So it looks like today will be the day to test out how this car performs in the snow on UK roads. I’m sure our Scandinavian friends already have vast experience but this is one of those rare days it now seems. Any tips or does this car handle like a dream in these artic conditions 🤪.
![2675]( "2675")
![2676]( "2676")
Let it snow ⛄️
jonspolestar
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I really have to laugh when I look at your first world problem. I've copied your map with a close up of the end of the world (Wales) and plotted below at the exact same scale my neck of the woods... And BTW, that's in the "densily populated area" of my neck of the woods... Obviously there's quite a few of these areas in North America... That's when road planning apps come in handy !Wales, sadly, is a desert for reliable chargersMy brother lives in Aberystwyth (half way down the West coast of Wales, for our foreign friends) and this is what ZapMap shows:
View attachment 2810
And those two rapid chargers are BP Pulse ones which are notoriously unreliable, those specific ones, and one at a Morrison's (supermarket) which is also mostly offline apparently. Note the wasteland all around!! It's like they all forgot people like to drive to Wales (when they can).
Thankfully there's an InstaVolt halfway from Warwick (right in the centre of the UK) across to Aberystwyth so I top up there on the way back (in the Kona, both directions in the Polestar I suspect!). Very frustrating.
N. American miles aren't the same as UK miles
Keep in mind they have TARDIS
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This just shows how much braver we are to be jumping in with the Polestar here in North America.
(or foolish)
(or foolish)
So my car indeed has the 19" stock tires that are summer tires. I'm so aggravated by this. I asked three times and was assured they would be all season.
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I don't know where you live, Fran, but if you're north of the Mason/Dixon line, this might be the time to go with two wheel sets: one for summer and one for winter. In practice, it's not that much of a hassle. The additional set of rims is an additional expense, but there's no real increase in the cost of tires unless you tend not to hold on to cars for very long.
i completely agree and am on the same page. I asked prior to purchase and was told the nonPP tires were rated as all season. It seems to be a point of confusion among the folks staffing both customer service and the spaces. And there’s no online info about the tires through either Polestar or Michelin so there’s really no way we could have made an informed purchase here.
I’m in not as cold an area so this only affects me for the few occasions I do a winter road trip. Since that’s at most a few days a year, if I can reasonably handle those days just taking it easy on the accelerator (which one should do anyway in slush/icy conditions!) then I’m fine. I’ll stress test this soon and report back.
in your situation I’d consider investing in winter tires and switching between summer/winter as needed.... or just getting all seasons.
I thought a bit about making a fuss to Polestar that they should provide all seasons for the 19” and even replace mine for free given their essentially false advertising. But I calmed down a bit from that at least when I first thought about it. If I get into uncomfortable situations this next trip I might reconsider
I'm in northern NJ. We don't get much snow, but it does get cold. I'm waiting for Shari to get back to me.
I have a three year lease, so this is not an option for me.
If you want to make a fuss, I'm right there with you. I may be doing so without you....
One thing that lessens my gnashing here is that the Primacy4 seems to be a really nice tire.
I have read more than I ever thought I'd care to read about tires in the past couple weeks and it seems the Primacy4 threads the needle of low rolling resistance (=good efficiency), low noise, good dry and wet braking/handling, good overall comfort, and good longevity.
The only real downside is that, yes, they're summer tires so you really shouldn't use them much below ~40F/5C or if there's any snow on the ground. Luckily for me we just don't get many days like that - or if we do it's early in the morning or late at night and at that time the roads are dry usually.
Here are some nice reviews stats on them:
Review: Michelin Primacy 4 – Trying To Make Sense Of An Unbelievable Claim - Reviews - Carlist.my (kind of reads like a press release...)
And one testimonial re using summer tires in winter:
www.mobil.com
I have read more than I ever thought I'd care to read about tires in the past couple weeks and it seems the Primacy4 threads the needle of low rolling resistance (=good efficiency), low noise, good dry and wet braking/handling, good overall comfort, and good longevity.
The only real downside is that, yes, they're summer tires so you really shouldn't use them much below ~40F/5C or if there's any snow on the ground. Luckily for me we just don't get many days like that - or if we do it's early in the morning or late at night and at that time the roads are dry usually.
Here are some nice reviews stats on them:
Review: Michelin Primacy 4 – Trying To Make Sense Of An Unbelievable Claim - Reviews - Carlist.my (kind of reads like a press release...)
Michelin Primacy 4 Tests, Review & Ratings in 2025 | AllTyreTests.com
Michelin Primacy 4 detailed overview ✓Real test results ✓Key performance rating ✓Comparison with competitors ✓Pros & Cons
alltyretests.com
Michelin Primacy 4 - Reviews and tests 2022 | TheTireLab.com
Michelin Primacy 4 has been tested many times by autoclubs (Autobild 2022, Promobil 2022, ...) - we have summarized the results, mixed it with customer reviews and put it into context in our thorough analysis - see it for yourself!
www.thetirelab.com
And one testimonial re using summer tires in winter:
Using summer tires in winter | Mobil™ Motor Oils
All tires are not created equal. Learn the difference when driving in snow with all-season, winter and summer tires.
www.mobil.com
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Thanks for the links! 'Glad to see the Primacy is a good tire. Also glad to see my winter tires, the Sottozero 3s, are also very good.
Polestar 2 Dual Motor, Long Range, Midnight (blue), charcoal interior, non-PP
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I'm very impressed how well the Primacys grip even in cold conditions. Flooring it on a 0C (empty, wide!) bit of road from a traffic light resulted in being shot out of a gun with no wheelspin at all!
The last time I felt this assured and safe driving a car was when I had my 4wd Subaru Impreza 2000.
The last time I felt this assured and safe driving a car was when I had my 4wd Subaru Impreza 2000.
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c
Seem to be good tires and Tire Rack testing likes ‘em.
I’ve been looking at these:
Seem to be good tires and Tire Rack testing likes ‘em.
I've been looking at these. Also asked CS to provide a recommendation for the 19s but I haven't heard back yet. These seem to fit my use case - NY highways
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...act+LS&width=245/&ratio=45&diameter=19&cameFrom=selectSize&partnum=445VR9PCLSXL
Add me to the class action
I'm trying to think of what recourse we have, other than complaining and hoping they do something to make it right.Add me to the class action
At the least they should come up with a recommended all season alternative to the stock 19” tire. And they should tell their staff that the stock 19” are summer, not all season. I had to inform the staffers of our Space here about that, one whom just finished the technical training to be knowledgeable about the cars — that’s completely ridiculous.
Negotiating and offering some sort of steeply discounted/subsidized rate on a set of all seasons for the 19” wheels would be great and I think warranted given what’s so far been false advertising.
one thing I found is that some potential alternatives aren’t offered in the same size as these 19” wheels. That may be why they went with the current “solution”. But then it’s on the OEM to figure out the details and tell us what the options are accurately.
and I specify all seasons because no, I don’t want to deal with switching tires. Yes I know it’s “right”. Don’t care, can’t make me. other competitors have figured out how to offer a good product without these issues.
Exactly. At the least, I want them to offer me the alternative at cost and install/balance them for free.
The question is, how do we get them to be responsive?
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