Snowshoes

[NS_Stinger]

I’m ready to order some snowshoes for the Stinger. Right now I’m thinking I’m going to order Michelin Icex tires 225 all around on 18” Fast FC04 in gloss black +30 offset.

Anyone else have a winter setup they’d like to share or any suggestions on wheels or tires?

 

[SteveCo]

Yes, I'd recommend Michelin XIce 225 x 18 on FC04 with +30 offset ...



When I bought several weeks back, the best deal I found was in buying the wheels online, the tires from Costco (including their excellent road hazard warranty and relatively inexpensive installation/balance cost), and the TPMS from South Korea (ebay). Several hundred cheaper than purchasing the same from the dealer.

When I had the rims and TPMS in hand, I ordered the tires from Costco and took everything down to them for installation.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yes, I'd recommend Michelin XIce 225 x 18 on FC04 with +30 offset ...

View attachment 11725

When I bought several weeks back, the best deal I found was in buying the wheels online, the tires from Costco (including their excellent road hazard warranty and relatively inexpensive installation/balance cost), and the TPMS from South Korea (ebay). Several hundred cheaper than purchasing the same from the dealer.

When I had the rims and TPMS in hand, I ordered the tires from Costco and took everything down to them for installation.

You have snow tires on already? Or are you just prepared well ahead of time?

 

[SteveCo]

Just avoiding the rush - I bought the car with the intention of driving it in the winter, so didn't want to leave it until late fall and have to get in line. The winter set is patiently waiting on a rack in the garage - neither the car nor I are ready for snow just yet ...

 

[NS_Stinger]

Yes, I'd recommend Michelin XIce 225 x 18 on FC04 with +30 offset ...

View attachment 11725

When I bought several weeks back, the best deal I found was in buying the wheels online, the tires from Costco (including their excellent road hazard warranty and relatively inexpensive installation/balance cost), and the TPMS from South Korea (ebay). Several hundred cheaper than purchasing the same from the dealer.

When I had the rims and TPMS in hand, I ordered the tires from Costco and took everything down to them for installation.

Thanks for the feedback, I'm probably ordering through pmctire.ca which comes to about $2300cad for that setup delivered to my door ready to install, mounted, balanced and with tpms included.

 

[SteveCo]

For comparison I paid about 130 CAD for the 4 TPMS (OEM Hyundai/Kia part), 830 for the wheels, and 957 for the tires and installation/balance including TPMS install (after 70 CAD Costco rebate). So a total of 1917.00, before Alberta GST tax - plus I had to take them back and forth to Costco.

If your total includes 15% HST tax you're pretty close to the same.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Don’t need em.....

 

[Soca Boy]

Am going to use the original rims it came with, just need to price out some tires for them.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Am going to use the original rims it came with, just need to price out some tires for them.

Just a fair warning to you that with the machined face of the OEM wheels expect to see peeling clearcoat from salt within 2-3 years. You might be able to use a really high strength wheel wax to help prolong the inevitable though.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Just a fair warning to you that with the machined face of the OEM wheels expect to see peeling clearcoat from salt within 2-3 years. You might be able to use a really high strength wheel wax to help prolong the inevitable though.

Are you saying that the OEM wheels are susceptible? What about any other wheels going through winters? How does one go about picking a spiff looking "winter wheel" that won't peel?

 

[SteveCo]

Are you saying that the OEM wheels are susceptible? What about any other wheels going through winters? How does one go about picking a spiff looking "winter wheel" that won't peel?

Manufacturers designate certain wheel designs for winter use, including the FAST FC04 above - you'll notice it doesn't have exposed machined surfaces, which only have a thin clearcoat for protection.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Manufacturers designate certain wheel designs for winter use, including the FAST FC04 above - you'll notice it doesn't have exposed machined surfaces, which only have a thin clearcoat for protection.

View attachment 11755

SteveCo pretty much nailed it in his response.

