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Old 10-09-2012, 02:51 PM   #26
cmk82600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickrobare

The local auto zone said their would be more tread so id need smaller rims for wheel well clearance.
Autozone employees don't deal with tires. Try talking to a tire shop.
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Old 10-09-2012, 02:52 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
this thread is great...we gonna see all sorts of idiots post all sort of stupid ****

Man, its a good thing I like most of your posts or I could go to town with this one
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Old 10-09-2012, 03:17 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty

people who say and think this are generally idiots who get preyed upon by fear mongers and up sales snakes who get rich on generally stupid people

Or people who see better results (generally) by putting more money into a purchase. Chill
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Old 10-09-2012, 03:19 PM   #29
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Originally Posted by KC View Post
Dear OP: consider this a gift. I don't do this often.... but here's a link to the appropriate thread in the Wheel and Tire forum that specifcally deals with answering winter tire questions: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1608459

--kC

OP.... ^^ this. I'm actually re-reading this again. Really good info.

/Thread
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Old 10-09-2012, 04:27 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickrobare View Post
The local auto zone said their would be more tread so id need smaller rims for wheel well clearance.
They also told me I needed to buy fuel injector cleaner after I told them my motor was out of the car. Makes sense eh? Auto Zone/any local chain parts store are full of idiots.

Quote:
Originally Posted by easterbran View Post
Or people who see better results (generally) by putting more money into a purchase. Chill
Not entirely true. I see people dropping $150 on Rally Armor flaps all day, when other companies make the exact same thing from the exact same material and sell them for 100 cheaper. But newbs swear up and down that their RA's are awesome because of ONLY the name. We could go on, but just because you drop 3-10x more on something doesn't mean it's better at all.
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Old 10-09-2012, 04:30 PM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HinshawWRX

They also told me I needed to buy fuel injector cleaner after I told them my motor was out of the car. Makes sense eh? Auto Zone/any local chain parts store are full of idiots.

Not entirely true. I see people dropping $150 on Rally Armor flaps all day, when other companies make the exact same thing from the exact same material and sell them for 100 cheaper. But newbs swear up and down that their RA's are awesome because of ONLY the name. We could go on, but just because you drop 3-10x more on something doesn't mean it's better at all.
That's why I said "generally". Trying to skimp on tires is not a good idea.
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Old 10-09-2012, 04:32 PM   #32
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Who else sells Mudflaps? ive only seen rally armor.
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Old 10-09-2012, 04:34 PM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickrobare
Who else sells Mudflaps? ive only seen rally armor.
(Please be kidding) DRT Components, Rockblox, and a few others
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Old 10-09-2012, 04:47 PM   #34
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Blizzaks are hands down the best overall winter tire I've ever used. The only major flaw is the rubber compound is SUPER soft and wear down super fast if used in warmer weather so it will wear faster than normal tires. ALSO, they're expensive compared to other winter tires. Toyo apparently has a lookalike they just released that I've heard good things about. My other favorite is the Hankook I-Pike...best price point for performance imho.

Studded tires perform slightly better on thin ice over the blizzaks, but the blizzaks are superior when there is more than a dusting of ice or snow on the ground - especially in snow.

As far as saving money, I wouldn't get the OEM size. Downsize the width, it will be cheaper and skinnier tires actually perform better anyway. Hell, I'd throw a set of 16" steel wheels on and rock a 205/55/16.

But...that's me. To each their own.
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Old 10-09-2012, 04:47 PM   #35
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Best winter tire? There isn't, but subjectively based on:

Where you live.
The roads you drive on. (commute- highways, curvy mountain backroads)
And your driving style.

You being in PA, I'd say altimaxx would be good overall choice. (I prefer them over blizzacks due to cost and wear factors) But be aware they are very squishy sidewalls. But you will have that trade off with any winter tire to some degree. And snow is only covering the road a fraction of winter. I still want to push my car a bit and my personal preference is stiffer sidewalls on tires. So I've used M3 wintersports several years back on wrx. And studded hakepilats (sp?) on my rs last year. Been running altimax last few seasons on wrx.

