Topic: Winter tires for the XRS

[Ice]

So I went out to do a little shopping for winter tires. The last two winters I was lucky that we had the kind of winter that we did but this winter I'm hearing that the snow is going to fly and my current set of tires are no good in the snow. I've found out through a couple of experiences... SOO... winter tires it is.

The XRS is a bit different than the usual Corolla. It has P225/45R17 and they are the H rated type as I understand it. So I've been looking at Michelin Primacy Alpin P205/55R16 and Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 as my two competing options right now. I've done a lot of reading and I'm probably on information overload right now but I'm not really sure which way to go. Any suggestions or is it really six of one and half dozen of the other?

Also... my car has tire pressure monitoring. I'm likely to forgo the sensors on the winter tires. Will this be at all a problem when I put on the all season in the spring or will they just start talking to each other again? Anyone know?

Thanks!

[davidy]

I skipped out on the TPMS sensors for my Ford Ranger. All I get is an idiot light on the dash. It goes away when I park in my garage where my TPMS-laden tires are stored. Saved me $500 for skipping the sensors.

Check out the Toyota forums about their TPMS system.

Sounds like you have decided on winter performance tires. The 205/55-16 are -0.4% of 225/45-17. As long it clears the brake calipers, you are good to go on this size.

Dave

[airbalancer]

They should just talking again
The Yellow light in Prius gives a sunshine glow, actually  I very rarely notice it
I have Ice Bears on the BMW and they work fine until your in deep snow
But on the 401 the work fine

[Ice]

Well I went to Active Green+Ross and they suggested the performance versions rather than the regular ones for my car. My Toyota dealership wasn't too specific on the tires but they also suggested going down to this size. I guess I should be asking if you guys think the performance ones are necessary/worth it and if there are other considerations I should make. First time buying tires I'd rather spend a bit more and be happy than be stuck with tires that are poorly matched to the car.

[Angry Chicken]

Well I went to Active Green+Ross and they suggested the performance versions rather than the regular ones for my car. My Toyota dealership wasn't too specific on the tires but they also suggested going down to this size. I guess I should be asking if you guys think the performance ones are necessary/worth it and if there are other considerations I should make. First time buying tires I'd rather spend a bit more and be happy than be stuck with tires that are poorly matched to the car.

Personally I like performance winter tires because, while they give up a bit of ultimate grip in snow and ice, they are overall a more satisfying choice since you're going to be stuck with them (hopefully not literally!) for 4 to 5 months and you might as well have some semblance of handling!  I've tried lots of winter tires that handle like wet dish rags and I'm not interested in driving on winter tires whose sidewalls feel like overcooked noodles.  Arguably the stiffer sidewalls and overall more communicable demeanor of a performance winter tire is a benefit which counts towards safety.

[1TSX]

We had non performance winters on our old Accord (Michelin X-ice). I believe they were Q rated. VERY squishy...the steering was much looser driving down the 401 in dry conditions.

Now, we have performance winters on our 330i and TSX. Handle much better - worth the small sacrifice in winter performance. If we lived in an area with heavy snow, then non performance winters would make more sense.

[quadzilla]

What you want from your winter tires.

- dry handling
- stiffer sidewall
- deep snow
- ice

What type of driving will you be doing?

- highway
- city
- long drives
- short drives

Buy the tire for you needs, not what others want you to buy.

[Angry Chicken]

What you want from your winter tires.

- dry handling
- stiffer sidewall
- deep snow
- ice

What type of driving will you be doing?

- highway
- city
- long drives
- short drives

Buy the tire for you needs, not what others want you to buy.

I don't think anyone was saying that he has to buy performance tires.  No question that with any decision you have to do your research, but part of that is gathering input, even if anecdotal, from others.  My preference is to performance winter tires but I'm not doing a lot of driving on unplowed roads.  The average (and worst) condition I see is ice and hard pack snow, and for this "performance" winter tires are good for me.  Even then, what constitutes a "performance" winter tire anyway?  Is it tread design, tread compound, ratio of tread blocks to void space, speed rating....what exactly?

Chances are pretty good though, that performance winter tires will be better than the bargain bin stuff at Crappy Tire, if only because their relatively higher price point and (usually) name brand makes them better constructed and probably better engineered.

[quadzilla]

I don't think anyone was saying that he has to buy performance tires.

Actually the shop he went to did.

Chances are pretty good though, that performance winter tires will be better than the bargain bin stuff at Crappy Tire, if only because their relatively higher price point and (usually) name brand makes them better constructed and probably better engineered.

True but if the OP only drives to the store in the city on plowed roads and never gets above 70kph, why buy performance tires when there are many capable cheaper options.

I'm all for buying the best tires you can get but I'm thinking mid level tires today are really good if that is all you need.

[Angry Chicken]

I don't think anyone was saying that he has to buy performance tires.

Actually the shop he went to did.

