Winter Tire Questions Resolved: See Within

[Yazovets]

Previously I had been wondering how to solve my winter tire questions.

Do I get separate steel rims or not?
Do I use 215/60/R16 or 215/65/R16?
Will I need new wheel bolts?
Should I stick with stock wheels and raise profile instead?

Well, here is what I found out. I visited approximately 10 tire places in Toronto to gather prices and opinions.

I learned that 16" steel wheels would be about $70-80 a piece before taxes. I also learned that I would need new wheel bolts.

The next thing I learned was that going down to a 16" winter tire was just a saving of $5-20 per tire as compared to a 17" tire.

While all shops included installation and balancing, this was not actually free. It was factored into the total price. Online retailers had tires for much less.

If I go with a taller profile tire which will exceed the stock diameter, then I risk rubbing the wheel wells when I turn. So that's not good.

I've been looking at mid-range quality winter tires. None of that suspicious Chinese stuff like Winterforce, Cooper, General, etc.

At the dealer, they wanted $207 per tire for 215/55/R17 for Michelin X-Ice tires, or $221 for Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 of the same size.

At the various stores, I was quoted about $190 for the Michelins and $175 for the Blizzaks.

But then I went to TireRack.com who had both the Michelins and Blizzaks for around $110-115 only. According to reviews, the Blizzaks wear out quick. Therefore, I picked up the Michelins. I love my current all-season Michelins, so I figured I'd continue the trend.

Here's the total price breakdown. Being a student, this "budget" solution works great for me. There will be no surprise brokerage fees because TireRack now ships stuff to Canada with UPS Canada with whom they have an agreement.



Since the Canadian dollar is stronger than the US dollar these days, that's a total of about $650 Canadian! This is FAR lower than any local store could do.

[CamrySExxx]

Originally Posted by Yazovets

Since the Canadian dollar is stronger than the US dollar these days, that's a total of about $650 Canadian! This is FAR lower than any local store could do.

time to take advantage of the cdn dollar

anyways ive always thought about buying tires online but i dont think i will just because of warrenty and problems that might occur where i cannot actually go back to the store and resolve the problem.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

I got mine and so did my dad from the dealer, they gave us a deal because we bought three sets of tires two winter, one all season for my sisters car.

We got the Michelin X-Ice. I was considering just swaping them to my OEM rims and all that each year but they warned me it would eventually ruin the bead of the tire. So in the end i got steelies.

The deal my dealer gave us was free balancing, rotation and swaping the tires at the end of each season for free, for the life of owning the car(s). My total was 600 and something for my car.

[Dzorm]

I order Nokian 5 - 215/60R16 for winter tires ...
The price included installation and balancing... 808$ tx included (less a 40$ rebate by mail)

For the rim.... i order 4 replica mag... 130$+tx/mag

[wireless]

Tirerack is #1 in my book. Local dealers can't touch the prices unless they are being subsidized by incentives from the manufacturer. That, and Tirerack.com will ship to a local shop for installation so I don't have to take delivery and transport the tires.

[sleekaman]

glad you posted some info on snows. will be actively getting my snows too. My choice of snows will be 215/60 16 for the XLE, running on Toyos Observe G02 Plus at Steelcase. Have been buying snows from them since I got my 93 Camry. Hard decision would be should I get alloys or steelies, their winter packages with the steelies include Toyota OEM wheel covers too to give that OEM look. definitely can't beat your tirerack prices. Currently have Nokia Hakas for the Corolla, but found my old 93 Camry 205 65/15 Toyos were great in the Toronto area. Sticking to a brand I'm familiar with. Nokias are great but too noisy.
At least I can get another $50 off of the deal from Toyo:
http://www.toyocanada.com/WhatNew/TwhatNW.asp

[CanadianDad]

I just bought 4 Dunlop SP WinterSport M3 winter tires from Discount Tire Direct in the States for $574 OTD. (no mounting or balancing, 215/50VR17). I bought these ones as they had fantanstic reviews and an overal rating that was higher than any other of the winter tires out there for my particular vehicle. Also they are more of a performance winter tire rated to 146mph.

