Winter Tire Review Thread (Please contribute)

[dvdmzjr]

Haven't gotten them put on yet. Blizzaks and 16 inch Enkei rims. Don't care a great deal for the style, but I just hope it gets me through the season.

[Dr Huston]

I went with Michelin X-Ice 3 on 16" steelies. Selene is looking sexy in the setting sun.

[BRZNutt]

Well, I returned the Dunlops on steelies and bought these instead...(205/55R-16 Pirelli WInter Sotto Zero II and 16x7, 45 mm offset Enkei M52)

[cbf]

Originally Posted by BRZNutt

Well, I returned the Dunlops on steelies and bought these instead...(205/55R-16 Pirelli WInter Sotto Zero II and 16x7, 45 mm offset Enkei M52)

BRZNutt --

Why? I was about to get the Dunlops based on the TireRack ratings (and probably an Enkei -- but graphite color, not black). What made you decide to switch to Pirelli?

Another interesting question -- you went with 16" wheels (as TireRack recommends). I'm thinking of staying at 17" wheels -- I'm betting on only a handful of snow days in a typical Massachusetts winter (although I could well lose that bet), and figured the 17" wheel size would give me better dry road handling at the expense of some snow traction. Did you have the opposite thought?

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by cbf

... figured the 17" wheel size would give me better dry road handling at the expense of some snow traction ...

I don't think you even lose traction in snow. I went with 16" wheels because I drive a lot on hard packed snow, and I wanted softer paws over that very rough surface. To achive that I sacrificed some stability on dry roads.

If you drive in loose snow and have traction problems under those condition, go for narrower wheels. They "plow" easier.

[BRZNutt]

Originally Posted by cbf

BRZNutt --

Why? I was about to get the Dunlops based on the TireRack ratings (and probably an Enkei -- but graphite color, not black). What made you decide to switch to Pirelli?

Another interesting question -- you went with 16" wheels (as TireRack recommends). I'm thinking of staying at 17" wheels -- I'm betting on only a handful of snow days in a typical Massachusetts winter (although I could well lose that bet), and figured the 17" wheel size would give me better dry road handling at the expense of some snow traction. Did you have the opposite thought?

I don't think you can go wrong with the Dunlops. I just decided to try the Pirellis based solely on the fact that most of my "winter" driving will be on dry roads and I wanted something more tuned for that. I went with 16s for the same reasons that Sarlacc explained above. That and the fact that the 16" package was a lot cheaper. I also considered putting winter tires on my stock 17s and then getting some new 17" wheels in the spring. I decided that I really should wear the stock tires out first and I like the look of the stock wheels.

[ZionsWrath]

Michelin Primacy HP

Review:

[Slipstream]

Originally Posted by WRB-DZA-BRZ

My winter setup:
205/60-16 Firestone Winterforce (non-studded) on WRX wheels.



This setup got me through a week of very icy weather last year that I would have had zero chance of getting through with the stock tires. I have yet to take this setup through very thick snow however, and since the tires are taller than stock, it leaves no room for cables/chains.

I picked up a set of these and test fit one on the front. The +55 offset is REEEEALLY tight (can barely get a finger between the tire and the strut); for you guys running OEM WRX wheels, any concerns or issues here? I normally prefer a bit more room to work with.

[double0seven]

Running on 16inch steelies using Goodyear ultragrip Ice WRT 205/55R16.

Wet grip isn't that great, but better than the stock michelins.
Cold and dry grip is good.
Didn't have any real snow in Vancouver yet so i'm not sure how they do in the snow.

[kALMIGHTY]

Bridgestone Blizzak WS70s on stock plastidipped wheels. Got me through the immense amount of crap that did this to my car, so you can only imagine how great they are. Nothing has stopped these tires yet, and I've driven through snow deep enough to make my front bumper act as a snow plow.

[Khyron686]

Another Calgary peep checking in - I'll probably go with blizzaks next time but these studded Hanooks are doing fine.

[JohnJuan]

Any reviews on the GT Radial Champiro WinterPro HP? I've set up an appointment to get a set, but haven't heard anything about them. Apparently, they're new this year?

http://www.gtradial-us.com/en/CHAMPI...TERPRO_HP.html

[Suberman]

Blizzaks fall short of the best, even the LM model:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=181

Bare road performance is pathetic. No real world advantage over the others in return for such poor bare road grip either.

[amram]

Originally Posted by BRZNutt

Well, I returned the Dunlops on steelies and bought these instead...(205/55R-16 Pirelli WInter Sotto Zero II and 16x7, 45 mm offset Enkei M52)

Hey brznutt, how are the sottozero working out for you?

Am considering those on 16" steelies from tirerack. Didn't see many reviews here. I like the idea of great cold dry and wet performance but am concerned about the lesser snow perf (than altimax or blizzak) for the about 2-5% ice/snow of my winter driving time that I would really need the winter tires for, given our mild winters here. (The stock bridgestones seem fine for the other 95% wet/dry time) Thanks in advance!