('11+) 2012 2.0L - Dedicated winter wheels/tires

[uspopo]

Altimax Artics rated as an all season tire? Bi or Uni directional?

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[sgoldste01]

No, the Arctics are a winter tire, and they are uni-directional.

[uspopo]

Ok, maybe I'll go for the DWS as an all-season/winter tire when the Yokos wear out and the Yokos should do okay out here on Long Island as we don't get hit as hard as upstate. Fall is arriving early here so I'm expecting a long but hopefully mild winter with some snow to play around in...

[sgoldste01]

Yes, I think the DWS would be a good choice for your typical conditions.

[wrx650]

I got a set of 16 inch steelies and altimax arctics for my 09 wrx. I had all season tires before and they were awful compared to the altimax arctics. They altimax arctics have a ton of grip in the snow and they are an awesome value. If you can, go with winter tires over all season.

[uspopo]

Yeah I would go strictly snow tires but my commute isn't far and where I live we don't get hit as hard as upstate NY so to buy a set strictly for snow would be impractical. These tires would see less than 2 weeks worth of white stuff a season and my concern was for the fluke winter 2 years ago where we got slammed and last winter we got away with murder. Lol! I probably would go with the DWS since they are all-season and better handling in the snow than the Yokos.

[wrx650]

Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I am in the eastern part of Cleveland in the snow belt. I see quite a bit of snow a year from the lake effect. Anything is better than stock lol.

[wavear15]

Originally Posted by uspopo

Wave, let me know how that 110+mile roundtrip per day commute in the snow goes from Long Island to Brooklyn on those Costco Michelin snow tires. I am praying for snow in October already!

UPDATE: went with Michelin X-Ice X2's (205/50R17) to mount on the OEM wheels. The other tire I was considering was the Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3's but didn't think I needed it for my Impreza. Having a $500.00 Costco gift card definitely affected my buying decision.

Come spring I will be hitting up TireRack for some lightweight wheels and summer tires but for now....c'mon snow!!!!

[uspopo]

B*otch, I'm coming by Sunday to check them out!!!

[wavear15]

Originally Posted by uspopo

B*otch, I'm coming by Sunday to check them out!!!

Sure. They'll be on the rack at Costco. I'm not putting them on until I really need it.

[M45]

for the people with dedicated winter wheels, what are you using? I was thinking of looking for some 15s or 16s (steelies). Seems like tire rack only has 16s right now...

[sgoldste01]

I bought a set of low-mileage Blizzaks (with approx. 5k miles on them), already mounted on a old set of 16" WRX wheels. No TPMS sensors, so I'll have a dashboard light to deal with. But I expect outstanding traction!

[pkL]

Originally Posted by sgoldste01

Meh. I don't like the idea of low-profile snow tires. Too much chance of driving through a pothole and bending your expensive 18" rims. I suggest saving the 18" wheels for summer, and using 16" wheels in the winter.

I'm going to be using the stock 17" wheels for winter after the Yokohamas wear out, which will be a while.

[Caocao]

I also went with some blizzak (ws70) from tirerack. I decided to go -2 to save some money.

[ans2k]

i decided to pull the trigger with a set of DWS since they increased the price. im going to setthem aside for now, until the stock yoko wear down a bit more or when snow is about to fall.

[uspopo]

Nice, I am going to hold off buying for this winter since I have a lot meat on the Yokos. Maybe next October/November I will break down for a set of DWS or XI2/3s...

[Zeeper]

Update:

Today I bought a set of four Nordman 2, 195 65/15's (happens to be the Tirerack recommended size) off Craigslist for $250.

They are designed by Nokian, made in China (apparently from retired Nokian tire molds).

The tread looks very good (seller stated 4,000 miles on them, looks right to me).

I went to price wheels and one shop quoted me $94 EACH for steel wheels, no covers, mounted and balanced (without TPMS).

I went to a second shop to compare and they quoted $400, but for alloy 5 spoke silver wheels (again mounted and balanced, no TPMS). I went this way because then I don't need to buy covers, and they will look better than the plain steel wheels for $6 more per tire.

BTW I learned that in NY State the car will pass inspection with the TPMS light on (this year, next year, the TPMS light has to be off).

Since I have an annual inspection due in December I am going to get my car inspected in October, so I don't have to deal with an annual headache over the TPMS (which I don't plan on adding to the snow tires).

