Best/Cheapest snow tires/wheels

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by dsgerbc

He explicitly said he needs tires not to slide off the road. Which I read as concerns about ice.

Performance winter is an okay winter tire, if you can stay at home when the worst weather hits.
For the record, I do have performance winters on now. They are okay for limping home safely in an STI. In a BRZ you won't be able to get going in them on ice.

Wel, it depends. I use high performance winters here on snow, ice and everything in between. If you do a lot of winter driving any snow tire is good enough.

Heck, I even drove my SAAB Aero on Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus recently in a bad early winter snowstorm without any difficulty whatsoever.

If you drive on ice a lot get studless winters, but for everything else get high performance winters.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by Boofneenee

does it do legit damage to the longevity of your wheel if you change the wheels/rims the tire is on to a different pair each season? Maybe i can buy new tires and rims for the summer season and just use my stock rims for the winter season

No if you use a good modern tire shop.

The latest tire changing equipment is "touchless" and for economy you can just get the tire shop to swap tires twice per year onto the factory rims. It takes about 8 years before separate rims pay off, actually.

Bonus, you don't need to mess around with TPMS issues if you just swap tires on and off those factory rims.

I've done this with my Jaguar without any issues whatsoever. It works out cheaper and unmounted tires are easier to store and transport.

The factory rims are robust and more than up to winter conditions. My winters are mounted on the stock rims.

[raptor87]

Originally Posted by Suberman

The latest tire changing equipment is "touchless" and for economy you can just get the tire shop to swap tires twice per year onto the factory rims. It takes about 8 years before separate rims pay off, actually.

I picked up a set of basic black steelies from discount tire today for $200 they normally charge $16 a wheel to mount and balance a tire. they should pay off in three years

[utekineir]

Originally Posted by Suberman

No if you use a good modern tire shop.

The latest tire changing equipment is "touchless" and for economy you can just get the tire shop to swap tires twice per year onto the factory rims. It takes about 8 years before separate rims pay off, actually.

Bonus, you don't need to mess around with TPMS issues if you just swap tires on and off those factory rims.

I've done this with my Jaguar without any issues whatsoever. It works out cheaper and unmounted tires are easier to store and transport.

The factory rims are robust and more than up to winter conditions. My winters are mounted on the stock rims.

If you are good at craigslist a set of winter wheels should only end up costing around $100

lol @ 8 years.

[Boofneenee]

Can someone tell me the exact specifications i should look for for this car with respect to steelies or cheap wheels? I mAy shop on craigs list

[nalc]

It's my understanding that we have the same bolt pattern and offset as most non-STI Subarus. I've got some 16s from a blobeye WRX that I'm going to mount up this weekend. They were cheaper than just getting brand new steel wheels.

[Scenic Driver]

Originally Posted by dsgerbc

In a BRZ/FR-S size, Michelin Xi2/Xi3 aren't too expensive and will keep you safer on the ice/snow.

Xi2's are not great on ice, I found this out more than once.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by utekineir

If you are good at craigslist a set of winter wheels should only end up costing around $100

lol @ 8 years.

Canadian pricing....

As compared to buying a set of cheap alloys new. If you buy used rims or use a cheap tire shop, who knows?

[raptor87]

Originally Posted by Boofneenee

Can someone tell me the exact specifications i should look for for this car with respect to steelies or cheap wheels? I mAy shop on craigs list

I got a good deal on tires when i was home vising family so I didn't get to shop around but if I had more time I would have looked for used 16 inch 5x100 wheels from an older WRX or Outback. They are usually pretty cheap and should fit fine.

[VoiD]

I recently picked up a set of wrx wheels for $150 and 4 brand new blizzak ws70s for $250. $80 to mount.. both found on craigslist..

[jm1681]

I love my Firestone Winterforce, though they're MAD sketchy in anything that's not deep snow. They're also just about the cheapest snows you can get.

[dsgerbc]

Originally Posted by Scenic Driver

Xi2's are not great on ice, I found this out more than once.

I disagree. They are fine in straightline abs braking. Maybe lacking somewhat laterally. There are tires with better ice grip, but none of those are cheap. Compared to Xi2s, tires like altimaxes, or Perfomance snows suck big time.

What's better than Xi2 on your opinion?

[utekineir]

Originally Posted by Suberman

Canadian pricing....

As compared to buying a set of cheap alloys new. If you buy used rims or use a cheap tire shop, who knows?

Got a set of mint 16" steel wheels on blizzaks from old people this weekend.

Claimed 2k miles. Had receipt from last November

Pretty much flawless. They're on the car right now driving great.

$400





Set of rpf1 this summer for $600 with usable tires. No bends no curbing.





It's cool that you're afraid of saving money for doing some searching and maintaining due diligence, I.e looking things over closely before handing over money.

Not everyone feels the same though.


Used is a very viable option but only if you are willing to Use some discretion. There is plenty of crap out there.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by jm1681

I love my Firestone Winterforce, though they're MAD sketchy in anything that's not deep snow. They're also just about the cheapest snows you can get.

Bridgestone owns Firestone. Tires are very similar.