214's...and Winter

[nynd]

Question for those who live in snow belt regions, do you have the 214 rims and if so, is it next to impossible driving with these rims once snow hits the ground?

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by nynd

Question for those who live in snow belt regions, do you have the 214 rims and if so, is it next to impossible driving with these rims once snow hits the ground?

Absolutley!!! Don't even try it. I did last year and my truck was a 6000lb sled. Even the slightest snowfall or slickness you will slide. I also noticed that the colder the temp the worse they perform even with no snow. These are strictly summer tires.

[y5choi]

I did try them out, not in subzero temps but in single digit temps with no snow (Celsius here in Canada ) and they do tend to slip even when cornering quickly. I have my Dunlop winter tires package on (cost me an arm ) and they are not good when the temp goes above 10 degrees (breaking distance noticeably increases). So my suggestion to you is if it gets below 5-7 degrees, lose those good lookin y spokes and bring on the fat-grooved winters!

[Boston X5 4.4]

Originally Posted by nynd

Question for those who live in snow belt regions, do you have the 214 rims and if so, is it next to impossible driving with these rims once snow hits the ground?

What diameter are they and what tires are mounted?

[proveg]

If the tires are not all season and do not have M/S on them, dont even think of driving with them on at temperatures even few degrees above freezing.
If you want to be able to ride in few inches of snow, I really suggest going for true winter tires and on narrower wheels.
Also take in account that with winters there are more potholes so you may not want to drive on low profile tires.

Originally Posted by nynd

Question for those who live in snow belt regions, do you have the 214 rims and if so, is it next to impossible driving with these rims once snow hits the ground?

[nynd]

I hear ya - thats what I pretty much thought - that 20"s were gonna be crap. I was looking at the winter package with 18" but think I will opt for some 19" with the michelin run flats (all season). Usually, a heavy vehicle like that should be fine with all season - not trecking through 2 ft of snow. The 18's with the Dunlops Grandtrek I heard wear out faster being a softer compound...not sure the truth to this...just read it from reviews.

[Boston X5 4.4]

Originally Posted by nynd

I hear ya - thats what I pretty much thought - that 20"s were gonna be crap. I was looking at the winter package with 18" but think I will opt for some 19" with the michelin run flats (all season). Usually, a heavy vehicle like that should be fine with all season - not trecking through 2 ft of snow. The 18's with the Dunlops Grandtrek I heard wear out faster being a softer compound...not sure the truth to this...just read it from reviews.

If you are swapping out your tires/wheels in teh winter why not go with real snow tires rather than A/S - kind of defeats the purpose.

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by nynd

I hear ya - thats what I pretty much thought - that 20"s were gonna be crap. I was looking at the winter package with 18" but think I will opt for some 19" with the michelin run flats (all season). Usually, a heavy vehicle like that should be fine with all season - not trecking through 2 ft of snow. The 18's with the Dunlops Grandtrek I heard wear out faster being a softer compound...not sure the truth to this...just read it from reviews.

I did the same thing. I travel a lot so the winter tires would wear out to fast. The all seasons I found just fine.

[drod]

i had 20s and Michelin all-seasons on my Landcruiser and didn't have any problems riding in snow or freezing temps... but don't get me wrong, it wasn't like it stuck to the ground... they were'nt winter tires..

light snow and cold temps on all-seasons isn't as bad as people think...

i never swapped tires from season to season... it does make sense though..

for my 08 X i plan on keeping the stock rims/tire combo for winter driving since i'm getting delivery in late Dec... but once warm weather hits i plan on swapping them out to 214s w/Michelin Latitude Tour HPs..

20s aren't bad at all... and in the snow you're taking it easy anyway...

[Denalio]

Originally Posted by drod

i

20s aren't bad at all... and in the snow you're taking it easy anyway...

Believe me...you DON'T WANT TO DRIVE in the snow with the Dunlop 20" SP Sport tires!!!!