Winter tires?

[Mickeyt86]

Hey everyone I just had a question about winter tires. I'm very new to the area, and have yet to experience a winter up here. I'm considering winter tires, but want to see what everyone else is planning or has done already. I'm in the Lakewood/Tacoma area and I hear snow isn't much of a problem, but ice is.

My FR-S is my daily driver, however I don't have a long commute.

I'm very well versed in RWD and never have a problem in heavy rain.

I'm mainly wondering what everyone else is doing for the winter if your FR-S is a dd. I'd rather save up for some really nice all seasons and new wheels.

[Ravenlokk]

You wont want to drive nice new wheels in the winter with all the salt and chemicals on the road. I just bought some 16" steelies with practically new winter rubber for $500. The tires are almost $200 each new, plus wheels etc.

[RaceR]

Ill just leave these videos here. First one is the best!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI&feature=related"]Winter Tyres v Summer Tyres: the Truth! - Auto Express - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y"]Tire Rack Tire Test - All-Season vs. Winter Tires - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlYEMH10Z4s&feature=relmfu"]Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter/Snow vs. All-Season vs. Summer Tires on Ice - YouTube[/ame]

[Mickeyt86]

Thanks for the videos, however, I'm aware of the benefits of a winter tire, I'm just wondering if they are really necessary for the area considering the usual weather pattern.

[Freeman]

Originally Posted by Mickeyt86

Thanks for the videos, however, I'm aware of the benefits of a winter tire, I'm just wondering if they are really necessary for the area considering the usual weather pattern.

Growing up in Portland, I would say no just keep the tires you have on. Although the last few years they've been getting snow(which is unusual). I can only imagine that Tacoma would be getting the same if not worse weather the last few years. I would go pick up some cheap steel wheels and good snow tires. Better safe than sorry.

[Mickeyt86]

Originally Posted by Ravenlokk

You wont want to drive nice new wheels in the winter with all the salt and chemicals on the road. I just bought some 16" steelies with practically new winter rubber for $500. The tires are almost $200 each new, plus wheels etc.

Where did you score a deal like that?

[seven]

Hey fellow Washingtonian
I bought a set of VW Avus wheels, lug adaptors (info on those here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19403 - look for the posts by me ) for $120 ($20 for adaptors, wheels were $100 on craisglist) and a set of 15in Michelin X-ice tires for $260ish after rebate from tire rack. For less than $400 for a snow setup it's worth the piece of mind for snow.
I used to live in the Northeast (Philly) where snow was a given and drove a Corvette with no issues.... I still see it as a worthwhile investment for the WA area/Eastside.

[stockysnail]

Just because it doesn't snow as much in the Pacific North West doesn't mean it isn't cold. 6 months out of the year in Portland Oregon the average low temperature is below 47 or 7 Celsius. Winter tires perform much better in those conditions. After driving a Lotus Elise for two years without winter tires I'll never drive without winter tires in the cold again. My safety is too important. AWD is great for accelerating as my blasting down the snow covered freeway in an Evo 9 would show, but AWD doesn't help nearly as much as winter tires would, plus AWD doesn't help much at all to stop or turn a car in snow/ice, tires do that.

[Ravenlokk]

Originally Posted by Mickeyt86

Where did you score a deal like that?

craigslist! Guy sold his WRX for family etc reasons. They even came with some fancy canvasy velcro tirebags lol. The tires have a good 90%+ tread left on them.

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by stockysnail

Just because it doesn't snow as much in the Pacific North West doesn't mean it isn't cold. 6 months out of the year in Portland Oregon the average low temperature is below 47 or 7 Celsius. Winter tires perform much better in those conditions...

+1 on this. As the first video illustrated, the softer compound works better in all colder conditions. If you don't think you're going to see a lot of actual snow, look for a winter tire that is less "snow aggressive", i.e. something that doesn't have a "knobby" tread pattern to it, but more of a regular or sports car pattern to it. For example, when I drove my Boxsters in winter, I used Dunlop Wintersport M3s (or was it 3Ds?). They were really good in snow, but were excellent in cold and wet...which we have more of here in SW Ohio. For sure, when Julie and I move out there (PDX in 2013 baby!) I'll be suiting up with winters still.

Cheers!

[Smokinbuffalo]

I bought the recommend winter tire package from Tire Rack. Steel 16s, with 205 55 Blizzaks WS70s . Just put them on this weekend. Pretty happy with them. Don't really need them now, but they will be broken in by the time we get any snow.

[stockysnail]

Went to Costco and got Bridgestone Blizzak LM60 215/45r17 (stock size) on my stock wheels $600. My snowboard even fits in the trunk with the back seats down.
My stock tires with only 800 miles are up for sale as seen on here in the stickied NW parts thread.