Best Winter/All-season tires

2001 ACR · Post by **2001 ACR** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:17 am

Alright, I need new tires after my car crashed as a result of my crappy ones... They're great in the summer but can't handle the cold, wet Kentucky roads.

Which set of tires would be best for use in winter (slush, snow, etc) and still grip well in the summer?

- Toyo Proxes FZ4's
- Falken Ziex 312's
- Falken Ziex 912's
- Kumho Ecsta SPT's
- Kumho ASK's

The only 2 conditions are that the set cost me less than $360 ($90 per tire or less), and that they be 205/55/15's. I think 205/55/15 is the right size for my 2001 ACR "snowflakes."

Oh, and where is the best (cheapest) place to purchase tires and have them installed? I'm a noob at all this...

jT · Post by jT » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:47 am

i still say yokohama avid trz's.. but i dont know that ive ready any reviews on the tires you listed, so...

if i remember right, a lot of kumho tires had bad reviews.. but im going off memory here..

cheapest place to get tires would be tirerack.com or discounttiredirect.com and then finding a place locally to install that wont rip you off... if youve got a walmart with a tire center try there, i had my rims put on, tires mounted and balanced for a total of 20-30.. any tire shop would have wanted that much per tire

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:52 am

If you have a place to store 4 tire/rims, Pacemark Snowtrekker's are the cheap way to go. Sam's/Walmart and some other chains carry them. Get some cheap steelies, and have those mounted. Maybe an option for next year.
Those tires won't last long running year round, but by only running them in the winter months, I have 3 years on mine and still plenty of tread. Available storage is the key factor tho. Excluding the wheels, they should be within $200-$300 for all four corners.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:09 am

IMO, I have found that Kumho tires give the best bang for the buck. On your list you have the SPT on there. Those tires should not only never see snow, there is also a warning not to drive on them near freezing temperatures

I run the ASX's on my snowflakes in the winter (205/60/15), and SPT's on my SRT wheels the rest of the year.

As a side note, since my car doesn't see winter driving any more, I have a set of the ASX on my snowflakes for sale. The have one winter on them, and all but one wheel are in very good condition. PM me if you want some more info.

2001 ACR · Post by **2001 ACR** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:43 am

Danteneon wrote:IMO, I have found that Kumho tires give the best bang for the buck. On your list you have the SPT on there. Those tires should not only never see snow, there is also a warning not to drive on them near freezing temperatures

I run the ASX's on my snowflakes in the winter (205/60/15), and SPT's on my SRT wheels the rest of the year.

As a side note, since my car doesn't see winter driving any more, I have a set of the ASX on my snowflakes for sale. The have one winter on them, and all but one wheel are in very good condition. PM me if you want some more info.

Someone must have recommended the SPT's as a bad joke...

I'll pm you about your ASX's.

Boyscoutgonebad · Post by **Boyscoutgonebad** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:19 pm

looking for some winter tires/wheels as well. My question is where would I find a set of steel wheels? tirerack.com caries steelies but not in the right size. Any suggestions?

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:02 pm

14" steel wheels are the "right size"

you don't need to get 15" or 16" steel wheels. just use the recommended size that they will give you and you will be set. the R/T's use the same height tire as the SE's and ES/SXT's

Boyscoutgonebad · Post by **Boyscoutgonebad** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:15 pm

[quote="racer12306"]14" steel wheels are the "right size"

you don't need to get 15" or 16" steel wheels. just use the recommended size that they will give you and you will be set. the R/T's use the same height tire as the SE's and ES/SXT's[/quote

I was pretty sure they were all the same, no matter what i put in (14 15, sxt, RT, SRT) Tirerack.com shows none available for steel wheels. So either I'm really dense or they just don't have them for neons.
Any other recommended web sites. that would have steel wheels?

I havn't tried any local shops yet I just wanted to get an idea of price. So i guess that'll be my next stop.

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:19 pm

junkyard

Mopar_Korean · Post by **Mopar_Korean** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:37 am

As far as the "best" winter tire goes the Hankook Ice Bears W300 have been regarded as top of its class this year for studless snow tires. But these tires only reach their full potential in temperatures under 45* Any higher temps and you run the risk of wearing out the thread prematurely. Hankook also make another snow tie that is a bit more agressive called iPikes. These are also very good and have provisions for studs (if leagal in your state). Yokohama makes a set of snows called Ice Guards. Also a good tire.

As for all seasons, the Yokohama 520 is a very nice tire that wears good and as long as I have been working at Discount Tire we haven't had to send one back to the factory due to separation or any other defects. The same goes for the Kumho KR21. I would stay away from Arizonian, Dominators, and Goodyears (except RS-A or F1's but expect to pay!)

Continental, Michelins. and BFG are good as well but personally I don't see the point in spending $150+ per tire for a neon. But I drive like an idiot and burn through a set of tires every 6 months so thats just a personal opinion.

Hope this helps!

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:32 am

I've ran the Falken 312's and the 912's. Both are great, and have decent snow use. In fact, I bought the 312s for my neon when it was snowing, and it worked out pretty great. They were also good for a 2.17 60'!!