Kittamaru Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 2001 Subaru Legacy Limited AWD Currently running standard All Weather tires... work decent... but she has a few small problems getting going in snow. She's not as accustomed to driving in snow as I am (considering she USED to drive a '99 Cavalier Z24... lol) but yeah. I'm looking at the possibility of getting her a spare set of wheels with actual winter tires, be they snow or A/T. Thing is... I don't see a whole lot of options for small-car snow tires. Trying to stay below 150 a tire if possible... but I don't know ANYTHING about the ones available: Firestone Winterforce - Studdable tire with decent reviews. Reading to be a noisy tire, but effective in deep snow and on ice. Stud option necessary? Decent tread wear and cornering. Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 - Studdless Ice/Snow Tire - seems to perform better in snow and slush than most other winter tires, but has a much higher tread wear rate and corners are a little squishy? Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 - Good tire life, less performance in deep snow than others, but better handling. Would AWD make up the difference over softer compound tires? It also seems to be less aggressively designed... these almost seem like an all weather tire? Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice - One of the only true "snow" tires, not snow "performance" tires, I'm looking at... seems to have the BEST ice/snow/slush/wet rating, good tread life, it's studless, and all the reviews I've seen for em are positively beaming. This is the one I'm looking at... any reason not to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laxman0324 Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Don't use A/T's...really your best bet is a snow tire if she didn't like the A/S tires, or maybe a better set of A/S tires... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 16, 2009 Author Share Posted February 16, 2009 (edited) The A/S tires are decent... but they're just that... All Season. She's also not terribly skilled in snow an ice, so any edge I can giver her, you know Her car has AWD, Traction Control, ABS, Stability Control, and all those other fun features... but without good tires and good driving skills, they mean naught So yeah... looking for a snow tire... but all I see really are Snow Performance tires... *shrugs* Save for the two I listed Any previous experience with em? Edited February 16, 2009 by Kittamaru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vengeful Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Blizzaks. Take a look at the Hankook iPike, too. We use those on the Rally Car and they work really well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 No experiance with any of those, but I do hear good things about the Blizzaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 You'd think with an AWD that stopping would be the bigger issue right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 Well, like I said - the big thing is her street NEVER gets plowed, so the tracks are created, melt, refreeze, melt a little, are re-tracked, et cetera. While I have no problem even in 2WD ... her vehicle doesn't like it too much, and I think it's cause she has factory A/S Performance tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vengeful Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Yeah, that's nothing a good set of snow tires won't fix. Snow tires will also help with stopping...but they won't keep the person behind her from plowing into her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I hear good about the Blizzaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 *grins* Snow tires WILL help prevent the person behind her plowing into her... because with good reflexes (and a bit of luck) she'll be able to avoid that ass I had one person plow into me... mini cooper vs pathfinder is NOT pretty... for the cooper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 What woman uses the rear view mirror for anything but makeup application? You give her too much credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 Lol, she's a better driver than most, I have to give her credit for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vengeful Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Then why is she having trouble? :idea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 Lol, let me break it down for you: Good Car + Good Tires + No Driver Skill = Problems Good Car + Bad Tires + Good Driver Skill = Problems Bad Car + Good Tires + Good Driver Skill = Problems Good Car + Good Tires + Good Driver Skill = No Problems She has performance Street Tires atm, she needs something with a bit more grip on ice and snow before her skills really start to matter And like I said - her only real trouble is our (heavily sloped) driveway and street Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Good Car + highway all season tires + decent skills = no problems For me at least...I hardly use 4wd (clicking CV) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainman Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 Get these! They are an awesome tire on my Subaru Forester, really suite the AWD system. Very good stopping power on ice and compact snow, also good handling on same. Maybe a bit on the weak side for deeper fluffy stuff compared to a more traditional open tread snow tire but so far no issues for me. The Hankook iPike would be a good choice as well, we have an older version on our van and they are good and would be a bit cheaper than the WS-60's. Good snow tires make a huge difference, even with the excellent Subaru AWD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Good Car + highway all season tires + decent skills = no problems For me at least...I hardly use 4wd (clicking CV) LOL, thing is though - her car has about 8 inches less clearance than my truck Plus, your All Season tires are FAR more grippy than a Subaru Legacy's Performance Street tires Truck vs Car = Apples vs Camels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I am running these right now Kitt. They're not bad, but they are very squishy in the corners even when aired to 35psi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbywan Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Blizzaks are nice but extremely overpriced. I know they're not listed but I'd consider some Hankook Icebears I believe W300. They are pretty darn good and they're inexpensive. I used to run them on my BMW in the winter on a set of 17's until I got the Pathy. With them on that car would go anywhere and handled VERY well for winter tire. It actually was better in the snow then my wifes Mazda3. So if they can transform the Mach5 into a winter warrior then they will for sure make a suby shine! I would stay away from studded snow tires unless you've got constant ice everywhere for the entire time you'll have them on because with studs if the ground is only wet (very common in winter) then they will get much worse traction. Stick with technology stay away from studs. -Colby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Good Car + Good Tires + No Driver Skill = Problems Good Car + Bad Tires + Good Driver Skill = Problems Bad Car + Good Tires + Good Driver Skill = Problems Good Car + Good Tires + Good Driver Skill = No Problems Truck vs Car = Apples vs Camels You are in good form today. Thanks for the chuckle... Good snow tires make a huge difference, even with the excellent Subaru AWD. Damn Canadian Pathy defectors!! B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Heh, precise, you know I have a point. A Subaru Legacy is NOT an SUV, and I want to give my darling every advantage in the snow... she's the love of my life and I worry about her.. wouldn't you do the same for your wife/girlfriend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Blizzaks are nice but extremely overpriced. I know they're not listed but I'd consider some Hankook Icebears I believe W300. They are pretty darn good and they're inexpensive. I used to run them on my BMW in the winter on a set of 17's until I got the Pathy. With them on that car would go anywhere and handled VERY well for winter tire. It actually was better in the snow then my wifes Mazda3. So if they can transform the Mach5 into a winter warrior then they will for sure make a suby shine! I would stay away from studded snow tires unless you've got constant ice everywhere for the entire time you'll have them on because with studs if the ground is only wet (very common in winter) then they will get much worse traction. Stick with technology stay away from studs. -Colby *nods* The Studded snow tires were kinda making me crosseyed with the laws around here in PA XD Best I can gather, unless there's 3+ inches of snow, they're illegal lol... I'll look around at the Hankook Icebears... thing is, I need to find some place round here that sells tires and/or wheels witthout trying to rape you up the bum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colbywan Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 *nods* The Studded snow tires were kinda making me crosseyed with the laws around here in PA XD Best I can gather, unless there's 3+ inches of snow, they're illegal lol... I'll look around at the Hankook Icebears... thing is, I need to find some place round here that sells tires and/or wheels witthout trying to rape you up the bum Have you checked tirerack.com? or discount.com? I just bought a set of mudders from tirerack. -Colby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 That's what I'm looking at now - was hoping to find a local store so I didn't have to pay shipping but not sure that's gonna happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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