The Winter's Coming Winter Tires Thread

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Anyone use PMC before? I am considering ordering a rim (wheel) and winter tire combo from them, significantly cheaper than tire rack. Tires are slightly cheaper at Costco but I'd have to get rims separately and then deal with the hassle factor of an install at Costco.

Just want to see what kind of experiences people have had with PMC.

I haven't but a good friend of mine has. He recommends them.

[photon]

Asked UrbanX for prices on winters for my wife's Civic (205/55R16), and am kind of disappointed with the prices, I had heard they had good deals.

Costco has Blizzak WS80 for $149, and there's a $70 rebate so $132.50 per tire. $15 install, $4 disposal, that's just over $600. UrbanX was $723.

He also had the Hankook Winter I’Pike RS419 for $650. PCM has them for 131 each so that'd be $565 including free shipping and disposal. And I guess I'd pay $25 per tire for install anywhere else so I guess those are the same price as online, so I guess their prices are fine.

1010 doesn't have the Federal Himalaya WS2 in stock at all, the only place I could find them online is tiredirect.ca who I haven't heard of. They charge $20 shipping per tire too, and I'd have to pay $25 per tire for install somewhere, so that brings the Himalayas up to $536.

$536 for Himalaya's vs $600 for Blizzaks one stop at Costco...

Anywhere to get Federal Himalayas in town?

EDIT: Hm 1010 tires has local installers in Calgary so there'd be no installation fee. $612 total from 1010 tires then.

[Wormius]

Too bad you weren't looking for 15s. I just sold mine yesterday. I wasn't too impressed with UrbanX for the prices either. And their mounting prices weren't great. I think the Country Tire on Edmonton Trail is a better place to go. Cheaper seasonal swaps if you buy the tires there.

[rvd123]

Originally Posted by photon

blurb

Don't know if this is the same tire but, Hankook iPike RSV,Regular Price: $109.99 each, Sale: $98.99 @ Canadian Tire, 205/55/r16. Get them mounted/balanced somewhere else.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by photon

Asked UrbanX for prices on winters for my wife's Civic (205/55R16), and am kind of disappointed with the prices, I had heard they had good deals.

Costco has Blizzak WS80 for $149, and there's a $70 rebate so $132.50 per tire. $15 install, $4 disposal, that's just over $600. UrbanX was $723.

He also had the Hankook Winter I’Pike RS419 for $650. PCM has them for 131 each so that'd be $565 including free shipping and disposal. And I guess I'd pay $25 per tire for install anywhere else so I guess those are the same price as online, so I guess their prices are fine.

1010 doesn't have the Federal Himalaya WS2 in stock at all, the only place I could find them online is tiredirect.ca who I haven't heard of. They charge $20 shipping per tire too, and I'd have to pay $25 per tire for install somewhere, so that brings the Himalayas up to $536.

$536 for Himalaya's vs $600 for Blizzaks one stop at Costco...

Anywhere to get Federal Himalayas in town?

EDIT: Hm 1010 tires has local installers in Calgary so there'd be no installation fee. $612 total from 1010 tires then.

Tire Direct is great, thats where I order the majority of my tires from. Costco has great deals, its just the install that is a complete and utter pain in the ass.

[photon]

Really? Why is Costco's install bad?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by photon

Really? Why is Costco's install bad?

The wait.

[photon]

Costco has $90 off Pirelli tires now too, and they have the Ice Zero FR for $141.99 so the per tire cost is $120.

The Blizzak WS80 though seems to come out better than the Pirelli in tests I'm finding.

[Ducay]

WS80 and Xice Xi3 are generally always at the top of the ratings. Can't go wrong with either in a passenger winter tire.

Fall promos for all companies will be in full force the week of Oct 7th. Bridgestone's is already on at Costco, but will be in for all retailers then, as will Michelin's Costco offer

[photon]

Yeah the lady at Costco said they'd have their Michelin offer then.

I think I've found some Federal Himalayas for less than $100 each, I guess the question I'm not sure of is are the WS80's that much better than the Himalayas to justify a few hundred more? It's my wife's daily work and back driver, she probably wouldn't know the difference.

[Wormius]

For the record, my Himalayas after 3 winter seasons (October to May) and 60km daily commute had a little over 7mm of tread depth when I measured them. I think this is pretty good? Maybe just make sure you are buying something that will last a while.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Wormius

The wait.

I had my install at Costco Cross Iron last year. I ordered online and got a call to schedule a time to come in. I went in and tossed the guy my keys and was told it would be an hour. Went and did some shopping in the store, then came back and my car was ready. Was perfect.

Now on seasonal swaps no way I go there, but they treat their new installs really well.

[photon]

So the tires I looked at I measured between 8 and 9/32 of tread. From what I read they start with 13/32, and 4/32 is considered replacement territory for a winter tire (is that right)?

So given that they're at best 40% worn?

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by photon

So the tires I looked at I measured between 8 and 9/32 of tread. From what I read they start with 13/32, and 4/32 is considered replacement territory for a winter tire (is that right)?

So given that they're at best 40% worn?

Sounds like used tires?

Careful to look at the manufacturers specs for depth of siping. Some only have siping that are partial depth, some full depth. If you buy used, you actually only might have 1/32 of useful grip left even though the measured depth is 7/32. But yes, anything past 5/32 and you will notice issues when it comes to driving in fresh snow and slush.

Check age as well, as winter tire rubber can harden and lose grip (typically past 3-4 years).

Better off just getting el cheapo new winter tires.

[photon]

Yeah they're used, the ad said only used 4 months but given the tread wear it was probably more. The siping on the Himalayas is pretty deep from a couple of reviews I saw but couldn't find any actual specs on that. I think they were made in 2012 (the number that looked like the right number was 2212, week 22 2012), so that's another strike against them.

[Diemenz]

I change out my winters at 6/32nds. All seasons I go down to 4/32nds.

In all fairness because of last winter I could see a tire going from 13 down to 10 but lower than that would mean a few seasons or tires that were left on really long.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Hello braintrust.

I'm coming back to the well one more time.

I've got my tires and wheels picked out (Sliver, you'll be happy to know i got proper wheels, not ugly black steel wheels).

The only question I have is regarding tire size. The tire place I'm buying from recommended 215/50R17s but previously in this thread it was suggested I go with 225/50R17s. My OEM size is 225/45R18.

Tire calculator tells me that they are both within the max 3% variance suggested but the 215 is 2% while the 225 is only .44 off. Both seem acceptable to me.

Now I've been told that narrower tires are better, 215s are narrower, and that a higher sidewall is better, 225s have higher profile.

I have no reason not to trust their suggestion, just curious if anyone has any input.

[btimbit]

Honestly that's such a small difference I'd get what's cheaper

[Cecil Terwilliger]

In case anyone cares they said I can go down to 16 but the wheels I like aren't on sale at that size and it didn't seem like enough benefit to pay extra for it.

[Ducay]

I just did the same thing, went from 235/45/17 down to 215/50/17. Tire diameter is within a percent and the speedometer will hardly be off.

Crazy how much cheaper the more narrow 215 tire was.