to master those conditions, while summer tires are engineered to deliver better handling in the rain and on dry roads. Why not have the best tires for each of the conditions you'll encounter?

Answer 2

Depends where you live! If you live in an area that gets snow and ice, I would say it wouldn't be a bad thing to get winter snow tires. The nice thing about having winter tires and a set of summer or all seasons is they will last longer since you only have them on for part of the year. I don't remeber what tires came on the 2006 passat, but they are usual all season tires unless you buy the GTI.

Answer 3

The normal road tyre recommended by your dealer is great for areas with decent weather and climate. The problem with the Passat and similar cars is that the wide section low profile tyres are useless in the snow and that in turn makes the car useless. If you can choose your trip to avoid snow that would be great. The other alternative is to source a couple of steel wheels fit snow tyres and keep them in reserve to fit when you make that trip.

Answer 4

No. Snow tires are so 60's. Modern radials are mostly all weather and fine.

Answer 5

Are your orignal tires all weather type tires?