I'm going back to a winter-sport type tire next time.
Still more than capable of going through any conditions and more capable, and fun, on dry pavement during winter.

For me and my car, If I lived somewhere that saw consistent snow, like buffallo NY, or lived on top of a ski resort, etc I'd go with a snow/ice tire and if your going that route, imo say F' it and go with studded tires.
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Old 10-09-2012, 08:47 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
people who say and think this are generally idiots who get preyed upon by fear mongers and up sales snakes who get rich on generally stupid people

Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
NEVER listen to any of those kinds of places....they are dumber than you are
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
this thread is great...we gonna see all sorts of idiots post all sort of stupid ****

You support your third statement with your first two.
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Old 10-09-2012, 09:41 PM   #37
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I am debating to put on studs or not to. We average about 16ft of annual snowfall here. Many many steep roads. The town ranges from sea level to about 600ft above sea level. The studs help with traction on steep hills? I will be driving my 2005 WRX. This will be my first full winter here. Many cars here have studs, but many are FWD. Think it will be overkill with snow tires on the WRX?
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Old 10-09-2012, 09:52 PM   #38
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Originally Posted by s2ktosti View Post
Your local autozone is full of crap.
I suspect what they meant was with winter tires you ideally want tires with a taller sidewalls. If he has 17" rims he probably should drop down to 16" rims for winter, if they'll clear the brakes.
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:01 PM   #39
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Hands down my favorite snow tire is the General Altimax Artic. Cheap, reliable and beasts in the deep stuff and not to shabby on the pavement. The only time they let me down was trying to go up a 30-40 degree slope through about 2 feet of rain soaked powder (read the car wasn't heavy enough).
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:01 PM   #40
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Originally Posted by MorganJ View Post
I am debating to put on studs or not to. We average about 16ft of annual snowfall here. Many many steep roads. The town ranges from sea level to about 600ft above sea level. The studs help with traction on steep hills? I will be driving my 2005 WRX. This will be my first full winter here. Many cars here have studs, but many are FWD. Think it will be overkill with snow tires on the WRX?
Winter tires aren't intended to help you go faster. They are intended to help you stop and corner . . . so yes, they are absolutely necessary on an AWD car.

Studs are 1970's technology. They are great on ice, but they suck the rest of the time. You can get a set of ice tires (Toyo Garit KX, Michelin X-ice, Yokohama IG20 etc.) which will perform almost as well on ice and you'll be much happier the rest of the time.

Snow tires work better on snow but aren't as good on ice. They also tend to be less squishy than ice tires. If snow is your main concern you can get Nexen WG321 tires cheap from Walmart. They are a Chinese-made continuation of the discontinued Nokian Hakka 2 tire which is an awesome tire for deep snow. They are studable, so if you decide to get studs that is a great option.

Last edited by Howl; 10-09-2012 at 10:08 PM.
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:06 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
NEVER listen to any of those kinds of places....they are dumber than you are
YES...the only thing you can do at autozone is anything but ask for an opinion. The people that work there are not knowledgable (there might be a few but can't bet on that).

You can go with the stock size or expand you options with a +/- 10 on the with or the aspect ratio.
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:10 PM   #42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Howl View Post
Winter tires aren't intended to help you go faster. They are intended to help you stop and corner . . . so yes, they are absolutely necessary on an AWD car.

Studs are 1970's technology. They are great on ice, but they suck the rest of the time. You can get a set of ice tires (Toyo Garit KX, Michelin X-ice, Yokohama IG20 etc.) which will perform almost as well on ice and you'll be much happier the rest of the time.

