Winter tires: should I? I feel like I should...

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 10/12/2019 at 22:06 • Filed to: you should buy a tercel wa-- on second thought here's a better idea...

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I effectively make zero dollars if I can’t get to a job site. I lost a lot of money for the two plus weeks of ....

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

last year, and I basically couldn’t leave my driveway, though I did shovel it daily so my wife could get to work.

This year, I’m not interested in leaving money on the table.

The problem is: an actual winter vehicle sadly is not in the cards. But you know what’s probably much cheaper and better than nothing? Tires!

But I’ve never bought winter tires in my life... It goes with not having real winters here since 2002. So I’m thinking about all these conceivable routes.

Do I....

a) Use the wheels on the car and have a tire shop swap on winters

b) Buy more disposable wheels (steelies on a Lexus? me gusta) with snow tires

c) buy another set of used factory wheels just for snow tires

d) second set of wheels, have a shop mount tires, but keep them at home and only swap on if necessary (but what about balancing? :[ )

I bring up b) because there is a pitiful amount of sidewall for this car, because it’s supposed to be sporty and handle and whatever. I’m just wondering how great the thin sidewall and wide wheels will handle the amount of shit and hills I may have to deal with.

TLDR; I don’t know what I’m doing dot pee en gee. You scoffings are encouraged.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:09

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you still have a better idea than me though.

our winters are never that bad

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:11

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Buy a set of used steelies and mount snow tires on those. This is my opinion and I will not be swayed. Besides: the plan has merits: less expensive and convenient. Maybe even -1 to get yourself some more sidewall for the winter.

smobgirl > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:11

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Steelies and good snow tires. It’s an astonishing difference. I was passing subies left and right in the mountains when I had Blizzaks on the Fiat.

Edit: this was when I was running 17s with  next to no sidewal too.

CB > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:13

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I always recommend winter tires. I’d get a separate set of rims. Can you downsize the wheels on it?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:17

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Hello fellow Japanese wagon friend! Yeah steelies with rally snow tires, rally wagon!

wafflesnfalafel > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:17

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I predict little or no snow in the Puget Sound region this entire winter*

* all predictions are heavily influenced by significant beer intake and may be slightly inaccurate.  

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:18

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b or D. I’d vote steelies or cheap rims. otherwise your dropping $ 50 to have them remounted twice a year. and once you have them, even if you get rid of the car, you can sell the rims .

Goggles Pizzano > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:18

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#constructs

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CB 10/12/2019 at 22:20

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I hope I can. That’s what I’d rather do. I also read on the forums that people recommend on a narrower tire as well...

shop-teacher > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:21

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Get a set of steelies and snows. You won’t regret it. Since I started buying snow tires, I don’t even bother putting weight in the back of my (2wd!) truck. I bet the Spertcross will be a beast!

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:22

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General altimax arctic whatevers . You’ve seen where I’ve taken them. Literally pulled stuck Subarus out. The tires are super budget-friendly and have performed wonderfully. And while mine are narrower than what I like to run (summer tires), they’re still muuuuuuch wider than stock Miata tires.

I'd either swap them onto your current wheels or buy some cheap steelies? 

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/12/2019 at 22:22

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For a  guy who doesn't have to deal with winter ... You are 100% correct my friend.

CB > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:23

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What size wheel do you have on there now?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 10/12/2019 at 22:26

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Do you just swap on your own? What are the odds new wheels would need to be balanced?

facw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:28

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Seems like overkill for your area? I mean it sounds like it would have been worth it last year, but has this been a problem in the past?

If you do get them, it will be definitely be cheaper in the long run to buy wheels (I don’t know the Seattle market, but I’d expect $20-25 to swap the tires on wheels, and $80-100 to mount and balance tires without wheels. Either way, you’d be paying that twice a year, though I guess on wheels, you could swap them yourself). Standard advice is to go to a smaller inner diameter (for more sidewall) and width (more pressure on the contact patch to slice through snow). Keep the same outer diameter.

