[Activ8]

Originally Posted by Jomz

My s2k is sold. Now on a leased TSX. I went for a track alignment and found that all the adjustment bolts on the s2k are frozen by rust. The shop said that it looked like the caster and camber was never adjusted since it left the factory.

Faile! Leasing is always a bad option unless you can write it off as a business expense - especially if you get a TSX instead of a Benz or electric vehicle :(

I don't know - I do not believe in leasing cars - thoughts? http://www.moneycrashers.com/seven-r...is-a-bad-deal/

Surprising about the S2K ..... I guess AD40 couldn't save anything without expensive rebuild? I'm sure bolts wouldn't set you back that much. Maybe these last few posts should help you get a FR-S

[Jomz]

Originally Posted by Activ8

Faile! Leasing is always a bad option unless you can write it off as a business expense - especially if you get a TSX instead of a Benz or electric vehicle :(

I don't know - I do not believe in leasing cars - thoughts? http://www.moneycrashers.com/seven-r...is-a-bad-deal/

Surprising about the S2K ..... I guess AD40 couldn't save anything without expensive rebuild? I'm sure bolts wouldn't set you back that much. Maybe these last few posts should help you get a FR-S

I will be he first in line to get a BRZ Sti or a TRD FR-S.

Anyway on the bolts- those were rusted solid with the sleeves they rotate in. Need to replace 8 contol arms at $350 per control arm + labor

the following says about my problems, all 8 arms with bushings are frozen.
Luckily it was at street alignment.

http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/5783...#entry12871422

[NinadJoshi]

Thinking of buying winter tires this year. Never bought Winters before, so am kind of new to this.

Anticipated driving will be 70% highway 30% city, @ ~3000 miles a month, @ driving profile best described as defensive and un-spirited

Purchase priority is to have as best winter/snow traction, and as best noise/comfort as possible for as reasonable a price as possible...I just opened up the entire chart here, but nonetheless. For 235/45R17's, the $900 Michelin X-ice's are out of question, just as $400 unknown brand names are too.

Anyone here with winter tire purchase and usage experience care to post their opinion ?

Thanks in advance.

[mohit]

Originally Posted by NinadJoshi

Thinking of buying winter tires this year. Never bought Winters before, so am kind of new to this.

Anticipated driving will be 70% highway 30% city, @ ~3000 miles a month, @ driving profile best described as defensive and un-spirited

Purchase priority is to have as best winter/snow traction, and as best noise/comfort as possible for as reasonable a price as possible...I just opened up the entire chart here, but nonetheless. For 235/45R17's, the $900 Michelin X-ice's are out of question, just as $400 unknown brand names are too.

Anyone here with winter tire purchase and usage experience care to post their opinion ?

Thanks in advance.

If its 70% highway, look for a performance winter tire. Classic winters will wear out too fast.

Tirerack has slightly lower pricing:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...45&diameter=17

ExtremeWinterContact seems to have decent reviews. You might also want to go down to 16'' if you are buying dedicated winter rims. Will save you some money and a narrower tire actually has better winter traction.

[aah78]

Originally Posted by NinadJoshi

Thinking of buying winter tires this year. Never bought Winters before, so am kind of new to this.

Anticipated driving will be 70% highway 30% city, @ ~3000 miles a month, @ driving profile best described as defensive and un-spirited

Which region are you located in the US? I'm assuming you drive FWD?

If you're considering 70% hwy driving and your region gets moderate snow with regular plowing, and you don't have much of a rural commute, I second mohit's recommendation in going for a performance winter tire.

My reason being, not because the standard winters will wear out faster but the tire noise on the hwy might just drive you crazy.

However, if your region gets more than 6" snow on average, performance winters won't help much.

Continental DWS or the Nokian WR G2 / G3 series if you're looking for a performance winter (these are more of an all-season compound that works well in cold weather with slush / very little snow accumulation - don't know about ice traction).

Bridgetone Blizzaks WS-60 are what I'd recommend for a decent standard winter tire, unless you can get your hands on the Nokian R / R2.
Blizzaks should run you a little cheaper than the X-Ice.

I haven't used Blizzaks personally but they receive all-round good reviews.
The Blizzak LM series are a "performance" option that also receives great reviews.
Nokian's might be expensive but they're well worth the price.

I've tried the X-Ice 2's on my car but they couldn't match the snow traction of the Nokians.
As far as performance winters I've also tried the Goodyear UltraGrip and the Continental ContiSportContact - I think they were called - I didn't enjoy either. They have good cold weather grip but they can't handle ice or accumulation as well as a standard winter.

[amitoj]

I also need to get winter tyres for my wife's car. However, unlike Ninad's requirement, this is 70% city and 30% highway driving. Any suggestions?

[aah78]

Originally Posted by amitoj

I also need to get winter tyres for my wife's car. However, unlike Ninad's requirement, this is 70% city and 30% highway driving. Any suggestions?

I think NH has pretty much free reign when it comes to the use of snow tires so all depends on how much you want to spend.

If you want to spend more go for Nokian Hakka 7's studded.
If you want to spend lesser go for Nokian R2 studdless or Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60.

You can also try Vredstein (now co-owned by Apollo). They're around the same price range as the Nokians.

There's a big choice but these are the only ones I'm comfortable recommending.

