Winter / Snow Tires (Oct 2012 Thread)

[AbCaRed00]

I've used a set of oversize 185/60x15 Michelin X-Ice on 15" [O.T. = 40] alloy rims [photo linked] in previous seasons and there's a terrible loss of power due to extra rotational mass on my 2000 Insight. Great grip's to be had due to X-Ice's tread compound on city streets and open winter highways. Can't speak for deep wet snow much but in dry powdery stuff it works very well.
I didn't have the rear wheel covers installed last season with the the larger combination because of close clearance worries.
I may possibly resurrect a set of 155/80 13" diameter Blizzack WS-50's that have been stored out of direct sunlight [but even yet for possibly way too long] but will need find 13" rims that will fit.
________________
EDIT: went with last years X-Ice 185/60x15 size, working great but mileage sucks at 4.4L/100km over 1400km distance;
Typo, wrote 165/80 in original unedited, it should have been 155/80x13, the size that I have.
...maybe next year for some of the old 155/80x13 ws-50 blizzacks after digging up some suitable 13" rims at the recycle yard next summer.

[Cf-105]

Originally Posted by AbCaRed00

I've used a set of oversize 185/60x15 Michelin X-Ice on 15" [O.T. = 40] alloy rims [photo linked] in previous seasons and there's a terrible loss of power due to extra rotational mass on my 2000 Insight. Great grip's to be had due to X-Ice's tread compound on city streets and open winter highways. Can't speak for deep wet snow much but in dry powdery stuff it works very well.
I didn't have the rear wheel covers installed last season with the the larger combination because of close clearance worries.
I may possibly resurrect a set of 165/80 13" diameter Blizzack WS-50's that have been stored out of direct sunlight [but even yet for possibly way too long] but will need find 13" rims that will fit.

ANy idea how much heavier the combo is? What part of the world are you in?

[AbCaRed00]

Originally Posted by Cf-105

ANy idea how much heavier the combo is? What part of the world are you in?

The bigger wheel and tire is about 50% heavier but because things work off of a square factor for rotational mass and most of the added weight is out at the edge, it takes way more energy to spin them up or slow them down. It doesn't spin out on takeoffs for sure without a lot of effort which is kind of good albeit the mileage hit.
The 15" 4x100 40ot alloy wheel and tire combo using the 185/60x15 X-ice's weighs in about 32 lbs per corner on a bathroom spring scale [14.5 kg]; in comparison the stock first gen Insight rim with Mich MX4 175/65 x 14 I use in late spring/summer/fall is only about 24 lb / 11kg total.

I'm in Ab Ca out west. Lolz. ' noted you're Canuk straight away via the Avro Arrow ref. The snowy pics in example above were from last year but it's all not too far off now at a guess and a good time to start prepping.

[thekanuk]

i'am looking for winter tire and the choice seem very limitted .
What do you think about à winter tire with stud .
it was more noisy ,but best control on de road here in canada.

[AbCaRed00]

I ran studded tires in the past and they work great on ice but will wear out fast otherwise especially with any wheel spin. In the sleet that occurs during winter out there [lived in Ottawa awhile] they would be super. Didn't have the hydrophilic tire compounds back then.
The only other thing I can say is if you are getting tires studded it works better if you get the studs installed before you run them on the street for a while or they get grit in the holes where studs are meant to be installed and it's a pain.

[Mister]

Good info guys, keep it coming
Thanks to a local member I've decided to go ahead and mount the tires on the 13" rims. Will update when the setup is on the road.

Originally Posted by thekanuk

What do you think about à winter tire with stud . it was more noisy ,but best control on de road here in canada.

I've never driven on studded tires, I don't like the noise they make but I'm sure they grip very well. You also must remove them on time. (as should be done with any winter tire)

QC Transportation website

Studded tires may be used between October 15 and May 1 on commercial vehicles whose total loaded mass does not exceed 3000 kg and on passenger vehicles and taxis, provided these vehicles have studded tires on both ends of an axle and, if they have studded tires on the wheels of the front axle, provided they also have them on the wheels of the rear axle.

[Mister]

Got the winter set installed yesterday with the help of a local IC member.
We had to grind off a couple of millimeters off the center hole of the steel rims to allow proper fitment over the center cap. Either than that all good!

As expected with the higher tire sidewall the ride is a bit more "wobbly". But I don't expect any hard cornering and extreme steering inputs from mid Nov till mid April...
These skinny tires should be good in the snow, I'll keep the thread posted after the first big snowfall.

Summer set RE92 with 14" full moon disks


Winter set (as posted on P.1) 155/80/13


With 13" full moon disks (Hey! gotta keep it classy even in the winter)

[Mister]

Status report - January 2013:

Been driving with this winter setup for three months.
- Traction is good. Haven't got stuck...yet! LOL
- Ground clearance is (expectedly)terrible for winter ops. I avoid driving shortly after heavy snowfall. The L/H aero-panel almost got ripped off the car while driving after a 20cm snow storm.
- Gas mileage went to hell due to the high traction tires and very low temps (-15-20*C) - getting 4.8-5.1 L/100Km. (Summer average is 3.4 L/100Km)
- The IMA battery does not operate properly below -10*C

So, This is definitely not my 1st choice for a winter car but I only own one vehicle - so this is it

Sometimes I wonder why...

[thekanuk]

Good report Mister
I agree with you.i got the same status.

But don't deseperate we have another 2 months on this winter.

[Mister]

I was able to drive on this 13" setup without a problem...
However, when it came time to replace the brake pads we ran into a major snag.
The 13" rims would not fit anymore over the thicker pads and slightly repositioned caliper.
I should be able to get them to fit again next winter after the new pads will wear off a bit but...
***I discourage any member from taking this route for winter tires and rims***