Snow tires/rims

[crazycanadian]

With the exception of you southerners who don't have to deal with the annual nightmare of salt and snow in the winter, how many of you guys/girls choose to take your wheels (factory of aftermarket) off in the winter and put the generic black steel rims/tires on?

[Niveko2k]

Well I got Silver 5 (really) fat spoke steel rims, they are (thinly) painted so i guess they're gonna be fine for at least a few years. They have Toyo Observe G-02 pluses on them. Judging by the look of it, the rim fits the 6 perfectly (The center hole thing goes onto the hub perfectly)

I've also seen another 6 around where I hang out during the weekends have black steels.

EDIT: Just saw your location :P Yeah I've heard that the 401 between Windsor to Waterloo is brutal during snow season and these tires really suck when you go into deep snow. I've help lots of RSX's TSX's and a 6 up a drive way, out of snow banks etc... (we all share the same type of tire)

Bottom line: Do you need them? No... It's just more convenient to have them on (worrie free. Well, not free but you get the idea).

[Indy MPS6]

Actually, I went the route of buying snow tires (Bridgestone Blizzaks 215/50/17) and mounted them on the OEM 17" wheels.

I kept the stock michelins and put them on new Centerline RPMs for my spring/summer/fall driving. I can't wait for those stock michelins to get worn out so I can upgrade :D

[NattyBumppo]

I'll be removing the 17" alloys/Michelins come winter. I'll trying to find a set of 16" OE alloys to mount snows on but if I don't find a set before next fall I'll just pick up a set of aftermarket 16" painted alloy wheels.

True snow tires make a huge difference. Those few extra bucks spent on good winter rubber can be the difference between making it home from work or getting stuck somewhere....or worse. I've put winter tires on all my vehicles since I started driving and I can't tell you how many times they've helped me.

For those looking into true winter tires check out a Finnish brand called Nokian. Another excellent winter tire is Vrederstein although I think the Nokian Hakkas may be the best snow/ice tire on the planet.....their snow/ice performance is legendary.

[Blue Mazda]

I bought Dunlop WinterSport M3's in 215/55/HR16's and mounted them on Kazera KZ-U wheels for winter. I am keeping the stock 17's with the stock Michelins (until they wear out) for spring, summer and fall use.

[crazycanadian]

That's cool. But did any of you guys swap to keep the snow from ruining your alloys, or just for rubber purposes?

[crowan]

I've been driving myself nuts about this winter problem and decided on buying 16" wheels (I actually bought 4 off the buy 'n sell section of this site) and winter tires. I'd love the Finnish ones or the Vredesteins, but the price was just too rich. I'm about to pull the trigger on 4 Dunlop Wintersport M2s, which both Consumer's Reports and Tire Rack liked. Not great in the handling dept., apparently, but I can deal without great handling for 4 months a year.

The 17"s and Michelins I'll just keep in my garage over the winter, and then try to wear them out as quickly as possible--then go to Falkens or something like that down the road.

But yeah, living in the snowbelt here in Wisconsin (or Ontario, where it's worse) gives the motorist one extra thing to think about. As for me, I've been getting more and more paranoid about commuting in the winter. So I'm putting money into snow tires and I ordered up my 6i with TC, ABS and every airbag they had.

[Blue Mazda]

I had the M2's before on my Probe crowan. If you can't get them get the M3's which I found to be just as good. I did the swap strictly for traction purposes.

[crowan]

Blue Mazda:
Thanks very much for the advice sir. I note you're a Rally Racer, whereas I am a mere Track Racer. Superiors have to be addressed as "sir" :)

Rowan
Track Racer