anyone planning to buy snow tires?

[tidriver]

just wondering if anyone else other than me is looking to get winter wheels/tires? I have the GT with 20" wheels and come snow season they'll be pretty much useless here in the northeast. Planning on getting some 17's with true winter tires, not all seasons. I priced out a package on tirerack and it'll be about $1000 all in.

Any thoughts?

[todd92]

Already bought 17" wheels with Blizzacks for mine. Snow tires make driving in snow fun.

[astraelraen]

Do 17" wheels clear the brakes? I don't think 17" wheels would even clear the CX-7's brakes.

[eldo64]

I'm definitely thinking about it for our Colorado snows...

todd92 - What 17's and Blizzacks did you get?

[todd92]

Blizzak DM-Z3 and Sport Edition F2 wheels from the Tire Rack with another set of TPMS.

[just_phil]

I got a set of CX-7 wheels, and I'm putting Blizzak LM-25 4x4 on them soon, 235/60-18.

[l-miwa]

I picked up a set of CX-9 18" wheels from someone that upgraded. I'm planning to get some winter tires for them. Currently looking at the following:
Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow
Dunlop Grandtrek SJ5
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3
I'll be waiting a few months to see if they go on sale.

[tidriver]

tirerack recommends 17 for snow tires, are the 18's still too "low profile" for snow driving?(huh)

[l-miwa]

There's a larger selection of tires available in 17". There are only a few tires available in the correct size for the 18" rims. Plus the cost is a little higher for the 18" wheels / tires.

[Dalton]

Already bought 17" wheels with Blizzacks for mine. Snow tires make driving in snow fun.Blizzak DM-Z3 and Sport Edition F2 wheels from the Tire Rack with another set of TPMS.



have you tried them out yet?

Official speclists everywhere state,
that CX9 has 17" brakes - I wonder do the 17" wheels fit over the 17" brakedisks (uhm)

EDIT:

Got e-mail from tirerack...

From: Walt The Tire Rack
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 4:09 PM
Subject: CX-9 17" winter wheels

Mr. Dalton,

Thank you for your e-mail. As long as you select one of the 17" wheels listed for the CX-9 in the Winter Tire & Wheel section of our Website, we guarantee that the wheels shown will clear the brakes and fit the CX-9 properly. The link below will show you the selection of 17" wheels we offer and assure you will fit:

http://www.tirerack.com/snow/WinterWheels.jsp?skipTires=true

Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or would like to place an order by phone, or just put my name in as your sales contact if you order online.

Thank you,
Walt | Sales Specialist
__________________________________________________ ________

The Tire Rack
7101 Vorden Parkway
South Bend, IN 46628
O: 888 428 8355 ext. 372
O: 574 287 2345 ext. 372
F: 574 236 7707
Walt@tirerack.com

http://www.tirerack.com

[tidriver]

will you get better snow performance with 17's or 18's?

[FiveG]

I have the GT with 20" wheels and come snow season they'll be pretty much useless here in the northeast.

Pardon my neophyteness, but why do you believe that the 20" wheels will be poor in snow? I'm in the Northeast as well, and have the 20" wheels.

FiveG

[camrycev6]

Isn't the CX-9 FWD? Why do you need snow tires?

[tidriver]

Low profile winter tires are less effective and tend to facilitate the accumulation of snow within the wheels. The accumulation of snow/ice on the wheels/rims will cause balance issues with the tire/wheels.

[l-miwa]

While the CX-9 is either FWD or AWD depending on the model, the tires that come on it (either 18" or 20") are all-season tires. That means that they are a compromise that works "reasonably well" all year round. High performance summer tires work much better in the summer and snow tires work much better in the winter.

For those areas that get significant snowfall, snow tires are pretty much a requirement. They work WAY better in snow and on ice. For those areas that get some snow, but it gets plowed pretty quickly, snow tires still provide a benefit. At temperatures below about 45 degrees, the softer rubber compounds used in snow tires provide a better grip on even dry roads. (This is why snow tires should not be used during the summer. The rubber will become so soft that they will wear out VERY quickly.) They also grip much better on ice.

