Hi all, I own a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek limited with 225/55/18 stock wheels and looking for a set of winter tires for up coming seasons. I’ve driven in snow for a couple of seasons already but don’t want to continue pushing my luck. I’m new to buying winter tires and on a tight budget though.
My cousin has a set of Michelin x-ice 245/40/18 that he would sell me for $300. He told me to go buy cheap wheelies online and put the tires on them. I used the tiresize website to compare and the diameter is about 7% smaller on the x-ice and 8% wider making it about -5mph at 70mph.
Would love to get any input, advice or recommendation on what should I do?
Don’t fuck with your cousin’s used snow tires. I think your best bet is going to be buying a cheap set of steel wheels in 17 inch size and get snow tires in 225/60/17 inch size. Your Crosstrek requires a wheel bolt pattern of 5x100mm. You can buy these rims off Amazon for $73 each (Vision SW60). I also highly recommend General Altimax Arctic 12 tires.
My rules of thumb about winter set is:
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Get a set of cheap, used wheels that are the smallest to fit over the brakes
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Get the cheapest new winter tires available in the largest over-size (OD, not width) that still fit without rubbing
These two rules of thumb are used to minimize spending while still maintaining practicality. The oversized tires in smaller wheel size provide extra cushion against rougher surface and potholes plus providing extra ground clearance.
I avoid dual-compound winter tires such as Bridgestone Blizzak to maximize tread life. The winters in Central OH have been milder in the last several seasons, so I have no use for studded or dual-compound winter tires.
In the case of your cousin’s tires, I would pass on them. While they seem cheap, they provide less ground clearance for your car. If they’re dual-compound type with only half tread depth left, the compound left is the all-season type.
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I had a set of X-Ice tires on a RWD sports car that I used in the winter and they were fantastic because I don’t see deep snow. But for mild snow, slush, ice, and cold tarmac they’re great
What a lot of respondents aren’t understanding is just how wet and slick the snow can be here West of the Cascades. Just because OP has an AWD car doesn’t mean it’ll stop or steer better than a 2WD car in the snow. Personal experience: we have used Michelin X-ice tires on a Honda Accord and a 3 series BMW. Both were great in the snow. For our Subaru we use Michelin CrossClimates and they’ve been great for wet and dry and surprisingly good in snow. They’re all-seasons that are snow rated.
For our Subaru we use Michelin CrossClimates and they’ve been great for wet and dry and surprisingly good in snow. They’re all-seasons that are snow rated.
Thanks! I’ll look into that as well. Maybe as a next upgrade to my all-season stock tire
Don’t get a wider tire for the winter.