Also note that if you are doing the Sportcross, you can get some sandbags to keep weight over the rear wheels, as well as provide some emergency traction material if you get stuck.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:28

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B

but buy some super nice summer rims

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > facw 10/12/2019 at 22:33

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It may be overkill, but if we have anything similar to last year, I’ll feel like a total dope for not being ready. My job takes me everywhere and I want to be able to keep things rolling if necessary.

If you wonder “why not just put winters on the work truck”... with recent layoffs, I don’t want to ask for approval for four winter tires and wheels right now. Further, I’m not supposed to use my work vehicle for anything but work. So if I ever needed to pick up my wife, or run to the store for provisions, I cannot do so in the work vehicle.

I don’t know... We live in uncertain times.

RPM esq. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:40

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B or D. Same overall diameter, probably with more sidewall and less rim on the winters. Did this with the Volvo for winters on the other side of the Cascades . Trickier here when most of the time you won’t  need them.

Fuckkinja > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:41

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Check out gr radials. They are super cheap and work great . I have ran several sets of them. Check discount tire. I just ran them all year because of the inexpensive cost . It was the only way to get around with fwd around here in the winter.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:43

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06-11 Chargers have the same bolt pattern, I bet you could score some Police Package  Steelies real cheap. 

glemon > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:45

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I ended up buying some steelies with snow tires for my IS300. One pair was good enough to use for a couple years, I bought a new set and had them mounted. The car has been able to handle whatever a Nebraska winter has thrown at it for five years now. I got 16" wheels, agree about the taller sidewalls.  Local shops are charging 25 a wheel to mount and balance, too much.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher 10/12/2019 at 22:46

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This is high praise; thank you.

But I have done: I lived in Germany for a couple of wint ers and the Germans just keep their winterreifen in big plastic bags for the summer.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/12/2019 at 22:47

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The exact same? “ 5 lug 4.5 inch or 114.3mm High Positive Offset,” per T he G oogles?  

[strokes beard]

... I think there’s still horseradish in my mustache.

dogisbadob > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:47

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The easiest, most convenient option is to buy a winter tire/wheel package from Tire Rack. They come mounted and balanced, ready to put on the car.

Radius W116 wheels and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D in the size 205/55-16 is about $1000. The Radius brand wheels are made in Italy and a good price.

Another option is to get the winter tires of your choice and wheels separately. You would do this because TR’s winter tire selection is on the narrow side, even with a very common size like 205/55-16. You could get the Radius wheels from TR, and the tires somewhere else

If you’re willing to do that, get the Radius W116 fr om Tire Rack and the Continental TS830P from SimpleTire

There are three main kinds of winter tires:
-Studded, really useful only for ice just below/above freezing point. They are noisy, destroy the pavement, and illegal or restricted in most places.
-studless standard winter tires. The best in very cold and snow and ice, but kind of squishy in regular dry pavement. The best choice for places like most of New England, the rocky mountains, and the upper midwest outside the big cities
-performance winter tires. They are better on dry and wet roads but give up a little snow and ice traction. They are still a LOT better than any old all-season tires. These would be the best choice where it only snows a couple times during the season, and/or big cities and their suburbs where they clear the snow quickly.

The Dunlop Winter Sport 4D is considered a performance winter tire. Here are some other good performance winter tires:
Continental TS8xx series
Pirelli Sottozero series
Kumho WP72
Hankook W320
Nexen Winguard Sport

And one thing to keep in mind: winter tires are only good down to 5/32!

Odddoylerules > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:48

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Look into nokian wr-somethings. They are a rain tire designed to be soft under freezing and work great as pnw winter tires. Do they have the grip of the studded hakkas we run now in central wa? No. But when the sound was our home we didnt need bear claws like that. The nokian wr series served us perfectly.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:51

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Same blot pattern, offset could be waaay off. But I also realized they are 18” and that going in the wrong direction, cuz iirc the stock IS300 wheels at 17”s . I’d find out what the smallest wheel size your car can run and get some steelies in  that size. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:52

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I swap them on my own. I lucked out and was able to use the winter tires from the malibu on my volt (@2% larger) and jus thad to get cheap set of rims. I had them balanced when mounted. I would assume that is recommended to make sure they wear evenly. 

facw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:52

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Yeah I figured that was the issue with the w or k truck. Frankly the Vibe might be best choice for them, I don’t remember if it’s FWD or AWD, but either way it’s probably better than RWD (though RWD with snow tires is definitely doable, especially if you have weight over the rear wheels). I think you were considering getting rid of it though? If that’s the case, it may not make sense to make the investment for it.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 22:56

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Winter steelies as long as they are white 

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/12/2019 at 22:57

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Ah, there you go. I  keep mine in the shed. I got by fine without them for years, but winter tires make it so much easier, and more fun.

