OK guy and gals, we had our 1st winter storm here tonight. It started snowing while me and the wife were eatting dinner out. Bt the time we finished eatting we had maybe an inch or 2 of snow on the ground and it was starting to rain and freeze. I knew the stock run flats wouldn't be the best in the snow but OMG! It turned a 30 minute drive to get home into well over an hour and a half. What are your thoughts on winter tires? I am thinking this is also a good excuse to get a set of aftermarket wheels. SHould I get a different set of wheels and put the snow tires on them or have the snow tires put on my stock wheels and get a set of aftermarket wheels and put the run flats on them in the spring? I really like the look of some of the M(think they are 6) wheels, but if they are 19 inch then that means I would be wasting a set of brand new stock tires. Oh, BTW, I have the sport package so I have the 18 wheels. I have noticed that the rear could use more bite on dry pavement. Can't seem to launch very hard with out a bunch of wheel spin, I am thinking a wider/stickyer rear tire would be a big help....would like to get this done for less than $2,000 if that is possable.
Snow tires
- Thread starter seanwr400
- Start date
Put winter tires on your 18" stock rims. Tires are cheaper and you get better traction with 18" too.
Does it rain much in your area in the winter? Or does it snow more than it rains? If it rains more, go for the Dunlop WinterSport M3's which perform better on wet surfaces and are quieter than the Bridgestone Blizzak's. If it snows more, get the Blizzak's.
Does it rain much in your area in the winter? Or does it snow more than it rains? If it rains more, go for the Dunlop WinterSport M3's which perform better on wet surfaces and are quieter than the Bridgestone Blizzak's. If it snows more, get the Blizzak's.
My car came with 18" wheels (Sports package) but I put on 225/45R17s all the way around for snow tires. There is no benefit at all having a wide tire for snow - narrow is much better. You also have a much greater selection of winter traction tires in 17" sizes than with 18s.
I bought a set of super cheap 17" rims from tire rack already mounted with snow tires so I can just swap them in and out in my garage at will. There are a bunch of very nice winter performance tires that will serve you well - Blizzak LM-22's, Dunlop WinterSport M3s, Nokian WRs, Pirelli Sotozero 210s, etc. All are traction rated (snowflake logo) tires that will make winter driving far less dangerous and nerve racking. I have used all of those in snow/ice driving conditions in various cars I have owned and would buy any of them again in a heartbeat. Summer performance tires turn into the consistency of hockey pucks once thee temperatures drop and are basically useless.
I bought a set of super cheap 17" rims from tire rack already mounted with snow tires so I can just swap them in and out in my garage at will. There are a bunch of very nice winter performance tires that will serve you well - Blizzak LM-22's, Dunlop WinterSport M3s, Nokian WRs, Pirelli Sotozero 210s, etc. All are traction rated (snowflake logo) tires that will make winter driving far less dangerous and nerve racking. I have used all of those in snow/ice driving conditions in various cars I have owned and would buy any of them again in a heartbeat. Summer performance tires turn into the consistency of hockey pucks once thee temperatures drop and are basically useless.
Just an FYI for you ///M folks out there...
I fitted 225 tires all round (incl rear) without any issues. With the OEM 18X9 wheel format in the rear, the lowest you can go is 225 tires. In my case, they're 225/45 R18's. Oh, and I'm running Dunlop SP Wintersport M3 Tires.
I fitted 225 tires all round (incl rear) without any issues. With the OEM 18X9 wheel format in the rear, the lowest you can go is 225 tires. In my case, they're 225/45 R18's. Oh, and I'm running Dunlop SP Wintersport M3 Tires.
I used 235/40/18's on the OE's last year - Hankook W300 Ice Bears - best value imo - Hankook price to engineering/quality ratio very low right now as they work to establish the brand here in North America. ~ $165 cdn per tire right now.Rick Hunter said:Just an FYI for you ///M folks out there...
I fitted 225 tires all round (incl rear) without any issues. With the OEM 18X9 wheel format in the rear, the lowest you can go is 225 tires. In my case, they're 225/45 R18's. Oh, and I'm running Dunlop SP Wintersport M3 Tires.
Blizzaks rule (TireRack.com)
Caddyshk said:I used 235/40/18's on the OE's last year - Hankook W300 Ice Bears - best value imo - Hankook price to engineering/quality ratio very low right now as they work to establish the brand here in North America. ~ $165 cdn per tire right now.Rick Hunter said:Just an FYI for you ///M folks out there...
I fitted 225 tires all round (incl rear) without any issues. With the OEM 18X9 wheel format in the rear, the lowest you can go is 225 tires. In my case, they're 225/45 R18's. Oh, and I'm running Dunlop SP Wintersport M3 Tires.
Crap, that's like 350 USD now....
I just put a set of 225/45 Dunlop Winter Sport M3's with 17' wheels on. From Tire Rack " Wide sport package tires aren't the best recommendation for winter. Narrower is better. A wide, low profile tire has to "plow" through snow causing more resistance and increasing the likelihood of getting stuck. A narrower tire slices through the snow much more easily. Keep the laws of physics on your side."
Not the best pic, only had them on for 24 hours.
Not the best pic, only had them on for 24 hours.
