hey,
i have searched, and tried to organzie my thoughts here.
im gonna be purchasing some winter tires in the next week and need some tips.
1) i am prepared to buy a 16 inch steel rim.
2) the tire dealer told me it wont work to change rims since the ABS and traction will mess up, the computers and such. (but i know its untrue so far)
3) i am tryin to maintin a high speed rating. i like speeding on the highway.
4) i would like to have a tire that reflects. good quality, price, speed rating. i dont know which company to go for. i get a ton of snow in calgary.
5) how wide should the rim be preferably (as to match with a nice tire).
6) how much profile, or rubber hight is prefered, to be simliar to OEM hieght, and winter control

THANKs alot
TSX Cman.

 

snow tires

these should solve your problem. im bout to order a set in about a week.

 

i was havin troubles with the tire rack site, but ill check it out

 

oh wow. a 17 inch rubber, so will that be the same as my stock tire in size? also, how much is a Q rating for speed? km/h or whatever
and i still am willin to go 16 inch if theres a better brand.

whenever i did tire rack site, it never gave me a 17 inch that would fit
thanks

 

There's good discussion on winter tires in this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15881

If you're going for 16's, go for 205/60/16 or 215/55/16. I'm running 205/50/17's on a second set of OEM wheels.

If you're looking for a snow tire more than an ice tire, you should consider the Toyo Garit HT (http://www.toyocanada.com/products/GaritHT.html), Nokian RSi (http://www.nokiantires.com/newsite/t....cfm?id=53&w=1), or Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 (http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tires...ndex_bs_ca.asp).

 

Re the Nokian RSi

1) I've only had one snowstorm, but they were close to the best winter tire I've driven in our first snow of the year Monday

2) There's a better site for info on the RSi but it doesn't show up in Google or any search ... www.nokianrsi.com (doh!)

Ditto on the 205/60-16 or 215/55-16 recommendation. 205 is the better of the two (and cheaper too)

 

I have 205-50-17 on my OEM rims too, and despite of the smaller size, you can't really notice it.

 

I just put Yokohama Ice Guard 720s on my Trans am and they have really good breaking and wet traction. You do sacrifice some in cornering, but what do you want its a snow tire I havent driven in nasty snow yet but i'll let you know.

My friend has a mazdaspeed protege and he has the Bridgestone Blizzaks and swears by them

 

A few comments.

Your conditions in Calgary are much more like the ones I experience in Utah than the persistent icy conditions that the rest of these guys back east get to experience. You're looking for more of a SNOW tire than a tire for regularly icy roads.

Favorites are the Dunlop M3s and Bridgestone Blizzak LM22s. Neither of these would be my choice for eastern conditions, but I find them both to be quite appropriate to western powder snow combined with the need for a tire that handles very well in dry fast conditions. I'll be getting a set of the Dunlops before I head up to Utah for a couple of months.

Currently there's very little of anything available in 205/60-16, most of the year's supply is sold out. I'll be getting the 215/55-16 and mounting them on a set of Honda 16" steel wheels that I can get relatively cheap from a local dealer.

 

FYI here are the speed ratings

M 81 mph 130 km/h
N 87 mph 140 km/h Temporary Spare Tires
P 93 mph 150 km/h
Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires
R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires
S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
U 124 mph 200 km/h
H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes
V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars

 

For Z and above

When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.
W 168 mph 270 km/h Exotic Sports Cars
Y 186 mph 300 km/h Exotic Sports Cars

While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.
225/50ZR16 in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h
205/45ZR17 88W 168 mph, 270 km/h
285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h

Most recently, when the Y-speed rating indicated in a service description is enclosed in parentheses, such as 285/35ZR19 (99Y), the top speed of the tire has been tested in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h indicated by the service description as shown below:
285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h
285/35ZR19 (99Y) in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h

As vehicles have increased their top speeds into Autobahn-only ranges, the tire speed ratings have evolved to better identify the tires capability, allowing drivers to match the speed of their tires with the top speed of their vehicle.

From tire rack