Bert-Stair > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 23:00

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I work in the medical field. If there is a “weather emergency” you don’t get paid if you call out sick. Missing one shift cost more than a set of winter tires.

Also, during weather emergency there is always overtime available if I am not scheduled. One overtime shift pays for a set of snow tires.

Considering a set of snow tires lasts me 5 years it is a no brainer

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > facw 10/12/2019 at 23:00

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Well my wife has a totally different schedule than me and needs to get to work — and it did pretty decent last winter, you just got to have patience (FWD).

I’m always daydreaming about the fleet, but it would be more financially feasible... feasibly-er?! ... to change nothing.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 10/12/2019 at 23:01

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Let’s not make this about color

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 23:03

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Alternatively...

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/edmonds-toyota-land-cruiser-40th-1997/6997492873.html

shop-teacher > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 23:03

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When you have the tires mounted on the wheels, they get balanced then. Everytime you take one of your sets of wheels off, mark what corner they came off of, so you can rotate them appropriately when you reinstall them. Balancing doesn't happen on the car, it only happens when the tires are mounted on the wheels.

seoultrain > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 23:06

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I’m not a fan of steelies. The increased unsprung rotational weight is not good for anything.   If you’re gonna go cheap, keep an eye on Craigslist to see if a fitting wheel and winter tire set comes available. Otherwise, a downsized wheel and winter tire set is not that expensive, and for you it sounds like it could pay for itself. 

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 23:11

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Good thing white isn’t colored— w ai t  that did  not help at all

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 23:14

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Blizzaks on the cheapest minus one size alloy rims rims you can find. Put t hem on in December take off in March.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 10/12/2019 at 23:16

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That’s basically an MDX now.

NojustNo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/12/2019 at 23:37

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I have some 17" Infiniti g35 rims you can have. Teri Tried to sell them but nobody seriously interested.

I get up to Everett pretty regular. Some curb rash but roll straight. Like these:

https://www.autorimshop.com/infiniti-g35-2003-17-wheel-rim-73669.html?utm_campaign=S%26O+%7C+Medium+Priority+%7C+Medium+Bids+%7C+Mobile&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=&utm_source=adwords&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_acc=1616772338&hsa_cam=6526616374&hsa_ad=383970713724&hsa_grp=84039927051&hsa_ver=3&hsa_kw=&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=pla-334411789415&gclid=Cj0KCQjw84XtBRDWARIsAAU1aM0dEopVaKxkfl0Ffxyht—M64qm-vl6P8KWcHDZF3_fNtodJHafGQEaAuwREALw_wcB

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > NojustNo 10/12/2019 at 23:51

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Do you accept string cheese as payment?

Nick Has an Exocet > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/13/2019 at 00:18

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I would find whateve r is cheapest in -1 in from your stock wheels then get snow tires with fat sidewalls. It will handle a bit weird in the dry (the big sidewall is great for comfort but tends to roll a bit in corners) but would be so much fun in the snow. Also, potholes be damned - this is a max comfort setup.

Grindintosecond > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/13/2019 at 00:26

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I bought a set of steel wheels and winter tires. $800+. There was then a perpetually occupied a 30" circle stack of tires under cover in  the corner of the garage for the next 5 years. Do you have dedicated space? That's the reality unless you do the tire shop n storage thing.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/13/2019 at 09:02

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Just buy a dirt bike or dual sport with knobbies in case it’s too snowy to drive

Srs an swer, B is absolutely the right choice

Michael > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/13/2019 at 14:12

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Just got snow tires on lexus rims for my wife’s Highlander - first winter in the great white north.

