I am presently considering getting all season Goodyear Eagle F1's for the rig. See prev. post on Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S's.

But I have heard many recommendations saying get a set of cheap wheels and put Blizzaks on them for winter. This approach I am also considering.

However my dealer has always recommended getting a 4-wheel alignment everytime I get new tires, I assume that is due to different footprint or diameters. Now what about changing from winter to summer or summer to winter wheel sets which likely have different diameters/footprints.

Does that mean when I swap to and from the second set of wheels that I should also get an alignment?? ie: 2 alignments a year on an 8000 mile/year car?

Or is all this alignment talk a batch of dog donuts.

So many questions so little time.

 

I already posted my comments in Wheels and Tires thread. Again, I put GY Eagle F1 All-Season tires on my stock AP2 wheels for this winter. The reason is that I have a lot of experience of driving on snow - I've lived in Russia for 21 years and have driven car for 4 winters out there and I know the benefits of winter tires as well as A/S.

I bought F1s tires 1.5 months ago and last Sunday's morning I tested them on snow. That was not so bad as I expected. As tirerack says, those tires have rally good traction on lite snow (compared with others A/S). Since car is warmed up and not pushing much fuel when engine is cold, it was fine on that day and I had driven from PA to Jersey City, NJ.
First few stops I felt ABS in my foot but after few miles that was gone.

I live in here third year and didn't see much snow in winter, so my decision was to get decent A/S tires.

Since most of the winter the roads in here are not wet or icy but dry, you will just rub off you winter tires very quickly, that is the primary reason of buying decent A/S tires. Usually A/S tires have not very good snow traction, but those GY definitely surprised me. Thats my own opinion on this and I'm really happy for now with my GY Eagle F1 All-Season.

Good luck with the decision.

 

Here is another thing about winter wheels, probably that will help you as well.

As you know all forged and alloy wheels are lighter and stronger that regular ferro-wheels (don't beat me for my English .
But the benefits of regular wheels in winter is that they has more elasticity than alloy wheels. What I mean, is that in winter your suspension will have a lot more hits by road roughness because of the pavement temperature and overall road conditions. So when you drive on alloy wheels with small wheel contour all that hits will go through your wheel to your suspension (thats why we have disbalance or curvature after good hit on alloy wheels), but on regular wheels that hits will be a bit lighter because of elasticity of the wheel itself.

All that said having regular wheels with whatever tires (A/S or winter) will prolong your suspension life and alloy wheels life

 

Thanks for the info FREEK.

I sort of thought that the alignment stuff was a little too much, and likely the dealer is just trying to make a few $$ (after all, it is Christmas and got to buy those little urchins some gifts).

My existing tire wear, almost to the wear bars now, is perfect so I suspect the alignment is good.

I am leaning toward a the Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S's since I don't have lots of $ of my own to burn on another set of rims and rubber for summer. And it seems you like the F1's so far.

 

I bought a set of Blizzaks mounted on wheels at Tire Rack and after 3 years no alignment issues. They make a huge difference especially on ice. I put them on in about an hour and I'm ready to go in the snow.

 

I vote spare set......no alignment

 

Two sets. Both with the same size tires. If there is a discrepancy in tire width or height its going to be very minimal so there is no need for an alignment when switching.

 

If your going to drive you S through the rest of the winter, do yourself a favor buy a set of Ap1s from one of the guys here, and put a set of dunlop wintersports on em! Dec.-Apr. ish your good to go! SAFELY! Then for the mild weather youll have "proper" summer tires! Youll be more happy than half assin it on A/S! You can get by, but not as good in the winter and not as good in the summer! It may cost a few extra $$, but you have to remember you splitting the life, theyll both outlast the A/S. My best investment for the S so far!
Oh! no need for re-alignment! BS! AND the wintersports are amazing in the wet under 50 deg. A/S wont come close

 

[QUOTE=laguna2s2k,Dec 9 2007, 11:02 PM]If your going to drive you S through the rest of the winter, do yourself a favor buy a set of Ap1s from one of the guys here, and put a set of dunlop wintersports on em! Dec.-Apr. ish your good to go! SAFELY! Then for the mild weather youll have "proper" summer tires! Youll be more happy than half assin it on A/S! You can get by, but not as good in the winter and not as good in the summer! It may cost a few extra $$, but you have to remember you splitting the life, theyll both outlast the A/S.

 

I am a poor student but even I have bought winter tires for my baby.With this
car please don't save a few hundred bucks and buy all seasons.Just buy a spare set of AP1 wheels and mount winter tires on them.No alignment needed whatsoever.This has two benefits-
1. Safety in winter
2. Full enjoyment in summer
Also with all seasons if you drive in harsh conditions sooner or later you WILL crash(Ok only 90% chance ) and all the money saved will go down the drain. BUY the winters and be safe.