To get winter tires or not...

[Scouzer]

So on my car I have 205/50/17's...and the OEM's are atrocious. Decent in the summer, not useable in the winter.

I also have a retarded bolt pattern--5x110. This means finding steel wheels for winter use is much more difficult and expensive.

So I have been leaning towards just getting a really good set of All seasons...either Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S or Nokian WR's. However, the Michelin's are $260/tire CDN and the Nokians $220/tire. The Nokians are my first choice, but sadly they are backordered and estimated at over a month wait. My old tires also have plenty of tread too, its a shame to toss them...

My car cannot take smaller than 16" wheel due to the brake size.

Should I use a 17" winter tire on my wheels, or just cough up the extra now, dump my old All Seasons and get new ones.

Keep in mind...I have a one bedroom apartment so storing my tires would take up basically all of my closet space.

 

[FoBoT]

does it snow in Canada?

 

[Scouzer]

probably

 

[drinkmorejava]

I found them extremely useful on my Focus in the snow.

 

[cavemanmoron]

I suggest a Winter Vehicle.

Soemthing 4 wheel drive FTW.

 

[sash1]

meh, i never get winter tires.

 

[Heisenberg]

I just use all-seasons year round, but then I have a 4WD vehicle. I'd probably go with steel wheels and snow tires, but that's just me.

 

[Kwaipie]

How are the Nokians are all-season tires? I've just started seeing adverts for them in the northwest.

 

[mercanucaribe]

All seasons

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Kwaipie
How are the Nokians are all-season tires? I've just started seeing adverts for them in the northwest.

I had the Nokian WR's on my old car and they are GREAT all around.

The only weakness I ever found is highway + deep water. On an old beat up highway there were nasty deep tracks from the semi's in the pavement, and the Nokians couldn't channel the water out.

But I'd imagine most tires couldn't handle that.

 

[Aimster]

I have AWD but no snow tires. Havent had a winter with my car yet.

I was thinking of getting snow tires but it only snows like once in VA, so not worth it

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
So on my car I have 205/50/17's...and the OEM's are atrocious. Decent in the summer, not useable in the winter.

I also have a retarded bolt pattern--5x110. This means finding steel wheels for winter use is much more difficult and expensive.

So I have been leaning towards just getting a really good set of All seasons...either Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S or Nokian WR's. However, the Michelin's are $260/tire CDN and the Nokians $220/tire. The Nokians are my first choice, but sadly they are backordered and estimated at over a month wait. My old tires also have plenty of tread too, its a shame to toss them...

My car cannot take smaller than 16" wheel due to the brake size.

Should I use a 17" winter tire on my wheels, or just cough up the extra now, dump my old All Seasons and get new ones.

Keep in mind...I have a one bedroom apartment so storing my tires would take up basically all of my closet space.

Rare bolt pattern.
WRX?
VW?

 

[funboy6942]

In all my years of driving I have never bought or owned a car in the winter with snow or studded tires. Just need to know how to drive for the condtions and how you car hanldles under thoes conditions.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Aimster
I have AWD but no snow tires. Havent had a winter with my car yet.

I was thinking of getting snow tires but it only snows like once in VA, so not worth it

AWD is all you need. We go to Tahoe without snow tires/chains =) to snowboard. In my experience, AWD gives you more control than FWD/RWD + snow tires.

 

[AnMig]

Been living in northern minnesotta for the past 8 years now (lots of snow and ice). I drive about 45 miles everyday on remote roads. I have 2 cars honda civic, honda oddessy (pretty sure i misspelled this but whoe cares).

I finally bought snow tires last year and it does make a difference. Bought blizzac tires for both my front wheel drive cars.

The tire sales man rattled off some unbelievable numbers like "this will give you 40% better traction the cheaper ones will give you 20% better. I just bought the Blizzac since those where what my friend had.

My thinking is if it improves traction even by 10%, its still better than regular tires and hopefully prevent me and my family from getting into accidents.

 

[lightpants]

Brigstone Blizzaks are great - when there is snow on the road. If you drive with them on dry roads they will wear down in a winter season. I have a set on steel wheels and when they are calling for snow, I switch wheels. (I do work at a garage so I might have an advantage in this regard)
For me, they are a great investment. A set usually lasts at least 4 years. Using them in the snow vs. spinning my regular tires helps extend their lifespan as well.

Just keep your eye out for a set of steel wheels on ebay or in a local paper, and snatch them up. Get 16" so the tires will be less expensive and change them as soon as the winter season is over. They will last a few years and will be worth it. Or just stay home when it snows.


I would agree that they give 40% better traction. That is not only to make you go, but they stop faster and corner better as well.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I got bridgestone Blizzaks on a pair of 15"s I use on my jetta in the winter, amazing!

In the summer I can get performance tires on my 17"s. I would get another 4set of rims/tires if winters get bad up there and there are no good all seasons.

one winter I left on my performance tires (got late on switching the rims/tires out for the winter ones) and it was like driving a skidster.

 

[thomsbrain]

Car and Driver recently compared performance, all-season, and snow tires in a variety of conditions. They found that all-seasons worked pretty well in all conditions, and that performance tires were tops in both the dry and the wet, but that performance tires were atrocious in the snow. So basically, they recommended either using all-seaons for all seasons (oddly enough), or switching between performance and snow.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: Aimster
I have AWD but no snow tires. Havent had a winter with my car yet.

I was thinking of getting snow tires but it only snows like once in VA, so not worth it

AWD is all you need. We go to Tahoe without snow tires/chains =) to snowboard. In my experience, AWD gives you more control than FWD/RWD + snow tires.

except when you want to do little things like turn or stop.