Downsizing winter tires better? - Page 4 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Ben_G · 12-12-2016, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geezerbrzeezer

Blizzak WS80 205/50 on stock wheels - would have gone even narrower but n/a for this tire on that wheel.

In the dry it feels . . . soft, gummy almost - new respect for the mediocre and much maligned Prius rubber.

But I gotta feeling it's gonna kick ass when it snows.

Speaking of snow, my snow button doesn't work - I've pushed it a bunch of times and it never snows.

I run Xice3, but mistakenly put on a set of WS80s for an Impreza when I was doing the change over this year. It feel so soft and squishy that gummy bears is the only way to describe it.

Xice3 feels WAY better, but snow grip sucks. I might try a set of WS80 or Continental Winter SI next year, seeing as I got stuck TWICE today in moderate snow this morning. =(

churchx · 12-12-2016, 10:40 AM

soft & squishy yet gripping even on winter's no-grip snow/ice roads - imho much more important then feel and compromised grip. It's not feel that stops you in time or helps not to loose control.
Today on way home i passed three heavy crashes. I felt good on having that slight extra ensurance of best possible tires that will lessen chance of me getting into one. Even if tires are with "usability faults", eg. being noisy as hell and softer then summer ones. But they will stop car and car will handle, when it counts.

allowe · 12-13-2016, 08:57 AM

Yay Canada... I. Was guna get winter tires yesterday but it was shitting snow here. Still don't have winter tires. Thank god for my beater (Jeep Compass)

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jvincent · 12-13-2016, 09:11 AM

It's not like winter is a surprise.

It comes every year at the same time (more or less) so having winter tires ready to go isn't that much of a stretch.

jvincent · 12-13-2016, 09:11 AM

It's not like winter is a surprise.

It comes every year at the same time (more or less) so having winter tires ready to go isn't that much of a stretch.

Peaty · 12-13-2016, 10:00 AM

I went with 16" wheels because I happen to have an extra set of Legacy wheels. The wheels have the right offset and look okay (I guess) While I believe it's true a more narrow tire will be be better in the snow, a lot has to do with the tire compound and tread pattern. We don't get a lot of snow but it does get cold and the OEM tires are for the summer. I went with all seasons for my area that got a decent rating in light snow. I stuck with the same tire width. If we do get a lot of snow, which happens on occasion, I have a Forester with dedicated snows that I can use.

Timmy_Jones · 12-13-2016, 11:11 AM

I run a narrower (205) Blizzack setup on some old, beat up 16's.

allowe · 12-13-2016, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

I run a narrower (205) Blizzack setup on some old, beat up 16's.

That looks amazing !

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allowe · 12-13-2016, 02:21 PM

Is everyone running blizzaks ? People seem to recommend those the most.

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Shark_Bait88 · 12-13-2016, 02:27 PM

Blizzaks if you've got the money to spend, Altimax if you're on a budget.

hakkapeliittas if you're really looking to drop some coin on your winter setup. I'd like to try them sometime, but just don't know if I can bring myself to spend that much on my winter setup. Maybe after this set of WS80s is worn out, if I've got extra change burning a hole in my pocket.

JazzleSAURUS · 12-13-2016, 02:43 PM

I run 2000 RS 5 spokes in the winter with a 16" tire slightly taller than stock, and slightly more narrow. The extra bit of height is nice. I toss 3/8" spacers on top of my stock suspension for a bit of clearance.

Last year I had Forester sized tires and I loved it. When these 2 year old conti's are cooked, I'll get another set of arctics in Forester size for the BRZ.

jvincent · 12-13-2016, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark_Bait88

hakkapeliittas if you're really looking to drop some coin on your winter setup. I'd like to try them sometime, but just don't know if I can bring myself to spend that much on my winter setup.

I had to replace two of my winters this year (after 3 seasons) because one of them must have been overinflated last year as was essentially bald down the middle. The other three are OK for at least one more season but I figured having really good grip on one tire might not be the best idea.

I went with hakka's for the new pair and put them on the rear. So far so good.

