I've had my car for 4 years now and its my DD. Driving in the snow is not uncommon thing for me, however, I'm done taken the risk involved with doing this. I have 245/45/18 all seasonal hankook tires.

My first question is I came across a set of used 18" rims, would do you guys think of running snow tires (x-ice) in the back and my all seasonal up front? Or should I go all around? I found 235/55/17 for $159 each plus a 70 rebate if i buy all four. I'd like to save money, but I'll spend it if I'm wasting my time w/ the two in the rear.

 

Or should I go w/ a performance winter tire like Winter 240 Sottozero? I live in south jersey, and we get snow storms like 2-3 times a year but last year the we got it bad.

 

My recommendation would be to have two sets of wheels and run a FULL-SET of snow tires for such weather and install the performance Summer-type tire for better weather.

Jazzer

 

I would buy a cheat beater for the winter time.keep the salt off your car and if it gets wrecked you won't care.

 

There is some problems to be had by the salt on the roads. Just a week or so ago, someone was looking for new aluminum brake lines that were damaged via the salt on his local roads during Winter months. This is pretty extreme, but it does happen.

Jazzer

 

I plan on getting another dd, but even after I get another DD, I'm thinking if I ever get stuck in snow, I should not take the risk I've been taken the past 4 years. One year, I got stuck in snow w/ my kumo summer tires, lol.(good times)

I'm starting to lean toward this performance snow tire that I brought up, it looks like it handles great on dry roads and when I read reviews, there are people using them in light snow w/ corvettes.

 

Get 4 good snows, you'll be amazed at the difference. Don't personally need to worry about it anymore, now that I'm in Fort Worth, but I spent many years in Illinois and Wisconsin fighting the snow. A set of Bridgestone Blizzaks on my (competing musclecars that wear bowties) had me able to go through snow until I was plowing it with the airdam. If you go with two you'll be able to go forward, but turning and stopping will be an adventure.

 

I have decide for sure to go w/ 4 tires. I'm in the market for 4 17" bullit rims and I guess I'm not %100 sure about which tire yet. I live in South Jersey to which we get 2-3 snow storms a year but they can be bad & heavy. The other problem we run into is the ****ty clean up job so winter can be a messed.

The reason I'm so interested in the scottozero is because the reviews they have gotten w/ snow & dry road conditions.

Which trim of blizzaks did you have? Did you leave them on all winter? Did you drive them on the dry road? how did they handle? How about the road noise?

Sorry for all the question

 

I had the original Blizzaks--got them in 1995 or so. Mounted and balanced on steel rims from Tire rack. Put them on each year in mid-November or thereabouts, tried to get them off by about Valentine's Day. No real problems on dry roads, ride was softer, handling not as precise, but these were 1st generation 215/65-15s too. I've heard the newer ones are worlds better on the dry. They lasted through 2 Camaros, 7 or 8 winters. Finally destroyed them driving 5000+ miles over a winter into spring, Illinois to Wisconsin to Minnesota to a 4 month school in Oklahoma, then back to Illinois--had to use them, couldn't swap back to the summer tires. Shredded the special Bridgestone compound, probably had 2 or 3 winters of wear left in them.

Only other advice--mark the positions as you take them off and rotate them each season--they're VERY sensitive to any alignment or balance problems. Also probably better on the new ones, but still......

JW