Topic: Winter tires for 2008 Corolla CE

[saint_satan]

My wife just bought out my grandmother's lease on her 2008 Corolla (25,000 km!).  I'm looking for some suggestions on winter tires.  Her Civic has Yokohama Ice Guards and aside from being noisey, they were pretty decent - but a little pricey based on my internet research.  If I can get a decent set of tires slightly cheaper, I'd be okay with that.  I'm looking at General Altimax, Gislaved Nordfrost (recommended by a friend), etc.  I don't want to break the bank but would spend a few extra bucks to get something decent over the ubiquitous Goodyear Nordic.  I'm thinking in the $100 - $120 range.

I live in the Northern GTA on the edge of the snowbelt.  Roads get plowed fairly quickly and my worst enemy is likely ice and hard packed snow but I would like some snow capability for those times where removal is slow.  Any thoughts?  Are winter tire deals likely to start soon?

[Gardiner Westbound]

Last October Canadian Tire (CTC) sale priced the General Altimax Arctic winter tire at 30-percent off, slightly cheaper than TireRack! Consumer Reports (Nov-2009) rates it superior to the much more costly Bridgestone Blizzak WS60, Nokian Hakkapelitta 5 and Nokian Hakkapelitta R, but slightly inferior to the Michelin X-Ice Xi2. See attachment.

Notwithstanding I usually buy Michelin or Bridgestone and disdain CTC, I could not overlook the Generals' price/value ratio and bought a set. They performed extremely well. Even made it up my driveway without shoveling, not always doable with my previous winter tires. Watch the October Canadian Tire flyers.

[tpl]

I have Nordfrosts on the GTI.  Adequate but not superior I'd say.   I got a deal on them but I would probably have bought Hankook Ice Bears if not.

[mrthompson]

What size are you needing? 

[johngenx]

I'm putting new snows on the missus' 09 'Rolla in a few weeks, as Costco has the Blizzak WS-70 on for ~$500 all-in for a set of four 195/65-15 tires.  Expires Oct 2.

[SaskSpecV]

I'm putting new snows on the missus' 09 'Rolla in a few weeks, as Costco has the Blizzak WS-70 on for ~$500 all-in for a set of four 195/65-15 tires.  Expires Oct 2.

That's a GREAT price for Blizzaks.  I bought a set of WS-70s (205/55R16, with 16" alloy rims) from tire rack last spring for the Elantra touring for about 1200 all in, but didn't put them on as I still had the winter tires on the Spec V when they arrived.  I loved the WS-50s on the Spec V (195/65R15s), but wasn't quite as happy with the WS-60s on my wife's Focus.  They just didn't see to have as good traction on ice as the WS-50s.  The guy from tire rack said that Bridgestone went back towards the WS-50 compound for the WS-70, as the WS-60 was more of a "snow" tire and they thought they could improve ice traction.  Maybe he was just saying that to me to match my own impressions, but we'll try out the WS-70 this winter and find out.  Seriously considered the Continental winter tires as well, but went back to Blizzaks.  Those General Altimax tires looked intriguing too, the price is certainly right.  But aren't they  studdable tires, are am I mistaken?  Are they still as effective without they studs?

[Vanstar]

I buy all my tires are Discount Tire in the USA. For example, a set of Pirelli P6 all seasons for my TL came in at $483 all in.

A set of Michelin X Ice for a Corolla in Bellingham Washington comes in at $599.68. I know this because I just bought a set for my wife's car.

This does present a small problem in what to do with the take-offs. The tires that came with our Corolla were junk so we just had Discount Tire dispose of them. Next spring a new set of tires will be purchased. If the tires are made in USA the duty is very small. They didn't even bother collection the duty of HST from us it would not be worth their time. Even if they had, it would still have been much cheaper.

[johngenx]

To clarify:  $514 installed with GST, etc, for the four 195/65-15 WS-70 tires.  This is due to a $70 Bridgestone instant rebate that is on until Oct 2.

I could find no way to match/beat this out of the US thanks to shipping costs.

