Winter Tires?
 

For the people tht sadly have to drive their fr-s/brz in the winter(me because it arrives in december)

What tires will you be using? Also which ones would you say is the best bang for your buck?

I'm going to go with General Altimax Arctic's as I think they're the best bang for the buck winter tire. They are studdable too if you require it.

Lots of my customers are using Bridgestone Blizzaks, Dunlop SP Winters, and I've had a few Michelin PA2's here and there as well.

I'll be going with the generals also. I have used them in the past and they worked great plus I still have 2 brand new ones sitting in my shed.

You get what you pay for. There are some cheaper options, with old thread patterns and even older actual compounds. Seeing that you're in Ontario, studded are a no-go, so I'd get something with a new compound. Say, X-Ice3.

:search:

This is the ...5th? thread on this topic?

:thumbup:

I will be going with Bridgestone Blizzaks WS-70. I picked up a set of 04 WRX 16" rims for $150. I will be upsizing to a 205/60 R16. Its 1 inch taller then 215/45 R17 and option 205/55 R16 that Subaru are equipped with. Lucky for me, I get 50% off on Blizzaks seeing that I work for Bridgestone/Firestone. :thumbup:

Dunlop Wintersport 3D FTW!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

:word:

I just got my set ordered...

Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 Performance Winter / Snow tires

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...t_m3_ci2_l.jpg

It is but we need someone to start an "Official Winter Tire Thread". You up for it!? :D

Want to do 16" steelies and 205/55 R16.

I've been thinking about either the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 or the Continental ExtremeWinterContact. Like the Blizzaks but worried about the tread life on them.

Also I'm in Vancouver so sometimes there isn't much snow but there is the odd time we have a huge dump. But if there isn't then maybe I should go with something less aggressive for snow and go for performance. So I was thinking the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 or Primacy Alpin PA3.

There seems to more choices if you go with a 17" but I wanted to keep my stock tires in case I don't get new wheels right away.

Anyways any suggestions?

I had great experience with the Conti's on another car. They also have a generally great review on Tire Rack. They are what I was planning on running.

I'm going to go with the Dunlop Winter Sport M3 as well. We don't get a lot of snow here, and it's cleared quickly when we do, so a performance winter is fine.

Blizzacks and 16" steelies arrive from Tire Rack today. The Blizzacks got me through ten winters in a Miata, so I have to say I have some confidence in them.

Now, as to how this tail happy whore is going to drive in the snow, I am waiting to see!

215/45/17 Roadstone Winguard Sport's. Should be fun.

I have run both Dunlop winter sports and Michelin pilot alpines in the past. I will be buying the Dunlops again.

I did not like the Michelins for two reasons:

1-they did not seem to work as good in the snow
2-they did not have a rim guard built in (no problem for you stretch monkeys.

Just my .02

Pat

Honestly it's a great tire. It works great in deep snow, slush, rain and ice. I could always stop and steer the car. My only real problem was cars running into me because they couldn't stop as well as I did (I went thru 3 bumpers in my last car because of it).

Order them too but in a 205/50 R17... Had them mounted and installed yesterday with TPMS sensors at Discount Tire. Discount Tire is running a $50.00 Rebate on snow tires purchases :)...

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3.../snowtires.jpg



Went with a slightly narrower and taller tire. The winters here in Chicago are brutal and so are the potholes!!

No. They are basically a winter tire for the city. Meaning the compound is okay, but the thread design is not the best for deep snow, slush etc.
They are 'performance winter' tire, not a true ice&snow.

Good choice for inner-city people, where the roads are plowed fast and the ice is deal with. For people further from plowed roads, these aren't the optimal choice, IMO.

I live in the country. 16s and Blizzaks for for my car...no question.

I'll be driving on BF Goodrich winter slalom, I had these for 6-7 years on FWD cars and they are just awesome.

I don't want to highjack your thread but talking of winter tires, do we know if the hub size is the same as Subaru imprezas? I know its 5x100 but I'm having a hard time finding used rims that size, will have to go new and I wonder if a impreza steel wheel works on the FR-S.

I was looking at these to mount my 16" winter knobbies
http://tires.canadiantire.ca/en/whee...wheel/0096230/

No really, I ment everything...

