Winter tire discussion for grown ups thread.

[AzNightmare]

Yesterday I was at Rona and saw some snow shovels being sold. I was tempted to buy one cause I want to upgrade my plastic one to a metal one. But I decided to hold off for now in case I find a better deal. But if I didn't already have a plastic one to use, I would have bought it on the spot. Better prepare now, and not bitch about things being sold out later.

I haven't seen salt in stock yet though. Are stores carrying them this early?

Originally Posted by Rallydrv

dont jump the gun, if u live in vanc. wait to see what kinda winter we'll have. (weather system)

2008/ 2017 is the only time i've needed winter time in the last 10 years.

True... but after last year, I've learnt it's better to just have the proper gear than to just try to get by with something that might be adequate. It feels so awesome when everything is just so much easier. Hence why I rather get a metal shovel for this year so I'm not struggling so much trying to break ice. It's worth it, and time is money, and people wouldn't be so reluctant to just shovel their sidewalks if they had the proper tool to make it easier...

If everyone just got snow tires, maybe traffic wouldn't be such a shit show cause of people barely getting by with their all seasons.

[R. Mutt]

I'm not risking it this year either. I was totally unprepared last year but I lived downtown and could get away a little more with public transportation even if there were delays. We just moved out to Kingsway & Boundary and I remember the roads were pretty icy around here last winter. Got a set of winter sottozero 3 for the golf R. I'll just wait and see how things are by the end of October before putting them on. It's just not worth the risk when it's all said and done better to be safe than sorry. Likewise, there will always be those stubborn drivers running all seasons or 5+ year winter rubber. If someone hits your vehicle at least you have the appropriate tires mounted, should your claim warrant an investigation. Which reminds me, probably time to get a dash cam as well.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by AzNightmare

Yesterday I was at Rona and saw some snow shovels being sold. I was tempted to buy one cause I want to upgrade my plastic one to a metal one. But I decided to hold off for now in case I find a better deal. But if I didn't already have a plastic one to use, I would have bought it on the spot. Better prepare now, and not bitch about things being sold out later.

Buy a metal one now, hold onto your plastic one and sell it on Craigslist for a crazy amount later on.

[meme405]

Originally Posted by R. Mutt

I'm not risking it this year either. I was totally unprepared last year but I lived downtown and could get away a little more with public transportation even if there were delays. We just moved out to Kingsway & Boundary and I remember the roads were pretty icy around here last winter. Got a set of winter sottozero 3 for the golf R. I'll just wait and see how things are by the end of October before putting them on. It's just not worth the risk when it's all said and done better to be safe than sorry. Likewise, there will always be those stubborn drivers running all seasons or 5+ year winter rubber. If someone hits your vehicle at least you have the appropriate tires mounted, should your claim warrant an investigation. Which reminds me, probably time to get a dash cam as well.

Exactly!

Also the part that kills me is that people seem to think that buying winter rubber is like flushing money down the drain, but in reality you are saving wear on your summer tires. So you just replace those half as much and the other half of the money goes towards the winter rubber you run for 6 months of the year. At the end of the day it the price difference ends up being a wash. And if you get rid of the car just sell the tires either as a bonus with the car, or if the guy lowballs you take them out of the deal and sell them on CL.

[fliptuner]

https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/pml/...314592999.html

[BIC_BAWS]

Originally Posted by fliptuner

https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/pml/...314592999.html

Gone.

Sent from my STV100-1 using Tapatalk

[Badhobz]

walmart is selling steelies for 54 bucks a pop (14-16" only)

https://www.walmart.ca/en/automotive...ire-rims/N-254

[gilly]

^ I just bought 16in from costco for $49.99

[fliptuner]

Costco also offers hubcentric steelies

[Jmac]

Vancouver climate data
Environment Canada

Average date of first fall frost: November 10
Average date of last spring frost: March 18

Average days w/ snowfall >= 5 cm by month:
April-October: 0
November: 0.27
December: 0.86
January: 0.73
February: 0.43
March: 0.20

Average total snowfall by month:
May-September: 0
October: 0.1 cm
November: 3.2 cm
December: 14.8 cm
January: 11.1 cm
February: 6.3 cm
March: 2.3 cm
April: 0.3 cm

Extreme daily snowfall by month:
May-September: 0 cm
October: 2 cm
November: 22.1 cm
December: 41 cm
January: 29.7 cm
February: 28.6 cm
March: 25.9 cm
April: 3.8 cm

Average days w/ minimum temperature <= 2°C:
June-September: 0
October: 1.8
November: 9.5
December: 18.2
January: 15.9
February: 14.7
March: 10
April: 2.3
May: 0.03

Interpret the data how you like, but I think it's fair to say that, even within city limits, you should have winter tires on for the months of December-February. November-March is probably a good idea in non-El Nino years and a must in La Nina years (which we had this past winter).

If you go into the mountains, you should probably have them on October-March.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by Jmac

If you go into the mountains, you should probably have them on October-March.

You have to have them for most highways, by law, from Oct 1 - Mar 31: Designated Winter Tire & Chain-up Routes - Province of British Columbia

[320icar]

^^ it says you can have either the mountain with snow flake (which is a real winter tire) or the M+S which every all season has.

I have pilot super sports so I don't have a choice but to install my winters. Going camping sept 30th. I'd rather run all season during October/March but having 3 sets of wheels and tires is probably dumb

[Jmac]

Yeah, they changed the rule for winter 2014-2015 to allow M+S.

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by Jmac

Yeah, they changed the rule for winter 2014-2015 to allow M+S.

Stupid.

