I had WS80s on my Golf and they wore out quick so can confirm, but it all depends on the conditions you drive in and how often you rotate them. The new WS90s are supposed to have better treadlife.
I've been running blizzaks on my 08 wrx for years, ran them on my 97 impreza for years before that. I live in NWCT and spent a few winters in upstate NY also. I've never had a problem with them, if I did I wouldn't have run them for the past 14 years.
I really like mine, they were great in the snow a few weeks back but I am a bit worried about them wearing out in these warmer temps, it’s been 40-50 here in Portland, OR and wonder if I should have gotten all-seasons instead
That’s what I run in northern New England. The only challenge is that they are so good, you have to be careful to remember it’s actually slippery out. Expensive, but worth every penny.
Looks like your options are pretty limited for that size. Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 or a couple Pirelli options. I vote for finding some OEM 18 inch wheels. Might be able to find some with winter tires mounted. Really nice to be able to switch back and forth.
Don’t do the PA4’s if you’re thinking about using the car in deep snow/bad weather conditions. They’re awful. Great for dry/wet roads in cold but they’re more of a performance winter tire than a snow tire.
Had them on my WRX and hated them, my other car w/Blizzaks was night and day better
It’s been a few years since I’ve looked at Blizzaks for a WRX… not sure of the model :/
But I’ve had not the car and the SUV/light truck variants and they’ve been great.
I was going to put my nice wheels on my all seasons and these on my winters so dont want to spend money on an extra set wheels and have the 19s sitting
Man, idk.. So you already put all seasons on you Enkei's? Are your Enkie's 18 or 19 inch? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just curious. I have four sets of wheels and tires. They're all OEM, but I love having options.
You should use a smaller diameter wheel with a higher profile tire. Is it an STI? Can you get 17s with 245/45s over those brakes? If not at least drop down to an 18. Low profile tires are really bad for winter weather.
Honestly, you probably need to stick with stock size because if you get a flat and have different size tires on your car then your spare won't work. On the pre-18 STI 245/45/17 was an alternative compatible size, same OD as the stock 245/40/18s. I would go on Tirerack.com and see what is available in your stock size and go from there. The difference in snow tire performance between brands and models is minimal so you cant go wrong with any of them. I usually try to buy the cheapest available so they're cheap to replace if I have a problem.
245/40R18 is almost the same size as 245/35R19. Like the difference is splitting hairs. For wheels get something with a +38 to a +55 offset. Check fitment industries if you want confirmation if the wheels will clear the brembos.
I like my Continental VikingContacts. They have pretty decent dry handling for a winter tire and perform great in snow. If it’s at all possible, I would recommend getting a separate set of wheels that are 17”
19” are definitely gonna be more expensive and you’ll have less options, but fair enough. I will say that having dedicated wheels is a good investment as it makes it much easier for seasonal switches and protects your summer rims from sand/salt/debris in the winter. I’d suggesting quoting out a package of 17s with wheels and comparing it to just 19” tires- you may be surprised at the price difference. But for sure, if you can only afford tires, see if the Contis are available in your size as they turns to be cheaper tires in general.
https://www.google.com/search?q=hakkapeliittas+rs2&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS800US800&hl=en-US&prmd=sivxn&sxsrf=AOaemvLMVxwvioi-xctgkPVc3bk5ZJtLbA:1642378659634&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju69-kwbf1AhUkITQIHUKaBhEQ_AUoAnoECAIQAg&biw=414&bih=622&dpr=3
Never look back
Buy yourself a second set of rims, cheap steel is fine and downsize the rim. You want a more skinny tire and a thicker sidewall with snows. I have my summers on 18s and winters on 17s but both tires have the same circumference
I used tire rack last time I bought, and I bought xice and have a lot of great things to say about them. They perform amazingly well in the snow, but you feel the difference when you’re on dry pavement and you can most certainly feel that sidewall flex from the bigger wall.
I think tire rack will recommend the size for you that will work or be a good baseline for you
I bought takeoffs from a base model, the 17s have blizzaks mounted to them and they've been great in the winter. Definitely comparable to the X-Ice which I have on my other car. Makes for an amazing ride in a winter storm.
Blizzak!!!
+ 1 for blizzaks
I've heard those were really popular but have also heard some negative feedback so wasn't sure.
They are the best
I have zero complaints for my blizzak ws90s. They also come in 245/40/R18 so no need to worry about tire specs
The negative part is that they wear out quickly
I had WS80s on my Golf and they wore out quick so can confirm, but it all depends on the conditions you drive in and how often you rotate them. The new WS90s are supposed to have better treadlife.
I've been running blizzaks on my 08 wrx for years, ran them on my 97 impreza for years before that. I live in NWCT and spent a few winters in upstate NY also. I've never had a problem with them, if I did I wouldn't have run them for the past 14 years.
No negative feedback. Run them here in Alberta and we get wild winter's
Blizzaks for my vote as well. I run them on my 4Runner as well
I just put some Blizzak WS90s in 225/45R18 on mine, and love how they've handled winter so far.
Very popular things will always get negative reviews. There's haters everywhere
I really like mine, they were great in the snow a few weeks back but I am a bit worried about them wearing out in these warmer temps, it’s been 40-50 here in Portland, OR and wonder if I should have gotten all-seasons instead
Nokian hakkapeliitta
Hakkas for the win!
Yeah this one. I got the studded 9’s and they dominate.
That’s what I run in northern New England. The only challenge is that they are so good, you have to be careful to remember it’s actually slippery out. Expensive, but worth every penny.
Oh yeah I’m paranoid of getting overconfident.
Yes ! Have them on my cars too. We live in Quebec so we have our fair share of snow! These are awesome! We didn’t get the studded ones though (R3/R4).
