Late Season Winter tires?

[calidus]

I have had my BRZ for almost 3 weeks now, it has stock tires but I have only driven it a few times because the weather in the Midwest has been terrible this winter. I have been driving my beater to work, but I am really itching to drive my BRZ. It seems the current stock of winter tires is running low, the local discount tire said they didn't have any Blizzaks and they could only find 1 set of xi3 and I would have to get a slightly wider tire. I figure if I am spending good money a nice set of winter tires, buying something wider seems stupid.

At this point it seems I have a few options:

1. Wait it out and drive the beater, then worry about winter tires in October
2. Spend $1000 and get the 16" recommend winter tire package from Tirerack. 16" Blizzak + cheap rims
3. Spend $1200 and the a 17" winter tire package from Tirerack. 17" x-ice xi3 + cheap rims

Does the 17" vs 16" make a big difference? Any recommendations?

[sshole]

16s with skinny winter tires. But I would honestly just wait it out now. Spring is next month...

[Sirsimon]

I had to decide what to do this afternoon, as I was picking my FRS up from the dealer as Portland was getting shellacked with snow (6-8" predicted, which is a lot for PDX). Since the white stuff is supposed to be around for at least 4-5 days, and I don't have another car, I decided to drive straight to the tire shop. I got Blizzak LM60s installed, and (despite not being able to run them on the dry to get rid of the release compound), they are doing great on the little car. I can get up pretty steep slick hills with little drama (finesse with the go pedal required, of course), and for turning and stopping they are awesome. I'm interested in seeing how they do when the snow melts and we're left with our usual mix of wet and dry roads.

DJ

[b rawr z]

Im in the same boat as u OP. I just got mine last saturday and its in the garage right now. I say wait it out. Only a couple more weeks I think. A grand or so is a lot to spend for a couple of weeks worth. U can spend that much in the summer for a good set of wheels and tires. Then next winter u can worry about winter tires. Im putting them on the stockies since im planning on getting a 2nd set of wheels and tires.

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