Chances are pretty good though, that performance winter tires will be better than the bargain bin stuff at Crappy Tire, if only because their relatively higher price point and (usually) name brand makes them better constructed and probably better engineered.

True but if the OP only drives to the store in the city on plowed roads and never gets above 70kph, why buy performance tires when there are many capable cheaper options.

I'm all for buying the best tires you can get but I'm thinking mid level tires today are really good if that is all you need.

I meant to say that I didn't think anybody *here* on this forum was saying he had to buy performance tires.  You make good points though the poster said he didn't mind spending a bit of extra $$ to get a better tire.  Need more data, of course.  I'd still err on the side of performance given that he's used to some nice 224/45/17s as his original fitment tire and squibby Q-rated  -1 size winter tires are going to be a bit of a shock.  Something you GTI drivers would understand!   

[Ice]

Good question RE: my driving habits.

I want a set of tires that are well suited to the colder weather and dealing with dry, wet, icy and slushy conditions that I normally encounter during the winter. I don't need tires that can deal with deep snow because at that point I'll just stay home... the Corolla isn't well suited as a vehicle to deep snow conditions anyways.  I tend to drive on the 401 and 403 quite a bit when I am out driving. I spend a lot of time driving in the corridor between Brantford and Toronto.

[Ice]

I don't think anyone was saying that he has to buy performance tires.

Actually the shop he went to did.

Chances are pretty good though, that performance winter tires will be better than the bargain bin stuff at Crappy Tire, if only because their relatively higher price point and (usually) name brand makes them better constructed and probably better engineered.

True but if the OP only drives to the store in the city on plowed roads and never gets above 70kph, why buy performance tires when there are many capable cheaper options.

I'm all for buying the best tires you can get but I'm thinking mid level tires today are really good if that is all you need.

I meant to say that I didn't think anybody *here* on this forum was saying he had to buy performance tires.  You make good points though the poster said he didn't mind spending a bit of extra $$ to get a better tire.  Need more data, of course.  I'd still err on the side of performance given that he's used to some nice 224/45/17s as his original fitment tire and squibby Q-rated  -1 size winter tires are going to be a bit of a shock.  Something you GTI drivers would understand!   

I am wondering if the squishy more typical winter tires would be a shock too... I do like to get what I can out of the XRS's handling. It's a reasonably fun car considering how average the regular Corolla feels in a turn. The XRS is quite a different beast in that way. It's not as well sorted as a Mazda3 and it's definitely not like the GTI... but it's not bad and it'll corner well on the OEM tires/rims. I don't baby this car... it was meant to go and it has a bit of extra power on tap so I do make use of it

[Angry Chicken]

My brother, who owns a 2010 GTI, purchased a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks in a -1 fitment on 16" MSW alloys from the Tirerack.  I'll have to ask him how he likes them since he's had a couple of week on them now, but he lives in Nova Scotia in an area where he will on occasion see unplowed roads and lots of slush.  I've got a 2007 Mazda3 Sport GT, and I have Nokian Hakkapelliitta RSi's on 17x7" replica alloy wheels, the same size as my original fitment.  Now, that might be a useful compromise to consider....the Nokians aren't really a performance winter tire per se, but I do get the benefit of the stiffer lower profile sidewall because I kept the original 205/50/17 size.

Anyway, as Quad said, it's up to the buyer and his or her driving habits.  It sounds to me like, living in a metropolitan area and doing mostly highway driving *and* worrying about giving up too much of your car's sporting nature that you should consider a more sporting alternative than did my brother, for example.

Quad, what tires do you have on your GTI, and what factors did you consider in their purchase?

[quadzilla]

Quad, what tires do you have on your GTI, and what factors did you consider in their purchase?

I`m running the Hancook Ipike 409`s in 225/45/17 on alloys....my summers are 225/40/18's.

My winter driving is either hwy driving main 400 series hwys or back roads to get to a trail head. I needed something that would be good at dry hwy speeds but still capable of getting me through 6 inches of powder if need be. After one winter I have been quite happy with these tires so I will see how they do this season.

Any enthusiast would be able to tell the difference between the summer/winter tires but I think they offer a good value of performance and don't feel too squishy when pushed. Sometimes they feel a little floaty around 140-150kph but otherwise quite good on the hwy. I didn't get to do a lot of deep snow last winter but for what I did find (one being a massive storm on the way to Lake Placid where the road wasn't plowed yet) they worked really well. Of course the 225 width doesn't help the best but all things considered they did the job more than adequately.

Previously I had Dunlop 3D's on my Mazda 6 wgn (although a different size) and would rate these a better hwy tire that still offered very good snow traction. Of course, they also cost about $200 more for a set.

I tend to drive on the 401 and 403 quite a bit when I am out driving. I spend a lot of time driving in the corridor between Brantford and Toronto.

Sounds like you want something that would be better for hwy driving since these hwys are mostly plowed and clear. I'd look at some of the performance type winters to keep the better handling on the hwy.