Snow tires work better on snow but aren't as good on ice. They also tend to be less squishy than ice tires. If snow is your main concern you can get Nexen WG321 tires cheap from Walmart. They are a Chinese-made continuation of the discontinued Nokian Hakka 2 tire which is an awesome tire for deep snow.
I am already putting snow tires on, I was just debating to put studs on them or not. I looked at the WG tires at walmart but they don't ever have them in stock here. I have tried many times and they wont let me order a set. First come first served apparently... I Will probably just end up with some Hankook I Pikes. They are only a little bit more expensive.
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:16 PM   #43
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hakkapeliitta: look them up they have amazing winter tires!
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:20 PM   #44
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Originally Posted by MorganJ View Post
I am already putting snow tires on, I was just debating to put studs on them or not. I looked at the WG tires at walmart but they don't ever have them in stock here. I have tried many times and they wont let me order a set. First come first served apparently... I Will probably just end up with some Hankook I Pikes. They are only a little bit more expensive.
You can't put studs in once you've used the tire. You have to put the studs in when the tires are brand new. The dirt and grit in the holes will not let the studs set properly. If you try to put studs in a used tire you'll lose them all the first time you hit 100kmph.
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:33 PM   #45
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Howl View Post
Studs are 1970's technology. They are great on ice, but they suck the rest of the time. You can get a set of ice tires (Toyo Garit KX, Michelin X-ice, Yokohama IG20 etc.) which will perform almost as well on ice and you'll be much happier the rest of the time.
Even on ice modern studs are meh at best. The point of a stud is only a mm or two across, and only a handful in each tire actually hitting the road against a ton and a half of car. All they do is make an infuriating noise 99.8% of the time vs the 0.2% when you have some false peace of mind that they're helping.

Now spiked ice racing tires are a different story. Unfortunately they're frowned upon for road driving.
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:37 PM   #46
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Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot View Post
Even on ice modern studs are meh at best. The point of a stud is only a mm or two across, and only a handful in each tire actually hitting the road against a ton and a half of car. All they do is make an infuriating noise 99.8% of the time vs the 0.2% when you have some false peace of mind that they're helping.

Now spiked ice racing tires are a different story. Unfortunately they're frowned upon for road driving.
Haha i wonder why
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Old 10-09-2012, 10:48 PM   #47
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Best snow tires I have ever had are Hankook W409's. I have been using the same set for 3 years and I'm ready to buy new ones, but out of the tires I've had before I feel extremely confident in snow and ice driving. I run hankooks on all my cars. Just my opinion.
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Old 10-10-2012, 01:19 AM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickrobare
My dealership wants to sell me blizzacks for $1200 but i found AltiMax ARTIC for $600-$700. Are their anyother cheep tires that are great?
assuming that you just want to get through winter & lower your chances of slippage, i suppose the General Altimax Arctic will do just fine. there are myriad of options out there but may not be cheaper ones.

i got the GAA 215/55R16 w/ 315MHz TPMS, 16" steelies, 20mm open-end lug nuts, mounted & balanced, all for $800 excl shipping. one caveat though, i have just test-fitted them on mine and only driven a mile. judging from the treads, road noise will be up especially on dry pavements. drown it out with your exhaust, maybe?
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Old 10-10-2012, 07:16 AM   #49
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Originally Posted by Howl View Post
You can't put studs in once you've used the tire. You have to put the studs in when the tires are brand new. The dirt and grit in the holes will not let the studs set properly. If you try to put studs in a used tire you'll lose them all the first time you hit 100kmph.

geee really? LOL

Where did I say I was going to put them on used tires? I said I was probably going to buy Hankook I Pikes.

I guess I should of mentioned I live in Canada and I am no stranger to snow. Studs were not required where I lived before but here with the 10 degree plus hills and the constant snow all winter studs might be needed. I moved here in February and it snowed every day except for maybe 1 or 2 in February. Same with the first half of March. The roads are rarely clear of snow.
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Old 10-10-2012, 08:18 AM   #50
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Studs are useless on snow, worse than useless in the rain, and noisy as hell. The only plus is ice. Is enough of your driving on icy roads to warrant studs?
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