Snow tire Purchase

[CanadianCamaro]

OK let's clear up a few things:

- Duty/taxes - terms used interchangably concerning paying taxes on goods bring imported into Canada. Duty Tarriffs apply to goods manufactured outside of north america. The point being, you'll have to pay the "screw me I'm Canadian" fee upon crossing the boarder. If you're over the boarder for 24 hours you can bring back a big whopping $50 duty-free. 48 hours = $400 duty-free. But then you have to send 48 hours in Buffalo. Oh and, 47 hours doesn't cut-it.

- Snow tires significanly help you steer, stop and go. Think about that. Which wheels do what? 70% (ish) of your stopping comes from the fronts. As far as I know, 100% of my Camaro's steering comes from the fronts. So if you're considering only putting winters on the rears - don't bother. You'll be just like all the idiots around here with their SUVs. Can go like hell in the winter but ooppsss.... didn't realize they can't stop or steer a 6000 lb vehicle when it's going that fast. This is why many front wheel drives go with snows on just the front. It's not 100% fool proof but it's 90%.

- If you have the Brembo brakes (i.e. SS) I am not aware of any rim sizes under 20" that will fit over them. That means the 18" heritage steels will not work. That's the reason you can't get them on an SS. 19"? Maybe, but winters for those are rare (er)

- TPM's are needed unless you are using your summer rims and simply swapping rubber (hello winter damage and high cost of change-over each year)

- Remember that your installation cost on the winters is really only a 1-time cost. After they are mounted and balanced, you will only need to pay switch you summers to winters each year (or do it yourself)

- If you stay close to the same overall wheel diameter (+/- 0.5" is a good rule of thumb) there will be almost no noticable impact on how the car drives. Until you go excessively smaller or excessively bigger wheel size also does not adversely impact the drivetrain of the vehicle and will not affect your warranty. Besides reading the new TPMs no codes or lights s/b thrown as a result of using winters.

- Programming the car to read the new TPMs is not that hard and can be done by the owner. Pain in the butt? Yes. But not that hard. The dealer and most tire shops can do this easier and usually this is included in the install charge.

- You can have the computer reprogrammed to compensate the speedo for different diameter wheels, but again the impact is minimal. So it's not really worth it since you'd have to do it twice per year.

If you guys are seriously interested in a group buy from my guy in Bracebridge put together a short list of the tires interested and I'll ask him to give me some prices installed (will price both the 18 & 20" sizes; including TPMs which I guess have come down in price per someone here)

[Cyber_Gray_Autobot]

What will have if the sensors (tire pressure monitoring) are not installed? I was quoted a price of about $400. Was the $46 quote American or Canadian?

[CamaroScotty]

And this just in from someone on the Camaro team at GM:

It is highly recommended the customer use the 20" snow tires that will soon be offered by Pirelli.

If the customer chooses to use 18" wheel/snow tires, the customer should use the 245/55/R18 BF Goodrich M&S TPC spec tire. There will be no ECM or EBCM calibration changes required (because he has the RS package) but he may experience handling issues in extreme driving conditions (i.e., performance driving) because the suspension on the RS is slightly different than the base car. This will not void his warranty unless it is determined that the snow tires were incorrectly installed.

[tededfred]

Originally Posted by CanadianCamaro

Not true. You can remove all but the fire and theft at any point with most companies I know of. You just need to pay for the full year up front, then call them when taking it off the road. They will send you a refund for the remainder of the year (or adjust remaining monthly billings).

interesting. I've emailed my insurance rep... we'll see what they have to say... maybe ill be in the market for an old 4x4 instead of winter tires for the camaro!

[CanadianCamaro]

Originally Posted by CamaroScotty

And this just in from someone on the Camaro team at GM:

It is highly recommended the customer use the 20" snow tires that will soon be offered by Pirelli.

If the customer chooses to use 18" wheel/snow tires, the customer should use the 245/55/R18 BF Goodrich M&S TPC spec tire. There will be no ECM or EBCM calibration changes required (because he has the RS package) but he may experience handling issues in extreme driving conditions (i.e., performance driving) because the suspension on the RS is slightly different than the base car. This will not void his warranty unless it is determined that the snow tires were incorrectly installed.

Not sure how to install winter tires incorrectly (mount, inflate properly, balance, hang, rubber-side down) but anyway.
I suspected that GM would support Pirelli snows - why wouldn't they. Preferred supplier. Are they the best? Matter of opinion.
Not sure who is doing much performance driving while on snows anyway. Bare pavement performance of snows (all snows) is so significantly different than good quality summers anyway.

[islandwiz]

My dealer gave me the following quote:

TPSM sensors $56 each CAN$

[sigma_1966]

any news on a group buy ?

[mrbrans5]

I'd also be interested in the "group buy".

I'd want the 18" Heritage wheels with Blizzak L-25s or L-60's.

That's it....

waiting for prices...

[tededfred]

Going to revive this thread one last time before I give in and ask my dealer about ordering these for me. Anyone putting together a group buy? I think most people are looking for the heritage rims with blizzaks...

Winter is coming!!! :(

[GrimKeeper]

Originally Posted by tededfred

Going to revive this thread one last time before I give in and ask my dealer about ordering these for me. Anyone putting together a group buy? I think most people are looking for the heritage rims with blizzaks...

Winter is coming!!! :(

I would be interested in the same package. I have priced 18" rims and the Blizzak LM-25's on Tirerack.com and the price is anywhere between $1,800-$2,000 US (based on the rim and tire size). This includes delivery, taxes, mounting/balancing, sensors and metal valves.

[SSmoked]

hey guys not sure if u got ur winter tires yet, but i would like to suggest the best tire shop in t-dot for winter tires. contact allen at Simply Tire. he is the most knowledgable guy when it comes winter tires, not to mention his prices are the best. i buy my summer and winter rims from him for my car aswell as family members cars.

but i would recomend storeing ur car for the winter.

[Edge.128]

Originally Posted by tededfred

Going to revive this thread one last time before I give in and ask my dealer about ordering these for me. Anyone putting together a group buy? I think most people are looking for the heritage rims with blizzaks...

Winter is coming!!! :(

How much are the heritage rims with blizzaks?

[Kalenn]

Goodyear has an available option for all weather tires that would probably work just fine.

The Eagle RS-A is available in P245/45R20 size. Not sure of the cost but it's an option. My '99 Camaro had those tires on it and they were great in the ice/snow/rain.

*not 20" but 17" back in the day*

[sigma_1966]

do you have a location or number

Originally Posted by SSmoked

hey guys not sure if u got ur winter tires yet, but i would like to suggest the best tire shop in t-dot for winter tires. contact allen at Simply Tire. he is the most knowledgable guy when it comes winter tires, not to mention his prices are the best. i buy my summer and winter rims from him for my car aswell as family members cars.

but i would recomend storeing ur car for the winter.