I'm in the snowy NorthEast with a 2009 SS, factory 18" tires. I'm pretty sure I want a different tire for the winter, the SS is my daily driver, but I'm not sure if I get 4 18" tires or go with 16" tires & rims. So far my local tire dealer is quoting over $1000 both ways. I'm also not sure if I want all weather or snow specific and which brand I should consider. I've had Pirellis in the past on other cars, Blizzaks & X-Ice seem to be mentioned a lot, my dealer suggested Yokohamas. Would appreciate any advice. Sorry if this has been hashed & rehashed, I just havent quite found the info I wanted using search. Also wondering if there's anything different I need to do if I switch from 18" to 16", not very mechanically inclined. Thanks, Pam

 

Don't feel bad about asking the question Pam. I've been pondering the same thing since we got all of our snow the past couple days. The Firestone Firehawk GTA 03'S really suck in the snow.

 

This is the thread you want: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/tires-wheels-49/winter-tires-wheels-feedback-please-26427/

My two cents: If you are mostly driving in an area where the roads are well cared for, the OEM michellins are and all-season tire and really arent bad in snow. If you live where they don't plow the roads as well, snows are probably worth it.

 

Unplowed roads this morning & lots of slippery hills.

 

That's my thread that pitbull76 sent you the link on and was wresting with the same question. I drove in buku snow last year and was impressed with how well the stock Michelin's did although I knew dedicated snows would have done better.

I priced both a complete 16" setup (including TPMS) and changing the 18" stockers and you are correct, they are both over a grand, but pretty close! This made my decision easy, a dedicated set of winter tires/wheels.... No mount/remount and balance costs in the future. The dealer (Belle tire) will even change them back and forth and balance the winter tires for the life of the tires for free.

Since I have had them for less than a month I really can't provide a comprehensive review, but I can say that I noticed a decrease in dry performance (expected), and the little bit that I have driven them in the snow they seem to rather well. I am waiting to hit those deep unplowed roads to give a fair review.

One positiver thing that I am counting on is that the wear on the expensive Michelin's should dramatically be decreased by not driving on them 4 - 6 months a year.

 

So Eric, you got the Blizzaks on the 16" rim? Any idea how the Blizzaks compare to the X-Ice, the Pirelli, or the Yokahama? And I guess the Pirelli makes two types of snow, a Snow & a Performance Snow. Not that I'm going to be doing much more than just getting around in the winter, is the Pirelli Performance Snow that much better than their standard snow? Thanks, as always, an education! Pam

 

I just read an article in Car and Driver Gearbox on winter tires and they said that the Blizzak (WS-60) is COMPARABLE to the Michelin X-ice Xi2, the Yokohama Ice Guard IG20, the Continental ExtremeWinterContact and the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice.

By the way, they had good things to say about the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 (Stock SS tire), but said that in snow and ice the dedicated winter tires rule.

C&D December 2009 "snow shoes" pg 116

 

Tirerack-I had 16"s with General Altimax Arctic-they were great and just under $800 with nice alloy rims. Remember this size will not work with Brembos.

 

I grabbed some steel wheels off craigslist that used to be on someone's Cobalt and mounted Blizzaks on them. I don't have anything to compare them to besides the stock tires but I can say I find myself feeling invincible with these tires.

While others are fishtailing and sliding around the Blizzaks are extremely sure footed.

My winter setup:



And again when polished up and looking better:

 

Eric, thanks for the very good article in Car & Driver. From what I read, the Blizzak WS60, the Continental ExtremeWinter, the GoodYear UltraGrip Ice, the Yokohama IG20, and the Michelin XIce Xi2 are all good for daily blizzards but may be too extreme for snow days combined with dry days. Perhaps I'm not that much of a performance driver to have it matter. Most of my driving is back roads but I do occasionally travel the highway. Who knew there was such a science to snow tires (or winter tires I guess they are now called)? Pam