GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Ouch! They were a lot less $$ way back in 2002. The ones I bought were a little smaller -- 195/65 15s. But well driven, (make sure the initial balance is spot on and that you rotate them at least once a winter) your Pirellis will last several winters. They wore very evenly and didn't get too noisy until the last couple of years. You'll like them in the snow and the dry.

Quote, originally posted by vibolista »Ouch! They were a lot less $$ way back in 2002. The ones I bought were a little smaller -- 195/65 15s.Don't forget I'm paying them in CAD money..... US and CAD currency difference may only be 6.5% but price difference on everything ranges from 5% to 75%The main reason I bought those is that I wanted something that handled good on ice.

I was also looking for winter tires, and now I stopped my choice on these 2 tires: Pirelli Winter Carving studded, or Toyo GO-2 +.I already bought used 15" steel rims, but I tried to install one on my 2009 Vibe with 1,8L, and it won't fit, the caliper is too big. SoI think I will put winter tires on factory steelies, and next summer buy new wheels, but I wanted to be on 15" on winter.Did somebody tried 15" steelies on their 2009's?EDIT: Finally I've found used rims that was installed on a Vibe and was purchased from aToyota dealer and it fit! And the tires that was on it is Toyo GO-2 +, so I'm very happy!

Quote, originally posted by SagWhite »I was also looking for winter tires, and now I stopped my choice on these 2 tires: Pirelli Winter Carving studded, or Toyo GO-2 +.I already bought used 15" steel rims, but I tried to install one on my 2009 Vibe with 1,8L, and it won't fit, the caliper is too big. SoI think I will put winter tires on factory steelies, and next summer buy new wheels, but I wanted to be on 15" on winter.Did somebody tried 15" steelies on their 2009's?EDIT: Finally I've found used rims that was installed on a Vibe and was purchased from aToyota dealer and it fit! And the tires that was on it is Toyo GO-2 +, so I'm very happy!As I have a 2.4L, I'll have to go with the 16'' steel wheels (the 15'' won't fit). I bought my tires yesterday, which are the General Altimax Arctic (the Gislaved Nordfrost 3 under a new name). Supposed to be great winter tires. Got them for $135 each, which is a damn fine price for here (all other dealers were selling them for $149)...If I was in the US (in Maine for example), I'd have paid around $100, but we're used to be screwed north of the border...

Same here but on 15" wheels!

I just got my Christmas present from the bf early - a set of Hankook Winter Pike tires 215/55R16's for my '09 GT. No tire sensors so I'll have to live with the light on but I don't mind!

Quote, originally posted by wildangel5 »I just got my Christmas present from the bf early - a set of Hankook Winter Pike tires 215/55R16's for my '09 GT. No tire sensors so I'll have to live with the light on but I don't mind!Tell your BF, I said "GOOD MAN"... you'll deffinitly thank him when the first flakes fall.. Congratz.. !!

x2Here we got a new law about winter tires ;“Between 15 December to 15 March, the owner of a taxi or passenger vehicle registered in Quebec may not put the vehicle into operation unless it is equipped with tires specifically designed for winter driving, in compliance with the standards prescribed by government regulation. The prohibition also applies to any person renting out passenger vehicles not equipped with that type of tires. (…)”This measure will come into effect in the fall of 2008. It is important to remember that tires specifically designed for winter driving constitute a safe solution for driving in winter. They are designed to provide maximum grip on snow- and ice covered surfaces.

Firestone Firehawk GT all season tires. Has to be better than the bald ones that were on it last winter.

Quote, originally posted by DarkSpork »Firestone Firehawk GT all season tires. Has to be better than the bald ones that were on it last winter.Better than the bald ones, sure.... good for winter, not at all.... Do something this winter for me... Park next to a car with a set of inter tires on it.. Mash your thumbnail into the tread on your car, then into the tread on the car with winters on it... you'll feel the biggest difference... The winter tires rubber doesn't freeze and become hard... couple that with all the numourous cuts in the tread and the difference becomes obvious.... Good luck to you...

4 seasons tires are now illegal during the winter over here.. it's about time too...I drove 1 month with the stock Eagle RSA all season tires last winter and it was some scary stuff.

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »Better than the bald ones, sure.... good for winter, not at all.... Do something this winter for me... Park next to a car with a set of inter tires on it.. Mash your thumbnail into the tread on your car, then into the tread on the car with winters on it... you'll feel the biggest difference... The winter tires rubber doesn't freeze and become hard... couple that with all the numourous cuts in the tread and the difference becomes obvious.... Good luck to you... Most people get by around here on all seasons. Its North Dakota, almost completely flat and almost all roads are completely straight. Thanks for the advice though.

Ready for winter here!My Vibe on General Altimax Arctic

I got Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (215/55/16) on the stock alloys for winter and I thought they did rather well last year. Probably will switch them about the first of December. Never was a real fan of the Blizzaks but a lot of people seem to like them.Dunlop Winter Sport M3:Good Luck!

Quote, originally posted by wildangel5 »I just got my Christmas present from the bf early - a set of Hankook Winter Pike tires 215/55R16's for my '09 GT. No tire sensors so I'll have to live with the light on but I don't mind!I'm looking for a winter solution for my 09 GT.Didn't yours come with 18" wheels?

I read up on CR each year for best winter tires. For the vibe I had steelies with conti vikings. This year on the ms3 I got 16" steelies with (cr highest rated tires) goodyear utlragrip gw3's. Its nice to have CR test all of them as the more expensive ones seem to do worse......

I was wondering about those General's. Found them at the local tire place, was thinking about running them this winter since they are still pretty cheap @ $88 each here local.

