WINter TIres............help

Goodoer

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2004
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GTA & Thereabouts...
One way to look at it is that the cost of snow tires is cheaper than the accident you'll avoid.

If you put lots of kilometers on your car, spend the money and buy the better name brand tires: Goodyear, Continental, Bridgestone, etc. I've had great luck with Toyo for winter tires (Michelin for summer). Kuhmos and Hankook are good too at a lesser price point. Nokians are bonkers expensive. I'm sure most guys here can bore you with technicalities of tires...

If you put a few kilometers on the car, you can save some money and buy whatever Canadian Tire has on special. Any winter tire sold in Ontario is better than an all-season or summer tire.

You'll get better life out of the tires if you buy a set of black steel rims to mount the tires upon. Expect to pay $40-$70/rim (size dependent) and add that to the tire price. Figure out if you have a place to store the tires (summer or winter) when not in use.

For steel rims and tires, balanced and installed a price between $800-$1,000 is reasonable in my opinion. Tire size, etc. will govern the price. The price you've quoted has a huge range - make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

If you have doubts, my only other recommendation is to buy from a reputable shop like OK Tire, KalTire, Green + Ross, etc. Some local shops are fantastic, but word of mouth should take you there. I have had good service with Tire Discounter.
 

newbierubber

Member
Dec 13, 2003
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Toronto
Goodoer gave some good advice. But a lot depends on what kind of car, truck or SUV you drive. If you drive a civic then you can go with a cheaper tire. If you have an Audi then you should buy a higher end tire. Then trucks and SUV's would yet again alter the possibilities. I just spent $1500 for tires, rims, tpms sensors and new lug nuts. If I went to the dealer and got alloy rims instead of steel it would have been closer to $3,000. Then there's the storage issue, some places will store your tires for you for a nominal fee or no cost. But then they expect you to go back for service at there shop.
 

WoodPeckr

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May 29, 2002
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Meh......snows are over-rated and I'm from Buffalo.....:eyebrows:

Haven't used snow tires in ~30 years, and haven't had any snow related accident in ALL that time, knock on wood....:)
 

rhuarc29

Well-known member
Apr 15, 2009
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Meh......snows are over-rated and I'm from Buffalo.....:eyebrows:

Haven't used snow tires in ~30 years, and haven't had any snow related accident in ALL that time, knock on wood....:)
You're that guy who got stuck turning around in my driveway last winter, aren't you? :biggrin1:

I don't think winter tires are overrated at all. They can get you out of hairy situations. The fact that you haven't been in a sufficiently hairy situation doesn't mean winter tires are ineffectual.
 

WoodPeckr

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May 29, 2002
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You're that guy who got stuck turning around in my driveway last winter, aren't you? :biggrin1:
Only used snow tires the few years living in Buffalo...because we only saw a snow plow on our street twice a winter, whether we needed it or not!....:D

After moving to the burbs there was no need for snows.....they know how to plow roads in the burbs....:cool:
 

HEYHEY

Well-known member
Nov 25, 2005
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Ok,, quotes from 1100 to 565 to install new snow tires ,,, Whats the best deal......? I got the king of tires vrs Another company,, Help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONh9tikYiqM
First thing don't go to canadian tire. If you do expect to pay 25% more right off the bat and have them fuck it up 3 times before installing the correct size etc...

Second, best bang for your buck is a set of general altimax arctic, 2nd would be michelin x ice xi2 or xi3.

600-700 with rims for sedans installed, 900-1000 with rims for most suvs installed.

2 places to call would be tires23 or brampton tire world.


Finally make sure you check the tire's age, don't take anything over half a year old. Most people don/t know that tires have a shelf life of about 6 years.

 

HEYHEY

Well-known member
Nov 25, 2005
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Only used snow tires the few years living in Buffalo...because we only saw a snow plow on our street twice a winter, whether we needed it or not!....:D

After moving to the burbs there was no need for snows.....they know how to plow roads in the burbs....:cool:
Winter tires aren't just made for snow. The softer compound gives you more traction on dry pavement, wet, ice and snow. Your all seasons become harder the colder it gets and you loose traction over all.
 

powerten

Member
Oct 18, 2010
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You can compare prices online for a specific brand with several tire stores in Buffalo. Between tax and lower US pricing you'll save 30% or more and they'll store your summer tires for you. Fill up on cheaper gas and it's worth the drive. Needless to say customs isn't going to know where you got the tires.
 

greyhaired

Member
May 7, 2012
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West of Toronto
It's my opinion that ice radials are the way to go depending on the type of vehicle you drive because around here we very seldom get enough snow to warrant the aggressive treads you would need to plow through deep snow,but we do get lots of slick road conditions. don't go to Canadian Tire, find a local tire store and avoid dealerships at all cost. You might want to take a male friend along who knows cars.... that will reduce the possibility of being hosed and one more thing. Shop local. Give your business to someone who would want to see you come back...
 

blackrock13

Banned
Jun 6, 2009
40,085
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Winter tires aren't just made for snow. The softer compound gives you more traction on dry pavement, wet, ice and snow. Your all seasons become harder the colder it gets and you loose traction over all.
Let alone the fact that pekkerhead doesn't drive anywhere but his hood, that would make sense, yet the regular world does drive outside of metropolitan Buffalo.
 

Ceiling Cat

Well-known member
Feb 25, 2009
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There are a million choices out there. Simplify things for yourself. Buy where everyone buys tire, that way you get new rubber, not ones left over from previous years. For myself, If it is a medium priced tire you need, then I would go for Goodyear Nordic. If it is a more expensive car then I would go for Continental ExtremeWinterContact. Both available at Canadian Tire. Both rated well for the needs intended.
 

Ridgeman08

50 Shades of AJ
Nov 28, 2008
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I investigated tires on the board a couple weeks ago... I heard it was cheaper to go over to the states and get them, but that turned out to be BS, especially since customs guards have an eye out for this very thing. Didn't wanna chance it, so I just shopped around and finally settled on a set of Michelin X-Ice Xi3, on steel rims, $750ish... Then bought some hub caps from CTC- those steel rims are just fugly! LOL
 

Ceiling Cat

Well-known member
Feb 25, 2009
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Given the choice of ugly caps from CTC or black, I would go black. OEM caps or nothing.
 

DanJ

New member
May 28, 2011
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I just bought Bridgestone Blizzak's from Costco. Ordered them online, tires delivered to the store, rims to my house. Got an email when they were delivered to the store, called them up and booked a time. Was in and out of there in an hour on a Sunday. Tire storage is an issue for a lot of people, but I also wouldn't trust the places that say they will store them for you. I've seen some of them and their setups and can't imagine how they can guarantee you will get your wheels back.
 

afterhours

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Jul 14, 2009
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Given the choice of ugly caps from CTC or black, I would go black. OEM caps or nothing.
I think these black steel rims do not exist for cars like BMW, Merc etc. Right?
 

Ceiling Cat

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Feb 25, 2009
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I have never checked, since I only drive my 4WD Venza in the winter and the rear wheel drive vehicle is for no snow roads only.

 
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