Well no dickering around this year. I’d rather get the beater beast ready for it’s 3mo primary term while it’s still kind of sunny and warm outside to work. I hate bundling up and having freezing hands. The bike I can work on under the deck as shown, the car is on a pad in the elements as I don’t rent the garage.
I didn’t actually choose this package. I went to the tire shop 2 years ago and asked for X-Ice on steelies only to be told virtually everything was back-ordered for a month and the quickest would be these cheapo CECO alloys with General Altimax in a week. I obliged. Factory is a 195/55-R16 on the XRS but my winters are the generic ‘rolla 185/65-R15.
You know what though, it’s not half bad, I’ve been pleased with this budget setup. If you’re looking for a good snow tire these Arctic 12 are very good value. They aren’t a Blizzak, X-Ice or Hakkapeliitta but they’re not that far down in winter performance and cost significantly less than them. I’ve had no problems doing the average +10kph above highway speed limit in the few weeks of snow fall per year here in Vancouver where other drivers are struggling 20kph below speed limit and crashing with their 3 seasons. They mostly deal with rain and temps a few ticks above freezing. I have no complaints, I’d argue they make perfect sense for these more moderate conditions where a premium winter might be a tad overkill but still better much than the all weather when it does snow.
I’m very pro winter tire. I was a cheap kid and drove on 3 seasons in the limited snow around here for years. Even as a half decent driver, I won’t ever do it again. Take stock that this is coming from a rider who is risky enough to scrape knee on the street. Grip matters.
Few Quick Tips:
- Check direction rotation of tires when installing. Don’t put them the wrong direction they don’t work as well.
- Check tire pressure (mine were super low)
- Reset your TPMS (mine is old school and based on ABS sensor deviation)
Drive safe!
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