skinny tires. HA!

265/35-18

 

I don't have winters on my S2k, but on my 6-6 Accord I run a second set of wheels with Dunlop Winter Sport 3D, fantastic tires in the snow/ice. As were their predecessors, Winter Sport M3s. I've had great luck with them and the first set lasted 9 seasons.

 

Nice! Ice rally setup, or just daily driven?

 

Daily driven 600+ miles a week!

 

Thanks all for the advice! I ended up going with a set of Blizzak LM32 225/45R17 all around. I also took everyone's advice and bought a new set of wheels so I wouldn't need to have the winter and summer tires swapped out every year on the same rims. The new wheels aren't exactly my cup of tea but they're just for the winter and they were the least expensive so it's ok... I hate to drive the S in the winter but my wife can't seem to get on board with a 3rd car so the S is my daily driver.

 

Just put these on, 205/55-16 all around. I'll post notes once it snows. Thanks Tire Rack!

 

Notes: General Altimax Arctic

I chose the Generals for winter because of several positive reports on here as a good, lower-priced winter tire. I followed the advice of several folks to run a square 205/55-16 setup (OEM 16" wheels) rather than the usual staggered 225/50 in the rear, because of tire availability, as well as narrower tires generally performing better in the snow.

Dry/wet performance

Before the snow hit, I put 100 or so miles on the winter tires over the course of several days. Compared to the all-seasons, performance was predictably and noticeably degraded. Throttle steering, steering responsiveness, and steering accuracy all suffer. The car has a tendency to wander under hard braking. I didn’t approach the limits of grip in any corners, because I’m trying not to abuse them and rather use these tires for what they’re made for (i.e. snow), but I did smell the rubber after some medium-hard cornering. Path through the corners is not quite as predictable as the Firehawks either.

One detectable advantage of the snows is ride quality: the softer sidewalls and more supple tread (I’m guessing) absorb a lot more of the road imperfections than the Firehawks.

Snow performance

I felt confident driving sensibly in the snow on the Generals. In one inch of snow, they cut right through at normal side-street speeds. To handle 2+ inches, slower speeds or steering corrections (and more latitude) are required.

In low-speed parking and turning maneuvers, the Generals are able to handle several inches of slop without spinning the wheels, and with minimal lateral sliding.

In summary: consider me a satisfied customer.

 

With a dedicated winter tires the S2K is fine in the snow. With an all season tire you could probably get by if you don't get a lot of snow. Other than ground clearance the S2K with winter tires are fine.
If I can help let me know.

 

Nokian's are the best but if you want something more affordable, consider Blizzak and Winterforce.