is snow tire worth it?
or can i get away with oem tires

03 maxima

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....highlight=snow

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....highlight=snow

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....highlight=snow

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....highlight=snow

::CLIFFNOTES:: Replace OEM deathtenzas ASAP....do NOT, i repeat, do NOT drive in the snow with these....






oh yeah, and is your friend.

 

^^^^^what he said!!! x 10

 

My buddy uses Blizzaks on his 1997 SE and you would not beleive the shizzle he drives that thing through. I just bought Toyo T1s and because of his car I am planning on getting Blizzaks. I used even Toyo TPTs last year in the snow and could not get up my drive way sometimes on snow. On to blizzaks...

 

thank God for Florida weather.......

 

(thank God for Florida weather.......)

I'll take snow over hurricanes any day!
All kidding aside I wish those people in Texas good luck.

 

and arizona weather...

but yea i have the ****stones right now..

im gonna have to get new ones soon..

 

Stock tires are a death sentence, even in rain. If you can afford two sets of tires, dedicated winter tires are best in snow. Otherwise, a set of good all-seasons work well enough the winters here in PA. Just learn to drive in snow and don't do anything stupid.

 

IMHO, tires are the single best investment (aside from routine maint.) you can provide to your car. My Michelin Pilot Sport A/S eat snow.

 

Best tires I've ever driven on, and this is my first post woohoo!

 

Yeah, buy snow tires. I always buy snow tires mainly for the winter months. Winters sometimes get out of control down here in PA. I purchased a set of Blizzaks, and they were perfect for the snow. They eat right thru it. Best investment I ever did for these harsh winters.

 

I had a set of Dunlop SP Sport 5000 A/S on my previous 2k max and was pretty happy the results of driving with them in the snow. Not MA snowfall by any means, but we do get a decent amount here in the Midwest, and the Dunlops were DEFINITELY a night and day difference from the oem Potenzas. I can't imagine how good the Michelins drive. This weekend I'm having a set of Avon Tech 550M A/S put on my 2k2 max to try those out this season. From the reviews on TireRack it appears to be a really good tire all around, but they may be too new yet for a more accurate rating. I guess only personal experience will tell. I know my wallet should feel good at least knowing I'm paying $80 less a tire ($198 Michelin ~ 225/50-17, $151 Dunlop ~ 235/45-17, $118 Avon ~ 225/50-17).

To the OP, do as others have stated and replace the Potenzas asap. If you can afford 2 sets of tires, go for it. If not, research places such as TireRack or ConsumerReports and read as many reviews as you can to find a good all around single set. Imho the three tires I mention above should be a good starting point.

 

I use Michelin Arctic Ice 15" with steelies and the car is a snow king. It owns the road. It was a well worth investment for Canadian winters, considering you are from MA and get similar winters, I would highly recommend them...

 

What are your tire size and where did you get steel rims? I am looking to do the same for winter.. How much did steel rims cost you?
Thanks

 

Ditto on the Pilot Sports mentioned above. Granted it'll kill your drinking budget for a while, but, hey, you can't party if you're dead! When my car was brand-freakin'-new (had it for 2 weeks and about 1,000 miles), we had a snow storm out here that dumped about 2 ft on us overnight. I shoveled out and tried to leave but couldn't move. talk about pissed! Here I am in a car that'll do over 150 mph and I couldn't move! Craptenza's suck.

Since I bought the Pilots I go snowboarding almost every weekend and I've never gotten stuck.

 

Boston winters suck big time and all season tires don't do jack sh*t here. The max is the worst car i've ever driven in the snow. Invest in snow tires ASAP if you get winters like we do here in boston.

 

i have had 2 sets of pilot sport a/s on my max, and they aren't that great in the snow. i think i will get a set of cheap stealies and put some snow tires on for the winter. pilot sport a/s ain't all that.

 

What about the poor slobs who arent getting snow tires..like me.

Living in a NY, we have a couple of big storms a year but I want a decent set of all seasons.

225/50/17....

Im getting a set of new tires soon and I have narrowed down to Toyo TPT (price) and the bridgstone Turanza LSV (more $)...i think.

buying tires for this car is a PITA.

 

try the faulks. I've heard they are very close to the pilots in traction, but have a slightly weaker side wall so they aren't quite as good in the twisties. Pretty close, though, and half the price.

 

I got 205/65R15 and steel rims are about CDN $50 new or $10-20 for used... I bought the complete set used (tires were 90%) for around $300... Lots of used tire shops stock both...

 

He's got a 2k3 so the smallest rim is 16" Go with either 205/60/16 or 215/55/16 tires.

 

I does not matter that he has 2K3, he can still put 15's on... I got 2K and they ride just fine... Actually can kick some serious as they ride good...

 

5.5 gens have bigger brakes than the 5th gens....15's would most likely not clear them...

 

Just in case you didn't hear everybody else...

If you live somewhere where you're going to have to drive through snow/slush/ice, GET THE APPROPRIATE TIRES FOR IT.

If you live in a place where you might see only occasional light snow, you can probably get away with a good all-season tire with a mud/snow rating. If you live in a place where the snow is heavy and frequent, get real winter tires. The stock tires are not good for snow and ice, and summer performance tires will get you killed.

 

^ agree, and pretty much what I stated as well.

It's all what you can afford. The best choice to drive in snow is to use dedicated snow tires. Of course if you do that, you should probably buy a 2nd set of wheels to put the tires on to make it easier to swap out with your stock wheels and tires when the seasons change. If that choice is too costly, or if you do not feel like swapping wheels and/or tires, then your only other choice is to find a good all-season tire. Just do your best and research as much as possible.

On a side note, I noticed someone mentioned Faulks above. Is this in reference to Falken Ziex's? If so, I have read numerous reviews stating owners have only gotten about 20k-ish miles out of a set. Is that true with anyone's experience here? Are the treadwear issues with the touring version or with the 512s? Please advise.

 

15" rims do not fit on a gen 5.5. Period. Unless you perform some caliper shaviing.

 

I know my gold car (02 auto) sucked really bad in the snow. I had goodyear ventus

 

thanks for all your replys
I think i am going to buy some snow tires for the winter...




thanks
03 maxima

 

I live in the hills of CT and we definately get a decent amount of snow. Plus my driveway is on a steep incline. The Nokians (hakkapeliitta rsi's in our size, unless you want studded, which are the 4's) are definately the best snow tires out there if you can afford them. All the current snow tires are more or less designed off of them. The Dunlop M3's and the Michelin Alpin PA2's are also very good.

The Nokians and Dunlops are pretty soft though, so I would take them off as much as possible or they will wear out pretty quick on dry pavement.

 

a lot of people give the 512's crap about treadwear, soft sidewalls, etc. but my experience is different....with ~10k miles, i haven't noticed any wear at all, road noise has stayed consistantly quiet, and although i'm no autocrosser, these tires hold on to the road very well around the corners very precisely...i guess it's just the luck of the draw, because some people say they're alright and others say the opposite....

yesterday, when i was driving in the rain for the first time in months, i even remember thinking to myself how much i love my tires...i had to kinda haul @$$ home on my lunch break to deal with some stuff (our house was leaking water because it has a hole in it from katrina..) and going down my 35mph road at 45, it felt as if i were driving in dry weather...

anyway, sorry for rambling, and i know this doesn't have much to do with the thread topic, but i just had to give my .02...