alex
Dork
12/20/09 11:49 a.m.
Anybody have a recommendation for cheap snow tires? I'm talking Harbor Frieght cheap here. My beater work truck is going to need 'em this year, even for flat city driving, and I have a hard time spending half of the vehicle's value on a set of Haakkaappeelliittaass.
Thoughts?
I will always be a proponent of Hankook Winter I-Pikes. studdable, durable, cheap. I think I got my set for 200 bucks. You can have them (mounted on Crown Vic wheels) for 75 bucks if you want them. there is at least two more seasons left on them.
gamby
SuperDork
12/20/09 1:56 p.m.
Winterforce, Viking, General.
I dunno--they all work--especially if you get 'em w/ a skinny cross section.
I ran a set of used 14" winter force tires on a miata and they worked great. Ran me $200 and I got my money back out of them selling next season.
I use to have some Firestone Icefires on my old Subaru. Cost me about $30 each. Served me in good stead when I used to sleep in the car overnight in the woods near Telluride when skiing and it would snow.
If you can't find a set of used snows, then I'd recommend Winterforces first, Hankook Winter i-pikes second. I've had both, and they are quite good. I found the Winterforces to be a bit better in heavier snow, but the i-pikes were a better compromise tire, and their handling was nicer when the roads were dry.
Winterforces also make good rallycross tires
I loved my Pirelli Winter Carving and switched to General Altimax Arctic when I noticed the tread pattern was almost identical and I could get them narrower and cheaper. They both kick tons of ass and are a no-compromise winter tire. Hell they have holes to allow for studding. Last winter I got caught in a snow storm coming home from work and could feel my car high centering on the snow built up in the middle of the road. Still had no trouble even in my lowered Corrado.
I'm liking the General Altimax tires on my MS3 so far. I got them used from an ex-MS3 owner on Craigslist. Definitely check CL for used snow tires; you can get some good deals.
Tire rack had some firestones on sale for my car for $13 a tire..
13" rim though...
My wintermark magnagrips are from kelly(Goodyearsbudget brand), definetly on the affordable side.
edit, sorry, got mixed up
I've had two sets of Winterforce tires, both from Firestone. First set was unstudded, second set was studded. Both on a 2WD Hardbody in a Canadian winter, and six sandbags in the back.
Winterforce, cheap, good in snow,not so good on ice, wear like iron.
wbjones
HalfDork
12/22/09 5:50 p.m.
do the I-Pikes last well ? or are they more like the Blizzak... ? great for a year and then not so great ?
looking for something for the 2.2 RS ... the noseasonals that are on it really didn't get the job do
mndsm
Reader
12/22/09 6:38 p.m.
Hrm. My snows were not cheap. Stupid big brake calipers makin me stop good and need big tires.......