[Yazovets]

Originally Posted by CanadianDad

I just bought 4 Dunlop SP WinterSport M3 winter tires from Discount Tire Direct in the States for $574 OTD. (no mounting or balancing, 215/50VR17). I bought these ones as they had fantanstic reviews and an overal rating that was higher than any other of the winter tires out there for my particular vehicle. Also they are more of a performance winter tire rated to 146mph.

Well you know how it is...if you get a "performance winter" tire, then that means you lose lots of ice traction, but you can go fast.

If you get a "slow" 160km/h "snow and ice" tire, then you get the full benefits in those condition, but you're capped at around 160.

I don't know about you, but I don't plan on doing 160 in the winter to begin with. And especially not with the new Ontario law which states that if you get caught at 50 over the limit, you get license and car suspension on the spot.

Alas, there may be others who like to go 234km/h in snow...who am I to argue?

Sleekaman, I've heard lots of good things about the Toyos. A long time ago we had a 3-series BMW sedan in the family and we had installed Toyo SnowProxes S950 tires on it. They definitely got that car through the winter. And then there's always Nokian tires. I once accidentally found a dealer for that brand in the 400/Steeles area. Let me know if you're interested.

For the kind of winter that Toronto gets (i.e. more ice and snow), the "slower" rated tires are great.

[CanadianDad]

Just because the tire is rated for that speed doesn't mean that I drive that speed...always. (believe it or not, up here in Canada we do NOT have snow covering our roads every day of the winter! Most days the roads are clear of snow and ice.) However, they are designed for that speed and at least I know they are safe. (I think the X-Ice tires are only rated to 109mph or something close to that) What I like about these tires is that they are HUGELY more quiet than the X-Ice tires for a sports sedan. (And yes, I can speak from experience as I have X-Ice tires on my wife's van and on my daughter's Matrix)

[Yazovets]

Originally Posted by CanadianDad

Just because the tire is rated for that speed doesn't mean that I drive that speed...always. (believe it or not, up here in Canada we do NOT have snow covering our roads every day of the winter! Most days the roads are clear of snow and ice.) However, they are designed for that speed and at least I know they are safe. (I think the X-Ice tires are only rated to 109mph or something close to that) What I like about these tires is that they are HUGELY more quiet than the X-Ice tires for a sports sedan. (And yes, I can speak from experience as I have X-Ice tires on my wife's van and on my daughter's Matrix)

Heheheh you speak as if I am not from Canada! Howling is not a big problem because the Camry is so well sound-deadened. The reason why I don't like "performance winter" tires is because while they allow you to go fast, you sacrifice some cornering response, and ice traction in the process.

I must admit that I've spun around before in a car during the winter so I think the tire which delivers the best traction at reasonable speeds is the best winter tire.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

who cares what "winter" tires are speed rated as? if you're going to drive 150+ in the winter with snow and ice...you deserve to have your car taken away lol.

I bought my X-Ice for snow and ice capabilities, i do a lot of Northern Ontario driving and the roads can be bad at any given time. I bought them for peace of mind and safety....NOT speed.

[Yazovets]

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

who cares what "winter" tires are speed rated as? if you're going to drive 150+ in the winter with snow and ice...you deserve to have your car taken away lol.

I bought my X-Ice for snow and ice capabilities, i do a lot of Northern Ontario driving and the roads can be bad at any given time. I bought them for peace of mind and safety....NOT speed.

Totally agree. By the way, I think both you and I have been influenced by the Michelin X-Ice TV commercial. You know how they show the ice hotel with the valet waiting for cars to stop?

First these two other cars slide by (I think one of them was a Nissan Altima), but then Gen5 Camry pulls up and actually stops using X-Ice tires.

Thus we both bought these tires.

