[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Well, a heads up to all that drive their MKC's during the winter months;
I took mine to the dealer today, they are replacing the hatch lock,they got the new latch a couple of weeks ago, but the package was missing some kinda module, and had to wait for that to arrive, so after I dropped it off, they brought my loaner MKC (2015) model year and drove off.
My MKC has the winter tires (Michelin Ice) in 18" size...the loaner came equipped with the OEM all season tires....the difference is literally NIGHT & DAY!
Traction,without sounding negative, is just terrible on the all seasons...I could feel the "C" not really making good traction,when I used the brakes to stop for a red light, I stepped on the brakes and I skidded almost through the entire intersection, glad no one was coming or it would have been ugly! All this makes it sound I was speeding.....I was doing the city limit of 40km!!!! I drove the same roads going to the dealership in MINE, I drove back home on those same roads in the loaner...
It gets worse; I live on a hill and started slowing down early on for the right hand turn into my driveway...I must have been going no more than 15km/hr when I turned into my driveway....the car just kept heading straight down!. It stopped a few feet past my ramp, put her in reverse and backed up....once I was in my driveway,I positioned the car in front of the garage ( the driveway in front of the garage has a slight angle for water drainage) I engaged reverse and attempted to back in, the car just slid sideways!!! I attempted this 3 more times....the all season tires just would not let me back in.( and all this with a 4 wheel drive).
I ended up clearing up the 3" of snow with my ATV/plow and finally was able to back in.
I sure am glad I went ahead and bought a set of good winter tires...they hook awesome, and give you a very good planted feel driving through snow/slush,it's a night & day difference!

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Wondering out loud here; how many owners bought stand alone winter tires?....that is, if your climate does get snow and ice? I hardly expect anyone living in Miami would have use for winter tires,just wondering!

 

[blankster]

I live in metro Chicago. I would go the winter tire/wheel route only to protect the stock wheels from the road salt. So far the MKC with the 20s has been fine this winter since our roads are flat and are plowed pretty well. I just hate the salt!

 

[geezer214]

We have a set of Firestone Winterforce tires on 17" Ford OEM steel wheels with sensors installed. Huge difference in the snow.

 

[blankster]

We have a set of Firestone Winterforce tires on 17" Ford OEM steel wheels with sensors installed. Huge difference in the snow.

Whats your standard wheel (as delivered)?

 

[countryguy]

I bought 18" Nokean studded winter tires and rims without the sensors. The original rims are 20". Since I have no sensors I expected the low pressure indicator to be on all winter but it has not...another problem they can't figure out. Sometimes on a snow or wet day, after driving 25 km or so, the light might come on but then the next day it is off again.

 

[blankster]

I bought 18" Nokean studded winter tires and rims without the sensors. The original rims are 20". Since I have no sensors I expected the low pressure indicator to be on all winter but it has not...another problem they can't figure out. Sometimes on a snow or wet day, after driving 25 km or so, the light might come on but then the next day it is off again.

probably the sensor issues a warning only (out of spec) otherwise no broadcast.

 

[countryguy]

blankster, not sure what you mean but according to Lincoln, the warning indicator light should be on ALL the time since I do not have sensors installed in the winter tires. And since the light does come on sometime, but infrequently, they are thinking it is a short somewhere but have not been able to find it.

 

[geezer214]

We have a set of Firestone Winterforce tires on 17" Ford OEM steel wheels with sensors installed. Huge difference in the snow.

Whats your standard wheel (as delivered)?

We have the Reserve 19" wheel package.

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Country Guy....I gotta hand it to you man, the Nokean studded winter tires have been the BEST tire I have ever owned....They were my first choice when I was getting my rims & tires this winter, but they could not readily get them.....it would have taken " up to 3 weeks" I was told, and decided to go with the Michelin Ice ( still a very good tires).
I also did not want to subject my OEM 20" rims to all the salt they spread,so moved ahead with my new 18" black rims and Michelin's.
I also spray a thin layer of Lithium white grease over the rims before the salting start, have been doing this for years, and has always protected the rims perfectly,have done this one step to ALL my cars alloy rims!

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Nice to hear a bunch of us are using winter tires....I did get a break from my insurance company for buying winter tires....they just wanted me to fax them the invoice and within a couple of weeks received a cheque in the mail....forgot the actual amount, but it was worth it ( a few hundred bucks).
I really like the fact Quebec has passed winter tires into law between November and March....wish the same applies here!...Jeeze, I cannot picture trying to drive my Mustang (with well over 500+ hp) with the summer tires! That's a formula for disaster !!!.
I have Michelin Ice on her too even tho I am not really driving it during the winter months,better to be safe than sorry!

 

[countryguy]

I went shopping for winter tires in mid September...it took a couple of weeks for them to come in.

 

[laurel]

We put on the Nokian All Weather tires and are very happy. However, we are in Vancouver so we have not had more than a few flakes of snow a couple of months ago. The MKC rides nicely with them. This is our first time with All Weather versus All Season. https://www.kaltire.com/nokian-all-weather-tires-a-winter-tire-you-can-use-all-year-long/

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Well, there is a LOT more to winter tires that dealing with snow.....most compounds on summer only and all season are not designed to remain flexible like winter tire compounds...they can actually freeze up and harden ( gives the ride quality of wooden tires lol)...all season DO not come with sips in the threads either, sips are what makes a winter tire "grab" onto ice to propel a car forward ( little skinny squiggly cuts about 1/32" wide...The same can also be said about the winter tire sidewall, although firm enough to handle the rated weight of most cars, they are more "giving" than all season...they have the ability to "compress" over ice mounds and enhance grip.... one last fact I know that works to your advantage is: most insurance companies partly blame accidents in winter to cars equipped with all season tires...as opposed to cars running winter tires.
Generally speaking, winter tires offer WAY better traction and enhanced braking abilities over their counter parts.

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

We put on the Nokian All Weather tires and are very happy. However, we are in Vancouver so we have not had more than a few flakes of snow a couple of months ago. The MKC rides nicely with them. This is our first time with All Weather versus All Season. https://www.kaltire.com/nokian-all-weather-tires-a-winter-tire-you-can-use-all-year-long/

In my opinion, your tires are the best winter tire out there, barr none.

 

[Bob Evans]

In my opinion Michelin Ice are the best winter tire out there.

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Well Michelin Ice are very good, which is why both my rides have them, but I also used Nokian tires and there is a huge difference in traction and over all driving experience.