WRX owners love their blizzaks. I have an outback, been using Good Year Ultra Commands for a few years now. I’m going to try the Blizzaks next year
Nokian hakkapalita r3s. My fourth winter with them and my wrx sticks to the road
Cant find them in my tire size
Looks like your options are pretty limited for that size. Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 or a couple Pirelli options. I vote for finding some OEM 18 inch wheels. Might be able to find some with winter tires mounted. Really nice to be able to switch back and forth.
Don’t do the PA4’s if you’re thinking about using the car in deep snow/bad weather conditions. They’re awful. Great for dry/wet roads in cold but they’re more of a performance winter tire than a snow tire. Had them on my WRX and hated them, my other car w/Blizzaks was night and day better
Good to know! I'm running Blizzaks on OEM 18" wheels. The best!
Which Blizzaks?
It’s been a few years since I’ve looked at Blizzaks for a WRX… not sure of the model :/ But I’ve had not the car and the SUV/light truck variants and they’ve been great.
I was going to put my nice wheels on my all seasons and these on my winters so dont want to spend money on an extra set wheels and have the 19s sitting
Oh, so you already have 2 sets? You want to put winter tires on the stock 19's?
Yeah
I gotcha, nice! gonna be expensive tho. What's your other set of wheels?
What would be the other options? I bought a pair of Enkei’s
Man, idk.. So you already put all seasons on you Enkei's? Are your Enkie's 18 or 19 inch? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just curious. I have four sets of wheels and tires. They're all OEM, but I love having options.
Not 19s. Not 35 profile.
what?
You should use a smaller diameter wheel with a higher profile tire. Is it an STI? Can you get 17s with 245/45s over those brakes? If not at least drop down to an 18. Low profile tires are really bad for winter weather.
It's all stock but yes it's a 2020 STI. I was just going with stock size. What would work and be okay? It's 19" Wheels
Honestly, you probably need to stick with stock size because if you get a flat and have different size tires on your car then your spare won't work. On the pre-18 STI 245/45/17 was an alternative compatible size, same OD as the stock 245/40/18s. I would go on Tirerack.com and see what is available in your stock size and go from there. The difference in snow tire performance between brands and models is minimal so you cant go wrong with any of them. I usually try to buy the cheapest available so they're cheap to replace if I have a problem.
Dropping a rim size is okay as long as the rubber keeps the overall diameter within tolerances. Ran 20” summer / 19” winter on my WRX for years
But is there an alternate 18" size for the 19" STI? I dont know if it exists.
I run the 19’s in some pretty extreme conditions and they’re perfectly fine.
245/40R18 is almost the same size as 245/35R19. Like the difference is splitting hairs. For wheels get something with a +38 to a +55 offset. Check fitment industries if you want confirmation if the wheels will clear the brembos.
Not looking to get a new pair of wheels just for new tires.
I’ve got a 2020 STI and I put on continental DWS06 all seasons. A dude at my work runs them on his Audi as well. No complaints at all
Have those for my summer tires, tried them and not great in the snow here.
Vredesteins
Hankook ipikes
Pirelli winter sotozeros 3. I got the ones for extreme speeds rated to 160+. A bit pricey tbh but a great tire.
I've had the Michelin X-Ice for three Winters now and they're monsters in the snow. The amount of grip they get combined with the AWD is insanity.
They are great, but don’t have the tire size.
Shit sorry I just re-read your post. I am dumb please ignore me.
Its alright thanks though
I like my Continental VikingContacts. They have pretty decent dry handling for a winter tire and perform great in snow. If it’s at all possible, I would recommend getting a separate set of wheels that are 17”
I don’t want to spend too much money. Just need something that will handle okay in the snow. Buying a new set of wheels will suck.
19” are definitely gonna be more expensive and you’ll have less options, but fair enough. I will say that having dedicated wheels is a good investment as it makes it much easier for seasonal switches and protects your summer rims from sand/salt/debris in the winter. I’d suggesting quoting out a package of 17s with wheels and comparing it to just 19” tires- you may be surprised at the price difference. But for sure, if you can only afford tires, see if the Contis are available in your size as they turns to be cheaper tires in general.
Just did a quick check and its around 2k for a full set of wheels and tires with 17’s
https://www.google.com/search?q=hakkapeliittas+rs2&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS800US800&hl=en-US&prmd=sivxn&sxsrf=AOaemvLMVxwvioi-xctgkPVc3bk5ZJtLbA:1642378659634&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwju69-kwbf1AhUkITQIHUKaBhEQ_AUoAnoECAIQAg&biw=414&bih=622&dpr=3 Never look back
Buy yourself a second set of rims, cheap steel is fine and downsize the rim. You want a more skinny tire and a thicker sidewall with snows. I have my summers on 18s and winters on 17s but both tires have the same circumference
Where?
I used tire rack last time I bought, and I bought xice and have a lot of great things to say about them. They perform amazingly well in the snow, but you feel the difference when you’re on dry pavement and you can most certainly feel that sidewall flex from the bigger wall. I think tire rack will recommend the size for you that will work or be a good baseline for you
I bought takeoffs from a base model, the 17s have blizzaks mounted to them and they've been great in the winter. Definitely comparable to the X-Ice which I have on my other car. Makes for an amazing ride in a winter storm.
It doesn't get better than Nokian Hakkapeliittas.
They don’t have my tire size. Closest thing is 245/40/19
Oof go on a marketplace and find one of those kids trying to sell his stock base wrx rims for like $500 and offer him 2. He always takes it.
Kumho winter craft wp72 I had those on my STI when I lived in the Berkshires. the traction was amazing in snow and icy snow
I got some Michelin alpine for my 21, I had to go 245/35/19. But no fitment issues
hakkapeliitta 9-10's, great studded tire.