Snowshoes

[SteveCo]

The FC04 would also need the centering rings, right? The bore size appears to be identical on both.

The FC04A apparently does not - they are a machined fit. I bought the straight FC04 and installed with the provided rings, which are a simple plastic insert that taps into place and ensures the wheel centers properly when mounting. The lug nuts then clamp the wheel into their fixed position - the rings are not a structural component, and have no involvement in the ongoing performance of the assembly.

When the wheels are removed in the spring, the rings will stay in place. It's a one-time process to install them in the wheel bores.

 

[GRStinger]

They are - considerably.

Very, very pleased with these tires - since putting them on, we've had the full gamut of road conditions from ice and snow to slush, wet, and bare and dry (both cold and warm). Temps have ranged from well below freezing (0C) to around +20C (close to 70F), and the tires work (and sound) great.

Beautiful weather this week, so I'm switching to the convertible for the foreseeable future - enjoy it while I can!

Thanks for the info. Great to hear that about the Michelin X ICE's. I ordered a set from TireRack. Not looking forward to winter here in W Michigan, but 'excited' to see how they work out. I shouldn't have to put 'em on for a while yet, but will be watching the forecasts. Ordered 'em with their recommended-package wheels - Sport Edition A8's in black. They're fairly low-end wheels, but I figure they're good enough for schlepping around in the winter - and they look pretty good. FYI - my first experience with TireRack and they seem very good. Ordered the set late Wednesday afternoon - mounted, balanced, with TPMS - and got 'em less than 24 hrs later, standard/free shipping.

 

[MerlintheMad]

... and got 'em less than 24 hrs later, standard/free shipping.

That sounds almost unbelievable! Happy for you.

 

[Crisis]

just got the winter boots put on. 225/45-R18 Nokian Hakkapiletta R3s on Klasse Motorsport APEX rims, all from our local Kal Tire. Ordered my set of OEM TPMS for $149 CDN including expedited shipping from Korea versus $150 each from the local Kia dealer.

I'm really pleased with the look and waiting to try out the R3s in the snow. Should be great.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm really pleased with the look and waiting to try out the R3s in the snow. Should be great.

Masochist! I hear of Nordics who also love running outside nekked and rolling in the snow then running back inside a steaming sauna, "repeat as needed." Mad, of course. But I am sure where you live that there are days when dedicated winter tires are the only way to drive. And, your winter rims look terrific.

 

[kzeina21]

Hi all - been reading this site since before I purchased my GT2 AWD in August. Thanks for the great info!

First time with a sports car. I got my GT2 w/ 19 inch summer tires and looking for winter tires. After reading all of the comments in this thread, I see a lot of people are going with the Michelin X-Ice XI3. Couple of questions and please excuse me as I know they're probably stupid...

1) Should I get 18 inch winter tires if I currently have 19 inch tires? I am planning on getting a tire/rim package so I don't need to change the tire back and forth.
2) If I order them on tirerack.com, should I get them delivered to my house and then bring them to a shop or store to get them installed? I don't have any of the tools at my house to install them as this is my first sports car.
3) Do you recommend that I get the sensor for the tires?
4) Anything else I should consider? Hoping to get your feedback and purchase this week.

Thank you all!

 

[SteveCo]

Hi all - been reading this site since before I purchased my GT2 AWD in August. Thanks for the great info!

First time with a sports car. I got my GT2 w/ 19 inch summer tires and looking for winter tires. After reading all of the comments in this thread, I see a lot of people are going with the Michelin X-Ice XI3. Couple of questions and please excuse me as I know they're probably stupid...

...

Thank you all!

Please see below ...

1) Should I get 18 inch winter tires if I currently have 19 inch tires? I am planning on getting a tire/rim package so I don't need to change the tire back and forth. Most people do - both tires and rims are cheaper, they have a larger sidewall to protect against additional road hazards, and the overall diameter is the same as the profile is different (i.e. the speedometer still reads correctly).

2) If I order them on tirerack.com, should I get them delivered to my house and then bring them to a shop or store to get them installed? I don't have any of the tools at my house to install them as this is my first sports car. That will work - or have them delivered to the shop. You'll still need a way to get your summer tires home, though, unless you are planning on storing them there.

3) Do you recommend that I get the sensor for the tires? Yes. It's arguably even more important in the wintertime to be aware of a problem with inflation before it lets you down at an unfortunate time.

4) Anything else I should consider? Hoping to get your feedback and purchase this week. Don't run your winters too long into the spring once temperatures start warming up - you don't want to prematurely wear them out. Conversely, don't try and run your summers too long when temperatures start to drop, as traction falls off to the point of being dangerous. Consider getting tire changing tools for home - you'll save money, avoid the big lineups in the spring and fall, and get a good look at the condition of your brakes and suspension.

Also, please add your location to your user profile - you'll find it helps a great deal with the context of posts. Good luck with the purchase!

 

[kzeina21]

Please see below ...