I think I will look for some window film, dark tint, and use a small amount to blunt the TPMS light over the winter, then pull it off in the spring.

[sgoldste01]

[EDIT] Zeeper, the following message doesn't make much sense anymore, not that you edited your previous post from its original content.

My tire size knowledge isn't very good either, so I defer to Tire Rack to figure these things out.

For the 2012 Impreza, the 16" tire sizes they recommend are:

• 195/60-16
• 205/55-16

Your 16" size isn't one of Tire Rack's recommended sizes for the Impreza, so I don't know what the implications of using your tire size would be. Inaccurate speedometer/odometer? Rubbing issues?

I've never bought/installed a tire size that wasn't recommended by Tire Rack.

[Zeeper]

Originally Posted by sgoldste01

[EDIT] Zeeper, the following message doesn't make much sense anymore, not that you edited your previous post from its original content.

My tire size knowledge isn't very good either, so I defer to Tire Rack to figure these things out.

For the 2012 Impreza, the 16" tire sizes they recommend are:

• 195/60-16
• 205/55-16

Your 16" size isn't one of Tire Rack's recommended sizes for the Impreza, so I don't know what the implications of using your tire size would be. Inaccurate speedometer/odometer? Rubbing issues?

I've never bought/installed a tire size that wasn't recommended by Tire Rack.

Thanks, I updated the post again because I just bought the tires, they are decent, though mounting is gonna be somewhat expensive.

[WStrembitsky]

Damn it! I've been waiting three and a half months for the chance to drive my car in the snow and today it's snowing in Calgary but not in Edmonton.

[pkL]

Originally Posted by WStrembitsky

Damn it! I've been waiting three and a half months for the chance to drive my car in the snow and today it's snowing in Calgary but not in Edmonton.

I'm in Vancouver and afternoons so far have still been in the mid 20s. I doubt we will be getting any snow soon.

[PoorB]

Originally Posted by wrx650

Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I am in the eastern part of Cleveland in the snow belt. I see quite a bit of snow a year from the lake effect. Anything is better than stock lol.

Speaking of that Cleveland weather. I just took a job that is going to put me up there, (I'm from Col) a couple times a month. The stock Yoko's have a horrible rep. Is the weather bad enough that I should consider a dedicated snow set or is a good All Season good enough? Here in columbus I always got by the steady dose of ice we get with good all seasons and a healthy dose of common sense.

[Zeeper]

$430 to mount my $250 craigslist tires, but they are ready to go --- before and after black plasti-dip....I think I will use two cans to cover all 4 wheels:

[pkL]

Originally Posted by Zeeper

$430 to mount my $250 craigslist tires, but they are ready to go --- before and after black plasti-dip....I think I will use two cans to cover all 4 wheels:

What rims are those and what size are they? They look pretty good for a winter setup.

[Zeeper]

Originally Posted by pkL

What rims are those and what size are they? They look pretty good for a winter setup.

These are MSW type 14 (silver painted), they are offered on Tire Rack as the cheapest alloy option.

The set up is the Tire Rack recommended -2 selection, tires are 195/65 R15 and the rims are 15" to fit the Impreza. I didn't order from Tire Rack, though.

I bought the tires off craigslist, they were offered with steel rims but the rims would not fit my car. If the steel rims offered fit, that's what I would have used and save a whole lot of money.

I would have mounted them on new steel wheels, again to save money, but I went to an independent tire shop and they quoted me $94 to mount the tires on steel wheels, no covers (ouch)

I went to Mavis discount tire, and they ordered these MSW wheels and mounted/balanced the tires for $100 a wheel plus tax.

For black MSW wheels (painted) the cost is higher, but I think the Plasti dip is more durable and protects the original finish of the wheel, and comes off if I change my mind.

I would have sprayed them gunmetal gray but my hardware store only had black plastidip, and no auto stores near me carry plastidip

Someone online complained about the center cap from the MSR wheels coming off -- they are plastic caps with a wire retaining ring inside the cap.

I think with the plasti dip on the sides they will stay put (I sprayed over the caps completely, then peeled just the logo area). To be sure they stay on I am going to spray a little plastidip inside the rim where the cap attaches, that should hold them on!

Overall it was a still bit expensive to buy the MSW wheels and mount the tires. I have slightly used Nordman 2 tires ($62.50 each so about $40 a tire savings over new), but the rims and mounting cost are similar to Tire Racks price, and I saved an extra $100 on shipping the tire package from Tire Rack.