snow?

oriden · Post by **oriden** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:09 pm

on october 1st i traded in my chevy s10 for a 05 "salsa" vibe, and i havent looked back since how ever as winter approches i live in a high snow fall area can some one share their winter driving experince on how the vibe handels in some serious snow? as im looking at some new tires and what not this would help alot!thanks-Oriden

808 Vibes · Post by **808 Vibes** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:17 pm

I wouldn't know about that, but CONGRATS!!

DarkSpork · Post by **DarkSpork** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:42 pm

Don't know how your area compares to the one I live in. The car does pretty well out here though. It has never made me feel particularly unsafe. Traction in turns is pretty good, it also seems to stop well. Also have not got stuck in it. (I feel that is worth mentioning the tires were nearly bald last winter season when I had bought it) However for snow driving the only cars I have to compare it to that I've driven are: 1. 1996 Volvo 960 (Vibe is superior in snow)2. 2008 VW Rabbit (The Rabbit was much better)3. 2007 Ford Focus (roughly the same, vibe has slight edge due to weight)4. 2008 Hyundai Accent (Vibe is much better)5. 2008 Mazda 3 (Mazda 3 was slightly better)The Volvo is a friend's car that we shared the driving in during a 1600 mile trip up here, the Mazda 3 was a loaner while I got my block heater and new muffler installed, the other cars I test droveMy previous car was a 1992 S10 and although I never had driven it in snow, the rain traction was horrible. It was still a great truck, it had 225,000 miles on it when I stopped driving it and still ran like new. The Vibe simply handles better though.

northvibe · Post by **northvibe** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:52 pm

I bought snow tires and the vibe was a champ. on the eagles though...in cold they were meh spun a lot the vibe is a light car though so dont expect going through tons of snow in a fwd but if its that bad most people without 4x4 dont drive anyway.

pick41 · Post by **pick41** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:17 pm

I'm guessing if you are going from a S10 to a Vibe it will have to be an improvement. Unless you had 4x4. Not sure about the Vibe in the winter, as this will be my first one with it as well. But having owned a s-series in the past, I'll say it has to be better, but will miss the RWD sliding around corners

Neouka · Post by **Neouka** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:51 pm

my tires aren't that great, have driven my Vibe in 2 southern ontario winters so far. It's not the best in snow, but I figure getting new tires would help with that. The ABS helps a lot. I'd say it all comes down to how good your tires are. Mine.... suck

bull77 · Post by **bull77** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:03 pm

i have no problems with snow in my set of winter tires (BF Goodrich Winter Slaloms) --- after last years dump, I'd say it was a wise investment

oriden · Post by **oriden** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:21 pm

alright thanks for the info guys!the vibe is gona have the tires it came with for this winter (hankook milage plus) but am looking at a new set of michlien x-ice for next winter.btw what kind of tires do you guys recomend for the vibe? i ususaly had dunlop tires on the truck but i see i have a MUCH wider selection now..thanks again guys looking foward to being here on the site=)

northvibe · Post by **northvibe** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:58 pm

I go to Consumer reports and see what their winter tire ratings are. This year the mich x-ice are the top rated for "winter" the best "winter performance" tire was the goodyear eagle grip gw3. I will be buying the gw3 since I drive a ton in the winter and a "plain" winter tire would wear out fast.

oriden · Post by **oriden** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:31 am

humm.. i see that theres a new form of xice x-ice 2 or some such thing they say they have improved drasticly on them..pretty much what im looking at:replacing the current tires it came with (hankook milage plus) since their crap with eithergoodyear assurance triple tredmichelin harmonybridgestone ptenza g 019 gridand then a good set of winter tires also plan for nice summer rims and have the stock rims as winter ones.im gona look into those winter saloms as thier on sale at canadain tire for 25% off

thanks for the tip!im kind of wooried of a new winter driving experince as i work out of the city in a VERY snowy area so i jsut loaded up the back of the truck with bricks and NEVER got stuck...

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kowell · Post by **kowell** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:38 am

If the conditions on that picture is a snowy day, you have nothing to worry about with a Vibe and good winter tires.There berely is any snow, just wind to reduce visibility.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:46 am

Ya, come on, you call that snow?