1) Should I get 18 inch winter tires if I currently have 19 inch tires? I am planning on getting a tire/rim package so I don't need to change the tire back and forth. Most people do - both tires and rims are cheaper, they have a larger sidewall to protect against additional road hazards, and the overall diameter is the same as the profile is different (i.e. the speedometer still reads correctly).

2) If I order them on tirerack.com, should I get them delivered to my house and then bring them to a shop or store to get them installed? I don't have any of the tools at my house to install them as this is my first sports car. That will work - or have them delivered to the shop. You'll still need a way to get your summer tires home, though, unless you are planning on storing them there.

3) Do you recommend that I get the sensor for the tires? Yes. It's arguably even more important in the wintertime to be aware of a problem with inflation before it lets you down at an unfortunate time.

4) Anything else I should consider? Hoping to get your feedback and purchase this week. Don't run your winters too long into the spring once temperatures start warming up - you don't want to prematurely wear them out. Conversely, don't try and run your summers too long when temperatures start to drop, as traction falls off to the point of being dangerous. Consider getting tire changing tools for home - you'll save money, avoid the big lineups in the spring and fall, and get a good look at the condition of your brakes and suspension.

Also, please add your location to your user profile - you'll find it helps a great deal with the context of posts. Good luck with the purchase!

Awesome, thank you! Super helpful! Is $125 for all four tires reasonable to be changed to winter tires with the sensor?

Also, I'm outside Boston, MA!

 

[SteveCo]

Awesome, thank you! Super helpful! Is $125 for all four tires reasonable to be changed to winter tires with the sensor? Also, I'm outside Boston, MA!

If you are purchasing wheels and tires from Tire Rack including sensors, then that won't be a part of the labor cost in changing the tire sets over locally.

No idea on what is reasonable pricing for a seasonal changeover in your area, but you can be sure that every tire shop is doing a lot of them right around now - shop around and see what kind of deals you can find locally.

 

[GRStinger]

Hi all - been reading this site since before I purchased my GT2 AWD in August. Thanks for the great info!

First time with a sports car. I got my GT2 w/ 19 inch summer tires and looking for winter tires. After reading all of the comments in this thread, I see a lot of people are going with the Michelin X-Ice XI3. Couple of questions and please excuse me as I know they're probably stupid...

1) Should I get 18 inch winter tires if I currently have 19 inch tires? I am planning on getting a tire/rim package so I don't need to change the tire back and forth.
2) If I order them on tirerack.com, should I get them delivered to my house and then bring them to a shop or store to get them installed? I don't have any of the tools at my house to install them as this is my first sports car.
3) Do you recommend that I get the sensor for the tires?
4) Anything else I should consider? Hoping to get your feedback and purchase this week.

Thank you all!

Those are many of the same things I thought about – except for 19 vs 18. I purposely got the 18’s with all-seasons when I bought my Stinger: I use the car as daily driver, I put a lot of miles on my car, we have notoriously lousy roads, and after test driving the standard 19 vs. 18 felt the 18’s give me a bit better daily-drive experience. Some others here may have an opinion of 18 vs 19 winters. A bit taller and skinnier tire for snow is not a bad idea – that might require 18 wheels. I ended up with the ‘standard’ 225/45R-18 tires; wheels are 35mm offset; TR says guaranteed fit.

#2 I thought about that the most. Considered having them delivered to a shop for install, and considered a storage package (Belle Tire does that here locally), but it was like $180/year. Decided to have them delivered to my home. I have room for proper storage, and I like the flexibility/convenience of being able to change them out whenever I want. I’m not a big “gear head” but not afraid to take on straight-forward DIY jobs. I already have a floor jack and jack-stands. I’ll be investing in an electric impact wrench and a decent torque wrench. An impact that will do the job can be had for around a $100 – or less. The investment will have a very short payback vs. have a shop change ‘em twice/year and it'll come in handy for other jobs.

#3 I like the piece of mind and the convenience of the sensors, and tire pressure varies more in the winter. They were $50/per, installed by TR.

My $.02.

 

[kzeina21]

Those are many of the same things I thought about – except for 19 vs 18. I purposely got the 18’s with all-seasons when I bought my Stinger: I use the car as daily driver, I put a lot of miles on my car, we have notoriously lousy roads, and after test driving the standard 19 vs. 18 felt the 18’s give me a bit better daily-drive experience. Some others here may have an opinion of 18 vs 19 winters. A bit taller and skinnier tire for snow is not a bad idea – that might require 18 wheels. I ended up with the ‘standard’ 225/45R-18 tires; wheels are 35mm offset; TR says guaranteed fit.