I usually get 4 or 5 seasons out of my winters (~12,000 km per season) so I figure the extra few $$$ for good traction is worth it when you amortize it over that long.

Hell, with track time in the summer I go through a set of summers every 1.5 seasons.

Overdrive · 12-13-2016, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scenic Driver

Me too

This needs to be put in as a December POTM entry.

allowe · 12-14-2016, 10:43 AM

Anyone got experience with blizzak lm 60s or general Altimax arctic

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12-13-2016, 02:27 PM	#52
Shark_Bait88 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Drives: 2013 Firestorm FR-S Location: Midwest Posts: 1,350 Thanks: 1,672 Thanked 865 Times in 481 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Blizzaks if you've got the money to spend, Altimax if you're on a budget. hakkapeliittas if you're really looking to drop some coin on your winter setup. I'd like to try them sometime, but just don't know if I can bring myself to spend that much on my winter setup. Maybe after this set of WS80s is worn out, if I've got extra change burning a hole in my pocket. __________________ "Shark_Bait88, the man who’s spent the most money modding his stock FR-S and it’s still stock." -@jdnguyen

12-13-2016, 02:43 PM	#53
JazzleSAURUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Drives: 15 BRZ LTD, 05 FXT Location: Western MA Posts: 1,032 Thanks: 561 Thanked 558 Times in 351 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I run 2000 RS 5 spokes in the winter with a 16" tire slightly taller than stock, and slightly more narrow. The extra bit of height is nice. I toss 3/8" spacers on top of my stock suspension for a bit of clearance. Last year I had Forester sized tires and I loved it. When these 2 year old conti's are cooked, I'll get another set of arctics in Forester size for the BRZ. __________________ SOLD: 2015 WRB BRZ Limited ('02 WRX BBS, S-04's, Stoptech Sport pads, MXP SP, AVO drop in filter, Mishimoto Intake tube, decatted header, OFT 93 Stage 2 EL Tune, Kartboy rear shifter bushing, Whiteline transmission and subframe lockout bushings, ST Coilovers, SPC Camber bolts w/smaller crash bolt, SPC LCA's & SPC Toe Arm bushings, Red TOMs, TRD Wing.)

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12-12-2016, 10:40 AM	#44
churchx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Drives: 2014 GT86 Location: Latvia, Riga Posts: 4,333 Thanks: 696 Thanked 2,086 Times in 1,436 Posts Mentioned: 53 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	soft & squishy yet gripping even on winter's no-grip snow/ice roads - imho much more important then feel and compromised grip. It's not feel that stops you in time or helps not to loose control. Today on way home i passed three heavy crashes. I felt good on having that slight extra ensurance of best possible tires that will lessen chance of me getting into one. Even if tires are with "usability faults", eg. being noisy as hell and softer then summer ones. But they will stop car and car will handle, when it counts.

12-13-2016, 08:57 AM	#45
allowe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: FR-S Location: mississauga Posts: 576 Thanks: 227 Thanked 122 Times in 89 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yay Canada... I. Was guna get winter tires yesterday but it was shitting snow here. Still don't have winter tires. Thank god for my beater (Jeep Compass) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-13-2016, 09:11 AM	#46
jvincent Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: 2022 WRB BRZ Sport-Tech Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,746 Thanks: 131 Thanked 1,410 Times in 715 Posts Mentioned: 25 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	It's not like winter is a surprise. It comes every year at the same time (more or less) so having winter tires ready to go isn't that much of a stretch.

12-13-2016, 11:11 AM	#49
Timmy_Jones Spun Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 17' Focus RS Location: New England Posts: 1,179 Thanks: 396 Thanked 400 Times in 273 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I run a narrower (205) Blizzack setup on some old, beat up 16's.

12-13-2016, 02:21 PM	#51
allowe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: FR-S Location: mississauga Posts: 576 Thanks: 227 Thanked 122 Times in 89 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Is everyone running blizzaks ? People seem to recommend those the most. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-14-2016, 10:43 AM	#56
allowe Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: FR-S Location: mississauga Posts: 576 Thanks: 227 Thanked 122 Times in 89 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Anyone got experience with blizzak lm 60s or general Altimax arctic Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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