Winter Tyres ... help me please
12-10-2004, 09:36 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks everyone. I am surprised to hear the Canadian Tire brands are actually good; I would have immediately assumed they suck given how relatively cheap they are. The Nordic Ice Trak will cost me about $108/ea which is pretty good ... they mount them too (no balacing but it can't be THAT expensive).
Did I mention that my car is lowered so my spring rates are pretty high? It's not so low that it's a snow plow (I still zip in and out of parking lots without scraping). It's not to the point like I see Civics where the spring rates are so high they don't even move and the car bobs down the road. Changing my springs back to the stock ones for winter isn't an option.
Anyhow, keep the ideas coming; I will most likely be purchasing a set this weekend or next week [img]smile.gif[/img] Thanks everyone who already suggested stuff.
Did I mention that my car is lowered so my spring rates are pretty high? It's not so low that it's a snow plow (I still zip in and out of parking lots without scraping). It's not to the point like I see Civics where the spring rates are so high they don't even move and the car bobs down the road. Changing my springs back to the stock ones for winter isn't an option.
Anyhow, keep the ideas coming; I will most likely be purchasing a set this weekend or next week [img]smile.gif[/img] Thanks everyone who already suggested stuff.
12-11-2004, 08:52 AM
#13
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
Pireli Snow Sports
I'm on my 4th winter with the same set. If I had to, I'd buy another set in a heartbeat. They are quieter than most of my friends and family's snow tires, and cornering and braking control is quite good. They are definitely a step down on dry pavement from my Ultra High Performance summer tires, but the difference on snow and ice is well worth the purchase price.
Again, they are expensive, but they outperform and outlast the Canadian Tire brands.
Adam
(My car is LOW too!!!. I can't even get a jack under the jacking points to raise the car without driving the wheels up onto a 2X4. The Pirelis work well with high spring rates.)
[ December 11, 2004, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: PEI330Ci ]
I'm on my 4th winter with the same set. If I had to, I'd buy another set in a heartbeat. They are quieter than most of my friends and family's snow tires, and cornering and braking control is quite good. They are definitely a step down on dry pavement from my Ultra High Performance summer tires, but the difference on snow and ice is well worth the purchase price.
Again, they are expensive, but they outperform and outlast the Canadian Tire brands.
Adam
(My car is LOW too!!!. I can't even get a jack under the jacking points to raise the car without driving the wheels up onto a 2X4. The Pirelis work well with high spring rates.)
[ December 11, 2004, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: PEI330Ci ]
12-11-2004, 09:45 AM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well, thanks for all the suggestions (I was waiting for someone to have an opinion on Pirelli ... it's about what I expected; all my other Pirelli's were great.
However, I found a GREAT deal on a set of new Goodyear Ultra Grips ... $110/ea installed and balanced. It's cheaper than getting the Canadian Tire ones. So, I am going to be getting those unless it turns out they made a mistake.
Thank you everyone for suggestions.
However, I found a GREAT deal on a set of new Goodyear Ultra Grips ... $110/ea installed and balanced. It's cheaper than getting the Canadian Tire ones. So, I am going to be getting those unless it turns out they made a mistake.
Thank you everyone for suggestions.
12-11-2004, 02:29 PM
#16
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 250
You could go with a different tire size, 195/65-15 (0.41% larger), assuming a 15 inch OE wheel clears your car's brake calipers. Save some bucks by going with a set of four 15 inch winter tires and wheels. Depending on the type of driving you do, there are various options in the sub $100 range like the Hankook Ice Bear W440, Kumho KW17, Kumho KW19 (all are T-rated).
Dave
Dave
12-11-2004, 03:01 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ya, I know ... I wish I had steel rims. However, what I "DO" have are the not-so-pretty aluminum rims that are factory on my car (Z26, currently mounted) so I am converting them to winter useage. Buying 15" wheels would negate all advantages of buying cheaper tires.
In the summer, I will but aluminum rims and new tires (ideally 17-18" making the upgrade ALMOST make more sense
)
In the summer, I will but aluminum rims and new tires (ideally 17-18" making the upgrade ALMOST make more sense
)
12-11-2004, 05:57 PM
#18
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 639
Originally posted by Ettore Casagrande Jr.:
Well, thanks for all the suggestions (I was waiting for someone to have an opinion on Pirelli ... it's about what I expected; all my other Pirelli's were great.
However, I found a GREAT deal on a set of new Goodyear Ultra Grips ... $110/ea installed and balanced. It's cheaper than getting the Canadian Tire ones. So, I am going to be getting those unless it turns out they made a mistake.
Thank you everyone for suggestions.
Well, thanks for all the suggestions (I was waiting for someone to have an opinion on Pirelli ... it's about what I expected; all my other Pirelli's were great.
However, I found a GREAT deal on a set of new Goodyear Ultra Grips ... $110/ea installed and balanced. It's cheaper than getting the Canadian Tire ones. So, I am going to be getting those unless it turns out they made a mistake.
Thank you everyone for suggestions.
No winter tire is "the best" there are always trade offs to be made. The Ultragrips are a performance oriented snow tire. Meaning they have excellent road feel and are high speed rated. They feel almost exactly like my summer tires when crusing the highway at high speeds. In order to achieve this they give up some grip in the snow compared to a hard core square lugged tire like a Yokohama Guardex, or the Canadian Tire variety of tires. I'd say they have 90% of the grip in deep snow as a regular snow tire.
When you chose a more traditional hardcore snow tire you give up some handling feel, and speed rating. The large square lugs on the treads seem to delay the steering. Meaning you turn the wheel and there is a slight delay in the car's movement, somewhere in the order of about 1/10 of a second. Its not measurable but you can feel it.
So...it all depends on what you want from your snow tires. Chosing the snow tire with the best grip will mean you give up some handling. Chosing the best handling snow tire will mean you give up some grip. It all depends on what you value more.
That being said, I'm currently running on the Goodyear Ultragrip 225/55-17's and I've never had any troubles getting stuck yet. [img]smile.gif[/img] I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.
CM.
ps. Blizzak tires are great, but when they get down to about 1/2 the tread depth they are no better than an all-season tire.
