Help! After alot of calling around, this is the tire/wheel package I'm faced with:

4 x Toyo Garit HT (215/55/17 H-rated) @$194.00
4 x FRD128 17" rims @ $139.95

After tax, tire levy and shipping the total comes out to $1,584.44

This is ALOT of money to be spending for winter in Vancouver, and quite a crunch on my wallet. I could really use all your opinions on whether this something worth doing.

Thanks alot guys!

 

Thx for the info Mic.

I've read the Toyo's perform poorly on wet pavement (99% of winter weather in Vancouver) compared to the stock Dunlops. We definitely don't get much snow compared to Burlington! BTW I was born there.. miss it. :o

As much as these tires are great for winter, I'm trying to justify the cost.

 

Yes you should get winter tires and rims. You will win in the long run and be safer. With summer tire you have to get rid of them when they are below 1/2 tread before the winter because that is suicide to drive them in rain and snow. Therefore, you are replacing summer tires faster and more often. The winter tires are safer and will only be used in the winter so they will last for at least 4-5 years if not more. Your stock rims will pit badly in the winet whereas you don't care so much for the winter rims and therefore you will keep your stock rims in better shape for a much longer period of time. Furthermore, you don't have to put tires on and off the stock rims twice a year and ruin the rubber and rims and deal with bad balancing of the tires which cause shakes when driving.

Get caught just once without snows when it snowing, and you take a huge chance to crack upo the car and watch your insurance go through the roof for years therafter.

You bought a $40,000 car. It should not kill you to pay $1,500 - $1,800 for piece of mind, safety for you, your passengers and pedestrians.

Lastly, don't cut cormers on this. Get a high quality winter tire and minimize potential for losses/problems. Follow the speed rating carefully i.e. don't go over 90Miles/hour on Q rated tires.

I went with Michelin Pilots V rated so the handling remains virtually the same as the stock set up. $1,829 tax, tip out the door for my set up which has aluminum rims.

 

yea I'd say go with snowtires as well... better safe than sorry and who knows what kinda winter we'll get the yr or the next or the next, you might have to catch the bus more often than you like :D

 

I did it.. bought the package from Tiretrends. Nobody in the lower mainland could come even close to their price. Volco was next closest at $400 more!! The sales guy (obviously) swears on his mother's grave it will make a huge difference with the rain/frost/snow/ice, even in Vancouver. Let's hope so.

It cost an extra $30 to ship through Purolator.

I'm going to bring it into the dealership and have them put on along with my 8k service.

I'll keep everyone posted on how well the Toyo's perform in Vancouver, especially in the rain. BTW, they are H-rated. Where can I find the speed rating for that?

Thanks again to everyone who responded.

 

S -- 180km/h or 112mph

T -- 190km/h or 118mph

U -- 200km/h or 125mph

H -- 210km/h or 130mph

V -- 240km/h or 149mph

W(ZR) -- 270km/h or 168mph

Y(ZR) -- 300km/h or 186mph

ZR -- Above 300km/h or 186mph

 

170km/hr?? On a dry road I presume? How well did it handle?

 

Enzolor,

we did 170 up in whistler, remember that day...ahh, the memories,

I think usoff did 180

it was a safe run, we weren't being crazy or anything, no cars, clear day

 

Took my Michelin Pilots to 215KM/hour and they felt great. Highway was rather wide open late at night and I had to put a real nicely modified Civic in his place. Actually, the bugger kept up, acclerated, handled and braked just as well as the 8.

 

I have Hankook W300 Icebear 225/50R17 V rated (240km/hr) and so far they are great-feels almost like the stock RE040. Great price at $140 each +taxes. Only did 170klm/hr with them for now.

My buddy also has the same W300 tires on his Corolla XRS (170hp) and he did about 210km/hr. He said except slightly more lateral movement due to side wind at high speed, the tires are excellent. I guess that is to be expected because we downside the wheel by 1" and increase the aspect ratio so the rubber part is taller.

 

was just wondering if anyone considered a 'west coast winter' into their tire decision?

we don't really get that much snow so it's mostly the occasional morning of ice and 'colder' temps. is there a snow tire that's more suited to these conditions? i'd hate to spend $800 on tires and have them wear out in 1 or 2 seasons because i drove them on bare roads in our winter.

thanks!

 

Yeah, I pulled 185 that day because I was stuck at the end of the line.. had very little room to squeeze by those slow cars =P

Anyway... I was referring to 170km/hr on snow tires!

 

Well, this was precisely my dilemma, hence the start of this thread. Really, Vancouver is best suited for all-season tires because of all the rain we get..

But supposedly, the snow tires are good for ice and frosty mornings too. I drive my car mostly in the morning and night, so there's warrant for me to be on the safer side. I managed to hit a slick patch yesterday morning on an incline. Wasn't pleasant.

 

damn. oh well. my plan is to get some used rims and slap winters on them. after exams that is.

please don't snow yet.
please don't snow yet.
please don't snow yet.

thanks!