Anyone have snow experience with Continental CrossContact tires?

These came on our new Durango R/T, and listed as 3-season tires on the sticker. I assumed they would do fine for our use, but now I am getting a little concerned.

The Durango does not yet have 600 miles on it, and ALREADY my wife had to drive home when snowing. (I always drive her to work in the Jeep when snowy, but this one caught us by surprise).

I checked TireRack's surveys, but they do not even post a rating. Also I notice on that website, they do not call them 3-season like the window sticker said, they label them SUMMER tires!

Are these tires simply "fair" in the snow, or totally worthless? I have had some cars with high-performance summer tires, and they were worthless in the snow. The rubber compound would get hard or something.

We have no plans to head off in a blizzard in the Durango, but I was hoping we could get home when caught by surprise.

 

Maybe not worthless, but they won't be great! 3 season and summer tires are saying the same thing. They are not recommended for anything other than light snow.

 

You can never use stock tires for snow driving. Unless you just don't like to be safe.....

 

The Continental CrossContact is a pure summer tire and horrible in snow.
I personally use the Continental WinterContact during the winter months and they really do a good job, but i've a little downsized to 255/50 R20

Additional information from Continental:

 

Looks like I need to start thinking about a winter set of wheels/tires. We only drive in snow a few times a year, but it is looking like even that is taking a risk.

Is there a common wheel that will work on 201x Durangos? Like from a Ram truck etc. Might be easier/cheaper to find those.

What happens to TPMS when a wheel is installed without sensors. ie. can it be turned off to prevent error messages etc.?

 

No, you will need to swap TPMS each time or buy a new set.

 

Without TPMS installed in your new set. Your dash light will constantly stay on.

 

If you like to have another set for the winter why do you not use the original Durango SXT/Crew 18" wheels and the 20" with the summer tires.
I personally use the original 20" for the winter tires and Lexani wheels during the summer months.

 

But you can program a second set of TPMS right?

 

Another option is to have a set of tire chains / cables...and practice putting them on.