So I live in Jersey, this will be my first winter with a sports coupe. My car is automatic, bone stock. Just wondering what you guys think about driving conditions, will it be necessary to get snow tires?

 

If it's your only vehicle to drive and work doesn't get cancelled due to snow I would say YES it's a very good idea to get snow tires. A set of used 17" Z or G35 base wheels to mount them on are probably cheapest. You can use those to mount 225-50R17 snows all around. It's the route I've taken with my coupe. It will get you there and back safely provided you don't have to traverse any hills. If snow gets to over 4" unplowed you may have problems at stoplights so time them properly. Otherwise stay home or buy a Subaru lol.

 

Thanks! Very informative. Any suggestions where I can get a good deal on used snow tires?

 

I'd get used wheels from someone selling them here. I wouldn't buy used tires though unless it was sold already mounted on the wheels locally and they were in very good shape. If you had the budget you could buy brand new wheels/tires online shipped from somewhere like Discount Tires or Tirerack. You could also try searching the wheel and tire section for tips and tricks...

 

Aight I didn't know the wheels had to be changed too... Sounds like an expensive project just for some frozen rain. But I'll look into it, thanks a lot man. Have you ever tried driving in the snow with summer/performance tires?

 

This is all car basics. Expensive is all relative. It's comparing a brand new set of snow tires on used wheels versus a deductible for insurance and lots of downtime in the bodyshop. Yes I've driven with summer tires during the winter. In my first year of owning the car I had to drive home from work during a freezing rain when the roads still appeared totally clean with nothing sticking. I had to drive the entire way at 15mph with traffic passing me at regular speed lol. A tiny blip of the throttle and the rear would instantly want to step out. Summer tires are absolutely slick in freezing temps and scary in anything resembling freezing precipitation.

 

I have an AWD X and I insist on having my snows on.
It's just smart.

My dedicated winter wheel and Blizzak setup was less than $850 new, shipped mounted and balanced from TireRack.
Well worth the investment.

 

I really wish they'd make the sedan X with a manual transmission! Then I would trade up lol.

 

I'm convinced to get a winter set now, but I think I'll just get a pair for the powertrain. That should do the trick too

 

also.. when do you invest the $800 for winter tires and wheel, it'll last about 3~5 seasons.. depending on how much you use them..

so your "regular" tires will also "last" longer...

say.. total of the two sets will last you ~80k miles.. instead of 30k per set of tires.. (you get the idea).. so the $800 investment isn't really EXTRA $800...

 

You should have them, but this will be my second season without them. Business was slow this year and I just couldn't spring for em like I wanted to. I've been lucky so far this year

 

It's a long term investment - my winter front tires lasted 5 seasons. Rears about 3-4.
Stick with some nice alloy 18s. I skipped TPMS but spent more on nice 18s.

 

Oh and you really need to do all 4 tires. Or you will get horrible understeer in ice/snow conditions. Just go on tirerack.com and they will have all the info you need and some decent setups. Used is also a good deal.

 

Always put 4 snows on... Just putting 2 on the drivetrain end is bad practice.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=34