snow driving - some questions

[Firewired]

Snow tires are essential if you get a decent amount of snow per year. Ive ran different tires through the years and I always loved my Nokians. I push my car quite a bit, and I like to feedback those tires give. I also liked the Toyos.

Other thing I like about P5 wheels for winter is that they are easy to clean when snow gets packed in there. Having a shaky car is not fun.

 

[Gobbracing]

I run Toyo GO2+ 185/65-15 on steelies and like them a lot for all-around winter conditions (deep snow, ice, slush...). And geez did we get a lot snow last winter. The Montreal-Ottawa regions got one hell of a winter for the quantity of snow that fell.

I was able to get to work when others couldn't.

 

[satyr36]

can someone link the steelies they use? or the combo deals you buy with tires/wheels?

 

[reg_2004]

i figured if i was gettn snow tires then i should just get new rims and run a summer and winter set up- i used my stock wheels with bridgstone blizzaks in wisconsin that ran great and we had one bad ass winter last year

 

[LEXi73]

also have a set of 15" steelies and my car runs great in snow... Definitely get some snow tires though..it will make a world of difference.

 

[Jboost]

I personally us 15inch steelies got them as a package deal through tire rack the size is 195/55/15they are amazing the tires are blizzak w50's i beleive, i got them on clearance plus i got a 75 dollar gas card for buying a set.

I would never drive with the 17's even if they had snow tires on them. There is no sidewall, and with the lsd you just walk the front end from side to side when trying to find traction.

With my blizzaks i could out accellerate trucks no problem in the snow. Last year was the first time i have ever used snow tires and i can honestly say I will have a set of tires for snow and a set for summer for the rest of my life it is great.

 

[MS3_KIDD]

whooo hooo...cant wait till i get my steelies for this winter
...what size tire is recomended for a 15inch wheel to get about the same diameter of the stock wheel? i kinda fell asleep durring this part of steering and suspension class(lol2)

 

[njaremka]

195/65-15

 

[HondaNoMore]

check out this site, it's been soooo helpful when playing around with wheels and tire setups.... the best size for 15" snow tires would be 185/65R15.... that's about the closest you're going to get to stock size/diameter.

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/info_sp...l&sw1=315&ar1=70&bd1=17&rd1=17&rw1=8.0&et1=10

 

[Spooler]

Are we talking about snow already? I just finish erasing the dreadfull memories of our last winter in Montreal. We got 125 inches of snow last year.....I wouldn't enterain the thought of driving in winter conditions without winter tires (in fact, snow titer became manatory this year in Quebec), I thank God there was a driveway entrance when I lost control on my summer tires first snow last year. I use 16s, mainly because I find the jump from 17s to 15s too much for handling. My winters are Toyo Garrit, much better than Hankook Icebear W300 I had previously. One piece of advice, cough the extra money for a good set of winter tires, you'll appreciate the day you hit a frozen street and your tires don't freeze

 

[satyr36]

ya im still/already looking!!! i just cant find a good deal on some steelies + tires

 

[mgerst1]

maybe i have just gotten lucky but i have just run all season radials on the 17 stockers and have been fine, only one winter with the car but still no problems and it still allowed for some good powdered dougnut action

 

[mgerst1]

I have hancook all seasons on right now and they have gotten me through one winter already

 

[Tom03es]

ya im still/already looking!!! i just cant find a good deal on some steelies + tires

You don't have to get steelies. I have a set of 15" Konig Theory wheels on my ES- which I bought from an MSP owner on here, for my winter wheels.

When I first got the wheels:

They had some unknown brand of tire on there at first.

I repainted the wheels for last winter:

I have a set of Hankook iPikes on them. I've been fairly happy with them. I had them on from late October to mid March last winter. I noticed quite a bump in acceleration with this setup too.

 

[Jarpo]

I would never drive with the 17's even if they had snow tires on them. There is no sidewall, and with the lsd you just walk the front end from side to side when trying to find traction.

Can anyone confirm this? Reason I ask is I see a set of four 215/45/17 Blizzaks on ebay for $175, slightly used. I'd get them, but if they're not going to be much better than some all-seasons then there's no point. Also does anyone know a good place online to get some cheap steel wheels? I've been looking through a few of the sites posted in this thread and only found these Unique brand ones for $68 a piece.

 

[60181]

Can anyone confirm this? Reason I ask is I see a set of four 215/45/17 Blizzaks on ebay for $175, slightly used. I'd get them, but if they're not going to be much better than some all-seasons then there's no point. Also does anyone know a good place online to get some cheap steel wheels? I've been looking through a few of the sites posted in this thread and only found these Unique brand ones for $68 a piece.

Check with your local shop in town. Discount Tire here was willing to put up some nice looking 17's when I was in the market for a mere $99ea. Well worth the premium to look good over just plain steelies IMO.

Don't cheap out on the rubber either. There are major differences in good snow shoes vs cheap. Winter is the one time you don't want to compromise on quality. Besides, they will last you years and selling them as a combo won't be hard either.

Check local papers and craigs list. I found a super steal on my wheels

 

[Jboost]

Can anyone confirm this? Reason I ask is I see a set of four 215/45/17 Blizzaks on ebay for $175, slightly used. I'd get them, but if they're not going to be much better than some all-seasons then there's no point. Also does anyone know a good place online to get some cheap steel wheels? I've been looking through a few of the sites posted in this thread and only found these Unique brand ones for $68 a piece.

You can probably rock the 17 but the tires will be much more expensive to replace when they were out. I have 15's i just put them on yesterday morning! (fu) winter. I'm just saying that with the extra sidewall on the tire you have alot more tire to help pull you through the thick s***.

 

[43975]

I just bought a set of 15 steelies with continental snow tires. I'm having an issue mounting the rear. I'm not sure if the wheel is bent or just not mounting right but I get a ton of wooble in the rear. The set up came off a Lexus IS300 the tires are brand spanking new, with 1/2 a season on them!!

 

[Tom03es]

^^Do the wheel's hub fit snuggly over the Protege's? My guess is that the Lexus wheels have a larger hub bore which allowed you to mis-align the wheel when mounting it: the center of the wheel is not in line with the center of the wheel bearing. If so, jack up the rear and loosen the lugs. Slowly tighten each lug nut in a criss-crossing star pattern so the tapered feature of the lug nuts draws the wheel in evenly.

Just a guess though.

 

[43975]

^^Do the wheel's hub fit snuggly over the Protege's? My guess is that the Lexus wheels have a larger hub bore which allowed you to mis-align the wheel when mounting it: the center of the wheel is not in line with the center of the wheel bearing. If so, jack up the rear and loosen the lugs. Slowly tighten each lug nut in a criss-crossing star pattern so the tapered feature of the lug nuts draws the wheel in evenly.

Just a guess though.

I did try that I spent like 30 minutes a wheel getting them to fit