Yeah: https://flic.kr/s/aHskEiUnZT

When I bought them, they had extreme curb rash and damage.
I have never painted/re-finished wheels before. Watched a few YouTube videos, it's all pretty much the same whether you're going to paint or dip.

The sanding of the damage took the longest, maybe 3 hours, but easily could have spent more time. 200-400-800-1500 grit sandpaper.
Once I have satisfied with the smoothness of the damaged areas (it wasn't perfect, and didn't want to keep sanding off more wheel) I used a flat black filler primer (2 coats). Then I painted them with Duplicolor wheel paint (gold). I think I used two cans of Primer, and two cans of Paint. I could have used alot more, but it looked fine to me so I didn't bother using the extra cans.

Oh and one can of duplicolor matte clear coat.

Does the sanding affect balance, or is that taken care of when the tires go on?

If you’re just smoothing our the lip etc, I can’t imagine it would affect much of anything. Unless you take off like a centimetre or more

When winter is just starting/ending it's better since you don't have to climb as high as the Coq, I've driven it in November with a sketchy vehicle and it was totally fine. Once winter hits though you're better off risking the road closures on the Coq than driving through dodgy conditions on something like the Corws Nest.

Pro's and cons on cheaper branded snow tires?

Curious to know those of you who've ran cheaper branded snow tires.. How you felt about them, would you still get cheap winters or would you fork out double the price for better branded tires?

I'm considering some cheaper Off branded winter tires for the WRX, I don't think Ill need the best since its mostly used just for commuting.. With the odd mountain trip here and there. The price difference is significant, but I don't really know the consequences between the 2. Off branded tires in 18" could be had for $400, if I were looking at Michelin or other name brands I'm looking at about $800.

^ how does that $400 compare to your insurance deductible?

https://www.revscene.net/forums/7153...5x114-3-a.html

Shameless plug, came off my 2017 WRX, perfect for you, price is OBO:alonehappy:

Even a no name shit winter tire will perform better than an all season. If money is tight I wouldn’t judge you for it. I plan to go this route for the SVT

I’m getting the cheap China brand winters, I’m only driving around town no need for the expensive tires and safer than my summers.

When my Verossa cleared inspection it needed tires, and since it was September I threw winters on. Got a set of West Lakes and survived last winter just fine in a RWD sedan. It's a China brand, but one of the "better" ones for around 100 a tire.

In the snow and ice, probably, but in terms of handling slush and rain, I'd trust a decent all-season way more than a cheap winter.

I dunno. To be honest I have multiple sets of wheels and tires. Currently my all seasons are “goalstar catchpower” that we’re $72 each. So far they’ve handled sun, rainstorms, a hailstorm and a trackday. They’ve been just as effective as a brand name all season. I dont see why the winters will be any different.

Like I said before, if money is tight I’d much rather see someone cheap out on offshore winter tires than run all seasons

late to the thread but I love my Nokian R2's on the wife mobile.

foot of snow at the lake last weekend for thanksgiving so they had to go on early.

Super pleasantly surprised by the highway dry weather driving characteristics of the tires - almost forgot I was on snows.

I'd be looking at the R3's if I was in the market - sorry Ian (although you prob aren't looking for more customers right now!)

unrelated tire note: I phoned 3 different Kal tire offices last week for availability of a specific tire and got put on hold indefinitely each time even though their website directed me to call a store for more info. What a joke.

I ran Nokian wrg2’s on my old focus, for fwd it was pretty unbeatable. Only time it got stuck was trying to pull out of a parking spot and beaches on a huge hump of solid ice, and that’s obviously not the tires fault.

I’m sure the wrg3 or 4 whatever they’re up to now are pretty great

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/480/3...3b87035f_z.jpg
Generated from my Apple iPhone using tools.rackonly.com

320 are those Costco steelies still coming in bent ? I was thinking of throwing some snowies on the vw this year

fuck this weather, still dont know when to change over

Not sure what VW you have but I've got a set of OE wheels from a tiguan (16x6.5 +33 5x112) that will be available this weekend. (wheel bolts and plastic caps will be included too)

Wait until temps are consistently below 7°C. At least that's what I do.
Still good for the rest of October.

I'm sure this has been posted, but I don't want to review pages and pages in this thread to find my answer, so I'll ask:

Which is better for mainly city driving, spirited winter driving with occasional trips up to the mountain?

Options: Bridgestone ws80 or Michelin xi3? And others worth checking out?
Car: subaru sti

TIA

Are we talking 90% city driving with one or two weekends of snow?

I run Michelin Alpin Pa4 on my RS. They’re designed to act like a summer tire on cold pavement (and is the tire recommended for most m series, AMG etc). I’ve taken them all around the interior in all weather and they do just fine.

Between the two you said, I’d say xice since they come with a mileage warranty. The ws80 is better in snow and rough stuff, but is soft and wears quickly

Anyone have snow tires and drive in the snow with a lowered car in Vancouver?

Any predictions on how much snow we'll get this winter season?

0% snow

5" clearance low enough? :badpokerface:

How low?
Snow usually gets cleared up decently well in the major streets.

The inside streets may be a bit of trouble on the days following the snowfall, when the snow becomes compact and turn into ice.

Last year (might have been 2 years ago, my memory is fuzzy), I kept a small shovel in my trunk, so that I could make my own parking spots as there was a lot of snow/ice built up along the curb in the inside streets.

dont go slow when going up driveways unless you enjoy turtling. lol