Hi everyone.

I just bought a new 2016 SR (didn't pick it up from the dealership yet). I drive in the mid-atlantic, so only occasional snow, but when it snows there is frequently ice and slush for a while. The hill coming out of our neighborhood is usually among the last to be salted, leading to an exhilarating drop into a busy road. I don't plan any deep snow / high country travel with them.

So, it seems like snow / winter tires are in order, and they're going to be pricy because of the size.

It seems like the common ones are the Michelin IceX (studless) or the Blizzacks LM-32 ("performance"), or the Pirelli Winter Sottozero. Any recommendations/anti-recommendations?

 

I have a Platinum, and this is my 4th car to have dedicated winter tires. I always have the OE tires moved to after market rims, which I run for three seasons, and have winter tires mounted on the OE rims.

I have a new tire guy, and he strongly recommended Nitto NT-SN2 over my usual Michelins. The last time I got Pilot Alpin PA3's, which I was very happy with. My guy likes the Nitto's for better snow/ice traction and much cheaper. The snow/ice traction IS great, but the dry handling/braking leaves a bit to be desired. If I had it to do over, I would probably go back to the Michelins, which wouldn't be quite as good on snow and ice, but would be much better in dry and wet conditions.

The other thing you should think about is whether you want to have two sets like I do, and whether you would go with 18" tires for winter, as that might give you more choices.

 

Thank you. Unfortunately with the SR I'm in limited choices but double price land. The cost of having those fancy 19"s... I've thought about 18"s, but I'm nervous about tweaking anything nonstandard on a car I'm completely unfamiliar with. It's one of the reasons I'm already rushing to buy winter tires - I don't have time to develop the same learning curve I had with my older car...

 

The 19" are all seasons on the SR, I have the Goodyear all seasons on my 7th gen right now and have been through 8 winters in the Northeast for what its worth. Not paying all that extra for snow tires, but then again i try to avoid driving if it that bad.

 

I have a winter set-up with 18in OZ wheels and Michelin X-ice xi3, all from tirerack.com. My second car with the xi3's they're unbelievable. I have a '16 SR. Unfortunately haven't had much snow here (Southern New England) yet this winter. They're phenomenal on dry pavement as well. A little more expensive but I believe worth the $$. The stock tires that come are not what I am accustomed to and look forward to replacing as soon as they wear out.

 

I strongly recommend the Finnish tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta. I have run them on my Maxima's here in Western Canada for about 7 years. Car and Driver (or was it Road and Track) rated them #1 winter tire in a fall issue of their magazine. On a different note, road crews in my area of British Columbia, Canada stopped using salt on the roads quite some time ago because of the devastating impact on vehicles. I would strongly recommend you hose your car, exterior and undercarriage, within a few days of driving on salted roads.