Snow tires for my Cayenne...

So I live in Denver and travel "up the hill" quite a bit to go skiing.  

It snows here in town, however within a few days the roads are clear and dry.  In fact, most the winter the roads are clear and dry here, with temperatures in the 40's.
 
I've been using Blizzak DMV1's, I can probably squeak another season out of them but...

So what snow tire out there is decent in snow but doesn't totally blow goats in the dry?  I'm not driving the Cayenne like a 911, so I'm willing to shade more towards snow performance vs dry...

Anyone try the Nokian Hakka R2's or 7's?  (What're the difference between the two?)

Or the Dunlop Wintersport 3D's?

Hakka 7s are an old design at this point, so skip them.  They've been replaced by the Hakka 8 and then the Hakka 9.  Those are all studded tires. 

The Hakka R2 is studless.  I just bought my second set for the Jeep (after 4 winters on the first set).  They're great.  Very grippy in snow, forgiving to drive in the snow, good grip on dry pavement too.  They're a bit mushy, but not awful.  And they're pretty quiet (a set on a friend's Highlander did have an audible whine, but on the Jeep, I can't hear them with the windows closed).  My only complaint is that the grip under throttle on wet pavement in 35-ish degree weather isn't terribly good.  Snow grip gets better as it gets colder.  Once it gets down into the mid single digits and below, hardpack has almost the grip of wet pavement.  They also don't chunk badly or wear fast when rallycrossed in cold weather, even with some gravel in the mix.  

Under throttle grip with snow tires is an issue, period.  The Cayenne makes 550hp and about the same in torque, so I can literally spin all 4 snow tires taking off even on totally dry pavement, without trying very hard.

I may try the Hakka R2's, I've had their tires on my cars in the past and really like them.

The Hakka R2s are surprisingly grippy on dry pavement, even under throttle.  A bit short in both under throttle grip and cornering grip compared to my usual (20mm wider on 1" taller and wider wheels) 240 treadwear summers, but a much smaller difference than expected.  

Ok, sounds like the Hakka R2's are the way to go.  I need to take a good look at my blizzaks and see if I can run them one more year or need to replace them now...

In reply to docwyte :

A lot of SUV's have a drive control which limits the throttle input and may even start in second.

Surprised your Cayenne doesn't have it.

It always starts in second and it has traction control.  Doesn't matter if I'm hard on the throttle from a dig, cold day with snow tires. 

If you pop it into sport mode (which makes it start in 1st), or use the manual mode to start out in 1st, much hilarity ensues!

I got tired of the traction control intervening when I'd try and pull out in snow/ice, so I turned it off.  Yeah, that lasted one time.  Basically I just lit all 4 up and didn't really get any further than if I'd left the traction control on.  I do like the rear biased awd it has tho...

You want the Michelin X-ice. 

Its meant for a mix of icy and dry conditions. Works well in sloppy sleet/slush/rain. Holds up well at highway speeds in a heavy sports car. They’re not as good as Blizzaks or Hakkas in deep, fluffy snow. But much better in “real world” winter conditions for those of us that live in places with paved streets and road salt. 

Where I live, ice is more the issue than snow.  I have the Michelin X-Ice on my 2WD '77 Chevy Silverado, and I have not regretted that choice once - even in the "snow" day the school district called for the first time in 35 years. ~I~ made it to the school, AND off to the in-laws (twice) with the snow-thrower once I learned it was a snow day.

I bought a set for the family sedan after that.

I got a set of Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice with my XC90 when I bought it five or so years ago.  I think the combination is fabulous.  No compromise on dry roads at 80mph, and they are spectacular in city ice conditions.  Deep snow, probably not the best, but certainly adequate.

Had Discount Tire put my snow wheels/tires on.  I was feeling lazy and they do it for free, so ok, fine.  Most the tires measured out at 5-6/32", so while worn, it looks like I can probably get another season out of them...

I put Hakka R2's on the S2000 , then the 540i last season for my Denver/sometimes mountain time. Neither one has functioning traction control, and you had to actually work pretty hard trying to break them loose under throttle. Throttle and turning, now that's a different bundle of fun altogether 

In reply to docwyte :

I find the same thing with my traction control.

I had one time that it shut the power down to a standstill.  Really heavy slush on a hill. No chance to get a run at it.  Thing is, I still couldn't get up the hill with it shut off .

Yes, 6/32" seems to be the crossover point.