Winter wheels and tires - see photos

[jackdar]

Living in the Philadelphia area where we usually get around 20 inches of snow each winter, I opted to purchase an extra set of wheels and snow tires. I purchased (from Tire Rack) a set of four ASA JH8 wheels (black 5 spoke design with machined lip and center; $179 each), and four Blizzak LM25 snow tires (225/45R19; $222 each). I chose to go with all the same size so that I could rotate them front to back when I swap them out each year with the OEM wheels/tires. Since I will have to buy replacement tires in a couple of years anyway, this approach provides the confidence to drive through the winter while getting three to four winters out of the extra wheels and tires and extending the life of the OEM tires. Note: I chose not to go with the TPMS on the wheels so the small indicator light stays lit. The ride and handling are only very slightly compromised from the summer tires.

Click on the link to see larger images.http://s266.photobucket.com/al...d.pbw



Modified by jackdar at 5:42 PM 1/6/2008

Modified by jackdar at 6:40 PM 1/6/2008

Modified by jackdar at 9:31 AM 1/7/2008
Modified by jackdar at 9:32 AM 1/7/2008

[pippen99]

Why buy 4 snow tires for a rear wheel drive car?

[jackdar]

That's the recommended approach according to the experts at Tire Rack. Granted they have a vested interest in selling me four tires - but I had them on my 2003 6MT coupe and it made it very driveable in the snow and slush.

[zozoka1212]

If you think you can get away puting snow shoes only on the rear end think again.

You need to turn you need to stop. For all these you need all 4 tires to function.

summer tires are not safe at freezing temperature.

check this out

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EdtAm7RsTmE

zozo

[G_whizz]

If you think you can get away puting snow shoes only on the rear end think again.

You need to turn you need to stop. For all these you need all 4 tires to function.

summer tires are not safe at freezing temperature.

check this out

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EdtAm7RsTmE

zozo

Don't ever just put 2 snow tires on.

[pippen99]

When did this come about. I sold tires at retail for 5 years in the 80's for Goodyear. I never had a customer request 4 snow tires for a rear wheel drive vehicle nor did the company train us to sell in that manner.

g

[jackdar]

From the Tire Rack web site:

"Four Winter Tires - the only way to go"

When you put winter tires on your vehicle, always put them on in a set of four. If you were to put winter tires on only the front or rear of your vehicle, you would create a vehicle with a split personality. The traction capabilities of the tires on a vehicle play the largest single role in determining how that vehicle will react in any given situation. And with the great difference in traction capabilities between Winter tires and All-Season or High Performance tires, you can understand the loss of control when one end of the car performs very well and the other end just seems to have a mind of its own. Consider the fact that leading automobile manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota recommend in their owner's manuals that you install four winter tires for winter driving. By installing four winter tires, you maintain the most balanced and controlled handling possible in all winter driving conditions. It is imperative to keep the same level of traction at all four corners of the car; otherwise, the full benefits of ABS or traction control systems will be lost.

[zozoka1212]

When did this come about. I sold tires at retail for 5 years in the 80's for Goodyear. I never had a customer request 4 snow tires for a rear wheel drive vehicle nor did the company train us to sell in that manner.

g

I knew it when I've seen you are 55. The tires now and then are way different. The high performance summer tires what you can buy now were not what you were able to get those days. They are useless at low temperature.

zozo

[G_whizz]

Yup... big difference these days as far as a cars ABS and braking capabilities go. The technology in cars is FAR different then the 80's.

I like how they compared it to a "split personality"... that is bang on!

Gone are thedays of slapping chains on your tires too!

[zozoka1212]

Yeah,

I bumped into those videos by accident. When I watched the whole set. I was thinking to buy a set of winter tires for next winter. I only can imagine how good the X would be with blizaks. You seen my videos in the snow. It is wicked with the all season but it would be even better with winter tires.

zozo