Winter Tires

[Moisted]

Okay, I did a search here and I can't find any thread on winter tires, options and recommendations.

So here are some options I've obtained locally. Anyone have a preference, or recommendation? (note: prices are Canadian Dollar, which right now is $1.04 US):


17"
225/65R17 YOKOHAMA BW WI GEO I/T G072 101R- $195
225/65R17 B/S BW WII BLIZZAK DM-Z3 101Q- $205
225/65R17 TOYO BW WI OPEN COUNTRY G-02 PLUS 102S- $230

16"
215/70R16 TOYO BW WI OPEN COUNTRY G-02 PLUS 100Q- $179
215/70R16 B/S BW WI DUELER DMZ3 99Q- $179
215/70R16 YOKOHAMA BW WI GEO T/I+ 100T- $150 & FREE NITROGEN

215/70R16 Micheline X-ice - $187

[Sandpebble]

Since you have 4wd and traction control and probably all season tires maybe you'll be ok as is. Just get the quick mount chains for blizzards.Ehh

[lizzurd]

Have you looked at the Michelin Lattitude Ice? Right now Michelin has a $50 rebate on a set of 4 in Canada.


http://activetire.com/pdf/NewsOct252007.pdf

[Moisted]

Have you looked at the Michelin Lattitude Ice? Right now Michelin has a $50 rebate on a set of 4 in Canada.


http://activetire.com/pdf/NewsOct252007.pdf

Yeah I saw the sale on the Michelin Latts. But even with the $50 off the total is $1163, including the balance and Steelies. The Yokohamas are some $200 cheaper.

[cderalow]

i would double check that a 16" wheel would fit a 3rd gen. I don't think it will, as the brakes fill the front wheel pretty well.

[mtl_crv]

I'm looking at the same thing but from what I've found, keeping a second set of wheels is proving to be a major PITA due to the TPMS setup that is coming on all the new Hondas. You could swap out the rims and go with smaller 16" Honda rims (alloys or steel) that came on 2nd gen CR-V's (I've heard of people running 16" Honda wheels on the 3rd gen CR-V's), but you'll need to make sure the TPMS system will fit properly before install (I believe it does, but do your own homework first). The easier option is really just to swap for another 17" winter tire.

Here's what I've been looking at:

For the 225/65R17 size:

Blizzak DM-Z3 (above average on ice/snow)
Michelin X-ice (decent on snow/ice, better handling on wet/dry roads)
Pirelli Scorpion
Toyo G-02
Continental Viking (local Honda dealer in Canada has been installing these because they perform ok and cost less than the Michelins)
Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6
Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV 5's (if you need max traction and don't mind having studs)


For the 215/65R17 (only 1.8% smaller than stock) size:

Blizzak WS-60 (excellent on ice/snow tire, but wears faster)
Michelin X-ice (decent on snow, better handling on wet/dry roads)
Toyo G-02

I'd personally make it a choice between the X-ice and the WS-60's (studs work very well, but they are too noisy for me). I've had x-ice on a few cars now and they work very well in all but the slickest ice and the deepest snow. They also have tended to wear much better than I expected. If you have to have the best in ice/snow traction and you're willing to replace them more often, then go with the Blizzak WS-60s.

[mtl_crv]

I just thought I would post up that I finally decided to get a set of the Michelin Lattitude X-ice tires since I have them on all my other vehicles and love the way they drive in both snowy/icy and dry road conditions. I tried to find the 225/65R17 size up here but I was told that they didn't make many of that size due to the mild winter we had last year and they were completely sold out of that size for the year. It also makes things worse because the new Rav4 also uses the same size so I called the Toyota dealer and they were sold out too. My final resort was going to be www.tirerack.com but to my surprise even they were sold out of the Michelin X-ice's in that size. The local Honda dealer was carrying Goodyear Ultra Grips and Continental Winter Vikings but I had the X-ice already so I didn't want to risk not liking another brand and having to go through the hassle of getting them changed.

I finally decided to settle and go with a slightly narrower/smaller size so I picked up a set of 215/65R17 at Canadian Tire (since they did have them in stock) and got a $100 mail in rebate to bring the price of the tires down to under $800 CDN taxes in. The 215/65R17 are only 1.8% change in diameter (28.5" dia for the 225's vs 28" dia for the 215's) which is within what Honda recommends for varience from OEM tire size. They are being put on this morning but I fully expect they will perform as well on my 07 CRV as they do on all my other vehicles. If you live in areas that have long winters, these are your tires.

[Black Pearl]

i would double check that a 16" wheel would fit a 3rd gen. I don't think it will, as the brakes fill the front wheel pretty well.

I bought new steel wheels from TireRack, using their recommendations.

Wheels: 16x6.5 5-114 et50 cb64 st new

Tires: 225/70QR-16

If you do the math with the sidewall ratio, it turns out the overall diameter of the 16" winter tires is 3 mm (.114") less than the stock 17 tires.

They fit fine, but the clearance between the wheel and brake caliper is a lot tighter than the 17" alloys. However, it has ton of clearance compared to the stock wheels that were on my Plymouth Voyager.

