[Corrado68]

Hi all,

I know there are countless threads in the forum about this issue and, believe me, I spent the whole day reading them all and comparing opinions... maybe that's why I'm even more confused now and I'm asking for your advice.

Following all the various ideas, I've come down to a few options for the upcoming cold season (prices below are from Tire Rack).

A short premise about my usage: I don't track my car. This is my only car and my DD but I live only 4 miles of back roads (with a couple of steep hills) from the office. Long trips are usually on wife's SUV. However, this is Northern New Jersey and the winter can be brutal sometimes, so I need something different than the Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires that came with the leased car (I could not swap them at the dealership). I can work from home when a storm hits hard, I can eventually hitch a ride from my wife to reach work but it would be nice to be able to actually use my Camaro 99% of the times. And I love the safety of good winter tires, if I can have them.

So, these are the options that I'm considering:

1) Winter tires with current 20" rims (prices around $1,500).
There aren't many choices, mainly just the Pirelli Winter Sottozero, for winter tires on 20" rims and Camaro sizes. You can have the older series II in the OE sizes or the newer (?) Sottozero 3 by putting a wider 285/35 at the rear.
PROS: I'll have the best tire for every season.
CONS: need to visit a tire shop to swap tires on rims twice per year. Pricey option compared to #2. No run-flat winter options.

2) A/S tires with current 20" rims (prices vary: BFG's for $750, Continental DWS06 for $930, P-Zero A/S for $1,200)
PROS: no need to keep swapping tires on rims. Cheaper option (especially if I manage to sell my current Eagle F1's that only have 500 miles).
CONS: middle of the road performance in summer or winter. No run-flat options.

3) Winter tire/wheel set with 18" or 19" rims (prices vary from $1,500 to $1,900 including tires, wheels and TPMS sensors)
I have considered rim/tires in sizes of 245/45 R19" and 245/50R18", this last one is a suggested option from Tire Rack but I'm not sure if the 18" rims will clear the Brembo brakes. I'll need to check if I pick this option.
PROS: I'll have the best tire for every season. No need swap tires on rims. The smaller size at the rear is better for snow conditions. Some run-flat options are available.
CONS: pricey option compared to #2, although simpler than option #1 (and probably cheaper in the long run). Less grip/traction on dry conditions. Looks.

I'm really torn between the various options, so your opinion is welcome!


PS: I know I can buy a set of MRR M228 wheels with meaty, sticky summer tires and use the stock 20" rims for a set of Winter tires... but I'm leasing the car and I need to be a bit conservative with the improvements

[EMTNLSS]

I plan to do option #3. I'm in the same situation though as you. Need to see if 18" wheels will clear the brembos.

Option #3 will also get you the best snow traction because of the narrower tire. I'm willing to take the dry traction hit for the few months I have them on in winter as I don't plan on doing anything that needs that much traction anyways during the winter.

[BradfordCamaro]

Option 2. Most people use all season year round. The all seasons you looked up are ultra high performance tires...not minivan tires. I would bet you would get on par performance with those tires compared to the stock ones.
The summer only tires give you more traction/advantage when hot, dry and driving hard.
95% of us would never know the difference between the 2 as we don't drive like that.
Any cool or wet weather the all seasons would out perform the stockers.

On a recent track day, a fellow driver had the BFGs. He did a whole lot more than I did and his tires held up better.

[Mr. Grumpy]

I bought 4 18" wheels (2010 Camaro) for $400 on eBay. I was a bit skeptical at first but when I received them they were in perfect condition. I'm planning to pair them with Blizzak tires. BTW, I already tested the wheels and they clear the brembos.

[Corrado68]

Originally Posted by EMTNLSS

Option #3 will also get you the best snow traction because of the narrower tire.

I forgot to mention that with option #3, by using a smaller rim diameter, you need to pick taller sidewalls on the tire (i.e.: /45 and /50 ratios), which will give you less trouble with the huge potholes that are hidden under the icy/snowy roads in winter. Another plus for #3

Originally Posted by BradfordCamaro

Option 2.
95% of us would never know the difference between the 2 as we don't drive like that. Any cool or wet weather the all seasons would out perform the stockers.

You have a good point. Especially considering that I don't race my car, I'm mostly enjoying it on back roads at safe speeds.

However, the performance on the snow of an A/S is noticeably worse than a winter tire, although it won't be the first winter that I drive in NJ with an A/S equipped car.

[Corrado68]

Originally Posted by Mr. Grumpy

I bought 4 18" wheels (2010 Camaro) for $400 on eBay. I was a bit skeptical at first but when I received them they were in perfect condition. I'm planning to pair them with Blizzak tires. BTW, I already tested the wheels and they clear the brembos.

Going used for the rims is a good idea, although I would be worried to buy 18" without knowing in advance if they fit. Not all 18" are probably the same in this regard.

I was actually watching/contacting some forum members that are selling their OE 20" rims which I could use to combine option #1 and option #3 (OE size, winter tires, permanently mounted on a second set of wheels). Of course, as you mentioned, eBay is your friend for take-offs, thanks for the hint!

[SPARTAN sui]

18s with winter tires. It's what I'm doing. I'm going with a set of BBS rims from tire rack. The cost is around $2,200 for rims, tires, and TPMS.

[keon718nyc]

Continental DWS06 for $930 - The no run flat option is great! There are many posts in a thread on the DWS06's just look them up and you may be satisfied with the users results... - http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showth...ighlight=dws06

[Corrado68]

Thank you for the link! That's the kind of thread I was looking for before posting this but I could not find it.

I read that some people had problems with tire shops not working on 20" wheels or not wanting to swap the run flats for the DWS06, is that a real issue? Or are the shops referred by Tire Rack always installing what you buy on their website?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[keon718nyc]

Originally Posted by Corrado68

Thank you for the link! That's the kind of thread I was looking for before posting this but I could not find it.

I read that some people had problems with tire shops not working on 20" wheels or not wanting to swap the run flats for the DWS06, is that a real issue? Or are the shops referred by Tire Rack always installing what you buy on their website?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Not a problem, glad i could be of some help!! There is a certain machine some not all of the listed shops on their site use for installing 20" or higher rims. The machine they use is special in the way it will not harm your rims. I did forget the name of the machine they use but its often around on some of the bigger tires shops that they sell rims as well. My local tire shop told me to go down the road to another tire shop that has that machine and confirmed my run flats and new tires would be no issue.

[mbar]

I'm going with option #3.
As of now, I'm torn between 18" and 19" .
19" looks better on the car but $500-600 more for a package.

[Corrado68]

Originally Posted by keon718nyc

There is a certain machine some not all of the listed shops on their site use for installing 20" or higher rims.

I saw today on the Tire Rack website that, when you reach the checkout part where you select the installer to ship the tires to, you can see their restrictions. Some indeed mention that they cannot mount 20" and above, or 23" and above, or run-flats.

I guess I'll pick one without restrictions and then call them to be sure, before shipping the tires to their shop.

[Sp00ner]

After choosing 'option 3' a few years back, I'll never do the seasonal tire/rim swap again, or use all season anything.

Dedicated snow tires on dedicated 19" rims was just glorious, my Gen5 felt like an absolute winter warrior with those on it.

[bpang1234]

Option 3 all the way...Option 2 is terrible.