Here is a pic of S2KRAY proudly displaying his Super Sprint exhaust

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by S2KRAY
[B] I dont have a beater, yet, but after this rotten winter I am definitely thinking of getting one.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DWynne
[B]
The Blizzaak tires are supposed to be good, but the "multicell" tread is only in the first 50% or so of the tire and is said to wear away quickly. At the time I got mine, the Guardex used a similar technology but for the full tread depth.

 

You fellas make a really good point here. In Calgary, we too, probably have clear pavement showing more often than when it is snow covered. I think the critical issue is road surface temperature. Even thought we have clear roads a lot, they are generally and consistently COLD most of the winter. My Blizzaks are holding up quite well. I don't believe they have worn down to the "non" snow tire material yet and they are in their 3rd winter.

 

I drive my BMW like I stole it and the Guardex snow tires have held up just fine. I put them on as late in the season as I can (December usually, this year I made it to mid-January) and take them off as soon as I can.

Trust me, if I can't wear out snow tires in TN you should not be able to do it "up north". I had the same little wear on the Graspics and I had them on 2 different cars over a 4-5 year period. It pays to have spare rims (or a buddy in the tire biz) since the change-over and re-balance really starts to cost money after a while. On lesser cars I could get cheap steel wheels from TireRack, but I had to get "alloys" to fit over the huge rotors on the BMW.

People think I am nuts to buy snows in TN, we don't get a lot of snow down here - but I go in the rain, slush, ice, and snow. I change the tires in the driveway using a jack and an electric impact. Does not take too long and I just store the other wheels and tires in the garage.

I also get to use high performance "summer" rubber the other 9-10 months of the year I don't have the snows on. That to me is a REAL ADVANTAGE over "all season" tires - they do nothing well. My summer tires and snow tires out perform them all year long.

Dennis

 

Same Chinese firedrill here, except I use a torque wrench. Honda specifies 80 ft lb for their lug nuts. Most others specifiy 100 ft lb, I think. Does your electric impact nut driver have a torque setting?

I do four cars x 2 sets of wheels per car: son's Accord, wife's Accord, my Prelude, my S2000. It really only takes about 30 minutes a car. Haul all the stuff back and forth to a tire store and waiting for it to be done wrong wouldn't be as easy.

The 2 1/4 ton floor jack I bought from Sears last year is a big improvement over the emergency jack found in the boot.

 

I use the electric impact to take them off and to spin them back on (not very tight), then use a hand torque wrench to finish the job.

The BMW has a neat little jack that is very easy to use and fits into "special slots" under the car. I have a floor jack (used it on the other cars) but I just stick with the BMW jack for this one. A little more work, but it makes me feel better

My only complaint is as I get older, I don't bend and flex as well, and I have pains for several days after changing the tires.

Dennis

 

Being at the bottom you probably won't read this S2KRAY, but it finally started snowing here in Utah and I finally caved in after doing a 360 on the road. Thank God no one was around. I bought 4 Yoko 721's (2- 205/55/16 & 2-225/50/16)and 4 Konig Divas (16x7) for less than $800 brand new at Discount Tire. Just thought I'd share the info.

 

we have 'em on our benz......superb tire......excellent, really.

however, i find the tire geared more for high speed stability (it's speed rated) and "decent" traction, not for "in the trenches" type of winter driving.

obviously i have to "roll out" from a stop in the benz b/c of the power and therefore the initial traction
qualities can't be spoken for. i honestly don't know how they would do on an S2000.......

the blizzaks, on the other hand, i can hammer from a light...get a bit of spin....and then nothin' but TRACTION!

 

Well, guess what. It's snowing like a banshee in Delaware, we're supposed to get around 8". I'm at work, S2K is tucked away safely in garage. Wife 's bus is closed and I drove her front wheel drive Lexus to work. I'm leaving soon, might be shopping for Blizzaks now that I have all this great info. Thanks again.