Winter tire discussion for grown ups thread.

[trollface]

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by roastpuff

The DWS06 was the first performance all season tires to be semi-decent in the snow (when new). Thus the cult following. Nowadays it definitely doesn't stand out amongst the pack (Michelin PS4AS, Pirelli Pzero AS+) except in ride comfort. Squishy sidewalls. As 68Style points out- on any sort of track conditions they get greasy and overheat fast, though the same could be said of any AS tire really.

Sidewalls are less squishy in the latest version (the +) but I find it and the PS4AS and similar tires are pushing so hard on the high performance front that they're kinda overkill for most of us now. I kinda regret getting the DWS06+ on my RDX when a set of CrossClimate+/2 would have more than done the job (quieter and a nicer ride). It's a great tire for a GTI but not so much for a sporty SUV or even a Civic.

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by 320icar

Ain’t no way I’m buying name brand winters lol. We do a lot of interior winter driving, and multiple ice racing weekends a year. Ice-x for my wife’s flex. I used to run the alpin pa4’s on the RS, last year swapped to “Sailun ice blazer” which were $114 each and absolutely awesome. Total beast in the snow and ice.

For the sti I run 17’s so wagering paying for new winters again, or just watching CL now. We also had something like general altrax or wtv on the focus SVT which were also awesome.

Point is, ANY winter tire regardless of name brand or b/c list is better than an all season in the snow.

Also unpopular opinion; why do people like continental dws so much, I don’t get it…

Originally Posted by supafamous

Sidewalls are less squishy in the latest version (the +) but I find it and the PS4AS and similar tires are pushing so hard on the high performance front that they're kinda overkill for most of us now. I kinda regret getting the DWS06+ on my RDX when a set of CrossClimate+/2 would have more than done the job (quieter and a nicer ride). It's a great tire for a GTI but not so much for a sporty SUV or even a Civic.

I've had a set of DWS06 on a F56 Mini Cooper and currently running a set of DWS06+ on a G01 X3.

Honestly if you ask me they aren't that great. The selling point is they are a high performance tire that can run in the snow, but they are mediocre in the snow. There are AS tires that don't advertise snow driving that drive better.

The pros of the tire is that it's really cheap($500 for a set of 16" on the Mini, $1300 for a set of 20" on the X3) for the performance you get from them(wet, dry, comfort, grip, especially wet) and they come in a lot of great sizes, but you pay it in tire life. I would probably not buy another set anymore.

There are however quite a few cons. They have very high drag on the road, wear is high, and sidewall is on the softer side. The + version is better for sidewall strength but wear is still poor.

I wanted to get Michelin PSAS4, but they were out of stock, and also significantly more expensive. The expensive part actually probably evens out at the end because the tire wear on the DWS06+ is quite high, and the Michelin reviews very well for wear.

[trollface]

General Artic Max. Put studs on em. Cheap as chips

Ppl like DWS because they're alright on snow and you don't have to have to deal with having 4 winters hanging around your garage/apartment, not everyone has the space to keep a set around. That's where DWS comes in.

[westopher]

They are also the best for the GVRD only drivers. Dedicated winters aren’t great in 9 degrees and rain compared to all seasons. For the 4 days of snow you might get here, DWS will work.

[headhunt3r]

When I used to commute to work, the temperature was often below 7C, which I was told makes the rubber compound from winter tires work better than all seasons. I have winters for that reason probably more so than the actual snow that it sees.

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by westopher

They are also the best for the GVRD only drivers. Dedicated winters aren’t great in 9 degrees and rain compared to all seasons. For the 4 days of snow you might get here, DWS will work.

With the growth of the all-weather tire market I think it's really just enthusiasts that will want/need a DWS or similar type of tire for those 4 days of snow. The rest are better off with a CrossClimate, an Altimax 365AW, a Toyo Celsius, a WRG4+ etc where you're basically capable of heading to Whistler and driving in the summer.

Even the folks who buy AMGs and M cars just for show should probably just get an all weather tire so we can stop watching them spin their tires going up Boundary and Knight.

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by supafamous

With the growth of the all-weather tire market I think it's really just enthusiasts that will want/need a DWS or similar type of tire for those 4 days of snow. The rest are better off with a CrossClimate, an Altimax 365AW, a Toyo Celsius, a WRG4+ etc where you're basically capable of heading to Whistler and driving in the summer.

