Lots of talk about winter tires, but where are they?

[Sean_W]

Ok, I've checked three different tire sites. Searched for Camaro SS (front and rear), and all come up with "Sorry, no matches found". So just where are we supposed to get these fabled winter tires? What's the cheapest I can expect to pay for these? Still don't understand why they don't put all season on these from the get go. Why would you ask your consumers to pay another $1000 right after spending $40,000 on something?

Sorry if this sounds like a rant, but I just can't afford a set of these right after buying the car and all of these wreck posts (from winter causes) are scaring the crap out of me.

[tjd24]

http://www.tirerack.com/snow - don't try to match up the stock rims as you'll either have a high price or show unavailable. There are 18" tires / rims sets at both tirerack and discount tire for under $1,000. I went with 20" Blizzaks & new rims from tirerack and paid almost $1,700. including TPMS & delivery.

I agree Chevy should've given the option for performance all-seasons...

Check the discussions in the Technical Forum for Wheels & Tires

[fastal]

Originally Posted by tjd24

http://www.tirerack.com/snow - don't try to match up the stock rims as you'll either have a high price or show unavailable. There are 18" tires / rims sets at both tirerack and discount tire for under $1,000. I went with 20" Blizzaks & new rims from tirerack and paid almost $1,700. including TPMS & delivery.

I agree Chevy should've given the option for performance all-seasons...

Check the discussions in the Technical Forum for Wheels & Tires

He has a 2SS so unlike us he has to stick to 20" tires.

Here is a link to some 20" winter tires http://www.tirerack.com/snow/WinterT...&performance=W

[TJ91]

all season tires are garabage sorry. It was always recommended to have good summer tires, and good winter tires.
The reason being is with all season tirs, you get mid performance in the summer and and winter.
We got summer tires on the 20s because it makes a big difference. Just look at the stopping distance we got with them.
I understand its a pain to have to fork out more cash to buy inters but its worth it. If your going to spend 40k why not get the best out of both worlds too, great summer tires and great winter tires

[diddiyo]

Originally Posted by fastal

He has a 2SS so unlike us he has to stick to 20" tires.

?! why not just put 18"s on for the winter.

[Mayhem]

Personally, I am leaning towards getting expensive winter rubbers for the stock 20 RS rims and then just buying seperate rims later that I actually like for the rest of the year.

Firstly, I've priced up the 18 wheels + rubbers.. and repeatedly the cost is still so high that the money I'd save on future replacement 18's (how often do you have to replace them really for a winter only set?) just doesn't add up to really being more of a savings than just getting winter rubber only for the stock 20's & having the rubber put on once until the next time they get replaced.

Plus I want new rims either way for the rest of the year... so instead of buyin new winter rims AND new year round rims... and having 2 sets collecting dust at any given time.... figured I'd abuse the stock rims in the winter.... also saves me the trouble of havin to replace the two rims that I curbed. since... i don't care if my winters have rash on em.

as for cheap tires.... I hate shellin out big for them too, but I don't know if I'd want cheap tires on a nice sports/muscle car... I want to know my tires are up to par in quality along with the car itself.

However.... I don't have any winter setup currently... been kickin myself tryin to decide between pampering the maro n getting a beater.... or just equiping the camaro and making use of the awesome heater/heated seats and new traction etc technology that the Camaro comes with.... & proving all the RWD naysayers wrong.

[Mayhem]

as for shopping for the tires..... sadly tire rack seems easiest and most convenient due to their shipping times.

local costs are TERRIBLE... and most need time to order em in anyways...

waiting to hear back from my dealer & if he doesn't have good news ... likely tireracking a set of scorpions.

[71cam]

Originally Posted by diddiyo

?! why not just put 18"s on for the winter.

...you gotta pay to look good

[drtwo]

18's won't fit on an SS with the large brakes!

[Sean_W]

What about just getting winter tires for the rear since that's where all the power comes form? We're only talking maybe 3 months out of the year they would be on the car. Would this make just as much difference if all four were winter tires? Then maybe the next year, I could get the front

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by Sean_W

What about just getting winter tires for the rear since that's where all the power comes form? We're only talking maybe 3 months out of the year they would be on the car. Would this make just as much difference if all four were winter tires? Then maybe the next year, I could get the front

That would be a bad idea, and you can youtube video's to show you why.. A lot of the tests show that it's not an improvement over having 4 all seasons.

Most people will strongly reccommend you do all 4. Theres also sections in your user manual that will say to do all 4 tires if you are going to change the tires.... So if you chose not to and something happened, I don't know how that would effect warranty?

[Mayhem]

You'd be better off with 4 cheap brand winter tires.. than 2 good rear only.

[AdamCzap]

Originally Posted by drtwo

18's won't fit on an SS with the large brakes!

Yes they do. My 2SS has 18" wheels/tires from tirerack.

[AdamCzap]

Originally Posted by Sean_W

What about just getting winter tires for the rear since that's where all the power comes form? We're only talking maybe 3 months out of the year they would be on the car. Would this make just as much difference if all four were winter tires? Then maybe the next year, I could get the front

If you're questioning this then you need to do more research.