Recommendation for tires...new to Utah

patricksmith04 · 08-16-2009, 09:33 PM

As stated, I am looking for a recommendation for tires for Utah winters.

I am new to the state and have a fairly new 2009 WRX sedan. They come with summer performance tires, so by the time the first snow hits, I hope to have nice set of all-season or more toward a winter/all-season tire on the car.

Just wondering what you guys all run and what you suggest!

Thanks in advance.

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stoner · 08-16-2009, 09:36 PM

I have heard great things about BLIZZAKS

Momosaurus WRX · 08-16-2009, 09:45 PM

i already asked a ton of people about this. the general consensus was that if you can afford having a set of summer and a set of winter tires, do it. if not, get the bridgestone potenzas, kumho ecstas, or there was one other one... crap... i forgot what it was. sorry

patricksmith04 · 08-16-2009, 09:48 PM

Yeah. It would be ideal to get a new set of wheels and tires, but I am broke as a joke after making the new move and my job doesn't pay a lot. I am photographer.

So I am looking more toward the awesome all-season tires.

Scubiesteve25RS · 08-16-2009, 10:04 PM

I run the Hankook Ice Bears for winter and I have to really try to break them loose on ice, but you have to also be carful with a dedicated winter tire as you might get over confident and think you can push the car a little more cuz it sticks so well. But I promise you if you drive decent you will get passed on the highway, just point and laugh and you'll see them 5 miles later down the road in a ditch on their roof. Saw a H1 and a Ford F-350 both fly by me last year and a few miles down the road sat the H1 in the median and then the F-350 a few more miles down the road on its side.

Scubiesteve25RS · 08-16-2009, 10:41 PM

Also here is something else to think about:

All seasons - If the temperature outside rarely drops below freezing, and you face little snow, which is often slushy when it comes anyway you can look at the all seasons marked by "M+S", meaning Mud & Snow. In particular you should look at your tire for good amounts of siping, which are the little groves on each pad on the tire.

Winter Tires - If the temperature drops below 5 F (-15 C), you will want the specially designed rubber compounds of snow tires which stay soft in these cold temperatures. You'll also be seeing enough snow & ice that you'll know you got your moneys worth out of your winter tires

Sports Wagon · 08-16-2009, 11:09 PM

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/index.jsp

I had ContiExtremeContacts once, not bad overall. You can piece together a set of winter tires and wheels for close to the cost of buying new all-seasons.

Ebay, Ksl classified, craigslist.

Dragicon · 08-16-2009, 11:35 PM

blizzaks are awesome. You should really get 2 sets of tires, winter and summer. I had the triple tread goodyears on my WRX back in the day before i switched to 2 sets, and they performed pretty good. I didnt drive my wrx that hard though.

medamullet · 08-16-2009, 11:58 PM

it's only 40 for the summer winter change over at Big-O if you want to put them on the same wheels. I have Potenza G 019 Grid for my "summer" driving (about $117 a piece for 225 45r 17) and the ContiWinterContact TS790 V for my winter tires. I am hoping this year to just keep the all seasons on and sell the winters.

For about 500 you could get a set of the all seasons and be happy.

Helmut · 08-17-2009, 12:09 AM

^^^ Murphy's law.

I on the other hand am hopeing for like another ice age for this winter. 2' dumps in the vally. That way none of this going golf crap in the winter.

medamullet · 08-17-2009, 12:15 AM

Steve, I hope all your wildest dreams come true and it snows like a MF! I like to drive in the snow. Either way I will make like a boy scout

I can keep the snow tires. My car with snow tires handles like a dream, somethign about all wheel drive and good tires???? weird

Helmut · 08-17-2009, 12:28 AM

Me too Jason. And so does mine.

KATastrophic · 08-17-2009, 01:16 AM

I mean as long as you don't live in the mountains, a nice set of all season tires should do the trick. I made it around last year with craptastic RE92s, which barely gripped when it was dry lol. This year I am fairly confident that I will be able to get around without too much problems on RE960s. But like others mentioned, a dedicated summer and winter set would be best.

ashergrey · 08-17-2009, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KATastrophic

I mean as long as you don't live in the mountains, a nice set of all season tires should do the trick. I made it around last year with craptastic RE92s, which barely gripped when it was dry lol. This year I am fairly confident that I will be able to get around without too much problems on RE960s. But like others mentioned, a dedicated summer and winter set would be best.

This is the way I used to think until I got called into work at 4 a.m. one February morning a couple winters ago. The plows were waaaay behind on plowing. The all seasons just couldn't hack four inches of snow atop a sheet of ice, even at a crawl. I wrecked the car and vowed to run a dedicated winter tire set from then on.

