Another winter tire thread...

[northey87]

Since winter is on its way I plan on buying a set of winter tires for the stock 14" steelies I have sitting in the barn. Anyways, I was looking at tire rack for the stock size of 175/70R14 (really no selection) and I saw these: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....wtpackage=true

Since they are new I figured I would through this out to forum to see what those with more experience with winter tires and this brand have to say?

Good? Bad? Ugly?.....Thanks

[IronmanRB201257]

Go to a 185/65R14. It's what I run in the winter. Many more options available for ya bud! That Pirelli does look nice though.

[freshsqueezedsaturns@yahoo]

Ordered General tire Arctic Altimax in 185 65 r14 on new alloys from tire rack this weekend. Shipped today. Total ~675.00 incl shipping. Have had the GT artic altimax on 3 vehicle now and they seem to be well rated. About the same price as you pirelli which have a rebate vs gt which don't.

[isd.jwendell]

Seems like a decent tire for winter... lots of siping for ice traction, a soft rubber compound (no tread-life/mileage warranty), and a directional tread design that seem to appear on a lot of ice tires nowadays. Let us know how they perform. Also consider leaving feedback on TireRack so others gain from your experience.

[IronmanRB201257]

Originally Posted by isd.jwendell

Seems like a decent tire for winter... lots of siping for ice traction, a soft rubber compound (no tread-life/mileage warranty), and a directional tread design that seem to appear on a lot of ice tires nowadays. Let us know how they perform. Also consider leaving feedback on TireRack so others gain from your experience.

Agreed.

IMO all snow/winter designated tires should be directional. There is a safety/performance aspect to it. My Dunlop Graspic's work great, but nowhere near what I became accustomed to with my old directional Nokian's on my last car.

[northey87]

Originally Posted by freshsqueezedsaturns@yahoo

Ordered General tire Arctic Altimax in 185 65 r14 on new alloys from tire rack this weekend. Shipped today. Total ~675.00 incl shipping. Have had the GT artic altimax on 3 vehicle now and they seem to be well rated. About the same price as you pirelli which have a rebate vs gt which don't.

Those were what I originally going to get since the stock size only offered two different snow tires, but when I went back today to look at the stock size they added the pirellis. I would like to keep the stock size as close as possible since I use one of the steelies as a spare. I know 2% of tire diameter isn't a hugh deal but I am weird like that.

[John_Madison CT]

Tirerack has a $50 rebate on those new Pirelli's, so that knocks off $12.50 per tire, making them one heck of a good deal !!

http://www.tirerack.com/specialoffer...p?promoID=P241

I have the Michellin X-Ice of the same size sitting in my garage waiting to be mounted to the 14" steel rims. I got them off Ebay for around $70/each. They seem to have a great overall winter rating.

I bought the Michellin's X-Ice2 because it was rated best in it's class by Tirerack:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=X-Ice+Xi2

[northey87]

Well I ordered a set of General Altimax Arctics in 185/65 R14. After the redate there was no real price difference. Plus the Arctics came out on top in the Tirerack's tests, Winter Testing at the Arctic Circle: Studdable Winter / Snow

I will give a report next spring on how they did.

[IronmanRB201257]

Originally Posted by northey87

Well I ordered a set of General Altimax Arctics in 185/65 R14. After the redate there was no real price difference. Plus the Arctics came out on top in the Tirerack's tests, Winter Testing at the Arctic Circle: Studdable Winter / Snow

I will give a report next spring on how they did.

[SteveU]

I went from all season to WS60 Blizzaks a few years ago & they make a night & day difference in take off traction, stopping and cornering ability over all season tires. No more white knuckle driving in the winter. There is a hill coming up to an intersection close to where I live that several vehicles spun out on & slid back down, I made it up it with the Blizzaks no problem. Once you put winter tires on you will never want to be without them again on snow & ice.