Winter tires???

[Todd]

Anyone from Toronto or from any area with 'light" winters drive there car with the stock tires last year. This will be my first winter and I would rather not get winter tires but I do realize our tires suck in the rain, I dont know how they are in the winter????

 

[Red Baron]

YOU NEED WINTER TIRES!!!

Do NOT use our stock tires for winter, plus the road salt is MURDER on alloy wheels.

Personnaly I use 14" steel rims with Yokohama Guardex 720 in 185-65-14 and I'm really satisfied since I drive mostly on highways. This tire is fabulous on cleared icy/slippery roads, but it ain't good on snow below 50km/h (lacks a bit of grip), gets better at higher speeds (tread evacuates the snow only once the right speed is achieved). A 4 season tire is a BAD choice in any situation, a pure snow tire is not effective on ice and the opposite for an ice tire. The Guardex 720 is the best winter tire I've owned in the past 20 years/winters, the Guardex 600 has weak sidewalls so handling is not fantastic. I have friends who own the Michelin Alpin and say it is also pretty good. FORGET the Bridgestone Blizzak because it wears out in less than 20000km.

It's up to you anyway, just wanted to help a little.

 

[Todd]

So Red Baron,

How much would this put me back for cheap rims and those tires. Iwas thinking like no name tires but who knows. Just looking for a ball park figure??

 

[RyanBlueP5]

I bought myself blizzak tires with those cheap 50 dollar 15" metal rims. Total cost, 600 bucks installed!!! Worth every penny though, I would not take those duns onto a snow covered highway... And yes I know last winter was tame, but do you really want to take a chance??? Don't be a cheap ass!!

 

[Red Baron]

$$$ and even more $$$

Ok, if I remember, I paid $180 for the rims and something like $400 for the tires, add the :mad: (rant) taxes to those prices. It is a lot of money, but it's your safety and the safety of your passengers.

If you decide to use the alloy wheels in the winter, think of the road salt...I paid $348 for a new wheel a month ago...

Hope I helped.

 

[Todd]

Thanks guys I guess I will be buying some snow tires this winter.

 

[Red Baron]

I thank YOU, you'll be safe and won't be like a unguided missile like those on 4 year old four seasons...

 

[type5]

RE: Winter Tires

FWIW I bought 15" steelies last year from CanadianTire for $24 each. They were 15"x6" 626 rims and they fit perfectly.

The correct tire size is 195/55/15 but 195/60/15 work too and are easier to find and are cheaper.

 

[bmorton]

The stock Dunlops are an average all-season tire in the snow. Not great, not terrible, but acceptable. Where I live the roads are usually dry or wet in the winter, rarely snow-covered, so I'm not using winter tires. If you drive a fair bit or where you are the roads are slippery more often, the winter tires are a good investment.

 

[BK's black P5]

I've got one thing to say: I love southern California. LOL

 

[eeveyl]

Here's what TireRack.com has to say about our stock tires:

"These tires provide light snow traction, through tread designs and compounds which remain more flexible in the cold weather to help blend all-season traction wiith outstanding handling and high speed capabilities."