Winter Tire & Wheel Options, Opinions Wanted

Iboc_C64

Iboc_C64

New member
Hello Everyone, I have read through several of the winter tire threads and I don't think any of them apply to what I want to know, or at least not completely. I am looking in to a set of winter wheels for my 2009 WRX. I still have good life left in my stock Dunlops, I only have about 15,500 miles on the car. But the Dunlops are summer tires and I have had bad experiences getting stuck in my last car with summer tires on the first snow of the year. I figure its a good time to ask, seen a though its snowing right now! I have never really been happy with the way VIPs cheap universal Power King Plus tires felt. They seem sloppy on dry pavement. With that being said, here are the options I was looking in to and want oppinions on. Also, I only have stock rims right now and have warped and replaced 2 of them this past summer.

Option#1. Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60s on the stock 17" Rims and risk warping a rim on a frost heave (Did this on my last car)

Option#2. Gislaved Nordfrosts on New 16" Steelies with no TPMS sensors. On this option I need to know if 16" Steelies will fit over the brakes on an 09 WRX, I need to know if the TPMS warning will effect engine performance like it does on some other cars and finally are the Nordfrosts a good tire. This option is roughly the same price as option#1.

Option#3. Bridgestone Potenza High Performance All-Seasons on the stock 17" rims. I have not priced this option but Dan (RangeleyRallyDG) did this and is happy with his choice so far. Again I risk the whole warping a rim thing with this option.

Also I was wondering if maybe someone has a set of older 16" WRX or 2.5 RS 16" wheels they might want to sell. If so gimme a price, any aluminum rim will look better than steelies.
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Thanks in advance guys.

 
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Blizzaks hands down if you've got the money for them. Best winter tire out there, without question.

 
I would not qualify my stock re92's as performance all-seasons but they did run fine in the snow for 2 seasons.

Option three would save you the most cash. I am running high performance all-seasons now. But if you want good traction all the time definitely get some good snow's like mainiac said.

I have never run snows so I can't comment on how much better they are vs. all-seasons.

 
Wow, I am considering other possibilities. I can't find Blizzaks for less than $700 installed. I can do that but once I saw the All Season Potenza G019 Grid prices I am having second thoughts. I can get those for $600 installed. Or I can go with a set of General Altimax for around $550 on the original rims, all installed. I worry though about having a speed rating less than H especially in a car with 265+ HP. Arrg. Kinda wish someone had some 16" Aluminum rims they wanna sell. I can't seem to find any anywhere. If I had those I could get a more common size like 205/55R16. I really don't care much for the Idea of steelies.

 
I worry though about having a speed rating less than H especially in a car with 265+ HP. Arrg.
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How fast do you plan on driving during the winter, when its all cold and slippy?

 
How fast do you plan on driving during the winter, when its all cold and slippy?
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Let me put it this way. I once bought studded tires thinking "Ahh that's just fine, its winter, why on earth would I drive faster than 80mph?". Then I had to pick up a friend in portland in a hurry and I was in Farmington and the fastest route involved the interstate. I wasn't about to swap to my summer tires for a couple hours to make the drive. On the interstate I have been driving with traffic in 0 degree weather at 80mph on I95. At those speeds you loose studs so studs are out of the equation. On top of that, I have seen tires explode. I realize that's not likely to happen but I figure a few bucks extra for better handling and the security of knowing that your tires are designed for going faster than 100mph in less than 32 degree weather is probably worth it. I would not drive over 40 in slippery weather, but just because its winter and cold, does not mean its always slippery. that's my thinking at least, im hoping to find something that won't make the car all squirelly in hard acceleration too. Its a WRX after all.

 
Just about ANY M+S tire will give you lots of grip. Go the cheap route and get a used set from uncle hanks or craigslist. I haven't bought a set of winter tires new in years. You may need the cash for wheels to fit over the brakes anyway.

Nigel Prodrive is the resident rubber guru, probably because they kept him locked up for all those years inside a rubber room. Ask and he may share his vast knowledge.

 
Nigel Prodrive is the resident rubber guru, probably because they kept him locked up for all those years inside a rubber room. Ask and he may share his vast knowledge.
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Tanks for the reference Rad. My signatures does say "Snow Tire Ho,"after all.

