Winter snow tires - are there only the Pirelli's

[suzieleigh]

I live in Massachusetts and drove a big SUV until my Smart car. It had big beefy tires on it and now I can't seem to find anything except the Pirelli's. And, after reading the forum I don't see anyone recommending them. So, what's a "new" Smart owner going to do?

[Dunerunner]

No, I got a flyer from Tire Rack a few days ago listing several manufacturers with tires in our size.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-18 in 175/55 R15 work for the rear but they have no size for the stock front. You could always do 175/55 R15's all the way around with new rear steel wheels from a Pure.

[GHammerly]

Still, for now the best choise is the stock size Pirelli P190 just because they come in the stock sizes and that way you can have a mached set, wider tires in the snow are not going to help with traction. One other option is the LM-18 for the rear but for he front the 155 Pirelly should work better than a 175 Bridgestone.
Hopefuly soon there will be better choises such as the overrated Blizak or the underrated Graspic and Ice Bear, all exellent snow tires.

[Dunerunner]

True, the narrower tires up front are designed to prevent hydroplaning and would work great in the snow with the pirelli tires. Wish Nokian built tires in our size.

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by suzieleigh

I live in Massachusetts and drove a big SUV until my Smart car. It had big beefy tires on it and now I can't seem to find anything except the Pirelli's. And, after reading the forum I don't see anyone recommending them. So, what's a "new" Smart owner going to do?

The all season stuff worked for me last winter I am still looking for an economical set of wheels to mount a set of dedicated snow tires on preferably steel wheels. Good luck with your quest
karl

[suzieleigh]

I was thinking of just getting rear snows and keeping the stock tires in the front. Blizzak's come in the 175/55. Do you think that's a good idea or should I just go with all 4 Pirelli tires?

[mike-in-sa]

I would check out clusmartcar.com - the Canadian smart site. They have got lots of input about winter tires.

[canon1753]

I have a set of blizzaks 145/65/15 on front, stock size on the rear. Eddy sells snowies for 451s with the smaller front, since they are very close in size and narrower tires are better in the snow than wide tires. Car runs fine so far with the 'stones, with potential snow in the higher elevations here in VT

[smartcarparts]

following are tire models available

SEMPERIT MASTER GRIP
CONTI TS800
BR.STONE BLIZZAK LM20
PIRELLI W190 SNOW CONTROL

[GHammerly]

Originally Posted by suzieleigh

I was thinking of just getting rear snows and keeping the stock tires in the front. Blizzak's come in the 175/55. Do you think that's a good idea or should I just go with all 4 Pirelli tires?

That would work, it will be stable and have traction to avoid getting stuck but will help little with braking, front end grip in the snow will be horrible. (Barely better braking performance and understeer when slipery.)
What ever you do don't use snow tires in the front only, that is dangerous.
If you want to use Blizzak's in the rear and P-190 in the front that should work great too, all four snow tires will help the car stop, turn or avoid obsticles, and help the ABS and stability control be more effective.