Winter tires

[General_Vodka]

Yeah studs are needed for ice. The salt truck melt most of it around here.

 

[RM7]

Yeah studs are needed for ice. The salt truck melt most of it around here.

Well, not just for ice, but for the fact that the sun angle is too low in the winter to melt snow/rain/ice off the road, it just stays there until the sun gets high enough in the spring to start blasting the surfaces again. Lots of places get snow and even ice where it's just not the constant problem that we have this far north. It's the surfaces that stay below freezing no matter what the air temp is that really do us in. They "brine", fancy name for "salt", the highway and do a pretty good job of keeping that clear, but most city streets and intersections do not see the same level of care. Especially in intersections where for some reason they can't scrape the ice. I'm glad they don't salt more, because that corrodes the hell out of everything, but private businesses unfortunately salt the hell out of their driveways and parking areas. Gas stations especially, they just go freaking nuts with the ****. It makes it more messy too, since it turns into a slush or wet nasty mess, instead of staying frozen. We just have to go through it every year and wash our cars often.

 

[Navalus]

Anyone running Nexen Winterguard Sport 2 tires? I was told the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 were too soft for the Stinger (owner of WheelsDirect in Toronto). I was looking at the Bridgestone and Michelin X-Ice. He recommended the Nexen.

Also, would a 235/45/18 be ok, or should I go with 225/45/18. I was thinking the wider 235 would be a little better since there is more rubber on the ground.

 

[RedCal]

Anyone running Nexen Winterguard Sport 2 tires? I was told the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 were too soft for the Stinger (owner of WheelsDirect in Toronto). I was looking at the Bridgestone and Michelin X-Ice. He recommended the Nexen.

Also, would a 235/45/18 be ok, or should I go with 225/45/18. I was thinking the wider 235 would be a little better since there is more rubber on the ground.

You want a smaller footprint for snows... otherwise they are like skis... so 255/18's are the better option, I would pick the Xice tires... I'm not a fan of "off brand" tires

 

[General_Vodka]

You want a smaller footprint for snows... otherwise they are like skis... so 255/18's are the better option, I would pick the Xice tires... I'm not a fan of "off brand" tires

i would agree on the off-brand tires if they were made in china or somewhere cheap. always a good idea to know where the tires are made. for example, Vredestein is made in the Netherlands so I think they have a good idea of what winter is.

 

[RedCal]

i would agree on the off-brand tires if they were made in china or somewhere cheap. always a good idea to know where the tires are made. for example, Vredestein is made in the Netherlands so I think they have a good idea of what winter is.

The Dutch know bicycles lol.. JK Lots of good product made there...

 

[RM7]

You want a smaller footprint for snows... otherwise they are like skis... so 255/18's are the better option, I would pick the Xice tires... I'm not a fan of "off brand" tires

Yeah, like if you are driving through 2 feet of snow, that no one will be doing in a stinger. You'll be getting snow piling up on your air-dam/nose well before a skinny tire would really be helping you out in snow. While going as wide as you can is probably also equally dumb, going real skinny doesn't serve any useful purpose either and limits traction too on everything but deep snow. I went with 225 winters because I already had them lying around. Also cheaper than 255s, so that could factor into it too.

 

[grilledcheesesamich]

I used studded on my old Genesis Coupe, but I also use to drive almost every weekend between two northern cities. I don't plan to drive long distance in the winter, so I'll probably not stud my tires. I mainly just got the studded in case I hit ice on the highway while going 100km/h. I haven't had a problem in winter within the city with non-studded.

I think I may go with the WS90s, now I just need to find some wheels. Or get some other winter's to fit on the OEM wheels and then buy some new wheels for the OEM tires next spring.

 

[MerlintheMad]

so 255/18's are the better option

You meant to write 225, or I am completely confused.

 

[Grump]

I went with these for my winter rims from canadawheels dot com. You'll need hub rings and lugs too. Squared up 225/45/18 tires. (x-ice snow for me, studs arent legal here)

Fast Wheels FC04 SKU: W49853​

 

[grilledcheesesamich]

I went with these for my winter rims from canadawheels dot com. You'll need hub rings and lugs too. Squared up 225/45/18 tires. (x-ice snow for me, studs arent legal here)

Fast Wheels FC04 SKU: W49853​

How'd you like dealing with Canada Wheels?

 

[Grump]

How'd you like dealing with Canada Wheels?

Piece of cake. Ordered, they sent the correct rings and lugs and a free t-shirt. Either the dealer stole the shirt or it never came, but the important stuff arrived in a timely fashion and was correct/undamaged.

 

[grilledcheesesamich]

Is it impossible to find wheels that are OEM size in Canada? I've been searching a bunch of sites and cannot find a set of wheels to match the staggered OEM wheel setup. Closest set I could find was some ENKEI TY5 in Pearl Black (I was looking at black finishes)... but the offset is 40mm for the front and 35 for the rear. Comparing the OE specs the front would move in about half a centimeter and the rear would stick out about a centimeter. :/

I was thinking about buying winter tires to fit the OEM wheels, and then in the spring buy new wheels to fit the OEM summer tires.


EDIT: I found some TSW's Interlagos that are pretty close to OEM, 19x8, 35mm offset and 19x8.5 45mm offset... bore size is a little bigger, but can get some hub rings. But man, they are expensive... and out of stock in Canada.

EDIT EDIT: Looks like they don't make the Interlagos any longer. Cannot find them on the TSW website.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

I mean if it helps I was running summer tires (OEM ones from the factory) on my GT-RWD and they were adequate... going up or down hills was a bit sketchy in light snow and ice but I managed to make it work. Perhaps look at all-seasons? Finding winter tires for the 19x8/19x8.5 is a pain in the butt.

 

[grilledcheesesamich]

I mean if it helps I was running summer tires (OEM ones from the factory) on my GT-RWD and they were adequate... going up or down hills was a bit sketchy in light snow and ice but I managed to make it work. Perhaps look at all-seasons? Finding winter tires for the 19x8/19x8.5 is a pain in the butt.

Aye, that is also difficult, but someone mentioned Vredestein Wintrac Pros earlier in the thread, apparently made in the netherlands, and they have sizing that fits the OEM staggered setup.

 

[General_Vodka]

Aye, that is also difficult, but someone mentioned Vredestein Wintrac Pros earlier in the thread, apparently made in the netherlands, and they have sizing that fits the OEM staggered setup.

I mentioned the vreds. I ran them staggered on oem wheels. They where my first premium winter tire so nothing that I can compare them to but over snow they are wayy better than some all seasons. As long as your not spinning you will find grip.

 

[BBB]

This is my third season running Continental WinterContact Si mounted to FC04A Titanium 18"x9. I quite like the tire. Good handling and grip in ice and snow and tread life seems to be decent. I just put them on yesterday.

 

[Navalus]

Got my winter setup done. Michelin X Ice snow.

 

[AtomicGTL]

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 installed

 

[Sybaritic]

I got new Continental Viking Contact 7. Very good and quiet