Anyone know? Just so I can know how many wweeks I have left before I am forced to slap my winter wheel sets on...

I'm putting my snows on this week on both cars since I don't have a garage.
I'd rather change my wheels now before it is 20 degrees outside.

I'll probably switch over when the temps are consistantly in the low 40's. I figure it will be sometime in the middle of December.

I guess I should get around to ordering my snow tires. Knowing me, I probably won't get to it until spring (I didn't get Summer tires until Aug). :(

---Eric

I guess I should get around to ordering my snow tires. Knowing me, I probably won't get to it until spring (I didn't get Summer tires until Aug). :(

---Eric

Which snows are you getting?

Which snows are you getting?
I still haven't decided. Any suggestions? I'm looking for something that can be driven everyday through the crappy winter weather we get around here. I've been told the Blizzaks are "squirmy" in the dry so I'm avoiding them. They need to fit my basketweaves (195/65/14).

---Eric

I still haven't decided. Any suggestions? I'm looking for something that can be driven everyday through the crappy winter weather we get around here. I've been told the Blizzaks are "squirmy" in the dry so I'm avoiding them. They need to fit my basketweaves (195/65/14).

---Eric

I dunno, prolly Vredestein Snowtrac
http://www.vredestein.com/images/product_snowtrac.jpg
http://www.vredestein.com/images/snowtrac_1.jpg

I have my snow tires ready. They make my car run on the rough side...and my co-workers make fun of me because the tread is kind of high on them. They ask me if I am going to go 4 wheeling. :(

I plan to put them on in the 2nd or third week of Dec. :dunno

I guess I should fix the Tahoe and put the Corvette away soon. :(

FYI - Consumer Reports ranked Kumho I*Zen 2nd overall in their last snow tire test. I'd say they're a pretty good deal considering they were around half the price of the 1st ranked tire (forgot what it was).

FYI - Consumer Reports ranked Kumho I*Zen 2nd overall in their last snow tire test. I'd say they're a pretty good deal considering they were around half the price of the 1st ranked tire (forgot what it was).
I'm not too worried about snow... We don't get that much around here. It is usually more of a slushy/ice mix that covers the roads. Whenever we get any decent accumulation of snow everything closes so I don't need to drive. I'm looking for something that would be good (if it exists) for our type of winters.

---Eric

I'm not too worried about snow... We don't get that much around here. It is usually more of a slushy/ice mix that covers the roads. Whenever we get any decent accumulation of snow everything closes so I don't need to drive. I'm looking for something that would be good (if it exists) for our type of winters.

---Eric

I'll scan and post the article when/if I can find it again. One of the important things that I took away from it is that there is no "best" winter tire - some are just better than other for different types of winter weather.

I'll scan and post the article when/if I can find it again. One of the important things that I took away from it is that there is no "best" winter tire - some are just better than other for different types of winter weather.
Thanks, I know there is no "best" winter tire. That's why I'm asking for people in this area to post their experience... I hear a lot of people say thing like "I drove through 5+" of snow with no problem. If there is 5" of snow on the ground I'm not taking my car out. We do get a lot of slushy/icy days around here so I'm hoping someone has found a decent tire for that type of weather.

---Eric

I guess I should get around to ordering my snow tires. Knowing me, I probably won't get to it until spring (I didn't get Summer tires until Aug). :(

---Eric

Dude, no need to order. Go to Radial and they'll set you up. Dropped my winter wheels off there, picked 'em up the next day with new, not worn-down-to-the-wearbars snow tires. They haven't steered me wrong yet so I went with the Vredestein snow tires they recommended. Lotsa positive feedback on their snow tires from club members as well.

Eric, your car is -2" off the ground... don't drive it in the snow.

Eric, your car is -2" off the ground... don't drive it in the snow.
No choice... I have to get to work somehow.

---Eric

Eric, your car is -2" off the ground... don't drive it in the snow.

No kidding.

