Winter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-23-09
Posts: 1,813
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From: USA
drive mine last winter, on stock tires, cause i had to, never found any winter rims. Never gonna do that again. I used an oil pan heat pad. works great. And this winter i got winter rims and tires, and i already tried em out in the snow, they work great as well.
i paid less than that for a new set of rims and winter tires.
Yep, I paid $325 Canadian / tire for the 18" Alpin PA3...mind you the tread pattern and compound is pretty ridiculous. The ad for the tire should say "for the rally racing enthusiast in all of us". For the person questioning 18s availability let me know if you want a pic I'll pull my wheels/tires off the rack (still not on) and snap one for you to give you an idea 
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As for the OP's question, you should be fine but as far as I know you can buy the block heater from GM and install it on the TC same as the SC.
.As for the OP's question, you should be fine but as far as I know you can buy the block heater from GM and install it on the TC same as the SC.
Last edited by tomj77; Nov 23, 2009 at 08:09 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
New Member
Joined: 10-23-09
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
i just put winter wheels and tires on and the guy at discount tire said they dont put tire pressure moniters in winter tires because they get damaged easy from the salt. sounds like bs to me. and now i have to deal with "svc tpms" all winter. 
no one told me that. pfft, i got me some tpms off ebay, new, all 4 for $60. lol gotta love ebay.
New Member
Joined: 11-09-08
Posts: 100
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From: Schaumburg, IL
I had Yokohama W Drive Tires 215/45R18. They worked amazing in all of our major snow falls. And since they were on the stock rims I had the tpms on there. They worked fine all winter. The guy at discount tire told me to change the metal caps to plastic ones though, since the salt rusts the caps to the tpms monitor and ruins them. Even gave me the plastic caps.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-21-05
Posts: 5,060
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From: London, Ontario
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Senior Member
Joined: 01-02-09
Posts: 677
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From: Edmonton
I'm running Barum Polaris 2 for winters. I haven't gotten to try them on snow, but they're doing pretty good on ice. When it was really cold I just set my remote starter to start the car every 3-4 hours to keep the engine somewhat warm all the time.
New Member
Joined: 06-01-08
Posts: 57
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From: Upstate NY
It's not about not knowing how to drive. For you, slowbalt84, maybe it's not worth it for 2 annual snow falls. But for Shez, in NJ, GET SNOW TIRES. The SS/TC's stock Continentals are summer-only. The traction these tires get on cold tarmac or in snow is theoretical at best.
If people want to endanger themselves, cool... But don't endanger other road users by skidding around on tires designed for summer heat.
If people want to endanger themselves, cool... But don't endanger other road users by skidding around on tires designed for summer heat.
Obviously when GM designed the engine and sold it without a block heater as an option knowing all well what sort of climates these cars would be driven in they gave this some thought. Never used a block heater in any of my cars neither does anyone I know, I think the synthetic oil helps with these cold starts.
Just my 2 cents.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-22-08
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, ON
That being said, you'll find it easier driving a standard in snow than an automatic... A manual gives you much better control over the car's power delivery which translates into much better control in snow overall.
In around town driving its a good idea to keep your rpms low by upshifting a little sooner than normal. this keeps the torque low and keeps your tires firmly planted. Winter tires are a must.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-27-09
Posts: 1,868
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From: Proctorville OH
The main tip for driving in snow is speed appropriate for conditions. Just take it easy and you'll be fine. Also, get snow tires. All-season tires are a joke and anyone who tells you otherwise either a) doesn't get any kind of real snowfall or b) doesn't know what they're talking about. Winter tires are worth every penny.
That being said, you'll find it easier driving a standard in snow than an automatic... A manual gives you much better control over the car's power delivery which translates into much better control in snow overall.
That being said, you'll find it easier driving a standard in snow than an automatic... A manual gives you much better control over the car's power delivery which translates into much better control in snow overall.
hope he lets me drive the 4x4 jeep we r rebuilding..
I have never owned snow tires, I had a 1997 escort, then a 2005 base cobalt and neither of them had traction control or ABS, never got in an accident or stuck, or anything, I took both cars up to the mountians skiing all the time, Just drive carefully if you get all seasons, now the summer tires on the SS/TC are not ment for snow so I will not drive the SS if it snows.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-22-08
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, ON
I have never owned snow tires, I had a 1997 escort, then a 2005 base cobalt and neither of them had traction control or ABS, never got in an accident or stuck, or anything, I took both cars up to the mountians skiing all the time, Just drive carefully if you get all seasons, now the summer tires on the SS/TC are not ment for snow so I will not drive the SS if it snows.
...Wow, that analogy was horrible.
Basically if your going to drive it In the winter you shouldn't use the summer tires. And if your gonna waist your money on all seasons when you have summer tires already. buy snow tires for the winter. If not best of luck to you with those sport tires.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-22-09
Posts: 5,989
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From: Kathmandu