In Chicago they don't plow the secondary streets and alleys for days sometime. Deep snow would turn into packed ice. I never got stuck... :)

I've been very pleased with ContiVikingContact 3s on my current car and they are certainly a strong contender for my 86 as well.

However, because I'm going from FWD to RWD, I'm a bit undecided on whether I should go for studded tyres or plain winter tyres. Should I choose studs, I'd probably go for Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7s.

Ultra Grip Performance 2
Adaptive SipeGrip Technological innovation helps improve grasping power under slick conditions while keeping dry and wet handling
Hydrodynamic V pattern and horizontal lines help increase water and slush evacuation
Optimized plastic combination and innovative it technology offer improved grip on snowfall, ice, or wet areas at low temperatures
Four different prevent sizes and rib moving provide a peaceful, comfortable drive and consistent wear

I was thinking Generals, but I'm going to get my old tried and true, the Firestone Winterforce. They're nearly the same price, and though the Generals rate a little better on Tirerack, I'm familiar with the Firestones, and I can't help but think they'll be better in REALLY deep snow. Just bigger tread blocks, and I believe a bit more tread depth as well.

Read some euro tests and you'll see how many car-lengths you lose in snow/slush/ice on those to a proper ice&snow tire.

Winter tire technology is advancing fast, people. If you keep driving on 10 y/o designs just because they are dirt-cheap - you're missing out on a lot of grip.

Who said the M3's were cheap?

Ok, take me to school (I'm always willing to learn). Do you have any links you can share?

How much does a set blizzaks normally go for? Everyone seems to be suggesting them.

I wouldn't mind the dunlops wintersports but I am more concerned about having good grip, better grip/breaking on snow & ice more than performance...thats what summers for!

Also do you think you can hook me up with your discount LMAO:happy0180::w00t:

That wasn't aimed at M3s. It's about Firestone Winterforce, which is a sub-par option.
Educate yourself, if you're truly willing.
I'll give you two links.
One is a thread full of links
And another one, highlighting some differences in grip between "winter performance" and true "ice and snow" tires. The rest you'll have to search yourself.

Dunlop wintersport M3 vs 3D
 

I have noticed that the wintersport 3d does not come in a 215/45/17. The wintersport M3 does. In fact the wintersport M3 only comes in four sizes.

Now my understading is that the 3D is a newer tire design. I thought the M3 was discontinued. Why would it only be available in a couple sizes? are the M3's all old stock?

What gives?

They are slowly discontinuing this tire. When I was trying to get a second set for the car I used to own I couldn't find one of the sizes. The tires I purchased for my FRS were manufactured in February 2012

I live in NoVA. When we get snow/slush it's gone in a matter of hours, and on the rare occasions we get dumped on everything shuts down (so I don't need to drive).

Even during winter time, I'm driving on dry pavement most of the time, and during the daytime, it's generally above freezing. It's cold enough to need a winter compound, but not snowy enough to justify true snow tires. Thus a winter performance like the Dunlop Winter Sport is exactly what I need. The Blizzaks (and definitely any studless ice/snow) would just be wasted and would wear prematurely.

The 205/60 R16 I just bought today retailed at $150 a tire. The 205/55 R16 were $177 a tire. The best I can do is 10% over cost for you guys. The 215/45 R17 that comes stock on our cars are $198 a tire.

Subaru rims do fit on our FR-S. I have a set of 04 WRX rims that I got for $150 from a friend. I test fitted the wheel to make sure, but Subaru and Toyota have the same hub bore size if its a 5x100 bolt pattern.

Thanks! In the meanwhile my friend got some old steelies that was on a celica, this will probably work on my car, and save my alot of money :happyanim:

Yeah, it should work. Toyota/Subaru 5x100 hub bore is 56.1mm

IIRC, Celica center bore is 54mm.

In Ontario I've been seeing price quotes in the $190-$200 range per tire for Blizzak WS 70s (205/55/16), $50-$60 ea for steelies, and tire pressure sensors around $50 ea, if you want them.

What are the best bang for the money winter tires? I'm looking for 205or215/55/17 on stock wheels

The best tire for aggressive winter and aggressive driver are whit out a doubt the nokian akkapeliita 7 studded. Now for our car i think 195/55/16 would be the best size for snow and ice but just not sure if I will lose to much grip on dry and wet pavement, maybe 205/55/16 would be the best compromise