As far as TPMS? To hell with TPMS, I got a pretty yellow light shining on my dash board. I got used to it. The only disadvantage (other than the light and the nonfunctional TPMS) is that it appears as though you can not turn off the VSA when the TPMS system light is on.

TireRack did offer TPMS sensors that supposedly fit the wheels and worked with the system. Don't remember the cost, but it wasn't cheap and I am not willing to make semi-annual pilgrimages to the dealer for sensor IDs.

[rdorman]

I personally have run Blizzaks and found them to be amazing in the snow.

[mtl_crv]

TireRack did offer TPMS sensors that supposedly fit the wheels and worked with the system. Don't remember the cost, but it wasn't cheap and I am not willing to make semi-annual pilgrimages to the dealer for sensor IDs.

Even then, if you do the math it's cheaper to just swap tires on/off rims.

Tire swap at the dealer = $60

TPMS sensor IDs at the dealer = $90

If I do anything else, it would be to just get another set of rims, run regular valve stems and live with the TPMS light like you did.

[Black Pearl]

Even then, if you do the math it's cheaper to just swap tires on/off rims.

Tire swap at the dealer = $60

TPMS sensor IDs at the dealer = $90

If I do anything else, it would be to just get another set of rims, run regular valve stems and live with the TPMS light like you did.

Good Lord, is that what they charge? Well I am glad I didn't bother with the sensors. I would have done that once, and never again. How long does it take, 3 minutes?

I despise taking the car anywhere to have anything done, so for me having spare wheels and changing them is a far better option. It must be an odd Irish thing. I would rather bust my keester out in my driveway rather than go sit at a dealer and have coffee and donuts.

[Black Pearl]

I bought my winter tires and wheels from TireRack in early November using their recommendations. Today just for the hell of it I repeated the process. An entirely different group of tires were presented for 07 CR-V.

It appears that TireRack's recommendations are based on what they have in stock. I may be wrong here. But I tried it twice today using the same method that I thought I used in November. Altogether different tires (less expensive) were recommended.

It would seem to me that a recommendation based on a vehicle should be independent of availability.

I have no complaints with TireRack's excellent service or the tires, but I am dismayed that in 6 weeks their recommendation changed. My tire is not listed in the group recommended for the CR-V. I thought I was buying the tire that their experts recommended for my vehicle. It appears now that I was buying the tire that just so happened to be instock and recommended by their experts. Had I ordered in August, would I have had different recommendation?

Again I could be wrong, perhaps I used a slightly different criteria. I looked up my tire and could not find it listed in their stock.

[drivezki]

Nothing wrong with that, Black Pearl. First rule in retail sales is always recommend what you have in stock.

[Black Pearl]

Nothing wrong with that, Black Pearl. First rule in retail sales is always recommend what you have in stock.

Granted, but there is very much wrong in me suggesting to people to go to TireRack and follow their recommendations based on the mistaken belief that they provided nonbiased recommendations for specific car models. I am very naive to expect a retailer to behave like Consumer Reports.

I have no problem with TireRack and their service. But I believe what I learned today is that you have to choose a tire and then see if TireRack carries it rather than the naive belief that TireRack will provide the best recommendation for my car.

None of this is TireRack fault, it is mine for being too damned naive. I was using TireRack as a shortcut to all this best tire BS, and I believe I found out that I was duped--although in this case I am very pleased with the performance of the tires they suggested.

But would I be more pleased with September's suggestion and less pleased with December's suggestion had I bought at a different time? TireRack has moved in my mind from expert unbiased opinion to just another tire retailer--although one with excellent service.

[drivezki]

TireRack has moved in my mind from expert unbiased opinion to just another tire retailer--although one with excellent service.

Don't be too hard on them. After all, they are not a charitable business, are they?

As far a 'best' in any category is always debatable. Tires, automobiles, or hand lotion. Never ever an absolute. Always changing based on circumstances or personal opinions. Or items in stock. :D

[WanderingBrit]

I personally have run Blizzaks and found them to be amazing in the snow.

I put Blizzak WS-60 on my wifes Jag, usually a nightmare in snow, and it's a completely transformed car.

Kevin

[Iroc72]

I picked up some 17" steel wheels at Costco for $68 each. I installed Goodyear Winterforce direction tires, I got them for $128 each. IThey didn't have the 225/65/17. All I could get was 225/60/17. They are great in the snow. My TPMS light is on, but that doesn't bother me. It will go out when I put my summer tires on. I love the 2008, and just came from a 1997, kinda miss that one, but the new one is SWEEETTTT.

[mtl_crv]

You guys up north of the border, Canadian Tire has the X-ices on sale for 30% off clearance so if you bought them within 30 days or were thinking of buying some, today is the last day of that fire sale. I got back almost $280 from buying mine so they cost me less than $600 CDN for a full set! They will be less than $500 CDN after I get back my $100 refund from Michelin.

Rebate details:
http://www.michelin.ca/pdf/MIC_coupon_en.pdf

[Scott]

Nice. I went with 4 BFG Winter Slaloms on steelies. Other then more road noise which you'd get with any winter tire, and a more soft feeling, traction is A+. No complaints at all!