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Old 09-28-2012, 11:04 AM   #1
91011swrx
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Default Tires & Wheels or Just Tires

I got a 2012 WRX in March and now it's almost October and snow will be flying soon here in IL. The car came with summer performance tires so i assume i need something better for winter driving.

Should i be looking for cheap snow tires or a decent all weather tire?

Are there cheap wheels out there? I'd rather not remount them on my existing wheels but don't want to drop $1500 - $2000 on snow tires and wheels.

Thanks for any help.
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Last edited by 91011swrx; 09-28-2012 at 11:05 AM. Reason: cause
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Old 09-28-2012, 11:15 AM   #2
robsuerto
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I was contemplating the same thing until recently. Sell your tires now. Get Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS (best ultra high performance all season tire on tire rack) with decent snow traction. Also check out Continental Extreme Contact DWS (rated #2). Continental is a bit cheaper.
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Old 09-28-2012, 11:59 AM   #3
Counterfit
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Skip all seasons. Tire Rack has a 16" steelie package for your car under $800 (plus shipping)
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Old 09-28-2012, 12:03 PM   #4
07VTRex
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there is no such thing as a summer tire with even somewhat decent snow traction. or a snow tire with somewhat decent dry traction. its one or the other, you dont get both. and all seasons are just kinda meh at everything, good at nothing.

it really is worth it to run two dedicated sets (1 summer, and 1 winter). the cost of mounting and balancing tires is about $100. multiply that by 2x a year to go back and forth between summer and winter. what do you want to do? run 1 set of wheels switching tires at a cost of $200 in labor per year? or find some cheap used wheels for <$500, mount winter tires and get multiple years out of them. not to mention they serve as spares if need be, an can be sold later to recoup $. you can switch anytime you want without a trip to the shop, and time wasted there too. the money spent swapping tires cant be gotten back, but wheels can be re-sold and money recouped.

if you think about it theres really no reason NOT to run two different sets
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Old 09-28-2012, 12:59 PM   #5
WRXLTD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robsuerto View Post

Get Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS (best ultra high performance all season tire on tire rack) with decent snow traction.
My old RE960 A/S tires on my 2008 Evo X sucked in the rain & snow. My Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires are WAY better.

Quote:
Also check out Continental Extreme Contact DWS (rated #2). Continental is a bit cheaper.
If you like sidewalls with the firmness of over-cooked pasta...then sure, get the Conti DWS A/S.

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Old 09-28-2012, 02:28 PM   #6
krzyss
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I had good experience with RE960 in 205/60R15 on VW Passat.

Krzys
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Old 09-28-2012, 04:18 PM   #7
sc00by4life
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WRXLTD View Post


If you like sidewalls with the firmness of over-cooked pasta...then sure, get the Conti DWS A/S.

dws is an all season more aligned towards winter driving, hence the soft sidewalls.
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Old 09-28-2012, 04:23 PM   #8
wrx650
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I had all season tires and they were not that great at all in the snow. I got a set of 16" steelies with general altimax arctics for around 750 from tire rack. They were awesome in the snow this past season and seem to be a really good value.
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Old 09-28-2012, 04:27 PM   #9
cmiovino
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Cheap winter tires are better than most all seasons in the snow and cold temps. Possibly even all 'all seasons'.
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Old 09-28-2012, 09:40 PM   #10
Ernest
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Buy some used wheels and get the winter tires you want. If you don't get that much snow and the temps are reasonable all seasons will be just fine.
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Old 09-28-2012, 11:43 PM   #11
Uncle Scotty
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 91011swrx View Post
I got a 2012 WRX in March and now it's almost October and snow will be flying soon here in IL. The car came with summer performance tires so i assume i need something better for winter driving.

Should i be looking for cheap snow tires or a decent all weather tire?

Are there cheap wheels out there? I'd rather not remount them on my existing wheels but don't want to drop $1500 - $2000 on snow tires and wheels.

Thanks for any help.

vital info missing


where DO YOU LIVE???

and all season tires blow compared to REAL tires

2 sets....cheap steel wheels with snows and yer summers and done
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Old 09-29-2012, 12:42 AM   #12
Counterfit
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He said right there: Illinois.

I will accept, though, that winter probably varies quite a bit between Winthrop Harbor and Cairo.
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Old 09-29-2012, 07:27 AM   #13
WRXLTD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sc00by4life View Post

dws is an all season more aligned towards winter driving, hence the soft sidewalls.
No $hite Sherlock...so are my Michelin Pilot Sport Plus A/S tires, and they have decent sidewall stiffness.

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Old 09-30-2012, 09:45 AM   #14
Uncle Scotty
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Counterfit View Post
He said right there: Illinois.

I will accept, though, that winter probably varies quite a bit between Winthrop Harbor and Cairo.
illinois....yeah...been there done that....for 20 years or so

but northern illinois and southern illinois and rural as opposed to city are TOTALLY DIFFERENT

no???
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Old 09-30-2012, 10:54 AM   #15
TheyCallMeNick
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hmm, I typed up a response but it seems to have disappeared. Anyway, here you go, a set of winter wheels/tires that will work on your car for $400. And the dude lives in IL. If you want new tires, its pretty easy to find cheap 02-05 16" wrx wheels and then you can save money on a 16" tire. It's not hard to find a good looking/performing winter setup for half or less than the price range you came up with.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2413464
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Old 10-01-2012, 01:31 AM   #16
Uncle Scotty
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4 steelies($65/ea) and 205/50-17 altimax arctic($115/ea) tires = $720($25 rebate) + shipping/tax from tirerack

you might find somebody selling steel forester wheels for cheap that you could use
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Old 10-01-2012, 01:53 PM   #17
Firestarter1973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
4 steelies($65/ea) and 205/50-17 altimax arctic($115/ea) tires = $720($25 rebate) + shipping/tax from tirerack

you might find somebody selling steel forester wheels for cheap that you could use
Great advice genius. You just gave the exact same advice that WRX650 did 3 days ago.
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Old 10-01-2012, 02:10 PM   #18
91011swrx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
illinois....yeah...been there done that....for 20 years or so

but northern illinois and southern illinois and rural as opposed to city are TOTALLY DIFFERENT

no???

I live in the Northwest Corner of IL, 15 minutes from the IA and WI border.
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