You have that thing slammed considering that is your daily driver/street car. Raise it up for the winter.

No choice... I have to get to work somehow.

---Eric

No choice to raise it up for the winter? You are a RACECAR DRIVER!!!!!

By more oil pans.

By more oil pans.

:lol

By more oil pans.


Doh! :lol

Pete

By more oil pans.
I have to drive that exact road where I lost my oil pans everyday to work now. :( Fortunately they finished paving it so I should have a nice smooth drive this winter (until the potholes come back). I've been thinking about raising the car up 1/2". The next time I need an alignment I will probably do it.

---Eric

No choice to raise it up for the winter? You are a RACECAR DRIVER!!!!!

:lol

Actually, the snow might be good for Eric. It will help cool his tires so that they don't melt on the way to work. :D

I actually want to put my snow tires on... is that wrong?

:lol

Actually, the snow might be good for Eric. It will help cool his tires so that they don't melt on the way to work. :D

:biglaughb

I have to drive that exact road where I lost my oil pans everyday to work now. :( Fortunately they finished paving it so I should have a nice smooth drive this winter (until the potholes come back). I've been thinking about raising the car up 1/2". The next time I need an alignment I will probably do it.

---Eric

You lost more than one? The first time would've prompted me to raise my car.

Slam yo' shyt 2 da point u can't drive it no mo', or at least 2 da point u lose ur oilpan! :buttrock

:lol

Actually, the snow might be good for Eric. It will help cool his tires so that they don't melt on the way to work. :D

:lol

I actually want to put my snow tires on... is that wrong?
No, not at all.....if you are not a true RACECAR driver. :rolleyes

:stickoutt

You lost more than one? The first time would've prompted me to raise my car.

Slam yo' shyt 2 da point u can't drive it no mo', or at least 2 da point u lose ur oilpan! :buttrock
No, it only happend one time (upper and lower oil pans).

---Eric

I don't wear winter tires.

I can't afford winter tires, that is why I bought a Honda.

Winter car! :redspot

Scott

my winter car had a rear bumper adjustment recently :( value of the damages was enough to buy all season tires for the subaru, though.

Alex just got a set of Vreds from me... hopefully he will post on this thread.

Vredesteins are VERY good winter tires and arent squirmy like most.

If you have 17s, the 225/45/17 Wintracs are even better on the dry.

There is just no comparison between all-seasons and winter tires... most people confuse winter tires with "snow tires" as in they are only good in the snow. Keep in mind that the compounds are specifically made for the colder weather. Just as R-comps work well when they are hot, winter tires have an optimum temperature range much lower than that of an all-season. Combined w/ the tread design w/ shorter shoulder blocks enables better snow traction.

The key is finding a tire that works well on AND off snow. Since you wont be driving on snow all winter.......

...and finding ones that don't wear excessively when we get 50-60 degree days randomly in January.

For the little amount of snow we see, I think all seasons are pretty decent, especially because it doesn't get cold and stay cold here like it does some other places.

...and finding ones that don't wear excessively when we get 50-60 degree days randomly in January.

For the little amount of snow we see, I think all seasons are pretty decent, especially because it doesn't get cold and stay cold here like it does some other places.
I had all seasons on my car and I didn't like them. They did the job and got me through several winters (and summers) but I know there has to be something better. It looks like a set of Vreds will be going on next.

---Eric

you guys do realize that by buying snows... you will make it NOT snow the rest of the winter? :)

You shouldnt be driving ANY winter tire in 40+ degree weather. Same goes for summer tires... driving summer tires below 40 degrees = little grip... and even less if it is wet out. Most people also do not realize this.

All-seasons are a compromise and are plenty good for most people. But just like how you cant substitute all-seasons in autoX for Hoosiers... you cant do the same in the winter. That's my favorite analogy.... winter tires:winter as R-comps/summer tires:summer :stickoutt

you guys do realize that by buying snows... you will make it NOT snow the rest of the winter? :)

I won't mind if it doesn't snow. :D

---Eric

Alex just got a set of Vreds from me... hopefully he will post on this thread.


