All weather/snow tires, chains, etc

pbarb · 01-31-2019, 05:17 PM

Hi folks. I have a 2013 Impreza Si (4 door sedan). Looking to do some ski and snow camping trips. Anyone have snow or all weather tire recommendations? Does anyone use spring chains and if so, how? I know the manual discourages chains. Any tips or info is appreciated. Thanks

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Big-E · 01-31-2019, 06:30 PM

Buy snow-tire and wheel package.

This will be very helpful, but do realize there is no absolute set-up (tire; chain; etc) that will keep you from running afoul in every situation.

cerbomark · 01-31-2019, 07:02 PM

depend a little on where you drive too. If you are doing lots of clear road highway driving I d either do all season (Continental DWS) or next step would be a set of snow tires (Blizak) or similar. Tire rack has good wheel packages and easy to shop and get an idea of price. IMO stay away from chains and stuff unless they are dedicated to driving in storms only. As stated above the chains etc are most aggressive but may be overkill and you ll have to deal with rough ride and whatever else chains bring.

Stanley · 01-31-2019, 07:22 PM

Your location would be helpful information to determine all season vs. full blown snow tires. Here in the bay area, I ran Nokian all-season tires during the winter which had the snowflake emblem on the sidewall. It was a good compromise as most of my driving was done in temperate conditions but most weekends were spent going to the mountains where there was often snow. They didn't work as well as dedicated snows, but lasted ~50k miles whereas dedicated snows would likely only last 12k or so in the warm weather I typically experienced. In the summer I would install my summer wheels/tires. This was an easy way to rotate the tires as I would put duct tape inside the wheel and mark their position front/back. Keep in mind that this strategy does require you to have the space to store a spare set of wheels.

pbarb · 01-31-2019, 07:46 PM

Thanks folks. I drive in the city (Sacramento) during the week and only get to the snow on weekends. So all weather tires probably make most sense. Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll definitely check them out. Sounds like chains are to be avoided at all cost.

Does anyone know if highway patrol considers AWD with all weather tires the same as a car with chains, when conditions require chains? I was told CHP sometimes will not allow you through a checkpoint without chains, no matter what car/tires you have. A friend of mine keeps chains in his trunk even though he never uses them, for this reason.

bugeye guy · 01-31-2019, 08:18 PM

I'm running The Toyo Observe G3 ICE. I've got studs in them and so far am loving them. The special stud pattern helps with the noise and they handle well on dry pavement for a studded snow. I've run conti dws and blizzak ws80 and for the price I would by the G3s again in a heart beat.

Reza_WRX · 02-01-2019, 12:48 AM

I'm in Colorado, and the Michelin x-ice xi3's have been awesome! Highly recommend them, especially for ski trips.

Patrick Olsen · 02-01-2019, 12:13 PM

There's an entire forum dedicated to tires and wheels, cleverly called the Tire & Wheel forum.

In said Tire & Wheel forum there's plenty of discussion of winter tire setups, including an entire thread specifically for such discussions.

Big-E · 02-01-2019, 12:27 PM

Go to the source: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist3/departme...ireschains.htm

01-31-2019, 05:17 PM	#1
pbarb Scooby Newbie Member#: 488856 Join Date: Jul 2018	All weather/snow tires, chains, etc Hi folks. I have a 2013 Impreza Si (4 door sedan). Looking to do some ski and snow camping trips. Anyone have snow or all weather tire recommendations? Does anyone use spring chains and if so, how? I know the manual discourages chains. Any tips or info is appreciated. Thanks * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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01-31-2019, 06:30 PM	#2
Big-E NASIOC Supporter Member#: 123843 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Connecticut Vehicle: 2016 STI LTD CWP Let LED's light your way!	Buy snow-tire and wheel package. This will be very helpful, but do realize there is no absolute set-up (tire; chain; etc) that will keep you from running afoul in every situation.

01-31-2019, 07:02 PM	#3
cerbomark Scooby Specialist Member#: 475983 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Upstate NY Vehicle: 2018 WRX Limited Silver	depend a little on where you drive too. If you are doing lots of clear road highway driving I d either do all season (Continental DWS) or next step would be a set of snow tires (Blizak) or similar. Tire rack has good wheel packages and easy to shop and get an idea of price. IMO stay away from chains and stuff unless they are dedicated to driving in storms only. As stated above the chains etc are most aggressive but may be overkill and you ll have to deal with rough ride and whatever else chains bring.

01-31-2019, 07:22 PM	#4
Stanley Scooby Guru Member#: 7374 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: North Bay, SFCA Vehicle: 2007 Grandpamobile BlingBlingBlue	Your location would be helpful information to determine all season vs. full blown snow tires. Here in the bay area, I ran Nokian all-season tires during the winter which had the snowflake emblem on the sidewall. It was a good compromise as most of my driving was done in temperate conditions but most weekends were spent going to the mountains where there was often snow. They didn't work as well as dedicated snows, but lasted ~50k miles whereas dedicated snows would likely only last 12k or so in the warm weather I typically experienced. In the summer I would install my summer wheels/tires. This was an easy way to rotate the tires as I would put duct tape inside the wheel and mark their position front/back. Keep in mind that this strategy does require you to have the space to store a spare set of wheels.

01-31-2019, 07:46 PM	#5
pbarb Scooby Newbie Member#: 488856 Join Date: Jul 2018	Thanks folks. I drive in the city (Sacramento) during the week and only get to the snow on weekends. So all weather tires probably make most sense. Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll definitely check them out. Sounds like chains are to be avoided at all cost. Does anyone know if highway patrol considers AWD with all weather tires the same as a car with chains, when conditions require chains? I was told CHP sometimes will not allow you through a checkpoint without chains, no matter what car/tires you have. A friend of mine keeps chains in his trunk even though he never uses them, for this reason.

01-31-2019, 08:18 PM	#6
bugeye guy Scooby Newbie Member#: 493694 Join Date: Nov 2018 Vehicle: 02 Impreza WRX diamond white	I'm running The Toyo Observe G3 ICE. I've got studs in them and so far am loving them. The special stud pattern helps with the noise and they handle well on dry pavement for a studded snow. I've run conti dws and blizzak ws80 and for the price I would by the G3s again in a heart beat.

02-01-2019, 12:48 AM	#7
Reza_WRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 469028 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Colorado Vehicle: 2019 WRX CWP	I'm in Colorado, and the Michelin x-ice xi3's have been awesome! Highly recommend them, especially for ski trips.

02-01-2019, 12:13 PM	#8
Patrick Olsen NASIOC Supporter Member#: 120 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Where the Navy sends me... Vehicle: 1997 Legacy 2.5GT 1996 Impreza coupe	There's an entire forum dedicated to tires and wheels, cleverly called the Tire & Wheel forum. In said Tire & Wheel forum there's plenty of discussion of winter tire setups, including an entire thread specifically for such discussions.

02-01-2019, 12:27 PM	#9
Big-E NASIOC Supporter Member#: 123843 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Connecticut Vehicle: 2016 STI LTD CWP Let LED's light your way!	Go to the source: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist3/departme...ireschains.htm