2014-2015 Winter Tire & Wheel Discussion

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by Nivaku

Hey guys!

Excellent information winter tire wise. I'm still confused though, since I have a 2015 blue series BRZ I believe they are stock 17'' instead of 16'', does that mean I have to buy 17'' RIMS or can 16'' work fine?

Also in terms of tires, since I live in Chicago which tires would you guys recommend me since there's soo many listed here? I prefer grip over noise since to me that's the most important, is getting snow tires the only thing I can do to improve this car's performance on snow?

Thanks in advance guys!

Seriously, give the guys at The Tire Rack a call. They are based in South Bend, Indiana, so they should know exactly what to recommend based on your (and their) climate. Looking at their top rated tires, I would think the Michelin X-Ice 3 and Continental ExtremeWinterContact would be your best choices. You could probably even take a short road trip down there to pick up your tires. The Tire Rack doesn't carry the Nokian Hakkapelitta R2, but this may be the most capable (most grip) non-studded winter tire currently available. You should be able to find it locally, or at Discount Tire.

For better performance on snow other than tires, shut off the traction control and learn how drive better. Take your time and work at it, and you will see benefits. If the snow is above the level of the front air dam (and reasonably heavy), there's not much you can do as you will not be going anywhere even with the best snow tires.

I am going with 16" tires and wheels this year as I think this will give me the winter performance I am looking for. After two years of putting snow tires on stock rims every fall, and taking them off every spring ($$$ wasted), I am ready to buy another set of rims for my snow tires so that I can change them myself.

[Nivaku]

@Ubersuber,

Thanks for the reply bud

So basically I should keep the stock rims and just get winter tires? Any in mind that are good that's available state-side? (Chicago area)

Wouldn't the dealership do the TPMS assuming I buy tires off them?

[Nivaku]

@Black Tires,

Thanks for the reply bud,

I see what your saying on the price, should I keep the rims 16'' or 17''? Any difference?

Also from your first post are those rims compatible with the series blue?

What about TPMS, do that need to be re-coded again with the new tires?
Also everytime I get like a wheel balance or change out my rims/wheels from summer to winter will me TPMS need to be configured again?

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by Nivaku

@Black Tires,

Thanks for the reply bud,

I see what your saying on the price, should I keep the rims 16'' or 17''? Any difference?

Also from your first post are those rims compatible with the series blue?

What about TPMS, do that need to be re-coded again with the new tires?
Also everytime I get like a wheel balance or change out my rims/wheels from summer to winter will me TPMS need to be configured again?

TPMS are not necessary, you will just have to deal with the light coming on every so often if you swap your rims, as I do. But I also store the summers in my garage, so the light is usually off unless I am away from home for an extended period of time. You just have to remember to check the pressures manually every so often.

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by Nivaku

@Black Tires,

Thanks for the reply bud,

I see what your saying on the price, should I keep the rims 16'' or 17''? Any difference?

Also from your first post are those rims compatible with the series blue?

What about TPMS, do that need to be re-coded again with the new tires?
Also everytime I get like a wheel balance or change out my rims/wheels from summer to winter will me TPMS need to be configured again?

If you are swapping winter tires onto your OE rims then you will not need to do anything with your TPMS sensors. You only need to worry about them if you're getting a second set of rims, and only then if the light on the dash will annoy you.

If you do buy a second set of rims for your winter tires, the car will not have any issues if you do not get TPMS sensors - it'll just complain that the sensors aren't reporting (light on the dash). It won't reduce performance or anything like that.

[nick_318is]

Thanks for all the great information in the thread. I'm starting to think about this for the Michigan winter. I will be putting snows on my stock wheels and buying some lighter weight wheels with summer tires come spring.

I'll probably go with the Conti extreme or Michelin X-ice Xi3 depending on the pricing I can get locally, based on tirerack the Contis look to be about $100 cheaper for a set.

Anyone have experience with the goodyear ultra grip ice wrt? It also looks to be pretty well reviewed.

[Nivaku]

Really dumb question guys, but for the series blue, what kind of tires are those?

I'm assuming summer tires, which should be good with the rain also?

Can anyone provide a link from michelin website?
There's no 2015 BRZ option on their website

Thanks in advance

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by Nivaku

@Black Tires,

Thanks for the reply bud,

I see what your saying on the price, should I keep the rims 16'' or 17''? Any difference?