However, I have almost given up on advising ppl on winter tires. too many times where we debated nuances of this tire vs that one yadda yadda and then the ppl just went out and bought the cheapest thing they could find.

everybody thinks their situation is different, and it often is. but the facts are simple--with winter rubber you trade off some dry-road handling precision in return for vastly improved performance and grip in snow/ice/slush. If you want to drive your Suby in winter like it's designed to drive (as opposed to going at granny speeds every time it snows) then you need dedicated winter rubber. However, super low profile winter rubber is basically silly, as the OP found by tacoing his 17" wheels on 45 series tires..

best winter setup size-wise for WRX/STI owners is 16" rims with 205/55-16 dedicated snows. you still get decent dry road handling but have enough rubber wrapped around the rims to deal with bad winter roads. steelies are fine, they give the car a badazz utilitarian look that's really diffrent from yet another set of alloys.

 
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Thanks Nigel, I am all confused about what I want now. I dont wanna spend a lot, but I want aluminum 16" wheels if possible. I also want blizzaks, but cant find them in 205/55R16. I also got to save a little money becuase I want some rally armor flaps after I get tires. that's probably as far as my winter mods will go, I will be paying for that until mid december or January unless I manage to sell my other car.

 
need 205/55/16 Blizzaks, here ya go:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS60&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=055R6BZWS60&fromCompare1=yes

Tire rack shipping to ME usu runs ~$15 per tire, and they have a list of designated installers, usu VIP here in ME.

Tire Rack also has winter tire/wheel package, blizzaks w alloys for $876, blizzaks w/steelies $640, plus shipping

if u buy package, they arrive mounted & balanced, all you do is jack up the car and whip out the lug wrench.

happy snow drifting!

 
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Separate winter tires + wheels is the way to go. VIP mounted and balanced my RE01 summers when I got them off Tirerack. The guy in store said I shoulda went to them because they could have gotten them cheaper then buying them online.

 
Well truth be told, I have been going to Tire Rack for best pricing, then going to VIP and getting a price match. The problem is I can't find LM60s in the 205/55R16 size. Sorry I should have been more specific. VIP sells the LM60s in the 16" size but I can't get them discounted because Tire Rack doesn't have the exact model. Tire Rack has the WS50, WS60, LM22 and LM25 but not the LM60. Does anyone know the real differences here? I was told to stay away from the WS50s because they suck. What about the WS60s? Are they different than the WS50? I know the LM60 has better ratings, higher speed rating and they are runflats. I don't think I need a runflat, I don't think I will be going out of state on winter tires. Nigel what do you think of the WS60?

 
found WS60s @ Tire Rack, this one has a tread design similar to Michelin XIce.

danged 'fi know the subtle differences in newer blizzaks, just be sure the ones you order have the Tube Multicell tread compound, that's the super grippy on snow stuff what makes Blizzaks into blizzaks.

ws50 is the old skool design, beloved of winter drivers worldwide. if somebody told you they suck I say wtf do they know!? OK they probly suck at autocross.
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Ok, did some research after you mentioned the Multicell compound. Basically all the High Speed rated blizzaks use the Silica tread compound instead of the Multicell Compound. You can't get an H rating with the multicell. The LM-60s are basically a winter tire for sports cars. So as long as I dont break 100mph I should be fine with the WS-60s and the can be had for the price as the LM-60s in the 17inch size, but with a set of 16" steel rims. So now I know what tires I am buying. What about rims, you guys have anything bad to say about Kazera KZ-X black w/red stipe around the rim edge. They are less than $120 a piece. I was thinking 205/55R16 on 16" Kazera KZ-X black w/red stripe rims and Black RA UR flaps with a WRX printed in red on them. This is for a black 09 WRX. What do you guys think? Worth it, or just go with the steelies?

 
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Well if you really want the alloys, go for it. but you said it yourself in earlier post...

I dont wanna spend a lot, but I want aluminum 16" wheels if possible. I also want blizzaks, ... I also got to save a little money becuase I want some rally armor flaps after I get tires.
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Steelies don't suck, they rock. Of course your redstriped black alloys would be uber sexay....
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(easy for me to spend YOUR $$$)

 
Mmmmm, uber sexay, me wants. LoL. I will give it some time so I can sleep on it, then I will decide. Thanks Nigel.

 
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