Snow Tires

[Enemies]

Searched through the forums but didn't find a thread related to this (maybe I'm blind). The season is upon us though. I know it got really chilly here all of a sudden.

What are you guys intending to use for snow tires if you're planning on driving your car through the winter?

I was hoping to get my tires at Costco. I put my make/model into the tire finder at http://tires.costco.ca/ and only Summer tires came up. Was looking at maybe getting some Michelin X-Ice Xi3's or Xi2's but not sure if they come in the right size.

What are you guys planning on getting?

[SPEEDGOD]

I was thinking of Hankooks


Sent from my iPhone (switching to android soon)

[roddy]

There has been a few threads on this so far. At least one in the Canadian sub-forums and also in the wheel/tire sub-forum. I just picked up mine this week. I went with cheap ($250 for a set of 4) 16" steel wheels in a Subaru Impreza fitment, and a set of Brigestone Blizzak WS-60 tires in a 205/55/16 size. Should work good.

[Stav]

Hey guys,

If you see my post in the Canadian classifieds we sell the Hankook's in stock and on a super deal right now.


Many of the forum members have already taken advantage.


Thank you

[truenosan]

I just picked up a set of Michelin X-Ice xi2's mounted to 16" steelies.

[shu5892001]

I am going to mount 205 50 17 dunlop winter sport 3d on stockers

[Enemies]

I'll admit to being a bit of a car newb. Is there a bit of flex when it comes to tire size on the stock wheels or am I extremely limited to what I can get without buying new wheels?

If I'm going to be limited to tires I'd rather not have I'd rather just pay extra and get a pair of steel wheels since there's a lot of hills here and I'd like to survive the Winter.

[Stav]

You can also use a 205 series tire for winter. One size skinnier for winter is better to cut through the snow.

You can also of coarse go to a 16" tire but that requires a new set of 16" wheels and since most will change the stock fugly wheels anyways to something 18 or 19 then put the winters on the stock wheels and that saves you time and money.


Hope that helps.

[Enemies]

I wish I had better thought it out instead of waiting so late in the season. My best bet might be to just try to find tires to fit my existing wheels and then buy new tires and wheels this coming spring.

Sorry for the additional question but just to make sure I fully understand you... my only options are 205 or 215 but I have to stick with 17" if I want to use my existing wheels for winter?

Sorry for the confusion on my end. I just want to make sure before I go shopping for tires. Seems weird to me that skinnier tires would work fine on wider wheels but whatever works! Like I said, I'm a bit of a car newb when it comes to the non-driving stuff. :P I love my BRZ though. Sad that I need to take my summer tires off. I had a lot of fun on the back roads this year.

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

[roddy]

For the stock wheels, I think the best size would be 205/50/17. They are about 3% taller than stock, so when your speedo reads 100, you'll actually be doing just over 103 kph. If you plan on getting aftermarket wheels, this may be the best way to go. If you plan on keeping the stock wheels, get some steel winter wheels with a 205/55/16 tire...road salt will make the clear coat on the stock wheels look like crap in no time.

Another thing to think about is tire type. If you see a lot of snow, go with a studless ice/snow tire. With this type, you will give up some handling due to tread squirm, but get MUCH better traction in snow.
If you don't see a lot of snow, or are more concerned with handling/stability, go with a performance winter/snow class tire. They trade off a bit of snow ability for better stability on corners and at speed.

Hope that helps with your decision.

[stateless]

I recently put Blizzak LM-60 on the stock rims, stock tire size. The dry handling is decent for what it is (at least better than I expected). I bought them for the added dry performance since we get a lot of dry periods during winter. If not pushing it, the tires don't feel too much different from stock, but under hard cornering or shifting the slip warning light is quick to activate (doesn't take too much). The sidewalls are stiffer than the stock HP tires (those are like sponges, seeing them off the rim). They feel reasonably good/stable at higher speed (130km/h). I had them high-speed balanced as well.

[Enemies]

Originally Posted by roddy

For the stock wheels, I think the best size would be 205/50/17. They are about 3% taller than stock, so when your speedo reads 100, you'll actually be doing just over 103 kph. If you plan on getting aftermarket wheels, this may be the best way to go. If you plan on keeping the stock wheels, get some steel winter wheels with a 205/55/16 tire...road salt will make the clear coat on the stock wheels look like crap in no time.

Another thing to think about is tire type. If you see a lot of snow, go with a studless ice/snow tire. With this type, you will give up some handling due to tread squirm, but get MUCH better traction in snow.
If you don't see a lot of snow, or are more concerned with handling/stability, go with a performance winter/snow class tire. They trade off a bit of snow ability for better stability on corners and at speed.

Hope that helps with your decision.

Thanks for the info guys. I suppose then I'd need to calibrate? Because the if 100 KM/Hr. will be 103, then I guess 100,000 KM will be 103,000 KM? :P

Probably going to think more about safety than performance when it comes to winter tires. I'm sure I'll still have some fun regardless. We go through a lot of no-snow periods in winter here but I'd rather err on the side of caution when it comes to driving a RWD up (or down) some of these steep hills when they are covered with snow or ice.

[Bluetib]

Go with Nokians Hakka 7, they are simply the best you can get

[Rossman]

Just got mine, will put em on next couple weeks.

205/55R-16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 on 16" steel rims, $850 all in at Tire Rack.