CAR & BIKE

2026.03.16

I was able to go with my dog to the snowy mountains! Family time expands with Dunlop "Synchro Weather"

This lifestyle might be ideal. A family that switched to Dunlop "Synchro Weather" going to the snowy mountains of Nagano and spending their holiday at a villa. The precious time with family gained by being active regardless of the season.

1｜I want to go out with my dog! The Miyake family's outdoor life

About a 3-hour drive from Tokyo. The Miyake family has been enjoying trips to ski resorts in Nagano. Atsuhiro Miyake smiles naturally beside their 4WD Toyota Harrier. His wife, Kotomi, their fifth-grade son, Kanato, and their one-year-old Siberian Husky, Aro, are also with them.

They originally loved driving and camping throughout the year and frequently went out as a family. Since adding Aro to the family last May, they find themselves going out by car even more often.

Atsuhiro: "Camping is my hobby. I have all the gear, and I'm ready to go outdoors anytime. And now, our life revolves around our dog. Since he's a large breed, we definitely travel by car. Whether it's shopping or play, we primarily rely on the car. There are definitely limitations with trains and buses. Everything from dog parks to events starts with having a car."<

There are limited places and transportation options that accommodate large dogs. In those cases, traveling by car definitely expands the family’s range of activities. Aro also loves the car.

Atsuhiro: "Aro jumps in on his own and enjoys the scenery from the window. He seems to have no resistance at all."

Having a car is part of the family's daily life, but it also serves as an entryway to extraordinary experiences.

2｜Stepping out for a drive in the snowy mountains without worrying about the tires

This trip was triggered by winning lift tickets to Kurohime Kogen Snow Park at a dog festival. From there, we used a villa in Saku, Nagano Prefecture, where we could stay with our beloved dog, to visit the snowy Kurohime Kogen area. It was Aro-kun's first winter with snow.

Mr. Atsuhiro: "Being a husky, he definitely suits the snow. So I thought it would be great to go to the snowy mountains and let him pull a sled. My wife and kids really wanted to go out somewhere with the dog, which made it even stronger. But when I thought about the tires, I never considered the winter snowy mountains before. We have winter tires, but carrying four heavy tires up the stairs from the basement is really tough to do alone. I thought I never wanted to change tires again."<

In the past, changing to winter tires was such a hassle that there were years when we avoided going out in winter. But this year is different.

Atsuhiro-san: "I bought all-season tires 'Synchro Weather' for the first time in autumn. I can decide my destination without worrying about the tires. I thought this was significant. I can think about booking a cottage during the cold season or going to the mountains where the roads freeze even in early spring; my perspective has changed. Since my child will be in middle school and will have ski lessons, I want to take them along."

3｜With Synchro Weather, you can be more free

It seems that the decision to choose all-season Synchro Weather was also at the timing of replacing tires.

Atsuhiro-san: "At that time, the grooves of my summer tires were worn down, and they wouldn't pass the vehicle inspection. Considering the future, I thought it would be too costly to buy both summer and winter tires anew. That’s when I learned about Synchro Weather."

Is it your first time with all-season tires, but were there points that you were concerned about before buying?

Mr. Atsuhiro: "The first thing I compared with summer tires was the price. However, after trying them, I felt that they were ultimately cost-effective. The hassle of changing tires twice a year, making reservations, waiting times, and storage... they all disappear. It feels like I've bought time and freedom. Moreover, being freed from the stress of 'I have to change them someday' might be the biggest benefit."

Holidays are no longer consumed by tire changes, allowing for more family time. Of course, I am also freed from the hassle of moving heavy tires. And above all, I can go anywhere I want, whenever I want, without having to change tires. All of this was worth more than the price.

4｜The Real Performance of Syncroweather Tested in the Snowy Mountains

It's said that this was the first time driving to the snowy mountains using Syncroweather after taking the expressway from Tokyo, but how was the actual driving feel?

Mr. Atsuhiro: "To be honest, I was half in doubt until I got to the snowy mountains. Snowy mountains are not easy, after all. Can they really drive like studless tires? I was quite prepared for it."

Mr. Atsuhiro: "With studless tires, you really feel them grip right from the start when you accelerate. They move forward without spinning. I believe it's important to have that feeling. With that thought in mind, I actually drove on the snowy mountains, and Syncroweather also grips properly. The car moves forward naturally, just like that. I was able to start driving with the same feeling as with studless tires."

On the day we headed to the snow mountains in Nagano, there was hardly any snow in the flatlands at the foot of the mountains. However, once we entered the mountains, the scenery changed dramatically; it seemed that being able to drive not only on the thawing frozen surfaces of the snow mountains but also on the snowy ruts and packed snow surfaces was a checkpoint.

Mr. Atsuhiro: "Even though I could drive on the asphalt of the snow mountains, I was anxious when entering the ruts. I thought, 'What if I get stuck here?' But, there was no wheel spin. Without any shaking, the car moved forward properly."

The most tense moment on the snow mountain was when the traces left by the car became uneven ruts. I prepared myself for the moment when the front wheels would enter, thinking it was the decisive moment, but it seems I cleared it in a flash.

