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winter tires?

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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 07:21 PM
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Default winter tires?

Ok well it is winter time if some of you haven't noticed. and for some of us our s2k's are not just garage queens. what do you all plan on running this year for tires to deal with this season?

I'm gonna be buying blizzak ws70's used them for ice racing in alaska(so does everyone else on the field) and i swear by them. now I only have a set of stock rims. would i be fine if I go with a 205/65R16 for the front and a 225/60R16 for the rear. instead of the factory 205/55R16 for the front and 225/50R16 for the rear.

reason why im not throwing stock sizes on there is they dont make a 225/50R16 for the ws70's. itll only add 2 inches of tire height would that rub?
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 07:30 PM
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On dry days it could be a problem but in the snow you shouldn't be driving like that. What suspension are you sitting on?

My opinion: Start looking for AP2 wheels. There's much better options for tires. Or, go skinny to maintain the correct height if you can. A more narrow snow tire is preferred any way. Also, I don't really think we get enough snow to justify Blizzaks. (As awesome as they are..) A good A/S handles the winters up here just fine.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by VPS_AP1
Ok well it is winter time if some of you haven't noticed. and for some of us our s2k's are not just garage queens. what do you all plan on running this year for tires to deal with this season?

I'm gonna be buying blizzak ws70's used them for ice racing in alaska(so does everyone else on the field) and i swear by them. now I only have a set of stock rims. would i be fine if I go with a 205/65R16 for the front and a 225/60R16 for the rear. instead of the factory 205/55R16 for the front and 225/50R16 for the rear.

reason why im not throwing stock sizes on there is they dont make a 225/50R16 for the ws70's. itll only add 2 inches of tire height would that rub?
I don't know for sure, but 2 extra inches of tire sounds like a lot.

Recommended stock AP1 snow tire sizes are 205/55R16 all around. The WS-70 does come in that size, so just go for that if you want WS-70's.

I'm running the cheaper General Altimax Arctic in 205/55R16 all around and have no complaints about handling balance. Dry handling sucks of course, but 205's in the rear haven't suddenly made my car an oversteer monster or anything like that. And I have tested them. I have some great local twistys that I still frequent a few times a week, despite my snow tires.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by TopGear
I don't know for sure, but 2 extra inches of tire sounds like a lot.
x a lot...

Originally Posted by TopGear
Recommended stock AP1 snow tire are 205/55R16 all around. The WS-70 does come in that size, so just go for that.
Didn't know that. I can understand why it would be preferred in the snow, but I'm betting these tires stay on through the winter -- snow or not. I wouldn't want to drive around on non-staggered 205's. It's too tempting to get on the throttle some days. I'd forget and get myself into trouble.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by e3opian
Didn't know that. I can understand why it would be preferred in the snow, but I'm betting these tires stay on through the winter -- snow or not. I wouldn't want to drive around on non-staggered 205's. It's too tempting to get on the throttle some days. I'd forget and get myself into trouble.
I know I ninja edited while you were typing this, but I haven't had any trouble on many "spirited" drives since putting on the 205 snow tires. I don't think the loss of 20mm in the rear matters for anything but 10/10 autocross or track driving.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 07:48 PM
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Good to know. Thanks for the real world experience.
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Old Jan 4, 2012 | 08:53 PM
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I have a 4wd truck I drive in snow or inclement weather but after years of trying new tires for the S(and being stuck in snow) i'm dead set on the continental extreme contact DSW. Got me home in 4+ inches of snow with minimal tire spin, even passed 2 s2k's on the side off FFX Co. parkway. Excellent wet/dry traction, low noise and surprising tread life. But that is an all season tire.
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 06:14 AM
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I like how it is january and we havent had to worry about winter tires yet. By like i mean hate. And by january I mean, I want snow.
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 07:17 AM
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33x12.5x18 general grabbers on my Silverado 4x4.

Kumho XS on the S2000.
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Old Jan 5, 2012 | 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by FASTSIIK
I have a 4wd truck I drive in snow or inclement weather but after years of trying new tires for the S(and being stuck in snow) i'm dead set on the continental extreme contact DSW. Got me home in 4+ inches of snow with minimal tire spin, even passed 2 s2k's on the side off FFX Co. parkway. Excellent wet/dry traction, low noise and surprising tread life. But that is an all season tire.
I ran staggered (stock AP1 size) Potenza 960AS Pole Positions last winter and even got caught during a heavy snowstorm on I-95. Had no issues, just had to keep the car under 40MPH and use very light feet, occasionally catching a minor slip of the rear end.

The rears have worn out now, since I use them for commuting too, and Bridgestone stopped making that tire in my size so I put DWS's on the rear and left the Pole Positions on the front. No problems yet.
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