Winter Setups

FlyByGTI · 06-23-2014, 11:22 AM

Hi everyone,
Before I begin this, I know I know search button blah blah blah. I have been searching and reading up on threads for this. I also know some will flame me (flame suit on) for not only DDing my Z but also driving her throughout the winter but alas. That's the life of someone who doesn't need 2 cars and a motorcycle.

Anyway now that I have gotten all of that out the way. I was wondering what you all do (personally for your winter setups). I see the vast majority of people going with Blizzak LM-60s, some 19" (I don't really agree with that) and many running 18s.

I was thinking of going with the Blizzak because of the high level of reviews that I have seen showing them being more than competent in the snow/ice.

I guess my question is 2 things:
1. Recommendation on tire size (225/40/R19 vs 225/35/R19 vs 255/40/R18). Please note I have an 09 Touring with the sport package.

2. What are you personal setups for those who drive through the snow.

90 ST · 06-23-2014, 11:29 AM

Search button sucks!

Anyway, I have an '09 also with the sport breaks, I run a 225/50/18 front and a 245/45/18 rear Hankook Ipike for winter, on a set of 350Z track wheels no problems.

FlyByGTI · 06-23-2014, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90 ST

Search button sucks!

Anyway, I have an '09 also with the sport breaks, I run a 225/50/18 front and a 245/45/18 rear Hankook Ipike for winter, on a set of 350Z track wheels no problems.

Thanks for the info. How do you like the Hankook??

90 ST · 06-25-2014, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyByGTI

Thanks for the info. How do you like the Hankook??

I like them, it's not that i'm driving through deep snow, it's more for the temp. it gets cold up here in the winter. The first set of wheels you posted, probably wont fit, the second should, you may need a spacer. The narrower wheels like that, or like I run do look a little funny as they sit in the wheel well a fair bit, but you can space them out, if your running that narrower wheel, I think you said they were a 18x7...I chose not to, as it helps keep and the crap from the road off the quarter panel and in the wheel well...up to you. you may also want to look for a set of base 370 wheels, or a set of 350 wheels like I did, their cheap and they fit.

FlyByGTI · 06-25-2014, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by confucius

I drive my Z daily - including through Chicagoland winters (25,k yearly mileage). I don't know what's "right", but I bought my first vette when I was 17 and drove it through the winter without 'fancy' winter tires back then. 25 cars later I'm in a Z and we have a ton of choices that are better than - 'do the best you can, and ask someone to give you a shove when you need to.'

Last winter I ordered a specialty set tires & wheels from TireRack. They fit the Sport brakes perfectly.
225/50R-18 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60
255/45R-18 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60
4 18x8 Sport Edition F10 Silver

I left SUVs behind at every stoplight.

Good wishes on your journey!

Awesome info. Good to know someone else is driving a lot and and through the winter as well. I'll take a look around for the F10s as well.

I assume you had the 50s in back and the 45s up front

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90 ST

I like them, it's not that i'm driving through deep snow, it's more for the temp. it gets cold up here in the winter. The first set of wheels you posted, probably wont fit, the second should, you may need a spacer. The narrower wheels like that, or like I run do look a little funny as they sit in the wheel well a fair bit, but you can space them out, if your running that narrower wheel, I think you said they were a 18x7...I chose not to, as it helps keep and the crap from the road off the quarter panel and in the wheel well...up to you. you may also want to look for a set of base 370 wheels, or a set of 350 wheels like I did, their cheap and they fit.

I didn't even think of the 350 wheels that's not a bad idea.

confucius · 06-29-2014, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyByGTI

Awesome info. Good to know someone else is driving a lot and and through the winter as well. I'll take a look around for the F10s as well.

I assume you had the 50s in back and the 45s up front

No, the wider 255s in back.

kenchan · 06-23-2014, 11:49 AM

yah, LM60's are very good. i tried it on my G a few yrs back in deep snow.

since they come in stock 19 sizes, i'd just use the sport wheels and stock sizes. at least the car looks good in the winter too.

for me, i just hibernate my RWD cars though.

TreeSemdyZee · 06-23-2014, 12:21 PM

I bought rims and Blizzaks (model now discontinued) at 225/50-18.
Handles the snow big time. No issues at all.

FlyByGTI · 06-23-2014, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

yah, LM60's are very good. i tried it on my G a few yrs back in deep snow.

since they come in stock 19 sizes, i'd just use the sport wheels and stock sizes. at least the car looks good in the winter too.

for me, i just hibernate my RWD cars though.

Yeah I would have enjoyed having a secondary car for the winter but it just didn't work that way. I would ideally like to have a second set of wheels/tires so I don't have to worry about unmounting and mounting multiple times a year. I figured that running a smaller diameter would actually be better than keeping with the 19's

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeSemdyZee

I bought rims and Blizzaks (model now discontinued) at 225/50-18.
Handles the snow big time. No issues at all.

