Highwaystreets

Hey guys,

So i'm very close to buying a new 2012 FX4 (just waiting for my current truck to sell) and it comes with the stock 20" Pirelli Scorpion tires. Now i have two questions for you guys, first off does anyone run this wheel and tire combo in any heavy snow? I'm thinking they will be crap but thats just me. we have good snow and icy conditions for probably 5 months of the year....

Secondly if i do decide to get new winter tires i don't want them on the nice rims so can i go to the stock 18" size without throwing off my speedo too much?

Thanks!

stuart1874

Was just about to post the exact same .... looking forward to the replies

Highwaystreets

no one has winter tires here?

tandem

Bump.

I'm also in Western Canada (wet west coast but we take trips into snow-land in the interior) and based on what I read about the Scorpion ATRs that came stock on our FX4, looking to buy some steelie rims and some decent winter-only tires.

275/55R20's are on the truck, I was thinking of going minus 1 and putting 265/65R18's or 265/70-18 or staying with 275 width but going 18" tires like 275 65 18 or something like that on the truck for winter time. I'm planning on getting rims for the winter. Probably won't equip them with TPMS sensors unless advised with good reason otherwise.

Choices? Just pulling some numbers together to get a sense for this:

• Bridgestone Blizzack DM-V1 ($170 US each TireRack.com, $210 CAD 1010tires.com)
• Yokohama Geolandar I/T G072 275/55R20 117 R (336 CAD at KalTire)
• Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV (285/60R18 116 $336 CAD KalTire)
• Michelin LTX™ Winter 275/65R18 123
• Firestone Winterforce LT 275/65R18 123
• HANKOOK RW11 I*PIKE P275/55R20 ($240 CAD 1010tires.com, $252 CAD Canadian Tire, $189 USD P275/55R20 111T DSB including shipping to a US address at DiscountTire Direct, or drive to their store location in Bellingham for example)
• Hankook I*Pike RW11 P265/65R18 112T DSB ($160 USD discounttiredirect.com, free shipping within U.S.)
• Michelin Latitude® X-Ice® Xi2™ 275/55R20 113 ($390 CAD KalTire)
• Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT : 275/65R18 ($335 CAD at Fountain Tire, $364 at Canadian Tire, depending on size chosen $222-$240 CAD each 1010tires.com, $179 US tirerack.com plus shipping makes that not work) look a little like the Scorpions at some level)

There is no duty on tires made in the U.S. which cuts out the Nokian unless paying the 7% duty is still worth it to a buyer.

Tires brought in will be subject to HST. My plan, if I order product from the U.S., is to order tires from out of state to avoid state taxes and pay only the HST at the border.

Am leaning Blizzaks bought locally for just over $200 each but wonder if it is too soft a tire for Vancouver winters. We sometimes get zero snow; what I really want snow tires for is trips to Whistler and Sun Peaks (Kamloops area) in the winter and early spring.

Highwaystreets

i think going with an 18" rim is the way to go as well. save your nice rims for the summer. I've heard good things on the blizzaks and the Nokian ultra finnish named tires....

I'm not excited to shelling out 2k after just buying a brand new truck!

tandem

Here's an article from Motor Trend looking at the Goodyear Ultra Grip compared to Blizzak; article is interesting regarding the test facility.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/c...b_testing.html

MPETE

iTrader: (1)

everything I have read says the Pirelli's are total crap in the snow.
as for winter wheels I would say to look for 17's instead of 18's.
it looks as though there are A LOT more options for snow tires, plus tires and wheels are both cheaper.
I dont know what to expect out of my stock 18" Michelin A/S' tires, but I am constantly browsing local classified's looking for some cheap 17" wheels too.

tandem

There do appear to be a lot more options for 265/65R17's. Instead of 222 - 240 CAD, $203 for the Goodyear Ultra Grip SUV in the smaller size. Times four... the savings starts to add up. Go to a smaller tire bought in the U.S. and the savings really starts to add up for Canadian tire buyers.

Thinking aloud so to speak, here's some examples:

Blizzak DM-V1 available at Canada based 1010tires.com which has a store front local to me as well as on-line store. Spotted there a promo code "summer2012" for $50 off orders more than $400.

Tire | Load Index | Speed Rating | Price

P255/70R17 | 110 | R - $207.99 * 4 = $832
P265/65R17 | 112 | R - $229.99
P265/65R18 | 112 | R - $267.99
P275/55R20 | 111 | R - $286.99

Ultra Grip Ice WRT SUV
P265/65R18 | 114 | S - $222 * 4 = $888 - 50 = $838
P275/55R20 | 113 | S - $241
LT265/70R17 | 121 | Q - $236


At U.S. based TireRack.com (which also offers a $50 mail in rebate for a 4-tire purchase between now and early Oct):

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1
255/70R17 $146.00 each plus $104.80 UPS shipping cost to Blaine WA = $688.80 - not counting the $50 mail in rebate, already about $100 less (a tank of gas for the truck is nothing to sneeze at!) than the cheapest price I've seen them locally.

265/65/R18 are $191 each or $764 set of 4. 275/55/R20's are $208 each, $832.00 total.

Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT
265/65R18 $175 | $700 plus ~ $100 shipping - $50 rebate = $88 savings over buying in Canada. Not quite a tank of gas on a fill up in Blaine but getting there.

275/55R20 195.00 | $780 ditto

Either way, no local or state taxes. I'll have to pay 12% tax when I import them, same as if I bought them down the street.

Eyes going buggy, time for a beer and / or other distractions.

Highwaystreets

i wonder tho if going from 20" to 17" will drastically change speedo calibration and things like that? i was going to go 18" as that is the standard size on the F150 ( i think).

Oh and FYI just picked up my truck last night, its awesome!!

tandem

Narrower probably makes the most difference.

Congrats on the new truck!

Looks like we are going to have nice sunny weather here in BC, maybe where you are too, for the next week. Great time to wash and wax or seal or whatever your preference, if not for the truck's sake, for relaxation.