Mr. Atsuhiro: "I might have underestimated the Synchro Weather a bit. I thought the start on the ruts and packed snow surfaces would be more slippery. The fact that I had no negative experiences at all was truly surprising."

I let Aro-kun pull the sled and play in the snow mountains. The "Snow Dog Area" at Kurohime Kogen Snow Park allows dogs to run freely across the spacious snowy fields without a leash, and you can also ride the lift together to access the upper part of the slopes.

Mr. Atsuhiro is from Hokkaido, and when comparing the severe road conditions during this season...

Mr. Atsuhiro: "In Hokkaido, of course I drove with studless tires during this season, but I was concerned about road noise in the city. But the Syncro Weather is really quiet. There’s no discomfort compared to summer tires.”

Mr. Atsuhiro: “By the way, before going to the snowy mountains this time, there was a day in the city where it had snowed. There was no snow on the road, but I felt quite secure. Urban road conditions can be unpredictable, right? It could suddenly be frozen in the shade. On that day, there were hardly any cars around, so it felt pretty good (laughs).”

On the way from Tokyo to the snowy mountains in Nagano, there were dry highways, slightly melted packed snow roads, and mountain paths still covered in snow. Did you feel that the Syncro Weather excelled in the rapidly changing road conditions?

Mr. Atsuhiro: "I thought I would feel the differences in the changing road surfaces all at once, but in reality, I hardly felt any. No matter the road surface—highways or even on melted snow—the smoothness didn’t change. I thought that was amazing. The fact that my handling didn’t change contributed to my sense of security, and at least for a level of going to the snowy mountains, it was more than sufficient.”

夏も冬も、これ一本。次世代オールシーズンタイヤ＜SYNCHRO WEATHER＞｜【DUNLOP】ダンロップタイヤ公式

＜SYNCHRO WEATHER＞は、晴・雨・雪・氷のあらゆる路面にシンクロする次世代オールシーズンタイヤ。一年中、履きっぱなしでいいから、タイヤの保管や交換不要。突然の天候変化や冬用タイヤ規制時もそのまま走行可能。

Even on dry roads without snow, the安心感 of the Synchro Weather could be felt.

Mr. Atsuhiro: "There's a definite feeling of grip even at elevated joints like you often find on highways. Especially on rainy days, I previously experienced slipping at the metal plates of the joints. When the traction marks light up, it's chilling. However, this time there was none of that at all. Even when cruising close to 120 km/h, there was no feeling of slipping, and I believe the stability at high speeds was quite high."<

5｜The安心感 seen from the passenger seat. Comfortable driving shared with family

The安心感 of going out with family is also important for Ms. Kotomi, who was in the passenger seat. During long drives, it is easy to feel anxious over small matters.

Ms. Kotomi: "Before we departed, I was told that the road surface before entering the snowy mountains was not frozen, but when I walked during the bathroom break at Aro, the ground was clearly shining and slippery. The temperature was also minus 1°C."

When you stop at the service area heading to the highlands, you can feel the change in temperature, right?

Kotomi: "That's right. I thought, 'Wow...', but I didn't feel anxious once I got in the car. There was never a moment when I felt scared, even with the shaded road surface."

In daily life, Kotomi also gets behind the wheel. Did she notice any changes while experiencing them with Synchro Weather?

Kotomi: "I feel like the brakes have gotten lighter. It feels like I can stop even with less pressure. Also, I'm happy that steering in the parking lot has become lighter. It's especially reassuring on rainy days, and I feel like it's easier to drive the car."

The Empile Villa, where you can stay with your beloved dog, is a private rental vacation home. It has a sauna and a dog run in the backyard, making it a great base when accessing ski resorts in Nagano Prefecture, as well as Karuizawa and the Nobeoka Highlands. Empile Villa / 602-25 Naruse, Saku City, Nagano Prefecture

6｜I want to increase the time I can spend playing with my son at this moment

Mr. Atsuhiro: "We can welcome a new season without changing the tires. That alone makes me feel relieved. Moreover, I want to increase the time I can spend playing with my son at this moment. When I think that this is the only time I have, being able to focus on that is significant. Usually, my wife drives as well, so I can safely entrust her with driving, and our family can live happily together."

Actually, it seems that there are still winter studless tires at home. They haven't disposed of them because they are stored with the wheels...

Mr. Atsuhiro: "To be honest, they are in the way (laughs). I'm not really thinking about switching to studless tires anymore."

Time spent with family, going to the snowy mountains with my beloved dog, and the everyday moments. All of these are connected by four tires. Syncro Weather is not just a tire; it has become an opportunity for the Miyake family to create overlapping memories across the seasons.

I'm sure we can head out without hesitation in the next season as well. Together as a family, we can set off without missing the moments that only exist now.

The Toyota Harrier is equipped with 225/65R17 tires. Including the newly released sizes this spring, the Synchro Weather lineup includes as many as 112 different sizes, making it delightful to be able to choose the perfect size for your beloved car.

Interview and text by Nanako Otake, photography by Suzuno
Interview cooperation by Empile Villa