Also from your first post are those rims compatible with the series blue?

What about TPMS, do that need to be re-coded again with the new tires?
Also everytime I get like a wheel balance or change out my rims/wheels from summer to winter will me TPMS need to be configured again?

The stock rims on the series blue are STI 17" aluminum ones. If you choose to go with a separate wheel and tire for winter, you will have a choice of sizes. 17" rims will give you better handling in the dry and a slightly stiffer ride, all things being equal. 16" rims will allow a taller, slightly narrower tire which in theory will help with snow and ice traction, give a slightly softer ride, and be a little less responsive in handling.

From what I can see with the press releases on the series blue, the wheels, brake calipers and rotors are the same size as every other BRZ, so all of the listed wheels should fit.

If you choose to put TPMS sensors on you winter wheels ($200+), you will need to have the TPMS system recoded (probably at the dealer) every time you change wheel and tire sets. I am going to try to get a shop to mount my new winter tires and wheels without TPMS sensors and save the expense of another set of sensors. I ran my track wheels and tires yesterday that do not have TPMS sensors. The TPMS light blinked for about 60 seconds after starting the car, and then went solid. I can ignore a solid warning light for $200+ savings and inconvenience of having to reset the stupid system each time I change wheel and tire sets. I am very good at using a simple tire gage to check the tire pressure.

Originally Posted by Nivaku

Really dumb question guys, but for the series blue, what kind of tires are those?

I'm assuming summer tires, which should be good with the rain also?

Can anyone provide a link from michelin website?
There's no 2015 BRZ option on their website

Thanks in advance

It looks like the series blue uses the same tires as the rest of the BRZ's. It will most likely be the Michelin Primacy HC in 215/47R17. These are summer tires and are very good in the rain. Here is the Michelin site for these tires (note: I used the 2014 BRZ choice, as this is likely the same as the 2015 BRZ Series Blue as far a tires are concerned).

Michelin Primacy HC tires

[Nivaku]

@Black Tire,


Thanks again bud, I appreciate your help.

I'm honestly just going to probably keep the stock rims and buy winter tires to replace my summer tires. I'll keep in mind to keep traction control off which should help a bit.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Black Tire

I am going to try to get a shop to mount my new winter tires and wheels without TPMS sensors and save the expense of another set of sensors.

Does your state require you to have TPMS sensors installed on the wheels mounted on your car?

[AznBRZer]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Does your state require you to have TPMS sensors installed on the wheels mounted on your car?

Get the wheels and tires mounted through Tire Rack without tpms and go to NTB to throw on the winter shoes for $20 when the time comes. They'll do it no questions asked. If you go to Town Fair, they won't do the swap over for brand new wheels that weren't purchased through them. If I knew that the techs at Town Fair had no clue about our tpms system(they thought it was self learning), I would've gone this route and saved myself $65 for a set of used tpms sensors and another $50 or so in tax.

In MA, they're required to install them IF they're mounting the tire onto the wheel and the car is newer than 2008?, but that's something the tire shop will probably never notice because the tpms system will still detect the sensors due to proximity if you go with Tire Rack or DTD, not to mention that the light took about 3 weeks to come on for me. The car will also not fail inspection with the tpms light not. Not sure how loose NH is, but I'd imagine it'd be similar if not looser with it.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by AznBRZer

In MA, they're required to install them IF they're mounting the tire onto the wheel and the car is newer than 2008?...The car will also not fail inspection with the tpms light not. Not sure how loose NH is, but I'd imagine it'd be similar if not looser with it.

I'll have to check to see what the current requirements are up here for operational TPMS being installed. My local guy took all the TPMS units off my 2007 Tundra after the first one failed. The light stays on all the time now. No matter, I wouldn't rely on TPMS for tire pressures anyway.

I've got no problems at all getting tires mounted whether or not the TPMS are required to be on there - but if they are, then it's for sure that it'll fail inspection without them.

[RoryTate]

I've been running 16" Xi3's on Assetto Gara rims the past couple winters. No issue at all traction wise (some of the best winter tires I've ever owned), and it still goes sideways when I want it to go sideways as opposed to OH SHIT around a corner.

[00NissanNinja]

I'll be running my stock rims and Goodyear WRT ultra grip. I recommend you add them to your list of considerations if anyone is looking. Did great last winter and had no issues getting where ever I needed to go even on really bad days.