This is what I got from Alex

I got the Snowtracs on last week and so far I am very happy, although I can't talk about snow. They seem to track better than I expected, and I drove it for the first time in the rain today and didn't push it, but it felt very stable and solid. I drove up here to Scranton PA (about 200 miles) and I felt the ride comfort was the same, if not better than the ES100 summer tires.

So far, I'd say I would definately buy them again, but it's early and they haven't seen snow yet....

This is what I got from Alex

I got the Snowtracs on last week and so far I am very happy, although I can't talk about snow. They seem to track better than I expected, and I drove it for the first time in the rain today and didn't push it, but it felt very stable and solid. I drove up here to Scranton PA (about 200 miles) and I felt the ride comfort was the same, if not better than the ES100 summer tires.

So far, I'd say I would definately buy them again, but it's early and they haven't seen snow yet....
Tell him to drive further out to where there is some snow. :rolleyes

---Eric

I just got these (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Turanza+LS-T&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=87TR4TLS&fromCompare1=yes) for the wagon. They seem to be very highly rated in wet/dry/snow categories so Im hoping they do well. Should be mounting them this weekend! :)

I had all seasons on my car and I didn't like them. They did the job and got me through several winters (and summers) but I know there has to be something better. It looks like a set of Vreds will be going on next.

---Eric

they're much better on FWD cars, I guess.


the problem with winter only tires, and the recommendation to use winter tires only below 40 degrees, and not to use summer tires below 40 degrees is that you'd need a set of all seasons in addition for the days when the temp starts below 40 and gets up higher than that.

Lots of places it works great, because it gets cold and stays cold. around here, we get so little snow that all seasons do ok for me. I haven't tried them on the STi yet, though, but I'm sure they're better than the stockers in the cold and snow :)

Holy crap! It's snowing out right now!!!! :eek:

they're much better on FWD cars, I guess.


the problem with winter only tires, and the recommendation to use winter tires only below 40 degrees, and not to use summer tires below 40 degrees is that you'd need a set of all seasons in addition for the days when the temp starts below 40 and gets up higher than that.

Lots of places it works great, because it gets cold and stays cold. around here, we get so little snow that all seasons do ok for me. I haven't tried them on the STi yet, though, but I'm sure they're better than the stockers in the cold and snow :)
I'm not too concerned about when it is around 40. I already feel like I have less traction (it might just be my imagination).

---Eric

Alex just got a set of Vreds from me... hopefully he will post on this thread.

I'm posting this from a hotel in snow free Scranton, PA. I've driven the Vredesteins in mostly wet conditions since I mounted them and I'm very impressed.

I was up here about 3 weeks ago and drove back on the turnpike in 40 degree rain and my summer ES100s scared the sh!t out of me. The car felt very disconnected and felt like it was going to hydroplane at the slightest hint of upsetting the car. Since I've driven the summer tires in the wet with no problems before, the difference had to be the temperature.

These Snowtracs feel real stable, no squirm, and actually seem to ride better than the Yokos. No snow in the forecast, but I'm back next week so who knows. And I'm working in Miami the next several weeks so I doubt snow is in the picture there (plus I'm flying).

One of the real positives about the tires is Eric and his service. The guy busted his ass to get them to me before this trip, and I didn't realize until the last minute he was doing this just before his honeymoon. I almost felt guilty.

Alex

No, not at all.....if you are not a true RACECAR driver. :rolleyes

:stickoutt

Not everyone can have an E46 M3, a NSX, and a Skyline. :embarrasm

Anyone know? Just so I can know how many wweeks I have left before I am forced to slap my winter wheel sets on...

Doesn't really matter to me when it snows - I just put my M3 on a trailer Saturday night and hauled it down to Miami. It was in the mid-80s today. Uh huh! :cool

T