[LT Berzerker]

Found another option for winter tires and thinking of going with...nankang sv2 at 85 bones per corner on the stockers, see if they are any decent.

http://www.tires-easy.com/cgi-bin/r...LL&Label=E-C-71-2&details=Ordern&typ=D-119695

 

[Jutz]

These look like a great deal. You end up getting them?

 

[Smokin]

Some more of those really really good counterfeit tires from China?

 

[Smokin]

Sparco Terra with 195/55x16 Dunlop Wintermaxx. They were good for rallycross this summer too....and $95. Much better and safer than Chinese..........

 

[Jutz]

Plus price of wheel, plus price of TPMS. I'm all for spending for quality if reasonable, but the price for stock size winter tires on our cars is ridiculous. $150 per.

 

[stuntdoogie]

I bought my mich3lins x-ice 2's 185/60/15 from tire easy for $70ea recently.

 

[ryst]

185/60R15 + steel 15" wheels is a very cheap option, also if you can find any old focus rims on craigslist.

 

[Driver45]

I got Pirelli Sottozero tires (205/45 R16 - $136/wheel + $70 rebate) and MSW Type 85 wheels (16x6.5 - $97/wheel). They are fantastic and arrived 2 days earlier than expected. Total shipped to my door with tires mounted and storage totes for my OE wheels & tires was $1000 (including the $70 tire rebate). Heck of a deal for some nice wheels and really good tires. It has already snowed a bit here in Detroit and the car drives very well in the slick stuff. I had an unfortunate run in with an early snow while still on my OE tires and anything would have been better than that (barely made it home from work)!! Decided to install the Winter set that night and I am very glad I did, as I would not have been able to drive the next morning without them. I highly recommend the pair and you can decide for yourself if you like the looks (I love them!!).

 

[hollywood]

Looks good! I recently saw those wheels on TireRack, and considered picking some up. Glad to see you posted pics. I don't need "winter" tires here, but some all-seasons might help when the highs are in the 30s for a couple of months here in NC. 16" wheels look perfect on this car. What color wheels did you get? Looks either bronze-ish or perhaps graphite?

Trying to decide between these and the Sparco Terra wheels, or some 15" Team Dynamics.

 

[Driver45]

Honestly, if you do not need to spend the extra cash for another set then I would say just keep the OE wheel and tire combo. I drove for a few weeks with sub 20 degree mornings and even rain in sub 40 degrees and the stock tires are not too bad. You definately notice a difference when the temperature drops, but if you do not see snow or ice I would say just keep it stock. The stock set up is nearly undrivable in snow, but is moderate in cold temps.

The wheels said they were graphite on TireRack, but the picture also showed 5-bolts. The color I received is a grey-ish / bronze and I actually like it more than what I was expecting. If you end of getting them, I would highly recommend them for any color of this car. Plus, the extra sidewall from the 16in wheels is a very noticable dampener of bumps!

 

[hollywood]

Well, my winter beater was a 96 Chevy Monte Carlo. We gave that car away, and I was planning on using my Jeep Comanche this winter. However, it blew coolant all over the place the other day, and I'm not sure how long it'll take me to get it fixed. So for the time being, the FiST is my only car. I had two Miatas with the same Bridgestone summer tires (same size and everything), and they were totally useless in even half an inch of snow. That old FWD Monte Carlo though was great with Kumho all-seasons. Never got stuck once.

 

[stuntdoogie]

I got Perelli Sottozero tires (205/45 R16 - $136/wheel + $70 rebate) and MSW Type 85 wheels (16x6.5 - $97/wheel). They are fantastic and arrived 2 days earlier than expected. Total shipped to my door with tires mounted and storage totes for my OE wheels & tires was $1000 (including the $70 tire rebate). Heck of a deal for some nice wheels and really good tires. It has already snowed a bit here in Detroit and the car drives very well in the slick stuff. I had an unfortunate run in with an early snow while still on my OE tires and anything would have been better than that (barely made it home from work)!! Decided to install the Winter set that night and I am very glad I did, as I would not have been able to drive the next morning without them. I highly recommend the pair and you can decide for yourself if you like the looks (I love them!!).

