Just curious what you guys are running for your winter tire setups? I have the balt about 2 years now and this will be her second winter. Last year I just ran my Bridgestone Potenza's all year and they were alright. This year I ran my Federal super sticky tires during summer/fall and now want something that will keep me safe. I was thinking of running a 215/40 r18 winter tire but there are like no options and the few are super expensive.

Just want to know what you guys run!

Just an FYI, I have a TC so I am super limited with rims so I'm pretty much stuck with 18's.

 

Any snow tire is better than having nothing IMO, so just get what you can afford in the size you need. More common sizes(215/40 is not one) usually run a little bit cheaper. I got Champiro Ice pro for my cobalt and they did great.

 

Run a 225/40/r18 and get Nokian WR3 or WR4 idk what they're on if you don't get a lot of snow and ice, or run full on winters like Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 or Hakkapeliitta 8 studded if you have a lot of ice.

 

The cheapest snow tire is still going to be better than the best all-season. Get the narrowest tire that you can in the correct diameter.

 

^^ This. High performance summers are dangerous in low temperatures and snow. I run NT01s year round so I should know lol.

 

I run General Altimax Arctic 205/50/17 in the front on 17x7 Borbet LV5 (i found a full set in the junkyard for CHEAP) and some walmart all seasons on the back (came on the wheels, no complaints). Snow tires make a WORLD of difference and finding those Borbets saved me a lot of money. (they clear brembos and had hubcentric rings!) I got the wheels & all seasons for $160 and then paid $250 for the 2 snow tires. So all in for around $400? They're not perfectly straight but good enough that I don't notice anything till about 60mph and I see no reason (for me) to go above 60mph in the winter. I'm not doing any highway driving or anything. Second season on them and I'm currently getting tuned so I'm ripping on them more than I usually would.

 

Any winter tire will kick an all seasons ass

I have always used general altimax arctics, but now have blizzak ws-80's on the RS and escape and some crazy general truck tire on my jeep

 

My issue is finding rims that will clear my Brembos. There are tons of options for snow tires in the 15, 16,and 17" sizes. I'll find some soon. Lucky for me, we have been light on snow so far in Utah.

 

I bought 17 inch drag 34 wheels from discount tire.

 

Most of the "drag" wheels clear brembo's. I park my cobalt in the winter, this will be the last winter for that, but on my other cars I switch to snows. The stopping distance difference is huge from all seasons to snow tires. I can/could go anywhere in my Saab or our old regal that I could go in my 4wd truck except through heavy drifted snow due to ground clearance. And on ice with the snow tires, the truck wouldn't come close to what the cars could do.

 

I ran G5 GT wheels with 205/50/17 in the front.

 

I'd pickup a winter tire/wheel package from Tire Rack and call it done. It might sound expensive but it's well worth it to avoid an accident in the inclement weather. You can be a great driver but there's always going to be that one moron who cuts you off or pulls out in front of you and every bit of traction helps in those cases.

 

You can use LNF or lsj wheels with spacers like this lol