Where do you buy winter tires?
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30,157 Posts
The same places you buy other tires.....
Seriously, do some searching for the threads on winter tires and then check Tire rack, Discount Tire, Amazon, eBay, etc. for the brand and sizes you need. You never know, a local tire place might even have what you need.
Seriously, do some searching for the threads on winter tires and then check Tire rack, Discount Tire, Amazon, eBay, etc. for the brand and sizes you need. You never know, a local tire place might even have what you need.
Joined
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320 Posts
Best winter traction would be 'Severe Snow Service' rated tires; and friends in Canada say the laws require this rating to drive on the roads.
The best setup would be the 'skinny' front tire size mounted on all four corners - 155/60/R15.
Here's a tire rack link: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...5&rearWidth=255/&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17
The best setup would be the 'skinny' front tire size mounted on all four corners - 155/60/R15.
Here's a tire rack link: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...5&rearWidth=255/&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17
Except for school buses - and only in New Brunswick - none of Canada has mandatory snow tire use. So I'm not sure why your friends told you that. In not-so-snowy Toronto (compared to the south side of the lake - or any direction north and east), I have noticed about maybe 50 percent snow tire usage at most.
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11,314 Posts
there is not a tire made that will guarantee you won't get stuck at one time or another. If you are driving in 2 feet of snow, you will get center hung and tires won't make any difference. If you are on a solid sheet of ice, unless you have special ice rated tires, you may still get stuck. If you have ice tires, they might not work on other conditions. The best you can do is plan for your typical driving conditions and use some common sense. I have found Blizaacks to work exceptional when you can find them.
Tirerack is listing the excellent Vredestein Quatrac 5 tires in sizes 145/65R15 72T, 155/60R15 74T, 175/55R15 77T.
https://www.tirerack.com
They are made for all four seasons including winter as they have the M+S symbol and the 3PMSF symbol on the sidewall.
Read wikipedia for details on the M+S and 3PMSF symbols. Most so called all-season tires sold in the North American market aren't suitable for winter and certainly not snow and ice. In Europe, tires are only called all-season if they work in all four seasons including winter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_tire
I've been using the previous Vredestein Quatrac 3 tires 145/65R15 front and 155/60R15 rear for many years on my Smart ForTwo 450 with great success. They almost break the laws of physics, as they feel like excellent summer tires in the summer and excellent winter tires in the winter. Next time I might try 155/60R15 front and 175/55R15 rear, but whatever I choose always using a slightly wider tire on the rear so that the rear doesn't break away before the front. In other words, always understeers. Understeer is safe, oversteer is not. Especially considering the car's short wheelbase.
https://www.tirerack.com
They are made for all four seasons including winter as they have the M+S symbol and the 3PMSF symbol on the sidewall.
Read wikipedia for details on the M+S and 3PMSF symbols. Most so called all-season tires sold in the North American market aren't suitable for winter and certainly not snow and ice. In Europe, tires are only called all-season if they work in all four seasons including winter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_tire
I've been using the previous Vredestein Quatrac 3 tires 145/65R15 front and 155/60R15 rear for many years on my Smart ForTwo 450 with great success. They almost break the laws of physics, as they feel like excellent summer tires in the summer and excellent winter tires in the winter. Next time I might try 155/60R15 front and 175/55R15 rear, but whatever I choose always using a slightly wider tire on the rear so that the rear doesn't break away before the front. In other words, always understeers. Understeer is safe, oversteer is not. Especially considering the car's short wheelbase.
i'm using the default tires and getting stuck pulling into the driveway with only 1.5 inches of snow. what's your experience with these tires in the snow?
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55 Posts
I just had the Vredestein Quatrac 5's put on and they seem to be great. We had 2 inches yesterday and I had no problems. Even going through the snow drift left by the plow at the end of the alley.
Thanks for posting that. I can't wait to wear out the ContiWinterContacs I have now so I can try them out. I loved Vredstein tires when I used them on my Volvo.
FWIW, the Contis are great, too. Just $30/ea more expensive.
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