GoodVibErations2004 · Post by **GoodVibErations2004** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:20 am

i live in rochester, ny. that beig said i probably havent seen nearly as bad winters as you canadians have. but i have driven a bunch of different vehicles through a bunch f different winters.(9 cars in 4 years) so i cant wait to see how the vibe fares

DarkSpork · Post by **DarkSpork** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:41 am

Quote, originally posted by oriden Â»humm.. i see that theres a new form of xice x-ice 2 or some such thing they say they have improved drasticly on them..pretty much what im looking at:replacing the current tires it came with (hankook milage plus) since their crap with eithergoodyear assurance triple tredmichelin harmonybridgestone ptenza g 019 gridand then a good set of winter tires also plan for nice summer rims and have the stock rims as winter ones.im gona look into those winter saloms as thier on sale at canadain tire for 25% off

thanks for the tip!im kind of wooried of a new winter driving experince as i work out of the city in a VERY snowy area so i jsut loaded up the back of the truck with bricks and NEVER got stuck...My friend's S-10 looked exactly like that! He got tired of getting stuck all the time even with several sandbags though.

oriden · Post by **oriden** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:16 pm

aw now thats just the only one i had as for your buddies s10 sandbags=fail just fill the box full of compacted snow (given he doesnt need to haul anything) and your worrie free.i stoped by Active Green an Ross today on the way to workquoted $427.89 installed and ballanced for the good year Assurance TripleTredand $536.97 balanced and installed for new micheln XX-Ice Xi2 plus the steel winter rims..so im goana have that done thursday next week so i guess well see but you all say the vibe is decent so im glad to hear that and i guess ill have to wait and see if its truethanks for the tips guys!!!-Eric

DarkSpork · Post by **DarkSpork** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:36 pm

Quote, originally posted by oriden Â»aw now thats just the only one i had as for your buddies s10 sandbags=fail just fill the box full of compacted snow (given he doesnt need to haul anything) and your worrie free.-EricHe already sold the truck. He had it from when he was living in Texas, he never really took care of it so he decided it was time to get rid of it after getting up here. I have heard that filling the bed with snow works well though.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:08 pm

Quote, originally posted by oriden Â»alright thanks for the info guys!the vibe is gona have the tires it came with for this winter (hankook milage plus) but am looking at a new set of michlien x-ice for next winter.btw what kind of tires do you guys recomend for the vibe? i ususaly had dunlop tires on the truck but i see i have a MUCH wider selection now..thanks again guys looking foward to being here on the site=) Do yourself a favor and DON'T wait... Find some used steel wheels, and buy the cheapest SNOW tire you can find... regardless, don't wait... you are just askling for trouble.. You might not be able to find them, but I ran "Winterforce" snows last year and they were all of 52$ a tire... hardly close to the 520 whatever that was quoted to you... add to the USED steel wheels and I be you could come in under 3-350$

oriden · Post by **oriden** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:47 pm

i saw your ost now AFTER i had the work done lol

keithvibe · Post by **keithvibe** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:16 am

hahahi just bought 205/55/16 snow tiresfederal triangle tr777 "winterforce" for 59 eachgoing to wait till next month to mount them to my current rims then i need to start shopping for new summers for my 18"s

Jeremy_K · Post by **Jeremy_K** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:27 am

Hey Keithvibe, know of any good places around our area where I can pick up some 15" steelies for cheap? I bought 3 Dean tire wintermaster plus snows mounted on beretta rims for $50 on craigslist. The tires have very little miles on them but the beretta rims don't clear the calipers. I found a matching new tire to go with them so now I just need 4 good 15" rims.

keithvibe · Post by **keithvibe** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:24 pm

Quote, originally posted by Jeremy_K Â»Hey Keithvibe, know of any good places around our area where I can pick up some 15" steelies for cheap? I bought 3 Dean tire wintermaster plus snows mounted on beretta rims for $50 on craigslist. The tires have very little miles on them but the beretta rims don't clear the rotors. I found a matching new tire to go with them so now I just need 4 good 15" rims.the 15"s don't clear??they should, I think think your bolt pattern is wrong for the beretta rims. I think those are 5x115 you need 5x100try harrys-u-pull it. They might have what your looking for

Jeremy_K · Post by **Jeremy_K** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:49 am

It could be. The bolt pattern seemed a little off but I was able to get them started on the lugs until the rim contacted the calipers. Does the camry 15" have the same bolt pattern? The only ones I know about are subaru and corollas but unsure of what years.

AKLGT · Post by **AKLGT** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:14 am

Most of the Subes will fit except 05+ STI since they use a different bolt pattern from 5x100. Also, the Tribeca, but I doubt you'd want to use those rims. LOLI would check on Ebay for a set of cheap nice looking rims. I bought my ADR's for the LGT there and also the Rota rims I have for the new STI. I paid about $200 LESS than any of the online dealers for the exactl same rims!

oriden · Post by **oriden** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:53 pm

look at canadain tire (if your from the great white north) they have nice winter rims for $80/rimor even tire rack i found some nice looking cheap ones

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