I saw that the blizzaks were on blowout specials which worried me (I wonder what they will be replaced with). The way I read your post, it sounds like you are running a square setup.

I am not worried about looks for the winter because everything in the winter just needs to get me from point A to B safely

kenchan · 06-23-2014, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyByGTI

Yeah I would have enjoyed having a secondary car for the winter but it just didn't work that way. I would ideally like to have a second set of wheels/tires so I don't have to worry about unmounting and mounting multiple times a year. I figured that running a smaller diameter would actually be better than keeping with the 19's

actually not so much the diameter but the width. narrower is better in the snow. so i suppose if you want to go the cheaper route, get the base 18" wheels and run their stock sizes which are like 225/245 or something.

FlyByGTI · 06-23-2014, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

actually not so much the diameter but the width. narrower is better in the snow. so i suppose if you want to go the cheaper route, get the base 18" wheels and run their stock sizes which are like 225/245 or something.

Right that was more of what I was trying to convey. I think the one person I saw was running the stock Sport Rays on Blizzaks and I didn't necessarily think that was the best option. I'm trying to start this process early so I can make sure I have them before the cold weather starts

TreeSemdyZee · 06-23-2014, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyByGTI

Yeah I would have enjoyed having a secondary car for the winter but it just didn't work that way. I would ideally like to have a second set of wheels/tires so I don't have to worry about unmounting and mounting multiple times a year. I figured that running a smaller diameter would actually be better than keeping with the 19's

I saw that the blizzaks were on blowout specials which worried me (I wonder what they will be replaced with). The way I read your post, it sounds like you are running a square setup.

I am not worried about looks for the winter because everything in the winter just needs to get me from point A to B safely

Square is a pretty good bet for snow tires. I bought Blizzak LM25s 4 years ago and they are great. They were discontinued because they came out with the LM60s. They have tons of tread left. I have had a couple of flats in them, but they were both my fault. I'm probably the first human being ever to get a nail in their tire when they weren't on the car. Picked one up in my storage shed when the tires/wheels were off of the car.

I'd definitely recommend getting wheels. It takes me an hour or so to swap mine out and you don't have to pay a tire store every time you swap. I paid $1255 for wheels, tires and lugs in January 2010 from TireRack. Well worth the money.

FPenvy · 06-23-2014, 01:28 PM

my winter set-up:

car cover
heated garage

done lol

FlyByGTI · 06-23-2014, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPenvy

my winter set-up:

car cover
heated garage

done lol

I can only dream of that setup...

One day...

6MT-Z34 · 06-23-2014, 02:45 PM

I was going to buy blizzaks too but they were discontinued, I purchased Michelin x-ice 3's i believe which held great during this harsh winter...i bought 18's as well for the set up...the back wheel looked sunk in but since it was my winter wheels it didn't matter much...i think they were 215/50/18 i'll check for you and let you now, they are sitting in my garage now lol

06-23-2014, 11:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
FlyByGTI Base Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 231 Drives: 09 370z Sport Rep Power: 11	Winter Setups Hi everyone, Before I begin this, I know I know search button blah blah blah. I have been searching and reading up on threads for this. I also know some will flame me (flame suit on) for not only DDing my Z but also driving her throughout the winter but alas. That's the life of someone who doesn't need 2 cars and a motorcycle. Anyway now that I have gotten all of that out the way. I was wondering what you all do (personally for your winter setups). I see the vast majority of people going with Blizzak LM-60s, some 19" (I don't really agree with that) and many running 18s. I was thinking of going with the Blizzak because of the high level of reviews that I have seen showing them being more than competent in the snow/ice. I guess my question is 2 things: 1. Recommendation on tire size (225/40/R19 vs 225/35/R19 vs 255/40/R18). Please note I have an 09 Touring with the sport package. 2. What are you personal setups for those who drive through the snow.

06-23-2014, 11:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, LM60's are very good. i tried it on my G a few yrs back in deep snow. since they come in stock 19 sizes, i'd just use the sport wheels and stock sizes. at least the car looks good in the winter too. for me, i just hibernate my RWD cars though. SterlingDrive likes this.

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06-23-2014, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 421	Search button sucks! Anyway, I have an '09 also with the sport breaks, I run a 225/50/18 front and a 245/45/18 rear Hankook Ipike for winter, on a set of 350Z track wheels no problems.

06-23-2014, 12:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 60 Posts: 4,886 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27409	I bought rims and Blizzaks (model now discontinued) at 225/50-18. Handles the snow big time. No issues at all.

06-23-2014, 02:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
6MT-Z34 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 1,726 Drives: PW Z Rep Power: 16	I was going to buy blizzaks too but they were discontinued, I purchased Michelin x-ice 3's i believe which held great during this harsh winter...i bought 18's as well for the set up...the back wheel looked sunk in but since it was my winter wheels it didn't matter much...i think they were 215/50/18 i'll check for you and let you now, they are sitting in my garage now lol