Winter tires and rims

[lun471k]

I got a deal on a set of Nokian Hakka 8 when purchasing the car. That's what I'll be using

 

[Revvdmedia]

I got a deal on a set of Nokian Hakka 8 when purchasing the car. That's what I'll be using

In Quebec, isn't it legally required to have winter tires installed in the winter, so you don't even get a choice?

 

[MerlintheMad]

I would never dream of using A/S with this car during our Canadian winters... I read so many bad stories with the oem Michelin that comes with the car...
The Antares Grip 60 look to have a good thread, for 400bucks, I will be the guinea pig and report back next May

A/S Michelins as OEM? Or did I miss something: and Canada sells summer Pilot tires up there? If I lived in Canada there is no way that I'd run summer tires for such a short time each year. I question my setup as it is: summer tires for eight to nine months out of the year, A/S the rest. But in a moment of self indulgence/excess, I bought the TSW rims for the Michelins and the A/S Nitto Motivos have been sitting on the shelf since early March: what's done is done; and it has been super fun, having UHP PS 4 and 4S since then, I have to admit. But is my usual (99% of the time) driving style justifying this? I could just keep A/S year-round on one set of rims and it would be cost effective. But then, why have a Stinger in the first place? I could still have my '94 Voyager and be "restorodding" it (as I was slowly doing until the Stinger came into my midlife). So, second guessing yourself isn't exactly productive of much if anything at all.

 

[lun471k]

In Quebec, isn't it legally required to have winter tires installed in the winter, so you don't even get a choice?

Yep ! There's the Winter Tires law that makes it mandatory to have a little mountain logo on your tire (homologated winter tires). These tires must be on your car from December 1st until March 15th.

But... it doesn't mean some brands don't suck at making winter tires, so you still have to shop around a little bit. It's hard to go wrong with Nokian studded tires though.

Edit: It also seems like the fine for driving without winter tires is around $200-300 + fees. They also probably charge you with "improper driving behavior accoridng to the weather" (some light form of reckless driving) to add a $50-60 on the final bill.

 

[Revvdmedia]

A/S Michelins as OEM? Or did I miss something: and Canada sells summer Pilot tires up there? If I lived in Canada there is no way that I'd run summer tires for such a short time each year. I question my setup as it is: summer tires for eight to nine months out of the year, A/S the rest. But in a moment of self indulgence/excess, I bought the TSW rims for the Michelins and the A/S Nitto Motivos have been sitting on the shelf since early March: what's done is done; and it has been super fun, having UHP PS 4 and 4S since then, I have to admit. But is my usual (99% of the time) driving style justifying this? I could just keep A/S year-round on one set of rims and it would be cost effective. But then, why have a Stinger in the first place? I could still have my '94 Voyager and be "restorodding" it (as I was slowly doing until the Stinger came into my midlife). So, second guessing yourself isn't exactly productive of much if anything at all.

Correct, all GT+ trims of the Stinger in Canada come with the staggered UHP Pilot Sport 4 summer tires. The base model (GT Line) comes with 18" all season I believe.

So we get to enjoy it for about 4 months of the year...except I push it to 6 lol. This time of year when it hits zero or below, even on dry roads, I can feel them scrubbing for traction even in slower situations, so I change my driving habits lol. I don't usually change to winters until Oct 15 or so if I can help it. They stay on until Mid/late April depending on weather.

 

[SteveCo]

If I lived in Canada there is no way that I'd run summer tires for such a short time each year.

I run the Michelin PS4 UHP summer tires for about 6 months (roughly May - October), and Michelin XIce3 winter tires the remaining months. Even including a visual inspection of the brakes, and a thorough cleaning of the wheels coming off, I'm still looking at about an hour in the Spring, and and hour in the Fall for the changeover.

Small price to pay for optimal performance in each season, on a high performance car. Even if we only had half that time in the summer, I'd still be running dedicated summer tires. And after the changeover to winters I've got the best handling winter vehicle I've owned in my life.

A lot of us keep convertibles, motorcycles, boats and snowmobiles stashed away for half the year for the same reasons - we want to enjoy (all) the seasons to the fullest. No way I'd handicap a great car like this in the summer by running sub-optimal tires.

 

[Dwayne]

Hi everyone, just bought my red Stinger in Sept and loving it! I live in the Kanata area. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to buy winter tires and rims and any specific brand?

