Winter tire discussion for grown ups thread.

[bcrdukes]

That's not bad!

[Euro7r]

Man I really need to get my lazy ass to put on the winter tires this week. Still running my summer pilot super sports. So far weather seems to hover around 6-8 degrees, so fairly lucky on that aspect.

[jjson]

Originally Posted by Euro7r

Man I really need to get my lazy ass to put on the winter tires this week. Still running my summer pilot super sports. So far weather seems to hover around 6-8 degrees, so fairly lucky on that aspect.

I swapped my PS4S out for snowies on Remembrance day right around that cold snap. I felt noticeably longer braking distance on early morning commutes so that was enough to sketch me out lol

[k3mps]

Also keep in mind moving forward that the 7 degree rule applies really only if you're driving around when it's actually 7 degrees out.
If you're doing an early morning commute and a late afternoon drive home, the temperature is closer to the low single digits.

I tell my friends and family to put their tires on when their commutes are consistently 7 or below. Could be 15 in middle of the day but if it's 0 at 7am and 0 at 6pm during your commute, time to put the winters on.

[twitchyzero]

dumb question: winter compounds remain softer/pliable when cold, does that mean they warm up more?

[68style]

Am thinking of buying snow tires this year for the first time... I've not owned a set of snow tires in 20+ years of driving, nor have I ever owned a 4wd vehicle.

That said, there have been a handful of occasions over the years where I just said nope about going to work when it was a huge dump (would have had to go from Richmond to Surrey) due to having a rwd car with open diff... but otherwise I've always been able to manage on all-seasons and fwd cars or the MR2 works pretty good in the snow too. I don't do mountain sports.

I think finding some slightly used shit on Craigslist should be sufficient? Definitely dedicated wheels instead of mounting/unmounting.

[underscore]

If you can find some in the right size with decent tread left that aren't too old & mounted on the correct size wheels already you might save a bit. Whenever I look though usually it's only a little bit more to buy brand new vs someones 6 year old tires at 60%. Compared to places like PMC and that site someone posted here a few pages back anyways.

[Great68]

I never had snow tires when I lived in Richmond and never had a problem, however Richmond is flat.

I got stuck with my civic during my first winter in Victoria and vowed never again, there's a lot more steep hills here.

Definately find a lightly used set if you can.

One of my best purchases was a set of 1-season old X-ice's on OEM MS3 wheels that a guy in Campbell River was selling (I think the ad was originally on Revscene). They still have lots of tread on them today, and the car is an absolute beast in the snow. Last winter I had to pick up my mom from the Ferry and got caught in a heavy snow dump on the way. Cars were getting stuck left right and center on the highway, the offramp to the passenger pickup area was blocked by a stuck transit bus. I drove around them all like it was nothing.

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

dumb question: winter compounds remain softer/pliable when cold, does that mean they warm up more?

No, the compounds are actually formulated differently to stay soft when it's cold outside.

Conversely, if you drive them hard in the summer you can melt and chunk them into pieces as the tires go out of their designed operating temperature range.

[Eff-1]

Originally Posted by Doubl3_H

where do you guys recommend to swap my tires over and store them as well for the season?

Thanks

kal tire charges $40 for the swap (mounting not included) and $100 for storage. they have an online booking system which is nice too.

[yray]

This is my sottozeros after one summer of driving

[bcrdukes]

Looks good for winter. Pls use them. Good luck.

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by Eff-1

kal tire charges $40 for the swap (mounting not included) and $100 for storage. they have an online booking system which is nice too.

Kal Tire is not bad!

Except here in Toronto where all of them are booked with a 1 year wait list or is a super far location, while they blast the media with ads promoting the service.

[bcrdukes]

What the, why did my post show up thrice?

[bcrdukes]

Can I speak to the manager here?

[yray]

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

What the, why did my post show up thrice?

cuz you miss me dukes

[Liquid_o2]

Originally Posted by Eff-1

kal tire charges $40 for the swap (mounting not included) and $100 for storage. they have an online booking system which is nice too.

I use Kal Tire for this. They used to not charge the $40 swap if you bought the tires from them. They stopped doing that a few years ago - but some employees still waive it.

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by 68style

Am thinking of buying snow tires this year for the first time... I've not owned a set of snow tires in 20+ years of driving, nor have I ever owned a 4wd vehicle.

That said, there have been a handful of occasions over the years where I just said nope about going to work when it was a huge dump (would have had to go from Richmond to Surrey) due to having a rwd car with open diff... but otherwise I've always been able to manage on all-seasons and fwd cars or the MR2 works pretty good in the snow too. I don't do mountain sports.

I think finding some slightly used shit on Craigslist should be sufficient? Definitely dedicated wheels instead of mounting/unmounting.

Originally Posted by Great68

I never had snow tires when I lived in Richmond and never had a problem, however Richmond is flat.

I got stuck with my civic during my first winter in Victoria and vowed never again, there's a lot more steep hills here.

Definately find a lightly used set if you can.

One of my best purchases was a set of 1-season old X-ice's on OEM MS3 wheels that a guy in Campbell River was selling (I think the ad was originally on Revscene). They still have lots of tread on them today, and the car is an absolute beast in the snow. Last winter I had to pick up my mom from the Ferry and got caught in a heavy snow dump on the way. Cars were getting stuck left right and center on the highway, the offramp to the passenger pickup area was blocked by a stuck transit bus. I drove around them all like it was nothing.

I always get you two mixed up....

That said, had a MS3, had winters, agreed on borderline unstoppable cause of the LSD.

[AstulzerRZD]

Just picked up some nearly brand new XIce 3s mounted on Costco steelies for my sister's car for a total steal - $450.

Right on the edge of a 3% increase (205 60 16 OEM vs 205 65 16) and a slight change in offset (+40 vs +45); surprised nothing rubs.

[68style]

There’s a lot of great deals on CL right now for wheels and tires including snows, I think a lot of people are either not driving anymore and short on cash so selling shit that’s laying around for fast$$$ or they sold their cars during COVID and forgot about the stack of tires for that car in the garage or shed

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

I always get you two mixed up....

Is it because they are both Chinese?

[AstulzerRZD]

Side Note: Is it just me or do all the "machined" finishes on Honda OE alloys have awful clear coat? Sister's car spent a year or two on the east coast and the wheels are just all corroded to the point that the bead doesn't hold on two of em.

[twitchyzero]

does toyota also use enkei? because toyotas from the early-middle 2000s seem to be the worst
my suzuki has some starting near the center cap (enkei as well)

[68style]

Lexus wheels are horrible too, both my IS300's have the sport design 17 spoke wheels and paint if lifting and coming off... a friend of a friend does wheel refinishing and told me he can practically stay in business just off Lexus wheels alone they're so horrible.

[welfare]

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