FiST owners: winter tire recommendations?

"CB" (jrcb) 08/26/2018 at 15:04 • Filed to: Jolly Rancher, Winter is coming

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It's late August which means the temperature is starting to hit freezing at night here in Saskatchewan. Because of that, I'm starting to look at winter tires, and I wonder if anyone has recommendations. I know I'm going to have to drop down a rim size, so does anyone know what size I should be looking at, and what brands to keep an eye out for? Thanks in advance?

Sovande > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:16

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I don't own a Fist, but all I have ever heard is that Nokian makes the best winter tires. They also make all seasons that are winter rated (with the little snow flake symbol). They also make a great set of all seasons called the Nokian ZLine AS and they are $60ish each shipped from Amazon. I am a convert and a fan boy. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:18

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I run General GMAX AS-03's on my Fiesta ST , but I am a filthy westcoaster who doesn’t get snow more than once a year. Even then, it’s just slush.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=G-MAX+AS-03

M.T. Blake > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:19

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August freezing?! The best winter tires are the ones you never have to use. But if you have to use them, I’ve heard Hankooks do pretty well. I’ve got Cooper ST Maxx with studs but that’s for a 17’ Tahoe. 

bob and john > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:21

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Te general tire artimax tires are actually Shockingly good. I have them on Lexus. Great tire. If loud

CB > M.T. Blake 08/26/2018 at 15:22

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I live in Saskatchewan. -46 is normal in the winter. I don't mind it.

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/26/2018 at 15:23

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Do you have any idea about winters in the regular ST size? I won't survive on all-seasons where I'm going.

CB > Sovande 08/26/2018 at 15:23

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I'll keep an eye out for them.

Fistowner > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:24

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I recommend 185/60r15. I have been very happy with the general altimax arctic

Textured Soy Protein > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:26

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Goddamn that’s cold, WTF. It’s like 85 today in DC and the coldest it’s been at night this week is in the 60s. I dunno what that is in Canuckian Celsius .

I am not a FiST owner but regarding your choice there’s two main categories of snow tires, generally speaking.

I searched on Tire Rack for 195/50 -16 snow tires. There were 3 . But here are ideas for each category.

Performance Winter - Try to maintain some sportiness in dry & wet conditions. Might feel kinda sorta maybe like a sporty all-season tire. But offers a noticeable step up in winter traction over a sporty all-season tire.

Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3 - T here aren’t a ton of reviews on these and any tests either, but it looks like there are some folks saying the winter ability is only mediocre among the performance winter category. Only mentioning because it’s the only one that came up in the category.

Studless/stud-able Winter - Main purpose is to give as much winter traction as possible. No compromises in winter traction made in the name of anything sporty, above providing a generally stable connection to the road. Very squishy.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 - These are good. Don’t expect much in dry/wet situations but in terms of giving really good winter performance, they deliver.

Maxima Speed > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:28

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First, I am not a Fist owner. My dad, brothers, and I all use studded Glacier Grip II’s from MasterCraft. You might think hat just because they are cheap they aren’t good but I can tell you they are incredible. The levels of grip on snow, ice, gravel, and slush is nuts. Almost make you feel like a rally driver. If you don’t want to stud them t hey still have excellent grip in snow and decent grip on ice. I can literally drive the speed limit (not with out risk) in conditions that are putting Jeep’s and Pickups  in t he ditch, or leaving them spinning their tires on level ground (granted we have our fare share of idiots ).

M.T. Blake > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:29

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I start to complain when it gets below 50F. 

daender > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:29

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I’m no FiST owner but I know from a friend that you can mount 15" from an earlier Focus of the 2000s and clear the brakes. Photo as proof:

Wheels came off a junkyard example.  Running 15s may allow you to run a wider selection of winter tires!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:31

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Blizzaks?

KnowsAboutCars > CB 08/26/2018 at 15:31

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Not a FiST owner (has any FiST owner even replied, lol) but buy Nokian Hakkapeliittas if you don’t mind spending little extra.

CB > Fistowner 08/26/2018 at 15:34

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Thanks! I'll check them out!

CB > daender 08/26/2018 at 15:35

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Thanks! I'm definitely going to drop down a size or two.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > CB 08/26/2018 at 16:01

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I have 195/55R16 Blizzak WS80 for the Mini. They worked really well in the winter (We had 300 inches of snow this season ). Good lateral grip and the Mini never got stuck.

Levitas > CB 08/26/2018 at 16:09

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Another FiST owner with 185/60R15 tires, and I use General Altimax Arctics on black steelies .

In my personal experience (I’ve been around primarily the Altimax’s and Blizzaks) the Altimax’s work better in fresh/deep  snow, and the Blizzaks work better when it’s icy/packed snow. Can’t really go wrong with either, but the Altimax Arctics do make a great case because they’re usually very cheap.

404 - User No Longer Available > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/26/2018 at 17:30

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I’m considering trying those for my next set, if my ExtremeWinterContact starts losing grip. They’re like 5 years old now.

Cnorth > CB 08/26/2018 at 18:20

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nokian hakkapeliitta r2

for Michigan > CB 08/26/2018 at 19:33

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O n my Mazda3 I had Blizzak WS80 winters on 16" steelies that got me through 8+ inches of heavy snow with no drama whatsoever. I don’t know anything about fitment for FiST’s, but if you can get WS80's that fit, I wo uld definitely recommend them .

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CB 08/26/2018 at 20:55

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I’m guessing a size down will be a 205/55-16 so a Blizzak WS80 for extreme ice and snow is what I’m doing after 6 years on Blizzak ws70's. These are not tires for dry pavement, they are very squishy but brilliant on ice and snow. What ever you do do not buy studded tires.

MTmanual > CB 08/26/2018 at 21:49

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15 in wheels, blizzaks (bridgestone... '16 FiST owner, nw MT .  Bonus, they're excellent on gravel and for rally purposes :-)

MTmanual > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/26/2018 at 21:51

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I’ve I've had these on my Fiesta and had them on a bug. They are amazing. They go up to the ski hill no issue

MTmanual > MTmanual 08/26/2018 at 21:54

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vicali > CB 08/26/2018 at 22:19

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Forester is due this year as well. I plan to visit Costco and enie-meani-minie-mow between the Michelin XIce whatevers  and Blizzack whathaveyous.

pip bip - choose Corrour > CB 08/27/2018 at 06:11

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freezing at night here now.

:P