Hi guys, I'm fairly new to the forums and I need some insights regarding snow tires for 05.

First off, I understand that 16" + snow tires function the best in the snow due to narrower width, but I am a bit short on funds (holidays) and I would really like to just swap the oem all season tires.

My choices are torn between Dunlop Wintersport M3, Blizzak LM-22, Blizzak LM-25, and Blizzak WS-50.

But I understand that the WS-50 are for Ice and are rated Q, and I am getting a feeling that they are a bit of an overkill for Chicago winters?

I apologize for the rookie knowledge regarding the S2k and its equipments, but any advice would be appreciated.

PS: I left a message for Jim at Tirerack, incase he sees this. Thanks.

 

Your "understanding" needs to be revised somewhat ........................................

16" rims have little to do with "narrower width" of the tire you put on them.

WS-50 Blizzaks are an aggressive snow tire for both snow AND ice. You shouldn't really care about the "Q" rating on a snow tire as you are not going for speed on dry roads with these anyway. As for them being "overkill" for Chicago winters, only you can make that determination. I tend to buy snow tires based on the worst case scenario that I could possibly run into in my city.

17" snow tires in the more well known brands will generally be more expensive than the same tire in a 16" size, but you can check the TireRack site to see the comparisons. If you are short on funds and must really have a tire that you can run during most of your winter days, then go with something less aggressive in a less popular brand in 17". TireRack has a few choices, I'm sure. You only have to go in there and put in the proper parameters to see what they are.

Your OEM tires are not "all season" tires.

 

It's better to keep your tires + rims together. Each time you take off swap on a snow tire it's costing you (I'd guess) $100. So for instance it's november $100 to put on 4 snow tires. Then it's March that's another $100 to put on your summer tires, then it's November another $100 etc...

I'm assuming $25/ea for mount and balance.

In 2 years you'll be out $400 to swap tires on an off. You can get 4 brand new 16" rims from tire rack for $109/ea and have the snow tires mounted on them free.

So for $435 you'll get 4 new tires. (really it's just $335 b/c you've saved $100 for not having to mount and balance). Actually (I guess) you still have to pay $20-$25 to have your rims swapped each time, but that's still cheaper than $100 each time. And swapping tires can be a DIY job, whereas mounting and balancing is not.

Plus you get wear and tear every time you take a tire off a rim, wear on the tire and wear on the rim.

So what I'm going to do is put snow tires on my stock 16" rims (since I needed tires any way) and then get some 17" rims for my next set of summer tires.

You may only drive on the snow tires 3-4 months so you may be able to get 3-4+ years out of them.

For all my cars, I go for "performance snow tires" this means they are not "Ice champs". They will still do very good in snow/ice, but not as great as "studless now tires". However they have a more performance pattern or compound, so they will perform very well on dry roads. And lets face it, 98% of the time the roads will be cleared. It's only the 2% of the time before the streets are plowed. \

So I want the best performance on dry roads. Performance snow tires get you cold weather grip.. Summer tires have no grip in cold weather and all seasons don't do well in cold or snow.

I just got 4 Dunlop Winter Sport M3s from tire rack. 16" (in the stock ap1 size). You can get the same from tirerack mounted on nice alloy wheels 16" mailed to you for under $1K. It may sound like a lot, and believe me, I have put it off for 3 years. But it's not a lot if it allows you to drive the car more often 3-4 more months out of the year. It's a $30K car, I think spending another $1K is worth it so I can drive it more often.

 

Here is a pic of the wheels you can get at tirerack for $109 ea.


I should have been all over these, but I got a bug in my ass, that makes me spend a lot of money. SO instead I'm gonna get wheels, that cost for one what I could have gotten 4 of these for.

Remember, if you get them from tirerack they mount and balance the tires on the wheels and send them to your house or to an installer you tell them to. I have done this 3 times for other cars. With the S2000 I just got the tires since I'm going to put them on my stock rims.

I can't tell you how the M3s are since I don't have them on yet, but the reviews are tops.

Note: these rims are not staggered they are 16x7 at all corners, but they will hold the proper tires 205 front and 225 rear.

If you go to tirerack.com and put in a 03 S2000 and click on winter it'll show you the packages you can get. I know you have 04+ but if you want 16"s they won't hurt one bit, just don't look as good as 17". But they should be a little cheaper and may have a skinnier tire than the 04+.

I'm on a mission to get people to buy snow tires. It may be overkill most of the times, but half a dozen times a year you'll have them on when you need them.

Look at this way, if you plan on keeping your car 3+ years, the snow tires around $1K but divided over 4 years. Plus you'll save miles on your summer tires that wear out quickly. So in 3-4 years of typical driving you'll put 12K miles on the snow tires, that's generally what you would get out of the rear summer tires (well at least thats what I get) so your summer tires will last longer between changing them.

Also, I wouldn't do what some people do, put all season tires on the S2000 and think that's a good solution. You give up the great grip of summer tires (for most of the year) and you give up the cold weather and snow grip in the winter. So instead of the best of both worlds, you get less than the best and never as good as you could have with snows + summers.

 

n/m

 

I bought used AP1 wheels for my snow tires. They go for around $300 in excellent condition, for the full set. That's cheaper than trading off tires on your OEM wheels twice a year, and gentler on the tires.

I put LM-22s on my car, but it snows more in Chicago than in Seattle, do you may want the heavier duty Blizzaks, or whatever. I'd get whatever is good enough to meet 100% of what I'll run into in a normal winter. Or else park your car for the winter. This is a safety item, and not worth being cheap about.

 

For Chicago you could use the Dunlop Winter Sport or the Blizzak LM. They are going to be better handling than the WS50 in the wet and dry. The advantage of the WS50 is that when Chicago gets that bad winter storm once a year they are the best I have driven on. They are a little sloppy handling in the dry. I would just say make a choice and get them on quick. The snow will be flying soon.
If I can help let me know.

 

i live in cleveland and bought ws-50's and the $109 rims as a package last year for my04 from tirerack. with shipping, it was under 1k. just swapped them last nite at a local tire store (which did it for me for free). last year, i had no problems in the snow with the ws-50's. i actually tried to slide around a few times and was surprised how difficult it was to even get minimal movement. dry handling is spongy, but you get used to it after a day or 2. also, throw some sandbags in the trunk and wait for spring

 

Damn it costs you $25 per wheel for mount and balance? I paid $45 to mount and balance 4 wheels and got watch to make sure it was done right.

You gotta watch some of those guys, I've had them try to mount the front tires one back rims etc

 

In my experience, the M3 will be the best performer and have similar traction to the blizzaks, with less noise and better longevity. I've owned about 5 sets of Blizzaks on various types of cars (Audi TT, Maxima SE, Lexus) and had two sets of Blizzaks saw-tooth on me (on different cars, so it was not an alignment problem) so I wont be buying them again. I just picked up a set of M3's for the s2000 this season. I have never owned the M3's but I've owned two sets of the wintersport M2's and the M3's are supposed to be better in handling and winter weather. They should be really great! The M2 was actualyl good enough that we ran on them in the summer a bit - handling is quite good.

So if you are looking for an all out winter tire and dont care about wear and noise, check out the blizzak, if you care at all about sidewall flex, handling, and a tire that wont give you problems and still manages to be an EXCELLENT snow tire, check out the M3's.

Again I am speaking for my PERSONAL experiences with the two tire manufacturers, you'll have to decide for yourself.. I'm sure there are others that have had great luck with Blizzaks. IMO the blizzak is an overrated and overpriced tire. I live upstate NY btw.