[mohit]

Originally Posted by amitoj

I also need to get winter tyres for my wife's car. However, unlike Ninad's requirement, this is 70% city and 30% highway driving. Any suggestions?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R - Might be the best for your neck of woods. Doesn't work very well if you get dry spells like Toronto. We often have periods of no snow and the hakkas' highway performance on a dry pavement leaves a bit to be desired.
Michelin X-Ice 2/3 - OK all round tire.

Edit: After reading aah78's post above, I realized that unlike here, you have studded tires as an option. Above-mentioned options are studless only.

[Jomz]

Originally Posted by NinadJoshi

Anyone here with winter tire purchase and usage experience care to post their opinion ?

Thanks in advance.

I have used Nokian Hakkapellitas and Vredestein Quatrac 3.

The Nokian was the superior one of the both. I found then on ebay from a seller named nokiantiresandssaabparts guy or so.

Nokian +'s

Amazing Grip
Cheap (if you get from ebay)

Nokian -'s

Noise.
It collects too much snow and throws out through the sides, which makes the cars look ugly
Tire life , when there was no snow the tires was wearing like crazy.

Vredestein Quatrac 3 tires - This is an Indian Tire, Vredestein is now owned by Apollo Tire India

+
Tire wear. can easily go upto 40k miles
Noise is lesser than the Nokians.
Available on some online dealers

-
Grip is lesser than the Nokians
Mpg's took a hit -1mpg

Other tires which are around and I've heard good things are

Michelin X Ice
General Altimax Artic.
Blizzaks

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by NinadJoshi

Thinking of buying winter tires this year. Never bought Winters before, so am kind of new to this.

Where exactly do you live? How much snow do you get? How fast is ploughing? Do you have to drive often on unploughed roads?

Originally Posted by aah78

Which region are you located in the US? I'm assuming you drive FWD?

If you're considering 70% hwy driving and your region gets moderate snow with regular plowing, and you don't have much of a rural commute, I second mohit's recommendation in going for a performance winter tire.

+1 to that. Last winter we had about 40+ inches of snow in the Chicago metro area, but we never felt the need to get snow tires. The roads are ploughed faster than it snows! Only if you are in rural communities when the ploughing is going to be slow, you need to get winter tires in this area.

Originally Posted by Jomz

I have used Nokian Hakkapellitas and Vredestein Quatrac 3.

The Nokian was the superior one of the both. I found then on ebay from a seller named nokiantiresandssaabparts guy or so.

Nokian +'s

Amazing Grip
Cheap (if you get from ebay)

Nokian -'s

Noise.
It collects too much snow and throws out through the sides, which makes the cars look ugly
Tire life , when there was no snow the tires was wearing like crazy.

Vredestein Quatrac 3 tires - This is an Indian Tire, Vredestein is now owned by Apollo Tire India

+
Tire wear. can easily go upto 40k miles
Noise is lesser than the Nokians.
Available on some online dealers

-
Grip is lesser than the Nokians
Mpg's took a hit -1mpg

Other tires which are around and I've heard good things are

Michelin X Ice
General Altimax Artic.
Blizzaks

Good suggestions. If I ever need snow tires, will check back on this .

Also, congratulations on the TSX - good choice. A friend of mine made money selling his leased TSX. Post lease price agreed upon was higher than market price. He made a 1000$ profit. So the TSX is a good car to lease. Did you get one with the manual?

[Fraz33r]

The Number of new car owners has gone up considerably here.
Congratulations to the new BRZ's and others.

I am also a part of that and just bought a 328i RWD.

I would also be looking for getting winter tires (Alloys + RFT's) and would be needing inputs as well.

[NinadJoshi]

Originally Posted by aah78

Which region are you located in the US? I'm assuming you drive FWD?

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

Where exactly do you live? How much snow do you get? How fast is ploughing? Do you have to drive often on unploughed roads?

Originally Posted by Jomz

Other tires which are around and I've heard good things are >>>
General Altimax Artic.

I’m a Michigan resident for 16 years, so snow (lots of it) isn't new to me, neither is driving in snow. I tend to put a good number of miles on my cars, and I've done ok so far on normal all-season tires through all sorts of Michigan weather vagaries. Still, I’m toying with the idea of specialized tires for the winter out of curiosity more than anything else. You can say I’m just trying to explore options that could make my drives safer and/or better And yes, I have a FWD car that I am looking to winterize. I also have a AWD car and a minivan that do not get used as much as the FWD car does so they are out of scope.

General Altimax does look like a good price-to-performance bargain among others. Tirerack rates it among the best.

Thanks for your suggestions, all. It is always good to learn something new. Keep them coming.

[Jomz]

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

Also, congratulations on the TSX - good choice. A friend of mine made money selling his leased TSX. Post lease price agreed upon was higher than market price. He made a 1000$ profit. So the TSX is a good car to lease. Did you get one with the manual?

Thanks Vineeth.

Went with the Auto. This car is supposed to replace the ageing Corolla after the lease, so that my wife can drive too. If we don't like it, we might just turn it in.

Wifey says when the Corolla goes (~2-3 years) , I can get my fun car with M/T. Thinking of a C6ZO6, cayman , BRZ Sti/ FRS TRD etc, But it is a while away.

[tanstaafl]

I have been on all seasons (FWD) for the last few years. My town does seem to do a good job clearing the snow but I will have to get snow tires this winter because I am moving to an RWD vehicle. Do you guys get steelies or just pay for the tire transfer twice?

[NinadJoshi]

Spealing of BRZ, my cousin bought a Scion FR-S (BRZ twin) last month in South Carolina...and now he's moving to Michigan next month. I guess he will be in for some winter tires with me too