My first set of winters on the Mazda 6 wgn had soft sidewalls and I hated them so much that I sold them after the first winter and replaced them with the Dunlops. Funny thing is I felt the Dunlops felt better than the A/S that came with the car.

[KRS]

  I have had the Primacy Alpin PA3's for the Lancer for the last 2 winters( this will be the third winter) and for the driving I do I am extremely happy with them. In the end what made me opt for them was Michelin's claim of improved mileage over traditional winter tires. I have in the past always had at least a 15% drop in economy when putting on a winter tire but the Michelins actually do give me better mileage then the OEM all seasons Dunlops did. I drive at least 120 KM's every day and with better economy and vastly better traction then the "all seasons"  they are great for my driving and even with them having around 45000 clicks on them they have at least 80% of the original tread depth. Just to give you an Idea I Live in Southern Ontario around 40 clicks inland from Lake Huron and dependent on were I have to go that day could end up in London or Brantford a couple of times a month so lots of lake effect snow.

  I haven't tried the Bridgestones and I know that there are advances every year, so it is entirely likely if they are a newly introduced tire they may be even better but I can say I have been very happy with the Michelins

  As for TPMS, I Paid for the sensors but because of the way that you need special equipment that usually only the Mitsubishi dealer has for the Lancer, tied in with the hour and a half drive to visit my dealer and the $75  bill to retrain them that they charged me last time  I and up staring at flashing warnings and message all winter anyway. After last winter I can confirm on the Mitsu at least if you do not get the sensors retrained they do start communicating again once they are back on the car.

[tortoise]

We had non performance winters on our old Accord (Michelin X-ice). I believe they were Q rated. VERY squishy...the steering was much looser driving down the 401 in dry conditions.

I have the exact opposite experience with the X-Ices.  I find they handle very well and aren't squishy in the least.  Then again, my car is around 2700 lbs and I'm running 195/55's so there is probably a lot less sidewall.

I think the weight of the car and tire size (specifically sidewall height) plays a large role in how well a snow tire handles.

[footlong58]

I've got an SE-R, same idea as the Corolla XRS...  The SE-R has 225/45/R17 V rated tires, and I went down to a 205/55R16 tire and rim for winter... I went with a performance style tire, as I didn't want to totally loose the handling the car has.  Since it's a lease, I didn't want to break the bank, so I went with Semperit SpeedGrips from tiretrends.com

Fantastic tire, I must say.  We've had 50+cm of snow here in Winnipeg in the last week, so they've definently had a workout.  Handling, braking, acceleration, are all very very good, just as good as other winter tires I've had.  The tires are very quiet as well, and not squishy like Q or S rated tires I've had in the past.  The only negative thing I'd have to say about these and maybe all performance winter tires is the deep fresh snow traction.  I'm talking about breaking your own trail through drifts.  They don't have the traction of a Q rated more aggressive type tire, but I expected that.

I'm glad I went with a performance type tire for the Sentra SE-R, they suit the car very well.

[mmorriso]

i'd go with bridgestone blizzak ws-70 in 205/55/16.  a good studless ice & snow tire will stop on ice when you need it the most. 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/chartDisplay.jsp?ttid=135

the conti extreme contact are supposed to handle a little better.

leave the performance driving for nice weather on a winding road and not on the 400 series hwys in the winter. 

make sure the load rating is right for whatever new tire you buy.

happy shopping!

[Ice]

I've got an SE-R, same idea as the Corolla XRS...  The SE-R has 225/45/R17 V rated tires, and I went down to a 205/55R16 tire and rim for winter... I went with a performance style tire, as I didn't want to totally loose the handling the car has.  Since it's a lease, I didn't want to break the bank, so I went with Semperit SpeedGrips from tiretrends.com

Fantastic tire, I must say.  We've had 50+cm of snow here in Winnipeg in the last week, so they've definently had a workout.  Handling, braking, acceleration, are all very very good, just as good as other winter tires I've had.  The tires are very quiet as well, and not squishy like Q or S rated tires I've had in the past.  The only negative thing I'd have to say about these and maybe all performance winter tires is the deep fresh snow traction.  I'm talking about breaking your own trail through drifts.  They don't have the traction of a Q rated more aggressive type tire, but I expected that.

I'm glad I went with a performance type tire for the Sentra SE-R, they suit the car very well.

That's hand to know! Very similar idea to these two cars...both are the performance versions of the standard compact car and it's interesting to know that Nissan went with similar tire specs as Toyota (or vice versa). That helps to know someone in a some what similar situation!

Thanks to everyone as well! I think based on my reading and comments here that I will probably go with the Michelin Pilot Alpin. Seem to have a top rating and I've just been told that there is $70 per tire deal on until December 15th... and they were already a tiny bit cheaper than the Blizzaks but I haven't found much of a difference between the two.  Fingers crossed that these will be a good tire for my car!

Thanks again!

[safristi]

      when is the VICE VERSA coming out.............