Should force people on the Interior passes (even Sea to Sky) to run proper winters.

[Zedbra]

Originally Posted by roastpuff

Stupid.

Should force people on the Interior passes (even Sea to Sky) to run proper winters.

on heavy snow days, the police set up road blocks on the S2S by Alice Lake and regardless of your all seasons having the M+S on them, if you don't have dedicated snow tires or chains, you aren't driving to Whistler. I like that they are doing this, to be honest - there are too many wipe-outs up here shutting down the highway for hours to others that are properly prepared.

[BIC_BAWS]

Originally Posted by chinese_driver

i need some advice, so my stock e46 coupe setup is

F: 225/45/17x7.5
R: 245/40/17x8.5

Is that the oem e46 non-m size?

This is my current, and seems to have no change in speedometer variance, but only about 1.5 fingers for wheel gap.

F: 235/30/19x9
R: 275/35/19x10

So ideally, I would need something smaller than 17s for winters? But if I go down in rim size, that would mean my car becomes even more lowered (I want to go higher)?

For the purposes of winter safety, I'd then have to get new suspension and smaller wheels? Or do are the differences in having 19s and 16s for winters negligible? I'm asking because the car came with a set of WRG2s in 235/30/19 square, so if I don't have to switch I won't. But if it's strongly advised, I will.

TIA

[hud 91gt]

^^ Just because you have a smaller rim doesn't mean your outside tire diameter is smaller.

Why do you need a smaller rims then 17 for winter?

[underscore]

Originally Posted by 320icar

^^ it says you can have either the mountain with snow flake (which is a real winter tire) or the M+S which every all season has.

True, but lets be honest, you can't really get away with M+S anywhere outside of the GVRD.

Originally Posted by Zedbra

on heavy snow days, the police set up road blocks on the S2S by Alice Lake and regardless of your all seasons having the M+S on them, if you don't have dedicated snow tires or chains, you aren't driving to Whistler. I like that they are doing this, to be honest - there are too many wipe-outs up here shutting down the highway for hours to others that are properly prepared.

They need to do this in more places. I'm guessing the resources aren't always available though.

[boibuddha]

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

So ideally, I would need something smaller than 17s for winters? But if I go down in rim size, that would mean my car becomes even more lowered (I want to go higher)?

The only reason to go smaller would be cheaper tires and softer ride, assuming you are running the same overall diameter.
If you reduce your overall wheel diameter, your car will be lower but you will actually have more fender clearance. If you go bigger, you will have more ground clearance but you are more likely to rub on your fenders.

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

For the purposes of winter safety, I'd then have to get new suspension and smaller wheels? Or do are the differences in having 19s and 16s for winters negligible? I'm asking because the car came with a set of WRG2s in 235/30/19 square, so if I don't have to switch I won't. But if it's strongly advised, I will.

TIA

No need for a new suspension, but running those skinny tires could lead to a bent rim in pothole season.

[Badhobz]

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

I'm asking because the car came with a set of WRG2s in 235/30/19 square, so if I don't have to switch I won't. But if it's strongly advised, I will.

TIA

i thought the WRG2's Nokians are winter rated tires? arent those "all weather" tires instead of all seasons?

[320icar]

Yeah they are an all weather but they should have he mountain/snow flake on them. I've used them before with great results.

[Jmac]

WRG2 is severe winter rated, but they were discontinued for the WRG3s 4 years ago. You should check the date of manufacturing on the sidewall to make sure they're not too old (Depending where you read, it's generally recommended tires shouldn't be more than 6-10 years old as performance deteriorates with age; winter tires have shorter shelf lives as well).

I also had the WRG2s on two vehicles, worked well in the snow, but longevity was not great.

[twitchyzero]

Originally Posted by meme405

Also the part that kills me is that people seem to think that buying winter rubber is like flushing money down the drain, but in reality you are saving wear on your summer tires. So you just replace those half as much and the other half of the money goes towards the winter rubber you run for 6 months of the year. At the end of the day it the price difference ends up being a wash.

assuming you drive your vehicle enough during the 5-year shelf-life
assuming you have storage space for an extra set

[TOPEC]

Originally Posted by boibuddha

The only reason to go smaller would be cheaper tires and softer ride, assuming you are running the same overall diameter.
If you reduce your overall wheel diameter, your car will be lower but you will actually have more fender clearance. If you go bigger, you will have more ground clearance but you are more likely to rub on your fenders.

depending on snow condition, re: driving on hard packed snow vs unplowed powder, u'll want narrower tires to cut through snow better than wide tires where the tires are more likely to "float" on top, kind of like hydroplaning

[chinese_driver]

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

Is that the oem e46 non-m size?

This is my current, and seems to have no change in speedometer variance, but only about 1.5 fingers for wheel gap.

F: 235/30/19x9
R: 275/35/19x10

So ideally, I would need something smaller than 17s for winters? But if I go down in rim size, that would mean my car becomes even more lowered (I want to go higher)?

For the purposes of winter safety, I'd then have to get new suspension and smaller wheels? Or do are the differences in having 19s and 16s for winters negligible? I'm asking because the car came with a set of WRG2s in 235/30/19 square, so if I don't have to switch I won't. But if it's strongly advised, I will.

TIA

yeah that is my stock non M size on style 68s. id recommend getting a dedicated set of winters for your stock 17s. and definitely check the expiry of the WRG2s, had a set of those before on my jeep and the tread didnt last long at all, especially yours being a 30 profile. and they were mediocre in the snow with AWD, so im not sure how much better they could be in our RWD...

also how bad do you rub with 19x10 in the rear?