[CanadianDad]

Please forgive me...I thought this was a FORUM where comments were permitted, if not actually encouraged, without the threat of some left-wing road-nannies reading more into comments than is said. I guess I will have to take a moment to "clarify" my original comment for those on this topic who are "thimble-minded" and not able to see the forest through the trees for themselves.

I am of the mindset that I have a DUTY to consider ALL aspects of road safety when considering a purchase for my vehicle. That is what I have done in my winter tire purchase (i.e. traction, noise, speed, performance, durability etc).

I live in a winter climate that is constantly changing from day to day, most of the year the roads are clear and dry; and I also travel during the winter season to areas where they have very infrequent snow (i.e. Arizona). I need a tire that gives me good winter protection when that storm hits my city to give me good traction and security. However, I also depend on a winter tire that provides performance that matches the capabilities and characteristics of my car. Key word here guys is "capabilities"!! Just because I bought a tire that is rated for 149mph doesn't mean that is the speed that I drive the car to the local 7-Eleven!!! I bought a new umbrella the other day too but I don't carry it with me whenever I leave the house. I use what they call "rational judgment" and take the umbrella when it is raining or threatening to do so. Likewise with my car. I have the CAPABILITY of driving at speeds of 149mph with the tires that I bought IF I NEED OR WANT TO AND IF THE CONDITIONS ALLOW.

Apaprently "Punks are Dead5" is out confiscating cars of those who might be going faster than he/she or that look at him/her sideways (typical Liberal/Democrat attitude). I can only imagine that people like him would be the first ones running to their lawyers to sue the tire company after their winter tire blows because they exceeded the speed rating for that tire with a whining story that "they should have known I was going to EXCEED the speed limit of the tire at some point, after all, my car GOES faster than that!!" I would venture that a more reasonable course of action would be to adopt an attitude and personal responsibility to analyze one's own winter driving needs and concerns and then BUY a tire that matches that POTENTIAL AND CAPABILITY as required. This sounds more "grown-up" and logical to me. That is what I did. And that is the commnet that I made originally (see above).

Back to your high horses guys....and kindly DRIVE RIGHT and stay out of my way. Thanks. :-)

P.S. Try hard not to rip into the average poster here for a simple comment that was meant to add to the dialogue. Or do you want to regulate that too!!?? We all have an opinion and it is appreciated when we can share them FREELY without retribution.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Originally Posted by Yazovets

Totally agree. By the way, I think both you and I have been influenced by the Michelin X-Ice TV commercial. You know how they show the ice hotel with the valet waiting for cars to stop?

First these two other cars slide by (I think one of them was a Nissan Altima), but then Gen5 Camry pulls up and actually stops using X-Ice tires.

Thus we both bought these tires.

not really the commercials, but it's cool the Gen 5 is the only car that stops!

My neighbour owns a tire place and gave the top 3 picks of winter tires (in his proffessional opinion) and the X-Ice was first, Blizzaks second and the Toyo's third.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Originally Posted by CanadianDad

Apaprently "Punks are Dead5" is out confiscating cars of those who might be going faster than he/she or that look at him/her sideways (typical Liberal/Democrat attitude). I can only imagine that people like him would be the first ones running to their lawyers to sue the tire company after their winter tire blows because they exceeded the speed rating for that tire with a whining story that "they should have known I was going to EXCEED the speed limit of the tire at some point, after all, my car GOES faster than that!!" I would venture that a more reasonable course of action would be to adopt an attitude and personal responsibility to analyze one's own winter driving needs and concerns and then BUY a tire that matches that POTENTIAL AND CAPABILITY as required. This sounds more "grown-up" and logical to me. That is what I did. And that is the commnet that I made originally (see above).

It's a new law in Ontario, that if you get caught going over the speed limit by 50kms your car is taken and so is your license. i didn't say anywhere in my post that i drive this fast, in the winter or summer.

By your previous post you made it sound like you ONLY bought those tires because of it's speed rating. I get you don't have the winter conditions in Alberta that we have here. I was just making a point. I got the X-Ice because of their track record and they suit my needs and the weather in my area.

Sorry if you took my post(s) as an attack.