Which of these winter tires should I pick?

[dailydriver]

Those wheels look WAY TOO NICE for Joyzee winter 'salt soup' use!

But nice choices.

I had H rated Pirelli 210 Winters as my first winter set up on this car (225/55-16s on the stock 16x8 alloys), and I was impressed with their performance in some of the snowiest Jersey winter commutes, 50 mile round trips between Bound Brook and Springfield on Rt. 22, I ever experienced.

No, not as perfectly sure footed as the Nokian R and T rated full on winters of that time, but good nonetheless.

 

[JHZR2]

UPS dropped them off today...

Came with their own lug nuts, centering rings, and a socket.

Nice air cap:

Made in Germany, not Italy:

I was a little bummed by this, but what can one do???

I guess the lug nut seat for these is different than the OE one, so TR sent some new ones. Also provided a socket which I don't quite get... My OE lugs are 19mm, this socket is 19mm, the male end is 19mm and a ever so slightly larger size.

I checked the hut and the first make section and both are 19mm.

With 65 degree temperatures and a number of longer drives ahead, I'll probably put off installing for a few weeks...

 

[spasm3]

Usually i don't care for the look of aftermarket wheels( of course for snow tires it does not matter). But those wheels look good! Almost too nice for snow tires!

 

[eljefino]

They included a 3/4" to 19mm adapter!

They're afraid you'll only have a really thick socket, maybe.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
They included a 3/4" to 19mm adapter!

They're afraid you'll only have a really thick socket, maybe.



With those darker wheels, i'd want a plastic coated lug socket, or wrap that one with tape.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Usually i don't care for the look of aftermarket wheels( of course for snow tires it does not matter). But those wheels look good! Almost too nice for snow tires!


I'm generally NOT a fan of aftermarket wheels. I was originally going to get a second set of OE wheels, but really wanted a slightly narrower tire with more sidewall and lower cost for the lifetime obtained. Going 16" got me there at a lower cost than a set of refurbished OE 17" wheels...

My car already has machined wheels with black accents as OE, so I figured dark wheels on a dark car would work ok. We will see...

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
They included a 3/4" to 19mm adapter!

They're afraid you'll only have a really thick socket, maybe.



I don't understand this socket either (not enough coffee yet?) but I do know one of my coworkers had a devil of a time with his alloys. He said the lugs kept loosening up on him. So I went and looked, and immediately drove him to the parts store to get a proper deep socket and breaker bar. He was using an ancient 4 way with thick walls which was grabbing like 2mm of lug--his alloys wouldn't let the 4 way go deep enough. He had been content to just tightening the lugs every couple days...

Maybe Tire Rack figures it's cheaper to send the socket than to face a lawsuit. "Look, we gave you the tool for free, not our fault if you can't tighten lugs properly with a torque wrench, etc etc."

 

[SHOZ]

Many after market wheels will not allow the average thick wall socket to fit. Or the OEM lug wrench.

 

[Rand]

Those look great. Winter tire are all about priorities.. and while those may not match the absolute ice traction of a max traction winter tire. I am sure they will be more livable day to day and much superior to all-seasons.

I love the wheels as well.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Those look great. Winter tire are all about priorities.. and while those may not match the absolute ice traction of a max traction winter tire. I am sure they will be more livable day to day and much superior to all-seasons.

I love the wheels as well.


Yeah, my main long drives are between NYC and DC. More often south than north... So mild conditions are in my favor.

I don't get why the Dunlop 4D was in such short supply ( only two available in the "best" 16" size for me) since the summer, and never had more come in...

 

[JHZR2]

Now to find a Honda center cap that fits...

 

[krzyss]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Rand
Those look great. Winter tire are all about priorities.. and while those may not match the absolute ice traction of a max traction winter tire. I am sure they will be more livable day to day and much superior to all-seasons.

I love the wheels as well.


Yeah, my main long drives are between NYC and DC. More often south than north... So mild conditions are in my favor.

I don't get why the Dunlop 4D was in such short supply ( only two available in the "best" 16" size for me) since the summer, and never had more come in...


Maybe Dunlop/Goodyear are busy cranking the new 5Ds (available in Europe) and do not have capacity to build older models?

Krzyś

 

[JHZR2]

Finally got these on the car... In Feb.

Wonder how much use they will get?