Winter tires

Have you considered purchasing a separate set of winter wheels? It's usually cheaper in the long run.

You could run a 195/55/16 which is a little larger than your OE wheel. The advantage is you have more tire choices and you'll gain ground clearance for deep snow and ice.

The Michelin X-Ice Xi2 and Xi3 are a great choice. Many places still have the Xi2 in stock at discounted prices. Make sure to wait for the $70 rebate Michelin regularly offers too!

 

Actually, I haven't even looked at the tires that came on my C, but I'm assuming they are some kind of ALL-Season radials. What is your concern about changing them for winter? I'm in Minnesota and the chances are pretty good we are going to get snow.

 

I hope this will help.

Tire Test Results : All Season vs. Winter (Passenger Vehicle): The Difference Between Wintertime Gripping and White Knuckle Snow Slipping

Tire Test: All-Season vs. Snow vs. Summer - Edmunds.com

This one explains my reason for stressing the importance of tread depth in winter: Tire Test Results : What Honest Abe Doesn't Tell You About Minimum Tread Depths

More information on how cold temperatures negatively affect an all-season tire's performance when when roads are dry and free of snow/ice: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/safetyBelow45.dos

 

I took advantage of the $70 Michelin rebate and picked up a set of the X-ice Xi3's. Like most snow tires, they're wide for their size [which makes no sense as you want narrow tires in winter]. Now I just need my seemingly forever backordered wheels to arrive.

 

The rebates come and go pretty regularly. I'm not sure what you have in Canada but here we have wholesale grocery stores that also sells tires and they often have the rebates too. Our Costco stores currently offer the $70 Michelin rebate this month. Last month it was Bridgestone. Keep shopping around I guess.

I see TireRack.com has Xi2 on close out deals. Michelin X-Ice Xi2

 

I think I'm going to give my stock tires one winter. Michelin's $423.00 plus new rims plus mounting and balancing, not this year.

 

Costco is usually pretty close to TireRack's pricing once you consider shipping charges. They charge less to install too. They currently have the $70 Michelin rebate so it's worth checking them out.

 

Costco quoted me $416 (175/65/15) total includes tax and install with their $70 off bridgestone promo for Blizzak's WS70. But Tirerack has Michelin Xi2 for $74 each right now with $50 GC. No tax most states.

edit: Costco's Bridgestone promo will be back mid November.

 

For some reason, the Canadian Costco (for Edmonton at least) won't have the $70 rebate for Michelin tires until October 8th (they currently have a $70 rebate for Bridgestone tires). The lady at the tire center recommended that I purchase the tires near the end of September and return to ask for the price adjustment when the rebate becomes effective.

 

Any thoughts on what a Vancouverite should do? We typically get maybe five snow days MAX per winter. Usually they are right at the beginning and end of the season. But my commute does unavoidably require hill driving. And when snow does hit, all hell breaks loose. Not like Ontario where I grew up and everyone knew how to handle the winter. In Vancouver it's as if they didn't read the driver's manual - they smoked it.


Galaxy Nexus ? 2

 

Ah, like my situation (Seattle area). Fortunately, I can telecommute in bad weather. I think I will get winter tires for the 2013-14 season (I've already spent enough for now!), but for this winter coming up, I'll just keep the car garaged. Actually, for both our areas, an El Nino winter is predicted so this may be one of those years without any real snow.

 

Yeah I work in a chemistry lab, so telecommuting isn't really an option! And it's a pretty lousy transit commute too.

Galaxy Nexus ? 2