Replacing 2 tires - All Season

[mbergen]

I need to replace my front two tires on my 2006 Vibe. I currently have the stock P205/55R16. Last year, I bought snow chains after a deep snow here where I felt unsafe driving, but didn't end up getting them until the snow was over. We get maybe one significant snow a year that lasts maybe a week or less, which is why I got the chains rather than snow tires.I am looking for better handling than the existing in light snow and ice than what is on there currently. I would like to use the wheels I have, but maybe get a tire that is a bit narrower than my existing. Is what I am doing even possible? I am sorry to post a question that I'm sure has been asked before, but I don't understand a lot about tire sizes to understand the past posts. I am open to replacing all 4, if it will allow me to get a narrower tire than what I have or if it will still be unsafe even keeping the stock tires on the back. This is the first car I've had that I felt worried about driving, even slowly in the snow. I used to have a Chevrolet cavalier, which I did not worry about driving their all season tires - so I'm ok with all season tires on other cars, living where I am, just not this one. I realize I did not rotate my tires properly, otherwise I would not have so much wear on the front and not the back.I know everyone recommends snow tires, but I can't afford two sets of tires right now, and I definitely need at least two new tires. I am in St. Louis.

[djkeev]

Hi,I understand the inability to purchase 8 tires and 4 wheels when only two tires will suffice.All tires are tested and rated in many aspects. Wet traction, Snow traction, speed endurance, heat build up, road noise, etc, etc. etc.There are many web sites that display this information. Every manufacturer has a web site and there are sites that rate and sell tires. In your case I'd look for a good snow rating on an all weather tire. Then price comes into play. Generally the more expensive the tire the better handling it will have but you don't want to go over the top. A good handling dry road tire will be crap in snow.It is a VERY CONFUSING topic and you will search and read for hours and still have questions. Determine your price point, determine acceptable levels of noise, wet, dry, snow traction and purchase accordingly.To confuse matters tires are now dated and it is recommended you get recent manufactured units. Believe it or not there are now "expiration dates" on tires based on years of use, not tread wear.Good luck, enjoy the confusion, let us know what you get.I'd stick pretty close to the tread width recommended. Dave

[mbergen]

I guess what I am most confused about, is if I am keeping the same size wheel, and only replacing two, do I have to keep the exact same size - P205/55R16 the size I need is what confuses me. If I get the exact same size will they be equally bad tires as what I have in light snow.Edit: My other option is to just rotate the tires so the better tires are now on the front, but I'd prefer to replace two if I can get something that's at least a little better on ice and I am looking for $100 or less per tire - don't know if that's too cheap to be any good.

[djkeev]

The general rule of thumb is to NOT mix tires sizes on the same axle. If the front tires and rear tires are different sizes few problems will result.I'd strive to keep the same outside diameter even though you may be narrowing the tread width. If you change outside size the speedo and odo will be thrown off calibration.While I shop local and support local tire dealers, web sites give a wealth of information. I really don't have the moxie to walk into a tire store with tires I purchased new from online and ask if they can mount and balance these for me! They make their money in sales of tires. So what if I saved a few bucks, My neighbor needs the business locally to stimulate our local economy. That being said, I do shop price and won't stand for price gouging either.AnywayLots of information here.....http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...h.jspDave

[mbergen]

Thanks. There is a small local shop which I have fix my tires if I have flats, that I could have put them on and balance them for me if I decide to go the online route.Ok, so my understanding is keep the same outside diameter, but ok to go a little narrower on the tire width - even on the same wheels. From my reading of this site my understanding was it helps the car handle a little better in the snow. I had narrower tires on my other cars - all season tires, and never had problems like this one.

[Houston]

It's my understanding that having tires with better traction on the front can present problems in snow - that, for example, coming to a stop on a curve can result in the rear (that has less traction) swinging around because there is less grip to the road. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

[mbergen]

Logically I could see that making sense if I rotated my really worn down tires to the back, and put my better ones on the front - but would it really make a difference if you just had slightly better traction on front.I've certainly replaced two tires before and never had a problem. Interested to see if people who know more about cars than me (which is not much) would know.

[Houston]

I totally identify with your first post in which you mention how poorly the original stock tires perform in snow. The snow tires I got are so much better in snow than the all-seasons that came with the car. It's a different world, really, if such a thing can be said about something as mundane as tires, that I can easily see the scenario I described being reality. Seems I read something on here about that, too. The difference is so blatant, in fact, that there's no way I would drive around in snow with good-gripping tires on the front and lessor tires on the back.

[mbergen]

Ok - I have been doing more reading. They say if two tires are better than the others, they should be on the back, so the car doesn't fishtail.It looks like the Goodyear Triple Treads get good comments here so that is what I'm leaning towards. If I get two of those, same size as existing, I would put two of those on back, and move the less worn rear ones to the front - sound right?Am I going to be alot better off in terms of how the car handles by buying 4 of those if I can manage to afford it - and if so, am I better off keeping the same size - 205-55R16 or going with another. My main concern is driving in rain and light snow or ice - but again have chains for extreme snow - those chains were bought sized for orig. tires - so maybe staying with orig size is best.

[Houston]

My answer to all your questions is yes.If you get only two snow tires, putting them on the back is what should be done. Doing this, of course, means you still have poor traction when accelerating from a stop on snowy roads.

[mbergen]

Ok, after nearly going blind looking at and comparing tire prices, I ended up ordering 4 Michelin X Radial tires in the same size as the stock ones, from Sam's Club. They got a very good Consumer Reports review and were about $100 less expensive for 4 than the Triple Treads, once I take off a $70 sams club instant rebate on 4 Michelin tires. Thanks for the advice.