Will that happen to everyone? No. But it made me a believer of using the right rubber for the right weather.

medamullet · 08-17-2009, 11:17 AM

^^ I think the same thing about track tires, sure a summer only will do fine on the track but a race tire is by far a better tire no comparison. Sure you can drive in the snow with an all season, but a snow tire will out perform an all season EVERY day of the week. If money is a problem then yes a all season will be "good enough" but you can't compare it with a snow tire.

SkiWrex · 08-17-2009, 11:54 AM

Blizzaks FTW, PM'd you

Zand · 08-17-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubiesteve25RS

I run the Hankook Ice Bears

I'll toss a +1 for ice bears, bought a set 2 winters ago, and immediately tested them going up and down Lambs Canyon(cliffnotes for those that don't know it, its a side road going up to park city from salt lake that winter time they don't plow it at all or rarely, the entire way up the front end of my at the time stock height car was plowing through snow) never lost that much traction, slid a little of course but I was impressed.

UT_Evo · 08-17-2009, 04:28 PM

I had Blizzak LM22s on the Evo, then Kuhmo ASXs, then Ice Bears on the Porsche. The Blizzaks were the best, but the Porsche's awd system wasn't exactly the best in the world, nor was having 225 fronts and 265 rears.

wrxty · 08-17-2009, 05:07 PM

Dunlop makes some good snow tires. Used them on my wrx last winter. cant remember the name off hand.

Helmut · 08-17-2009, 05:11 PM

I also run Ice Bears. Have for the last two winters. I will one day get a set of winter rims so for now I just switch them out for winter.

ibis · 08-17-2009, 05:34 PM

Noah used to run Pirelli PZero's up snowboarding. I used the OEM RE92's as a winter setup for years with no issues (up to snowbird). My wife is more confident with snow tires though.

euroauto · 08-17-2009, 11:05 PM

I've been on Nokian WR for three years now summer and winter.

08-16-2009, 09:33 PM	#1
patricksmith04 Scooby Specialist Member#: 116816 Join Date: Jun 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Maryland Vehicle: 2011 WRX Silver	Recommendation for tires...new to Utah As stated, I am looking for a recommendation for tires for Utah winters. I am new to the state and have a fairly new 2009 WRX sedan. They come with summer performance tires, so by the time the first snow hits, I hope to have nice set of all-season or more toward a winter/all-season tire on the car. Just wondering what you guys all run and what you suggest! Thanks in advance. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

08-16-2009, 11:09 PM	#7
Sports Wagon Scooby Specialist Member#: 43081 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Think with your Dipstick	http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/index.jsp I had ContiExtremeContacts once, not bad overall. You can piece together a set of winter tires and wheels for close to the cost of buying new all-seasons. Ebay, Ksl classified, craigslist. Last edited by Sports Wagon; 08-16-2009 at 11:28 PM.

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08-16-2009, 09:36 PM	#2
stoner Scooby Specialist Member#: 52863 Join Date: Jan 2004 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Dallas Vehicle: 2007 B7 A4 Silver	I have heard great things about BLIZZAKS

08-16-2009, 09:45 PM	#3
Momosaurus WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 214737 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Ogden	i already asked a ton of people about this. the general consensus was that if you can afford having a set of summer and a set of winter tires, do it. if not, get the bridgestone potenzas, kumho ecstas, or there was one other one... crap... i forgot what it was. sorry

08-16-2009, 09:48 PM	#4
patricksmith04 Scooby Specialist Member#: 116816 Join Date: Jun 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Maryland Vehicle: 2011 WRX Silver	Yeah. It would be ideal to get a new set of wheels and tires, but I am broke as a joke after making the new move and my job doesn't pay a lot. I am photographer. So I am looking more toward the awesome all-season tires.

08-16-2009, 10:04 PM	#5
Scubiesteve25RS Scooby Specialist Member#: 92372 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Roy Vehicle: 2008 Black on Black	I run the Hankook Ice Bears for winter and I have to really try to break them loose on ice, but you have to also be carful with a dedicated winter tire as you might get over confident and think you can push the car a little more cuz it sticks so well. But I promise you if you drive decent you will get passed on the highway, just point and laugh and you'll see them 5 miles later down the road in a ditch on their roof. Saw a H1 and a Ford F-350 both fly by me last year and a few miles down the road sat the H1 in the median and then the F-350 a few more miles down the road on its side.

08-16-2009, 10:41 PM	#6
Scubiesteve25RS Scooby Specialist Member#: 92372 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Roy Vehicle: 2008 Black on Black	Also here is something else to think about: All seasons - If the temperature outside rarely drops below freezing, and you face little snow, which is often slushy when it comes anyway you can look at the all seasons marked by "M+S", meaning Mud & Snow. In particular you should look at your tire for good amounts of siping, which are the little groves on each pad on the tire. Winter Tires - If the temperature drops below 5 F (-15 C), you will want the specially designed rubber compounds of snow tires which stay soft in these cold temperatures. You'll also be seeing enough snow & ice that you'll know you got your moneys worth out of your winter tires

08-16-2009, 11:35 PM	#8
Dragicon Scooby Specialist Member#: 112323 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 香港	blizzaks are awesome. You should really get 2 sets of tires, winter and summer. I had the triple tread goodyears on my WRX back in the day before i switched to 2 sets, and they performed pretty good. I didnt drive my wrx that hard though.

