Winter Tire Review Thread (Please contribute)

[brkdncr]

I bought some 16” wheels off a 2006 outback and they came with 225x60 16” tires. Will these fit? I also have a 1” spacer lift kit to install.

[Inferno5]

Hey Sasquatchulator; I came up with this using the calculator you posted, before I order I just wanted to run by some of you much more experienced 86 owners to see if these will work? I'm learning a lot from you guys...so glad I found this forum!

https://www.tirerack.com/cart/HoldingArea.jsp

[venturaII]

Originally Posted by Veypor

I switched from a 17" OEM wheel Michelin X-Ice set up to a proper 15" Pirelli Ice Zero studded setup and never looked back.
Link to wheel directory post

+1
THIS is going to be my next winter setup after my current studded 16s are worn out. I assumed 15s wouldn't clear our brakes..

[RickyRacer]

just mounted some new Hakka R3 215/45/17 on my OEM wheels


can't wait for first snowfall!!

[bucketfoot]

We finally got our first real snow here in the Denver area yesterday, so I was able to try out my Vredstein Wintrac Pros for the first time.

There was a nice icy layer at the bottom, so I was able to have some fun.

Overall I have to say that so far I am happy with them. Although if I wasn't permanently working from home and still had a daily commute I probably would have opted for something like Blizzaks instead.

[brkdncr]

Originally Posted by venturaII

+1
THIS is going to be my next winter setup after my current studded 16s are worn out. I assumed 15s wouldn't clear our brakes..

I think that car has different brakes on it? AR-Racing and RR-racing BBK are brakes.

[Sasquachulator]

been driving on the iceguards for a few months now.
My feeling is still the same with these tires.
they seem meh, not great on slippery/icey roads, but it feels like they've got some bite in the snow when i do get a chance to be on the packed snow.
Tirerack ratings for these seem to indicate they're quite good but not great. I feel like they're not as good as the ratings indicate though.

I also think some of it is getting used to a 50/50 weight balanced RWD car vs usually driving a FWD econobox with with a 60/40 F/R weight split. (drive wheels feel a bit lighter with less weight over them).

So far they do the job mostly fine. I wasnt wowed by these tires like i was when i first experienced the Continental DWS in the snow.

[Swift]

Just wanted to let people know if you didn't already that they make what are called "all weather" tires now. Not so much for your BRZ etc, but for your wife's car where you get snow from NOV-March but don't want to mount/dismount snow tires and rims.


I just ordered up a set of Michelin ClimateCross 2 for my Mazda 6. Expensive but by far the best reviews out there. Found out I have blackmarket tires on my car...IE: super old yet brand new tread. So I feel the rubber is super hard now and they are just General tires. In MN here I can stop worth a shit or start. I have a 6spd by the way.

[matchaFRS]

205/55/16 on 2003 forester oem wheels.

Drove these nearly everyday during in Winnipeg, MB where winters are known to be terrible. Plenty of grip when you want it. Plenty of slide when you want it. These tires are studdable but I did not have them studded. Never really got stuck in deep snow.

These tires I know are on the cheaper side but worked great for me. (the worst winter tire is better than nothing). This was my first ever RWD winter experience.