View attachment 1683 View attachment 1684 View attachment 1685

Thank you for putting up a pic on these wheel...been contemplating on these wheels for a while now. That center cap will have to be Red ST'd tho asap.

 

[Driver45]

@stuntdoogie - I quite like the turqoise color compliment with the orange of my car, but to each their own. The center caps come out with a little bit of work, but I did not try the OE badges for fitment.

@hollywood - I agree with your statement of the OE tires being undrivable in any kind of snow, so it sounds like you have your decision made. In the past I have had luck with all-seasons from Michelin Harmony and various Goodyear's. Good luck and post pics when you get them!!

 

[stuntdoogie]

Driver45...do you think if lowered the tires would rub the fender? Would it be possible to take a pic of the car from the front like this so i can see the clearance

 

[Driver45]

I will post a picture when I get the car back. Just came on here to see if anyone is having the issue with the brakes grinding and squealing. The pad have only normal wear for 8800 miles, actually I was surprised to see how little wear they have since they dust like no other!! I was just guessing it was the cold weather, but it didnt go away after a time when the brakes should have heated properly. So, I took it in tonight and the dealer could not figure out the problem, as the pads and disks looked good and they were hearing the grinding, too. They kept it over night to continue looking tomorrow, so now I have a POS last gen Fusion (did I mention how much of a POS this car is!!). Anyways, I will update on the brake issue and I will take a picture for you @stuntdoogie. However, I would venture to guess that a lowered car may be tempting tire rub. The tire-to-fender gaping on the FiST is quite tight. I was noticing how tight it is in the rear more than the front, as I was installing them.

 

[eRic]

16x6.5" SVT Contour wheels with 195/45-16 Pirelli winter 210 snow control tyres

 

[Driver45]

@eRic - Very nice! I just went with what TireRack gave me for winter tires with the wheels I selected - Pirelli Sottozero, but I wish they had a narrower tire available. I am still riding on stock width (205) on a 6.5in wheel. I was wondering if it would be a problem, but it does not seem to be an issue. I just wanted a thinner tire to cut through the snow. My 205's seem to get the job done, thus far. Much more snow to come around here, so we will see how they workout in the coming months.

 

[hollywood]

I will post a picture when I get the car back. Just came on here to see if anyone is having the issue with the brakes grinding and squealing. The pad have only normal wear for 8800 miles, actually I was surprised to see how little wear they have since they dust like no other!! I was just guessing it was the cold weather, but it didnt go away after a time when the brakes should have heated properly. So, I took it in tonight and the dealer could not figure out the problem, as the pads and disks looked good and they were hearing the grinding, too. They kept it over night to continue looking tomorrow, so now I have a POS last gen Fusion (did I mention how much of a POS this car is!!). Anyways, I will update on the brake issue and I will take a picture for you @stuntdoogie. However, I would venture to guess that a lowered car may be tempting tire rub. The tire-to-fender gaping on the FiST is quite tight. I was noticing how tight it is in the rear more than the front, as I was installing them.

What happened with this? Mine squeal if I go to a drive-thru place, or if I roll a few feet forward at a light. I only have 10,800 miles. It might have been squealing since I bought it, but I haven't noticed it until recently. Doesn't squeal if I brake from a high or moderate speed, only if I'm under 5-10 mph.

 

[FordService]

What happened with this? Mine squeal if I go to a drive-thru place, or if I roll a few feet forward at a light. I only have 10,800 miles. It might have been squealing since I bought it, but I haven't noticed it until recently. Doesn't squeal if I brake from a high or moderate speed, only if I'm under 5-10 mph.

Hi hollywood,

When was your most recent trip to the dealer to have your squealing checked out? You can ask for a drive-along to demonstrate when it happens.

Meagan

 

[Driver45]

@hollywood - see the link below to another thread where I talk about this issue and the resolution that I came to with the dealer. I have not had any issues since getting it "fixed" and breaking in afterward. http://fiestast.net/threads/brakes.1224/page-2