Winter Steel

"JalopJeep" (JalopJeep)
11/20/2018 at 17:40 • Filed to: None

I posted !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about possibly getting some winter tires listed on CL. Pulled the trigger today and tossed them on. I swapped the fronts at work and had to have the shop next door swap the rears. The rear wheels were absolutely nailed to the hubs with corrosion and I couldn’t get them off even with a rubber mallet and literally kicking the tires.

As luck would have it, it’s been wet and cold all day and even started snowing on the way home from picking it up. No accumulation or sticking but I thought it was a decent first test for the used winters.

I was driving with 2 18" wheels/tires in my passenger seat along with two in the back seat so I had to be pretty mindful of speed and change of direction. That, combined with horrific traffic petering out at ~45mph top speed meant that I didn’t get to fully give it the beans. They really did inspire some more confidence on the cold, slick roads and I wasn’t activating the TC in first gear like I could do with ease on my all-seasons .

To me, however, the #1 advantage of these steelies and used tires means I don’t give a damn about potholes anymore. Those 18" Detroits had me wincing and cringing over every crack and imperfection in the road.

Here’s hoping these Craigslist bargain bin guys take me through the winter safe and sound.

DISCUSSION (5)

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > JalopJeep
11/20/2018 at 19:16

Protip: anti-seize on the back of your wheels is wonderful.

To get wheels off that are frozen to the hub, loosen all the lugnuts but leave them on the studs. Then rock the car side to side. You can put a lot more force into loosening the wheels that way with no risk of cracking a wheel with the sledgehammer.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > JalopJeep
11/20/2018 at 19:34

My trick for knocking off stick wheels is to lay on my back and kicking the tires on alternating sides. You really have to trust your jackstands tho. That usually works. When I put the winters on my BMW a few weeks ago I had to leave the blets loose and drop the car down a few times.

I need to remember the anti seize next time.

JalopJeep > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
11/20/2018 at 20:06

Yeah, I’m going to pick up a can of PB Blaster soon so this doesn’t happen again when the winters come off in late March-Early April

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > JalopJeep
11/20/2018 at 20:56

You want permatex. Wipe a little on to the back of the wheel and they won’t stick at all. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/permatex-4569/chemicals—-fluids-16461/grease—-lube-16582/graphite-lubricant-17699/1efe28ee2d3e/permatex-anti-seize-lubricant/80078/4610218

JalopJeep > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
11/20/2018 at 21:38

Thanks for the link. I’ll pick up that along with the PB Blaster. I always kept a can in my old Jeep and I think it’s just good to have around anyways.