2014-2015 Winter Tire & Wheel Discussion

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by dradernh

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

Probably (they require every other nanny law provision), but I have not yet investigated this. I will probably just bring the wheels and tires to the shop in another car and tell them it's for a 2003 Subaru Impreza. If they have an issue with it I will bring them to another shop.

I will figure out some way to get them mounted without the TPMS sensors. After the tires are mounted, I can put them on myself. Our state does not have any form a car inspection, so I should be fine. My track wheels and tires have been without problems in this respect.

[Ubersuber]

I too have found the stock Michelin Primacy HP to be very good in the wet, surprisingly good actually. It's not such a bad tire for this car after all.

[Silver Ignition]

Where are you guys buying your Nokian tires from?

[Phil_Marino]

Originally Posted by Black Tire

I am on a budget this year, and live in a northern climate, so I thought this would be a good time to start a winter tire and wheel discussion for the 2014-2015 winter season.

Winter Tires

This is a list of winter tires I am considering for my FR-S this year. I have spent 2 years on the Nokian WR-G2 all-season/winter tires (215/45R17), and now want to have a dedicated winter tire with more ice grip and still great deep snow traction. Also, the WR-G2 was NOISY in the dry and had a stiffer ride than my BF Goodrich Rivals. On a previous car, I had the original Blizzaks, which felt like riding on squirming gelatin in the dry. These tires should all be better than that, but I still expect a significant compromise on dry roads. My favorite winter tires so far were the Hankook Winter I*Cept Evo's I had on my 1999 BMW M3. These gave the best winter traction I ever had in that car, rode smoothly and quietly, and handled dry roads well for a winter tire. I did not include the Hankook Winter I*Cept Evo's on the list as they are being fazed out, apparently replaced by the I*Cept iZ. I will be going with a separate set of winter wheels this year, so I will be using 205/55R16 winter tires, which I think will also help with winter traction.

Key:
(LRR) low rolling resistance tires for better fuel economy
[Newer] Designed in the last year or two – since tire manufacturers tend to leap frog each other's best tire designs, this may be significant

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 [Newer]

Continental ExtremeWinterContact

Hankook Winter i*cept Evo, W310

Hankook Winter i*cept iZ, W606 [Newer]

Michelin X-Ice Xi3 (LRR)

Nitto NT-SN2 Winter

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 (LRR) [Newer]

Toyo Observe GSi-5 [Newer]

Yokohama iceGUARD iG52c (LRR) [Newer]


Winter Wheels

The conventional wisdom is to buy 16 inch steelies for the winter. I really dislike the idea of 30 pound steel wheels on a lightweight car with no torque, so I have found two 16 inch alloy wheels that are weigh about half that (16 lb class), are relatively inexpensive and that I do not find hideous. Additionally, the two alloy wheels listed here have both 5x100 and 5x114.3 bolt patterns for future versatility and used value.

Steelies, About $60 + shipping

Maxxim Sixx Wheel {Maxxim is produced by Konig}

Drag DR-9 Wheel

30 lbs for the 16 inch steel wheels from Tire Rack seemed high to me, so I weighed mine ( weighed the wheel with tire and subtracted the TR weight given for the tire). The wheels weigh 21.5 lbs each. Which wheels weigh 30 lbs?

Phil

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by Silver Ignition

Where are you guys buying your Nokian tires from?

STS tire is your best bet, though i personally don't like the STS near me, i doubt will have the same one since there's quite a few of them.

http://www.nokiantires.com/where-to-buy/dealer-locator/

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by Phil_Marino

30 lbs for the 16 inch steel wheels from Tire Rack seemed high to me, so I weighed mine ( weighed the wheel with tire and subtracted the TR weight given for the tire). The wheels weigh 21.5 lbs each. Which wheels weigh 30 lbs?

Phil

The Summit ones I linked earlier in this thread are purported to weigh 28 lbs each in 16" - had a conversation with a customer service agent and that was what the dude told me.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cr...6518/overview/

Just under $200 out the door. For a few months out of the year may be totally worth it even with the extra few pounds.

[Bobblehead]

I was thinking about getting a set of Dunlop Wintersport M3's or Blizzak's, but I'm not sure what would be better for a DD.

Any tips? I'd be using my OE wheels.

[Black Tire]

Originally Posted by Phil_Marino

30 lbs for the 16 inch steel wheels from Tire Rack seemed high to me, so I weighed mine ( weighed the wheel with tire and subtracted the TR weight given for the tire). The wheels weigh 21.5 lbs each. Which wheels weigh 30 lbs?

Phil

I got the 30 lb weight from another website that sold 16 inch steel wheels. I do not remember the site, they may have been in error.

[amilleri]

Just ordered my steelies and mich x-ice from tirerack today picking them up in windsor ct tuesday to save 130~ on shipping

[rinnamon]

I was talking with some folks who highly recommended the blizzaks touring tires. How do these compare to the Nokians?


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[phrosty]

I will be using my X-Ice 2s again this winter. Still have lots of tread!

[CoupedUpSubie]

Ran general altimax artic 225/55/16 on the assetto gara wheels from tire rack last winter. I deal with ice/very well compacted snow so I get mine studded. I had the Dunlop WinterSport 3d for about a month or so. If you get any amount of snow and have to travel up hill without much momentum they are not the tire you need. A dedicated snow tire like the Altimax artic is what is needed.

[RC51rydr]

I'll be running General Altimax Artics on steelies this winter. Need to get the tyres mounted.


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[GirlRepellent]

Just got my winter setup! 215/45/17 Continental Extreme Winter Contacts with Sparco Terras