[saint_satan]

John:

Did you already have rims for the Blizzaks?  I have a Costco membership and there is a store about 5 minutes away.  I guess I could get OEM rims at the stealer and take them to Costco.  Did you bother with the retarded pressure sensors or live with the light on the dash?

[PJungnitsch]

To clarify:  $514 installed with GST, etc, for the four 195/65-15 WS-70 tires.  This is due to a $70 Bridgestone instant rebate that is on until Oct 2.

I could find no way to match/beat this out of the US thanks to shipping costs.

Got the same deal at Costco last winter after my Optimo 4S All-Weathers were not working out. Lots of freezing rain followed by snow in Medicine Hat last winter, and with the hills around town the Optimos were just not hacking it. The WS-70 was a night and day difference.

[johngenx]

We have two sets of wheels, so that Costco price is for tires only, but is still an awesome price for WS-70 Blizzaks.

On the Corolla, there is no way for the owner to have the TPMS read a second set of sensors, so if you buy a second set, you have to visit the dealer twice a year to enter them.  F-that.   We live with the light on in the winter, no biggie.

We bought steels through TireTrends originally, but I don't think the OE steels are very expensive.  I just hate the idea of giving our dealer's service department even $1 of my money.

[Gardiner Westbound]

On the Corolla, there is no way for the owner to have the TPMS read a second set of sensors, so if you buy a second set, you have to visit the dealer twice a year to enter them.  F-that.   We live with the light on in the winter, no biggie.

Every TPMS sensor has an unique Electronic Serial Number (ESN). Each time the TPMS sensors are changed the car's ECU must relearn the ESNs. Many vehicles can be put into learn mode however most Japanese makes require a special electronic device, a US$125 ATEQ TPMS Quickset Tool. It will pay for itself the first year.

[saint_satan]

I think I've been sold on the Blizzaks!  Thanks again!

[SaskSpecV]

I think I've been sold on the Blizzaks!  Thanks again!

As someone who has used 3 sets of Blizzaks extensively, and purchased a 4th, you count go wrong with them.  Of course, you probably can't go wrong with X-Ice, Continental WinterContact, or General Altimax Arctic either - or any REAL winter tire, for that matter.  But if you can get 4 installed for ~ $500, that's an awesome price.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

On the Corolla, there is no way for the owner to have the TPMS read a second set of sensors, so if you buy a second set, you have to visit the dealer twice a year to enter them.  F-that.   We live with the light on in the winter, no biggie.

Every TPMS sensor has an unique Electronic Serial Number (ESN). Each time the TPMS sensors are changed the car's ECU must relearn the ESNs. Many vehicles can be put into learn mode however most Japanese makes require a special electronic device, a US$125 ATEQ TPMS Quickset Tool. It will pay for itself the first year.

The owner's manual for the Outback says that TPMS is for US spec cars. The Outback forum seems to confirm that Canadian models don't get it. I know our 2008 didn't, but had assumed that the mandate had come down in the interim. I'll be pretty damned pleased if that is in fact the case.

It looks like I'll be ordering studded General Altimax Arctics from 1010. About $50 a tire cheaper than what I've been able to find locally.

[Arctic_White]

Those General Altimax tires looked intriguing too, the price is certainly right.  But aren't they  studdable tires, are am I mistaken?  Are they still as effective without they studs?

Friend of mine ran the General Altimax last winter without the studs with 0 problems.  He loved the tires in wet, ice, or snow! 

[Gardiner Westbound]

The new Canadian Tire online store has General Altimax Arctic tires sale priced at 25-percent off.

http://goo.gl/LYBe3

[saint_satan]

I saw the Generals on sale.  I'll have to take a look.  I seems they are comparable tires to the Blizzaks, but the Generals are a smidge cheaper (~$10). 

[DKaz]

I ran Yokohama iceGuard iG20s in my 08 Corolla CE. I downsized to 185/65R15 for better traction using the stock steel wheels then got 17" alloys for the summer. Cost was about $670 including balancing taxes etc. at Kal Tire.

2008 and older Corolla had no TPMS, heck no ABS either.