#2 I thought about that the most. Considered having them delivered to a shop for install, and considered a storage package (Belle Tire does that here locally), but it was like $180/year. Decided to have them delivered to my home. I have room for proper storage, and I like the flexibility/convenience of being able to change them out whenever I want. I’m not a big “gear head” but not afraid to take on straight-forward DIY jobs. I already have a floor jack and jack-stands. I’ll be investing in an electric impact wrench and a decent torque wrench. An impact that will do the job can be had for around a $100 – or less. The investment will have a very short payback vs. have a shop change ‘em twice/year and it'll come in handy for other jobs.

#3 I like the piece of mind and the convenience of the sensors, and tire pressure varies more in the winter. They were $50/per, installed by TR.

My $.02.

Appreciate the quick response! One place I called will drive to my house and install all four tires for $125. Seems reasonable. They also store for $180 per year, but I have room in my garage for the tires so I'm not worried about that. Depending how easy the install is, I might buy some of the tools to do it myself (I'm not afraid of trying these things myself either), but I think it's worth it to pay $125 for them to come here and change my tires. Reviews were great for the company as well!

 

[BBB]

Appreciate the quick response! One place I called will drive to my house and install all four tires for $125. Seems reasonable. They also store for $180 per year, but I have room in my garage for the tires so I'm not worried about that. Depending how easy the install is, I might buy some of the tools to do it myself (I'm not afraid of trying these things myself either), but I think it's worth it to pay $125 for them to come here and change my tires. Reviews were great for the company as well!

If you don’t want to buy tools, you can always just use the jack and lug wrench that comes with the car. Do one wheel at a time. It’s super easy to do in the comfort of your own garage. I’ve been swapping the winter/summer tires on my Ford Edge this way for 5 years. It’s a bit slower process using the cars tire jack, but it’s free. The only tool I would recommend investing in is a torque wrench for applying the proper amount of torque on the lug nuts.

 

[MerlintheMad]

You'll still need a way to get your summer tires home, though, unless you are planning on storing them there.

All four tires/wheels will fit in the Stinger.

 

[SteveCo]

All four tires/wheels will fit in the Stinger.

Hey, good to know! I only had to drop mine off for tire mounting and pick them up as I was installing them myself, so used a pickup truck for convenience.

 

[Nishizawa]

The FC04A apparently does not - they are a machined fit. I bought the straight FC04 and installed with the provided rings, which are a simple plastic insert that taps into place and ensures the wheel centers properly when mounting. The lug nuts then clamp the wheel into their fixed position - the rings are not a structural component, and have no involvement in the ongoing performance of the assembly.

When the wheels are removed in the spring, the rings will stay in place. It's a one-time process to install them in the wheel bores.

Hi Steve. Where did you order your FC04? I’m looking at pmctire but I am unsure if they come with the centering rings or lug nuts with it. Thank you!

Ps I see that you are a fellow Calgarian

 

[SteveCo]

Hi Steve. Where did you order your FC04? I’m looking at pmctire but I am unsure if they come with the centering rings or lug nuts with it. Thank you!
Ps I see that you are a fellow Calgarian

I ordered the wheels from wheelwiz.ca, along with their installation kit. The kit contains the rings, lug nuts (your choice of black or chrome), lug nut key, and new valve stems (which I didn't use as I bought the OEM TPMS sensors). Free shipping was very quick, as FAST has a distribution warehouse in Airdrie.

Pricing was better than anyone else I found online, and they also have a discount promo on right now for another $40 off a set. Looks like FAST is currently out of stock, though.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Hi Steve. Where did you order your FC04? I’m looking at pmctire but I am unsure if they come with the centering rings or lug nuts with it. Thank you!

Ps I see that you are a fellow Calgarian

I ordered from pmctire and very happy with them. The rings I think were free but you could select an option in the cart to add lugnuts which were extra. Somewhere in the cart it mentioned the centring rings before I purchased. Just make sure you have the stinger selected as your vehicle and it will know you need them at the checkout.[/QUOTE]

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I went with 19 x 8.5 Niche Essen wheels (+35 ET) and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 N-spec tires 235/40/19. They are very quite and handle almost as well as the Pilot Sports.

 

[Crisis]

Winter arrived here last night. As I posted in the "Interesting Discoveries" thread in the main forum, my Nokian Hakkapelitta R3s worked great driving on light snow on top of frozen rain. I had to ask my co-workers how bad the road conditions actually were, as I experienced no slipping or sliding. I did use Comfort mode vs Sport today to get the 50/50 torque split, so that likely helped as well.

Anyway, my initial impression is that my Stinger will make for a pretty good winter vehicle around here. We typically don't get a lot of snow, so ground clearance shouldn't be an issue. We do get a lot of permanently frozen, ice-covered roads, however, and the Stinger with winter tires seems to have that handled nicely.

 

[GRStinger]

I donned the winter boots a couple of nights ago. (Again, the TireRack recommended package – Michelin X-Ice with SE A8-2 in black - for a change of winter wardrobe. Not a top-of-the-line wheel, but fine for winter and I think they look pretty good.)

Timed it right: snows-a-comin’. Expecting 1-3in tonight, and more over the following days. Interested to see how they perform.