08-16-2009, 11:58 PM	#9
medamullet Scooby Guru Member#: 99442 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: International Location: Man of Mystery Vehicle: 2006 SGM STI I'm on CORN YO!	it's only 40 for the summer winter change over at Big-O if you want to put them on the same wheels. I have Potenza G 019 Grid for my "summer" driving (about $117 a piece for 225 45r 17) and the ContiWinterContact TS790 V for my winter tires. I am hoping this year to just keep the all seasons on and sell the winters. For about 500 you could get a set of the all seasons and be happy.

08-17-2009, 12:09 AM	#10
Helmut Wet T-Shirt Judge Moderator Member#: 85060 Join Date: Apr 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: s.l.c. ut. Vehicle: 0409 STI/ Fozzy XT WRB/Dark Grey Metallic	^^^ Murphy's law. I on the other hand am hopeing for like another ice age for this winter. 2' dumps in the vally. That way none of this going golf crap in the winter.

08-17-2009, 12:15 AM	#11
medamullet Scooby Guru Member#: 99442 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: International Location: Man of Mystery Vehicle: 2006 SGM STI I'm on CORN YO!	Steve, I hope all your wildest dreams come true and it snows like a MF! I like to drive in the snow. Either way I will make like a boy scout I can keep the snow tires. My car with snow tires handles like a dream, somethign about all wheel drive and good tires???? weird

08-17-2009, 12:28 AM	#12
Helmut Wet T-Shirt Judge Moderator Member#: 85060 Join Date: Apr 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: s.l.c. ut. Vehicle: 0409 STI/ Fozzy XT WRB/Dark Grey Metallic	Me too Jason. And so does mine.

08-17-2009, 01:16 AM	#13
KATastrophic Scooby Newbie Member#: 161781 Join Date: Oct 2007 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: SLC, UT Vehicle: 02 WRX & 91 240sx Aspen White & Pearl White	I mean as long as you don't live in the mountains, a nice set of all season tires should do the trick. I made it around last year with craptastic RE92s, which barely gripped when it was dry lol. This year I am fairly confident that I will be able to get around without too much problems on RE960s. But like others mentioned, a dedicated summer and winter set would be best.

08-17-2009, 11:17 AM	#15
medamullet Scooby Guru Member#: 99442 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: International Location: Man of Mystery Vehicle: 2006 SGM STI I'm on CORN YO!	^^ I think the same thing about track tires, sure a summer only will do fine on the track but a race tire is by far a better tire no comparison. Sure you can drive in the snow with an all season, but a snow tire will out perform an all season EVERY day of the week. If money is a problem then yes a all season will be "good enough" but you can't compare it with a snow tire.

08-17-2009, 11:54 AM	#16
SkiWrex Scooby Specialist Member#: 142559 Join Date: Mar 2007 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Utah Vehicle: 02 psm wagg 06 GSXR 1000	Blizzaks FTW, PM'd you

08-17-2009, 04:28 PM	#18
UT_Evo Scooby Specialist Member#: 78604 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: SLC Vehicle: 2008 STi Black	I had Blizzak LM22s on the Evo, then Kuhmo ASXs, then Ice Bears on the Porsche. The Blizzaks were the best, but the Porsche's awd system wasn't exactly the best in the world, nor was having 225 fronts and 265 rears.

08-17-2009, 05:07 PM	#19
wrxty Scooby Specialist Member#: 121996 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: bountiful, UT Vehicle: 2002 WRX WRB	Dunlop makes some good snow tires. Used them on my wrx last winter. cant remember the name off hand.

08-17-2009, 05:11 PM	#20
Helmut Wet T-Shirt Judge Moderator Member#: 85060 Join Date: Apr 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: s.l.c. ut. Vehicle: 0409 STI/ Fozzy XT WRB/Dark Grey Metallic	I also run Ice Bears. Have for the last two winters. I will one day get a set of winter rims so for now I just switch them out for winter.

08-17-2009, 05:34 PM	#21
ibis Scooby Specialist Member#: 1132 Join Date: Mar 2000 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Mill Creek, Utah Vehicle: 05 LGT, 05 4Runner	Noah used to run Pirelli PZero's up snowboarding. I used the OEM RE92's as a winter setup for years with no issues (up to snowbird). My wife is more confident with snow tires though.

08-17-2009, 11:05 PM	#22
euroauto Scooby Specialist Member#: 249 Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: park city ut Vehicle: 05 FXT psm 06 E55	I've been on Nokian WR for three years now summer and winter.