And this is why you buy good tires

[rh71]

I hydroplaned on some Goodyear Eagles back in '99 and never took tires for granted again. Took an offramp and instead of turning off, the car kept going straight. Thankfully it was a dirt divider without obstacles that stopped me before the huge brick overpass wall.

 

[NoCreativity]

If I had a garage/storage I might consider getting nice winter tires for my car, and switching them out in the spring/fall. I normally run all season tires but I've been wondering how much better actual winter tires would be (I'm in Michigan).

I'm in SE MI and we went with winters on our main car for the last two years. There is a noticeable difference with traction and I was almost tempted to get a set for my 10 year old fusion. Just couldn't stomach laying out almost $1000 for a new set of tires/rims.

You could look into Belle tire for storage. Not sure how much it costs but they offer it.

I think another potential issue with that is when you change them. Its past the middle of April and we've already had 70 degree days. I'm willing to bet a fair number of people with winter tires already changed them. Hmm - maybe the M5 guy. But I wouldn't go straight summer tire in MI till May at the earliest.

We switched out a little early this year because we needed new all seasons and last weekend was most convenient for us plus the rebate was expiring soon on the new ones. Not sure I'd ever go summer only tires in MI unless it was on a second "fun" car.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm in SE MI and we went with winters on our main car for the last two years. There is a noticeable difference with traction and I was almost tempted to get a set for my 10 year old fusion. Just couldn't stomach laying out almost $1000 for a new set of tires/rims.

Scrapyards.

The tires aren't really an additional expensive, you're just buying two sets and driving on each one half as much, so it's more money up front but not over the life of the car.

The wheels, though, yeah, that's money. Fortunately, the Fusion uses a wheel size and bolt pattern that's crazy-common. Wheels off of a Camry/Accord or a brazillion other cars should fit ok. New-used rims should run you under $200 for a set, which is cheap peace-of-mind, honestly.

 

[ultimatebob]

That M5 probably had some very nice SUMMER tires on it.

Yeah, the rubber compounds in summer tires solidify below 40 degrees, and pretty much become as slippery as glass. Anybody who takes a car with summer tires out in the snow is basically suicidal.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Scrapyards.

The tires aren't really an additional expensive, you're just buying two sets and driving on each one half as much, so it's more money up front but not over the life of the car.

The wheels, though, yeah, that's money. Fortunately, the Fusion uses a wheel size and bolt pattern that's crazy-common. Wheels off of a Camry/Accord or a brazillion other cars should fit ok. New-used rims should run you under $200 for a set, which is cheap peace-of-mind, honestly.

most domestic and jdm cars use 5x114.3 (if they're somewhat new cars), BMWs use 5x120, VWs use 5x112

I agree, if you're looking for a cheap cheap set, go to a scrapyard but make sure that whatever you pick up clears your brake calipers if you have a car with a big brake kit (aka brembos).

Just remember to do your research.

 

[purbeast0]

Doesn't matter how "good" your tires are. If you're on a sheet of ice you're going to slide.

 

[Zeze]

As a former ricer, I cannot confirm this. At some point you run out of money cuz you spent it all on mods so you have to buy Kumho's and don't replace them until the camber wear gets dangerous.

"As a former ricer," LOL

I mean, I already got your look all figured out. A typical AZN skinny boy with spiked gelled hair and a honda civic all moderately-actually-impressive riced out.

But then I think I just described myself - minus the ricing out.

 

[sdifox]

Kumho's are alright, I'm talking about Westlake, Leao tyre, winrun, literally anything that's like 50 bucks a tire.

Kumho, Nankang are both acceptable, except iirc they're still chinese tires.

EDIT: who remembers that youtuber who was getting mad at tesla for their tires needing replacing because he didn't know that teslas came stock with summer performance tires?

Kumho is Korean while Nankang is Taiwanese.

 

[Denly]

Here in the great white north, people try to have 2set of tires if possible($ and space). We put on the winter when it go below 10c/50f, we also have large feet of snow plows to keep us going all winter. Snow tires make a huge difference, if you live in area that go below 50f for a few month a year do it. This is about the cheapest insurance you can get for your life, not AWD, not driver's aide, do the snow tires.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Kumho is Korean while Nankang is Taiwanese.

oh im stupid

 

[Yeroon]

I think some of you are underestimating the difference in traction on ice a set of snow/ice tires can make on ice. The drastically softer rubber compound, the far higher siping count (the little slits in each tread block) do quite a bit to give some actual traction on ice. Then theres some leading edge 'compounds' where they have walnut shell fragments which can behave similar to studs but don't damage the road when the ice/snow aren't there any more.
https://www.toyotires.ca/winter-technology

Anyone driving on winters during the summer to save money is fooling themselves. Your fancy set of tires that could last 5+ winter seasons is typically useless by the time next winter rolls around for snow (tread depth is important there), when a second set of tires (all seasons) would last you the same 5 years. The second set of rims is peanuts compared to the super high replacement rate of using the wrong tires in the warm months. Keep in mind too, the gas mileage is worse and winters are typically noisier as well. Some tire change places even offer tire storage at a super low rate (I've seen free) if that is an issue.

I'm all for the stance of if you don't need to be out there in the crap, stay home. Just because you might be prepared for it doesn't mean someone else is, and those people happen to be the ones oblivious to the fact they aren't.

 

[Ns1]

"As a former ricer," LOL

I mean, I already got your look all figured out. A typical AZN skinny boy with spiked gelled hair and a honda civic all moderately-actually-impressive riced out.

But then I think I just described myself - minus the ricing out.

I also had at one point bleached bangs down to my chin. And I eventually sold the Civic for a Prelude.

 

[BD231]

One of the cars in question was a BMW M5. Dude - you spent that much on a car get some decent tires to go with it. He almost hit probably 7 different cars as he struggled. Not sure if he made it out without actually hitting anyone or not.

He hit 7 cars ? I'd actually be kinna proud of that.

Definitely not the tires. Had a mercedes spin out of control on me and smash into a wall, sh*t happens.

 

[Captante]

Sorry, Ex, about shipping you our Southern black ice but it was that of kudzu.

Serious question since I live in the South. What makes a good tire on ice? Seems to me it wouldn't matter if it was bald or not.

High-quality winter tires will help a bit but the only things that really work are studded tires or better yet chains/cables.