Keeping Snowflake rated A/T’s on my GX, so next spring I’ll have strong opinions about snow tire comparisons

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/13/2019 at 14:33

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Snow tires are the best , even if you only need them occasionally. The confidence gained during normal driving is significant. You’ll be able to drive into the mountains or leave the area without worrying, all while taking the car you like and is enjoyable to drive.

I’ve done seasonal swaps and extra wheels. I highly recommend finding a second set of wheels. If you keep the car for only a couple more years it will pay for itself. Most places charge ~$80 or so EACH time.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/13/2019 at 17:59

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Much smaller, I’m dwarfed by them at a light! It’s a very low wagon, lower roof than many cars I pull up next to.

i86hotdogs > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2019 at 13:51

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Tossing my 2 cents in. I’d find an inexpensive set of steelies, have them mounted and balanced at your shop of choice, and have them ready to be swapped whenever. Breaker bar or impact gun is your best friend. Most smaller shops will mount/balance tires for about 15-20 per tire.

I found a set of wheels for the van, so I swapped the rubber off the stock steelies and put a set of winter/rallycross tire on the steelies. I can swap all four and torque them down under 10 minutes on my own. With just a jack, impact gun, and a torque wrench.

Someone mentioned tire rack’s winter tire selection is slim. I like simpletire. They have a huge selection of tires, can ship to a shop, or your home, and your cost can be split into monthly payments if cost is an issue.

New wheels: $100

New winter tires: $350

Mount and balance: $100

$550 total

SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/15/2019 at 17:12

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I wouldn’t worry about the fashion of them too much, they are for winter and likely will suffer a bit of wear and tear. I’d use the stock wheels for winter tires and get a nice aftermarket (or alternate upmarket OEM) set, if that were your fancy, to spice up the IS a bit.

The more logical action would be find a set of 15-16" wheels or low-cost, maybe stock off another vehicle, and stick winter rubber on those. The extra sidewall space will be welcomed, and lets be honest, there is nothing dynamic about the handling of winter tires, except for the flex in the sidewall. May as well assure you have as much to work with as possible, especially if there is an ‘ass-off’ situation where you get acquainted with a curb. The tall tire should eat much of the force and spare your wheel/suspension.

Nice car — it is rare to see a clean IS wagon.

SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja > smobgirl 10/15/2019 at 17:18

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I need more info on this. Just ordered a set of Pirelli Winter Ci nturato’s to mount on his Abarth 16's (He didn’t want to fork out the cash for new wheels as well).

What tires did you run, what was your experience with them, and where were you three days ago before I ordered his tires?! :) 

smobgirl > SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja 10/15/2019 at 21:07

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Hah, I’m ALWAYS here! I have Pirelli snow tires now - must be the ones you ordered. I have 16 inch wheels that the tires don’t fit particularly well on but that was supposedly the only combo the Big O I went to could get. I don’t like these as much as the Blizzaks. Maybe I was just spoiled, but the car was invincible with those, while these feel safe enough to leave the house in snow but not worth battling a blizzard to hit the slopes. I actually didn’t get a ski pass this year because of them.

SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja > smobgirl 10/15/2019 at 23:59

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We’ll see how he does... inexperienced driver, cocksure Floridan, and in a sporty but manageable car. I am sporting Conti DWS06's on my RX-8, which mobbed in a surprise snow shower last week, but patches of ice were still showing me the finger, to no surprise.

Are you here in the Big Rock Candy Mountain of Colorado?

smobgirl > SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja 10/16/2019 at 12:40

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Yep. I was in Philly for the storm last week though.

I was in Orlando the day before, and within five minutes of the beginning of a rain storm I saw two cars on their roof, so your Fiat owner is screwed. 

SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja > smobgirl 10/16/2019 at 13:59

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HAHAHA!

We used to live in Orlando, moved to Colorado Springs in 2017. I’m hopeful the conditions will humble him and open his brain to learning to drive better. Might try to inspire better driving and focus with AutoX next year too.