Even the folks who buy AMGs and M cars just for show should probably just get an all weather tire so we can stop watching them spin their tires going up Boundary and Knight.

An AMG or M is not gonna work with an all weather in snow.

I have proper snow tires on my M3 and it takes some work to get it going on the uphill slope that's my back alley.

[mikemhg]

Is it still worth it buying winter tires down in the states @ Tire Rack anymore? Or has the dollar parity made it pretty much the same just grabbing em here in Canada?

[bcrdukes]

I don't remember the last time I bought tires from the US to make it worthwhile. I've supported local for a long time. That being said, it still pays to shop around.

[68style]

Forget Tire rack, that equals shipping them and picking them up somewhere etc

I go to 1 of the 2 Discount Tires in Bellingham... same prices, same selection... those guy are fantastic, buy your tires, book your appointment and show up down there... swap them over.

I got some China brand Sentury all seasons for my Celica for $76 a tire... nothing up here could even touch it. Great tires to drive around on.

I don't advise not claiming your new tires when you come back, but there's also that option for the nefarious amongst you

[Badhobz]

man chinese tire brands are hilariously named

i saw Triangle tires. WTF, triangle for tires... excellent marketing

Id name my tire brand Flats. With a slogan like guarantee to make you squeal with joy and fortune 888 lucky dragon boba tea

[Great68]

So last year I figured I would get new tires for my trailer. It still had the OEM tires, which were 20 years old with visible cracking. (After seeing a couple trailer tire blowouts on the side of the highway the year before, I figured I didn't want to be that guy)

Anyways, Kal Tire quoted me something like $1200 for 5 tires, can't remember what brand but not any big name brand, mounted on my existing rusty rims.

Princess Auto had these "Gallant" brand tires on brand new wheels, one load range higher than what Kal Tire quoted me. for something like $95 each.

And they've been fine, 2000kms on them, sometimes going up to 125km/h on the north part of the island highway, plus a couple hundred km's on gravel roads with no issues.

[bcrdukes]

Princess Auto

[320icar]

Originally Posted by 320icar

Legit bump though. Need to look for new winters for the subie. Might as well start watching Craigslist now before the weather starts getting colder

Well that was fast. Snagged some Motegi traklites and hakka r3’s @9/32 for the subie. A little touch up needed on the wheels (worst one pictured) but was a fantastic price and now i don’t have to worry about it.

[radeonboy]

Costco has 20% off tires for labour day.

https://tires.costco.ca/Home

[SSM_DC5]

Tires ordered! Thanks!

[Special K]

Did Costco jack up prices then offer 20% off?

Ordered some Pilot Alpins! Been using Scorpions for the last few years and very happy. Jumping to Michelin this time.

[Recon604]

Originally Posted by Special K

Did Costco jack up prices then offer 20% off?

Ordered some Pilot Alpins! Been using Scorpions for the last few years and very happy. Jumping to Michelin this time.

they definitely did lol

[CorneringArtist]

Originally Posted by Special K

Did Costco jack up prices then offer 20% off?

Ordered some Pilot Alpins! Been using Scorpions for the last few years and very happy. Jumping to Michelin this time.

Unless they did, then that's a joke, but tire prices have been on the up the last few months. Raw materials issues are affecting supply.

[SSM_DC5]

I compared to 1010 tires before I ordered, not a fake 20% off sale. Set of tires for less than 1k seems reasonable

[Razor Ramon HG]

I used blackcircles.ca last time I ordered tires. They were the cheapest when I was shopping around.

[Special K]

I know for a fact that Costco jacked up washer/dryer sets and TVs by 10-15% when they offered 20% off a few months ago.

As for tires, Michelin Alpins in my size are around $400-430 across all sites before shipping and taxes. Costco is selling them for $475+, then 20% off.

Bought my set from Blk C. They have 12% off. Michelin X-ice was $365 early last week less 10%. Now they are $400 less 12% off which is the same price as Alpins!

[Araaadi]

anyone have experience driving to Calgary in January? Looking to go this coming up January in my 2022 4Runner. I have a set of tire chains for emergencies, was thinking of getting some all terrain tires (ko2 or wildpeaks) or should I get a dedicated winter set?

[SSM_DC5]

Just compared with blackcircles. Still came out cheaper from Costco before sale price. Maybe it varies depending on the tire.