I might buy Coilovers...
Don't get Blizzaks, they'll only last 2-3 winters. Get Nokian WR's. It's the only all-season with the severe use symbol (mountain and snowflake) and they're rated for 50K miles. I've had them for years in northern Michigan and they are awesome in the snow, and handle nicely when the roads are cleared. http://www.nokiantyres.com/
Snow tires are good in snow because they have a softer compound that stays pliant in cold weather, thus keeping their grip on the road. The reason all-seasons and summers aren't good in the winter isn't because of tread pattern (although that's part of it), it's because they get too hard in the cold weather. BUT, snow tires only have this softer compound on the outer half of the tread depth. Once they're worn halfway, they become regular ol' all-seasons. The Nokians, however, have a rubber/silicone compound for the entire tread depth, so they stay good in the snow much longer.
I'll swap these with my summers in about a month or so. I'm basically set for winter tires for probably the next 6 years or so. You'll be replacing your second set of Blizzaks about that time.
This is my 3rd set on 3 different cars, and all 4 of my siblings have them on their cars (Chicago and up here) and none of us has any trouble in the snow at all.
Snow tires are good in snow because they have a softer compound that stays pliant in cold weather, thus keeping their grip on the road. The reason all-seasons and summers aren't good in the winter isn't because of tread pattern (although that's part of it), it's because they get too hard in the cold weather. BUT, snow tires only have this softer compound on the outer half of the tread depth. Once they're worn halfway, they become regular ol' all-seasons. The Nokians, however, have a rubber/silicone compound for the entire tread depth, so they stay good in the snow much longer.
I'll swap these with my summers in about a month or so. I'm basically set for winter tires for probably the next 6 years or so. You'll be replacing your second set of Blizzaks about that time.
This is my 3rd set on 3 different cars, and all 4 of my siblings have them on their cars (Chicago and up here) and none of us has any trouble in the snow at all.
If you can still find the WR's, probably around $650-$700 for a set of 4 installed. The WR G2's replaced the WR's, and are maybe $50 more for the set. My G2's are 225's instead of 215's (Tire Factory was out of stock), and their load index is 107 instead of the 98 on the 215's, so they cost more, but I needed tires or I wasn't driving (it started snowing here in early December and hasn't really stopped until the last week or two).
Tirerack has Blizzaks for $113 each, or $452 total, but I can't get the shipping estimator to work. And that doesn't include mounting, balancing, re-setting the TPMS, and all that. The Nokians will definitely cost more, but they're also a vastly better tire. Check online for reviews, and see who sells them locally and ask about them. Our winters are similar, although you're a little colder and get a little more snow, so you'll probably have the same experience I do with these tires. Don't get me wrong, the Blizzaks are a good tire, but they just won't last. Now that I've had Nokians, I won't buy another winter tire.
I don't know where you live, but Tires Plus carries them, and Nokian's website has a nice dealer locator.
Tirerack has Blizzaks for $113 each, or $452 total, but I can't get the shipping estimator to work. And that doesn't include mounting, balancing, re-setting the TPMS, and all that. The Nokians will definitely cost more, but they're also a vastly better tire. Check online for reviews, and see who sells them locally and ask about them. Our winters are similar, although you're a little colder and get a little more snow, so you'll probably have the same experience I do with these tires. Don't get me wrong, the Blizzaks are a good tire, but they just won't last. Now that I've had Nokians, I won't buy another winter tire.
I don't know where you live, but Tires Plus carries them, and Nokian's website has a nice dealer locator.
dude - you have a thread about z-spings for a road trip in 2 months and you have this thread about coilovers...
just research the two and decide what works for you...
there is plenty of info/pics about both
just research the two and decide what works for you...
there is plenty of info/pics about both
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 3
From: Boston, Mass
u should be fine with coilvers.. i ahd them on my 3.2 CL slammed in the winter and no problem lifting it back up. the only thing is that salt will build up on the coilover sleeve and will make it difficult to adjust so u just gotta wash it down with a pressure gun at a car wash prob. once a week.
If you can still find the WR's, probably around $650-$700 for a set of 4 installed. The WR G2's replaced the WR's, and are maybe $50 more for the set. My G2's are 225's instead of 215's (Tire Factory was out of stock), and their load index is 107 instead of the 98 on the 215's, so they cost more, but I needed tires or I wasn't driving (it started snowing here in early December and hasn't really stopped until the last week or two).
Tirerack has Blizzaks for $113 each, or $452 total, but I can't get the shipping estimator to work. And that doesn't include mounting, balancing, re-setting the TPMS, and all that. The Nokians will definitely cost more, but they're also a vastly better tire. Check online for reviews, and see who sells them locally and ask about them. Our winters are similar, although you're a little colder and get a little more snow, so you'll probably have the same experience I do with these tires. Don't get me wrong, the Blizzaks are a good tire, but they just won't last. Now that I've had Nokians, I won't buy another winter tire.
I don't know where you live, but Tires Plus carries them, and Nokian's website has a nice dealer locator.
Tirerack has Blizzaks for $113 each, or $452 total, but I can't get the shipping estimator to work. And that doesn't include mounting, balancing, re-setting the TPMS, and all that. The Nokians will definitely cost more, but they're also a vastly better tire. Check online for reviews, and see who sells them locally and ask about them. Our winters are similar, although you're a little colder and get a little more snow, so you'll probably have the same experience I do with these tires. Don't get me wrong, the Blizzaks are a good tire, but they just won't last. Now that I've had Nokians, I won't buy another winter tire.
I don't know where you live, but Tires Plus carries them, and Nokian's website has a nice dealer locator.
u should be fine with coilvers.. i ahd them on my 3.2 CL slammed in the winter and no problem lifting it back up. the only thing is that salt will build up on the coilover sleeve and will make it difficult to adjust so u just gotta wash it down with a pressure gun at a car wash prob. once a week.
haha right.