Hi Everyone...first time subscriber this site looks grt and tons of info. Glad I came across it.

I live up in Toronto and I should be dead by now for not getting snow tires on my 2007 G35 sedan. All 3 seasons at least twice 180's on major highways...enough said and thk God I'm still alive and haven't hurt anyone. Having said that.

I have 245/45/18 rear and 225/50/18 front. They are all season. They suck in snow ice I can't leave if there's 2-3cm out there.

I have 4 options that are on the table

225/50/17 winter on alloys - bridgestone blizzak WS-50's
or
215/55/17 winter on alloys - bridgestone blizzak WS-50's
or
215/55/17 - winter on alloys - Hankook ipike sport
or
225/55/17 - winter on alloys - bridgestone blizzak ws-60's

I'm leaning toward the 215/55/17 WS-50's b/c of the followingreasons that I've read about

1. the WS-50's are king of snow and ice.
2. 215/55/17 would be a smaller thinner tire opposed to the 225's so better at cutting through snow
3. the rims do make a difference to me I like my car rims and the ones I'm leaning towards look a lot better than any other choices

Any help from anbyone would be grtly appreciated also

is there a tread gauge I can buy so I don't get scammed?
is there a mfg date I need to be concerned about how old the rubber is?

Thx,

 

Well it seems like you have a non sport car with the sport rims on it and it is the correct set up. i have a S and i live in calgary, which if you know has got like 30cm of snow on Monday, and for RWD, i just turn the VDC off and drift threw every turn. I can recommend the continental extreme winter contact, which if you go on tirerack is rated very highly. i have these tires on sports edition SE-14 rims 225/55 R17 (i got the entire package from tirerack, cost about 2000). altho all of these studless winter tires are soft and can't handle the power of the G, so in dry when you floor the gas peddle the traction control will jump on.
If you do want to look into something that would be better in the dry, check tirerack's performance winter tires section.
If you don't want to order anything from tire rack i would suggest the 225 because the traction control is enough dealing with the high profile already, going with 215 is cutting on your handling in the dry. As for the 4 options you listed i say go for the WS-60. altho there is a WS-70 just for your reference.
Other opitions to consider is the Michelin X-ice XI2, which offers the best dry handling while still being quite good on ice.
The WS are among the best on ice, but not as good as the others in the dry.
Unless you can get a really good deal on the WS, i say look around on tirerack first.

 

thx for the reply.

All the ones I'm getting are used...and I think I'm getting a grt deal considering these have only gone 1-2 winter seasons.

I don't care much about handling etc I'll just drive easy when it's dry...my main concern is how insanely slippery it gets with the G35 and not to mention annoying for other drivers when I can't even climb up a hill.

you mentione you turn the vdc off...I was thinking about that....would that help on an uphil to at least get me going?

 

If when u step on the gas, the slip light blinks at you, then it means that the VDC is cutting your power, in that case, try turning it off, altho be prepared for the slide, the tail will swing around counter steer as you see fits, i just got so used to drifting that it's a natural response for me, but if you never power slide a car before, be careful, try it at night on a empty road first. you will burn your tire at the start, but at least you will move

 

thx for your help..I'm going to get the snow tires first then try out the vdc being off. I youtubed and looks like you can have lots of fun. just have to be careful

 

oh it's a lot of fun for sure