Larger diameter wheels provide the same contact patch (sq inches per tire = weight of vehicle / tire pressure in psi / 4 tires) with less deformation of the tire. While this is a slight performance advantage at extreme levels, it isn't significant in the winter. Smaller diameter, slightly narrower tires tend to work better in snow of measurable depth. They also tend to cost less.

[FiveG]

Thanks for the explanation. I will probably play this by ear: before I purchased the CX9, I had a British SUV of unnamed make on which I used all-season tires, and they worked fine, even in Vermont in the winter. If I find that the snow here in CT is causing some issues, I guess I can run off to my friendly tire guys.

[camrycev6]

While the CX-9 is either FWD or AWD depending on the model, the tires that come on it (either 18" or 20") are all-season tires. That means that they are a compromise that works "reasonably well" all year round. High performance summer tires work much better in the summer and snow tires work much better in the winter.

For those areas that get significant snowfall, snow tires are pretty much a requirement. They work WAY better in snow and on ice. For those areas that get some snow, but it gets plowed pretty quickly, snow tires still provide a benefit. At temperatures below about 45 degrees, the softer rubber compounds used in snow tires provide a better grip on even dry roads. (This is why snow tires should not be used during the summer. The rubber will become so soft that they will wear out VERY quickly.) They also grip much better on ice.

Larger diameter wheels provide the same contact patch (sq inches per tire = weight of vehicle / tire pressure in psi / 4 tires) with less deformation of the tire. While this is a slight performance advantage at extreme levels, it isn't significant in the winter. Smaller diameter, slightly narrower tires tend to work better in snow of measurable depth. They also tend to cost less.

Makes sense...I think the important thing would be the amount of snow fall you get. I have driven on all-season tires in FWD cars for almost two decades with very little problems. Of course, I was raised in the country where learning to drive in the snow is a must.

[jackert]

Yes, a narrower tire is much better in the snow as you get more "biting" power. Think of a woman's high heel shoe and the pressure the heel puts on the ground vs say a more sensible flat shoe.

But the real issue is to make sure that your diameter of the replacement snow tire is the same as your original 20" all weather tire. If not you will have an innacurate odometer and speedo and perhaps other issues with the electronics. SO... for each inch of wheel diameter you reduce, you should go up a size or two on the aspect ratio. for example an 18" should be something like a 245/60 and a 17" should be perhaps a 235/65. Most tire companies provide the diameter of the replacement tire and this is what you should check.

[DashingMax]

Verify your new tire size. It must be within 3% of the OEM size. Use this calculator:
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

[Lexx]

While the CX-9 is either FWD or AWD depending on the model, the tires that come on it (either 18" or 20") are all-season tires. That means that they are a compromise that works "reasonably well" all year round.
For the record, I have experienced the stock all-seasons tires on 20" wheels last March in a very mild freeze/light snow dusting situations in an AWD CX-9. They DO NOT performe "reasonably well" in this situation. I will go so far as to say that if it ever freezes or snow dusts in your area, DO NOT drive stock tires on the CX-9, even once.

[l-miwa]

For the record, I have experienced the stock all-seasons tires on 20" wheels last March in a very mild freeze/light snow dusting situations in an AWD CX-9. They DO NOT performe "reasonably well" in this situation. I will go so far as to say that if it ever freezes or snow dusts in your area, DO NOT drive stock tires on the CX-9, even once.

(iagree) By "reasonably well" (in quotes for a reason!) I meant that the manufacturers intend them to be usable all year round. Unlike summer high performance tires that can't be driven safely when there's any moisture on the roads or the temp is any cooler than t-shirt & shorts weather!

Winter tires are a vast improvement in cold weather and I plan to get a set for my CX-9. I live in the Chicago area where mayors get voted out of office if the snow doesn't get plowed within hours. However, I feel it is still worth the expense for the improved traction in cold weather, on ice patches, and for the few miles of driving in actual snow.