[brian60]

So Discount is having their $100 off $400+ sale which is awesome and all, but I'm wondering when the best time to buy a winter set-up is? I will most certainly NEED winter tires and don't want to demolish my stock wheels so wheels are preferred also. Is there usually sales coming up in the next month or two or is this the best time currently?

Since my budget is like 800 bucks tops I'm budgeting as much as possible, but I don't want to cheap on the things keeping me on the road.

 

[Bryman13]

Not sure, as I have no need for winter tires down here, but if it's like anything else, buy in the off season. I would bet if you go in to buy winter tires in, say, April-July you can probably get a great deal on any winter tires they have in stock. That being said they may not have many winter tires in stock at that time to your options may be limited.

 

[brian60]

Not sure, as I have no need for winter tires down here, but if it's like anything else, buy in the off season. I would bet if you go in to buy winter tires in, say, April-July you can probably get a great deal on any winter tires they have in stock. That being said they may not have many winter tires in stock at that time to your options may be limited.

Pennsylvania, while beautiful, in the winter is </3 for our cars. A few morning in the last 8 days have been frost bearing and ~30 degrees already and my tires felt like rocks. Slipped a little even with Cobb TC and I wasn't trying.

 

[ddfred]

So Discount is having their $100 off $400+ sale which is awesome and all, but I'm wondering when the best time to buy a winter set-up is? I will most certainly NEED winter tires and don't want to demolish my stock wheels so wheels are preferred also. Is there usually sales coming up in the next month or two or is this the best time currently?

Since my budget is like 800 bucks tops I'm budgeting as much as possible, but I don't want to cheap on the things keeping me on the road.

I put winter on my factory wheels, then saved and bought lighter wheels for my summers. As far as when to buy, it was 38* here this morning and the summers were hard as rocks and traction limited. I'll be putting the winters on this weekend

 

[Bryman13]

Pennsylvania, while beautiful, in the winter is </3 for our cars. A few morning in the last 8 days have been frost bearing and ~30 degrees already and my tires felt like rocks. Slipped a little even with Cobb TC and I wasn't trying.

I believe it. That's the kind of place it really makes so much sense to pay the extra for a RS.

 

[brian60]

I put winter on my factory wheels, then saved and bought lighter wheels for my summers. As far as when to buy, it was 38* here this morning and the summers were hard as rocks and traction limited. I'll be putting the winters on this weekend

Do you live in a commonly snowy area? Comparable to PA? I ask because I'm going to need new summer tires by next summer anyway and I would do this, but if 17" wheels are a lot better in the snow than 18" it's worth switching to me.

I believe it. That's the kind of place it really makes so much sense to pay the extra for a RS.

I must say drift mode in a 2-4" snow covered parking lot would be a blast.

Or anywhere for that matter...

 

[AKaye]

If you dont already have a winter setup, buy them now. Should have bought them earlier imo. Mine will be going on in early November. Any amount snow is enough to truly ruin your day if you have summer tires. Its not uncommon to get snow here in early november and im sure its the same for PA.

As for the setup, i say just get steelies in 16inch if you have the smaller brakes. Otherwise, do what ddfred said if you plan to upgrade your summer wheels.

 

[BCs ST3]

What AKaye said, winter is coming!

 

[JtheLugan]

I run my summer tires as long as possible, and don't think about putting on the winters until it stays below 40° all day. This time of year, here in Illinois, it can be in the low 30s in the morning, and in the high 60s in the afternoon.

That said, and as others have said, it's a good idea to get them now. Freak snow storms do happen. Two years ago, we got 3 inches of snow, out of nowhere, in mid October.

Sent from a new potato

 

[brian60]

So Blizzak Tires on our Stock wheels...how do they do? Worth doing that or better to get smaller wheels?

 

[JtheLugan]

So Blizzak Tires on our Stock wheels...how do they do? Worth doing that or better to get smaller wheels?

No idea. This will be the first winter that I've run Blizzaks.

Last winter, I had Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 on stock wheels, and they did fantastic.

Sent from a new potato

 

[ddfred]

Do you live in a commonly snowy area? Comparable to PA? I ask because I'm going to need new summer tires by next summer anyway and I would do this, but if 17" wheels are a lot better in the snow than 18" it's worth switching to me.



I must say drift mode in a 2-4" snow covered parking lot would be a blast.

Or anywhere for that matter...

I live in Kansas; we get snow, but the ice is a bigger issue.

 

[brian60]

I live in Kansas; we get snow, but the ice is a bigger issue.

I'd rather have snow then ice anymore the way the last few years have been with freezing everything over in .5" of it overnight. Can't even walk off my front porch usually let alone drive.

 

[sda3]

Ah, another reminder that I need to get my winter wheels and tires out and post them for sale. Tis the season.

 

[timbuck767]

Related question. I also plan on buying a winter setup, but curious if I NEED to invest in TPMS. You save a decent chunk of change buying without them. Honestly as long as the car doesn't constantly "Beep" at me , I can deal with a light being on. Can anyone confirm what the car does when no sensors are detected?

 

[brian60]

Related question. I also plan on buying a winter setup, but curious if I NEED to invest in TPMS. You save a decent chunk of change buying without them. Honestly as long as the car doesn't constantly "Beep" at me , I can deal with a light being on. Can anyone confirm what the car does when no sensors are detected?

It doesn't hurt to go without them. It will just flash a little light like the one that tell you that you have a door open. It flashes a few seconds and then stays solid at all times. No more annoying than the traction off light when in sport mode. I'm not installing them if I go steelies.

 

[brian60]

Ah, another reminder that I need to get my winter wheels and tires out and post them for sale. Tis the season.

Depending on what you have I might call dibs. PM me details?

 

[JtheLugan]

Related question. I also plan on buying a winter setup, but curious if I NEED to invest in TPMS. You save a decent chunk of change buying without them. Honestly as long as the car doesn't constantly "Beep" at me , I can deal with a light being on. Can anyone confirm what the car does when no sensors are detected?

To me, it's worth the 50 bucks for a set of TPMS. But, as was earlier noted, you don't need them.

Sent from a new potato

 

[LSxBrad]

I have experience with many of the popular snow tires across multiple platforms. My last personal set were Michelin X-Ice3s. They were a very good tire all around. Once you run snows, you'll never go back to all seasons...they are THAT good. This year, I'm going to be running 215/50-17 Blizzak WS80s on a set of 17" OEM Focus wheels and a set of OEM TPMS sensors. I would have went with the XI3s again, but got a deal that I couldn't refuse on the Blizzaks. If you shop around, you should be able to get a set of wheels/new tires/new TPMS in your $800 budget...or if you buy a nice used set from a forum member, you could save even more.

My top choices for studless winter tires:
1.Michelin X-Ice 3 - best dry pavement manners
2.Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 - best snow traction ($70 rebate if purchased by 10/31)
3.Nokian Hakkapeliita R2 - if you live in Scandinavia, these are THE tires people run, when going studless