I've just ordered these wheels and tires. A necessity here in NL. Downsized to 18s with same wheels/tires all round. $1500 all in.
Fast Wheels Switch
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2

 

[Gtecko]

I've just ordered these wheels and tires. A necessity here in NL. Downsized to 18s with same wheels/tires all round. $1500 all in.
Fast Wheels Switch
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2

Still debating if I want to get new rims for the summer and keep our oem for winter ( would plasti dip clear or black to protect them)
Either way, I a going with these winter tires, read positive review, thread looks good and price is bang on!

 

[Crisis]

Another endorsement of the Nokian Hakkepiiletta R3s here. I got mine at Kal Tire last year and they were fantastic through last winter. In fact, I just got them put back on yesterday, as winter is just around the corner here.

Full details, including photos of the tires & rims on my red Stinger are here Snowshoes on page 8 of the Showshoes thread linked on page 1 of this thread.

 

[Revvdmedia]

Another endorsement of the Nokian Hakkepiiletta R3s here. I got mine at Kal Tire last year and they were fantastic through last winter. In fact, I just got them put back on yesterday, as winter is just around the corner here.

Full details, including photos of the tires & rims on my red Stinger are here Snowshoes on page 8 of the Showshoes thread linked on page 1 of this thread.

Mine are going on tomorrow. It's often been below zero the last few weeks. Beyond the traction issue, running summer tires in sub zero weather is not good for them, they can crack under extreme cold.

 

[HerbieTheCar]

I've had my Blizzak WS80 and Focal F20s sitting in my garage for the past few weeks now. Never have I been so excited for the snow to fall

 

[Gtecko]

After two weeks of research and asking questions all around on the forum, fb, local stores...
I am going with 225/40R19 TOYO OBSERVE GSI-6 HP on our oem rims (hopefully i will have time to clear plasti dip them)
Total cost of tires are $944Cnd+ taxe so just over a gran.
We shall see !!

 

[antne]

Earlier today ordered Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 225/45/18 (square setup) on Sport Edition P5 Anthracite rims (mount/balance/TPMS) from Tire Rack for my '19 GT1 RWD . "Winter is coming", well overnight temperatures dropping to the 30's in another week or so.
BTW if you're looking for the Blizzak WS80 (~ $140 in that size), it is listed out of stock at Tire Rack only because Delaware it OOS. It is available in main distribution center.

 

[Gtecko]

2 days free shipping from Montreal, cant complaint.
They looks better than I had imagined, thread is looking awesome, 11/32 depth, was made April 2019.
225/40R19 Toyo Observe GSI-6 from 4tires.ca for 944+tax !!

Think it is a great deal!

 

[KiaM42]

make sure you get a set of tire pressure sensors for your winter rims, my Bridgestone winter tire blew up on highway 417 without having the TPMS

I am in Kanata as well, message me if you want any help.

 

[Gtecko]

make sure you get a set of tire pressure sensors for your winter rims, my Bridgestone winter tire blew up on highway 417 without having the TPMS

I am in Kanata as well, message me if you want any help.

Reusing the stock rims so tmps as well. Will using 4 plasti dip clear coat to protect them and call it a day

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.
What set of rims are you using ?

 

[SamB]

2 days free shipping from Montreal, cant complaint.
They looks better than I had imagined, thread is looking awesome, 11/32 depth, was made April 2019.
225/40R19 Toyo Observe GSI-6 from 4tires.ca for 944+tax !!

Think it is a great deal!


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You have the staggered setup right ? Don't you want to put the normal tire size on all 4 corners ? (255 rear and 225 front)

 

[Gtecko]

You have the staggered setup right ? Don't you want to put the normal tire size on all 4 corners ? (255 rear and 225 front)

All GT ltd have staggered but for the winter it is better to do same size all around and on staggered rims, it is always better to use the skinnier set up therefore the front one, 225/40/19, as skinnier tires are better in the snow.
255/35 would work all around too as some are doing it for summer tires but I was told my car will be a snow plow with 255/35 on the front lol

If it was a summer set and I wanted to do square tires set all around, might have put the 255/35 all around or a staggered set up.
If you keep oem wheels for winter, 225/40 is the way to go, been told by many shops this is what they would do vs staggered tires (that and the fact I can remove and rotate tires and $$$ of staggered tires)

 

[KiaM42]

Reusing the stock rims so tmps as well. Will using 4 plasti dip clear coat to protect them and call it a day

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.
What set of rims are you using ?

I am using 18inch wheels from Fast Wheel-switch, 3 of 4 are already damaged(out of balance) due to the potholes after one winter...

 

[Gtecko]

I am using 18inch wheels from Fast Wheel-switch, 3 of 4 are already damaged(out of balance) due to the potholes after one winter...

That sucks... bent?
Those were my 18inch choice if I had gone with that size