 

[Soca Boy]

Just a fair warning to you that with the machined face of the OEM wheels expect to see peeling clearcoat from salt within 2-3 years. You might be able to use a really high strength wheel wax to help prolong the inevitable though.

Mine have a coating, I still have to debate if am going to drive the Stinger in the winter or just park it. I hate the new spray they put down on the roads now.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Mine have a coating, I still have to debate if am going to drive the Stinger in the winter or just park it. I hate the new spray they put down on the roads now.

"Just park it." Hmm. For some reason, this morning, that scenario doesn't sound too bad. We have all kinds of extremes here: a few years ago there was NO snow from Xmas eve till April 15th. I am not exaggerating. That would have been an ideal "Stinger winter". But typically we have half a dozen good snow storms, and numerous light ones. The roads get salted down copiously. It is the salt more than the snow that I dread. I will have to wash out the underside of the Stinger weekly. This chore I do not look forward to in the least. It won't be a labor of love like washing the car to make it purty. It will be more in the nature of preventive medicine! Yuk. A beater parked out front or in the driveway behind the Stinger would make sense. Almost, at this moment, I regret selling my Voyager. *sigh*

 

[SteveCo]

After many, many winters of driving various 'Winter Beaters' and keeping the fun/good cars for summer only, I'm looking forward to having a comfortable, new AWD vehicle so I get to enjoy my winter driving just as much as the summer. I've got a convertible in the other side of the garage, which will continue to do the winter hibernation thing.

I certainly don't like road salt any more than the next guy, but am willing to put in extra effort to keep as much of it rinsed off as possible. I don't keep my garage heated in the winter for that reason as well - moving a salt and slush encrusted car into a heated garage is just about the worst thing you can do.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well, I don't have a garage. I do have a rather commodious, north-facing carport. In the winter that is no advantage, but all year round a north-facing carport does keep the sun off, which is, actually and truly, the most serious long term damage from "weather". A bit of ice and snow, meh, by comparison to constant, 365 days a year sun beating down, especially on the interior.

I've thought this through long enough (yes, I am fast at everything I do): if my research pans out as expected, I will buy the Pirellis https://www.tirerack.com/tires/Tire...ar=2018&autoModel=Stinger+GT+AWD&autoModClar= through Costco (don't know yet if they can get them or not); in any case, I will get them; or a less expensive alternative if one manifests between now and c. the end of November. And I will have Costco put them on my OEM rims regardless. I will get a monthly pass at Magic Clean so that I can go in as often as I want to get salt off, and the upper eye candy kept all nice and clean: "rinse and repeat as needed". Come spring, sometime in March at the earliest (unless we have another winter like the one I referred to in my previous post, then February), I will repeat: back to Costco to get the winters off and the summers back on. Check the condition of the rims. If they look good, then we are good to go. I will be checking them throughout the winter anyway. Perhaps Wheel Werks can spiff them up a bit as I go along, I won't know till I am there. Anyway, as long as the rims shine, I won't worry much about the occasional added dint or ding or minor scrape (it won't be from curb rash, that much I vow!). Sometime down the road I will replace them with brand new rims that are designed to weather the winter too. But that is hopefully way down the road. Not a concern right now or this upcoming winter either.

 

[SteveCo]

Good idea on the car wash pass - unfortunately I don't know of any around here that have that, but over the winter I'll be making regular use of touchless car washes with an underbody spray for sure.

The Pirelli's look like they'll be a good tire as well - look forward to a review once you've put some winter miles on them.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Now I'm torn on which tires to get, the ICE-X xi3 or Wintercontact Si. The wintercontacts have a higher speed rating and seem more performancs orientated with stiffer sidewalls which might make them a better fit for the Stinger. I have icex for my suv that I used last year and the sidewalls on those things feel really soft to me.

Anyone out there using Continental Wintercontact Si's?

 

[NS_Stinger]

Ended up settling on the Ice-X xi3 with the FC04 in gloss black. I'll post pictures when installed.

 

[mfox]

Nice rim choice!
I'm assuming the offset takes care of clearing the Brembos?