I have recently picked up a set of Michelin X-Ice Xi2 for my '09 AWD. Haven't had a chance to try them out in the snow yet. Ended up costing me ~$750 CAD installed for 16".

Nokian Hakkapallita tires are freaking awesome. I had them for my honda civic and they stuck like nothing else. Unfortunatly they didn't fit my vibe (15" with the wrong bolt pattern) so i had to sell them after only one winter use which really sucks. I am not 100% sure which ones i have now (my dad picked them up for me) but they are a bit cheaper then the nokians, I THINK they are the Dunlop Graspic DS-2 and i just flipped them onto my 16" rims.

Quote »I got Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (215/55/16) on the stock alloys for winter and I thought they did rather well last year.I can second this recommendation: I've run the studless M3's on Toyota steelies for three years now and they've performed very well. Lots of ski trips and moutain passes...never had a single issue.Can't remember what I paid for them (TireRack), but I think it was like $600+ for both tires & wheels...and they also threw in a free torque wrench. Alas, that was '05...

Goodyear Nordics!You should add them to the list, they're Canadian Tire exclusives, but they're quite popular up here. I put them on my beat up stock 16" alloys, and the 17" Toyota wheels are going on in the spring

Goodyear Nordics

Anyone know anything about the Good Year Ultra Grip ICE tires in the 16" for 1.8 models? We have lots of snow and ice!!

ANY snow tire is betterthan an A/S tire in the snow or ice...

Quote, originally posted by Vibe_dude »I had Hancook icebears for the last 3 winters,but Iam going with the Goodyear Nordic's from Canadian Tire this year.very good price for them.So have to see how good they are.I must report that the Goodyear Nordics are one sweet tire.....just awesome in the snow and ice,and can be studded if u like.And I am running the OEM size instead of going smaller for winter.They are a lil noisey but handle and perform very well.I would recommend these to any make or model of car or van.

I second that, had Nordics on the Lumina APV (which died last year~RIP) and was replaced with the 2005 Vibe, the new Nordics (16") handled well this winter- no problems at all.I've got my fingers crossed, did the tire switch last week and praying for no snow. Enjoying the new quiet sensation

Like Sublimewind, I'm a strong believer in dedicated winter tires--have been for many years. One of our old Volvos is currently shod with Nokian Hakka RSI's, in the hands of one of our daughters, driving around lake-effect country in west Michigan. They have performed superbly. The tires are 195-60-15, and cost $399 mounted, balanced, and tax at my local indy Volvo shop. That was a smokin' deal.I hope I can get a similar price for next winter. Our 06 Vibe will need snows. Right now I'm thinking about getting some 15" steelies and going with 195-65-15.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 in 195/60R16 on steel wheels. Mainly because I wanted to go narrower than the 205 stock width AS tire. The Blizzak WS-60 was the only winter tire I could find in a 195/60R16 size .... which is only 0.2" diameter larger than stock 205/55R16$120 for 16" steel wheels + $391 tires out the door

I swear by the Blizzaks. Absolutely amazing in deep snow.

if I have a 2004 AWD Vibe, do I have to get 205/55-16 tires?

Quote, originally posted by Eloi »As I have a 2.4L, I'll have to go with the 16'' steel wheels (the 15'' won't fit). I bought my tires yesterday, which are the General Altimax Arctic (the Gislaved Nordfrost 3 under a new name). Supposed to be great winter tires. Got them for $135 each, which is a damn fine price for here (all other dealers were selling them for $149)...If I was in the US (in Maine for example), I'd have paid around $100, but we're used to be screwed north of the border...How did these do for you? I've read mostly good things excpet that they can cause the car to move around on the road at higher speeds. I bought some General summer tires last summer and it seemed like the car moves side to side more at higher speeds then the Nokian WR's I replaced. My fiancee and I travel a lot around the country and usually don't have the option of swapping tires around but anything is better then the Bridgestone Insignia 200 tires that came with the car. Would you recommend the Altimax Arctic's?

I picked up a set of Michelin x-ice 2 at Costco. Not exactly cheap imo but with costco backing the warranty I'll never have anything to worry about. I'm actually excited about winter this year!

Hankook I*Pikes

Toyo Observe G02s... going on tomorrow!

Quote, originally posted by Sputnik »Toyo Observe G02s... going on tomorrow!Those are some great tires I hear!

Yeah they rate pretty good and I enjoy driving on them in the winter. I got them two years ago when I got the Rogue.

I live in Southern California.My summer tires are my winter tires,lol

Quote, originally posted by renate »I live in Southern California.My summer tires are my winter tires,lolBor-ing!!!!! lol j/k

Well..... winter is back and so are the ugly steel wheels.The Pirelli Winter Carving Edge should still be good for 2 more years.

Quote, originally posted by kowell »Well..... winter is back and so are the ugly steel wheels.The Pirelli Winter Carving Edge should still be good for 2 more years.Yup, mine are on now... not so nice looking, but oh well.

I forgot to mention, but the snow tires I purchased have a 40,000 mile warranty rating.

I just put BF Goodrich Winter Slaloms on today. My gawd, they are by far the quietest winter tire I've ever rode on...almost completely silent. I drove home with the windows down, just listening to the unimpeded SRI and Magnaflow soundtrack.I hear + read they will be good in the snow, so so far I'm highly satisfied.

Well the Khumo KW11's have been retired after 5 years of service. They have been replaced by General Altimax Arctic tires that have a super aggressive thread.

Quote, originally posted by ArcsVibe »Well the Khumo KW11's have been retired after 5 years of service. They have been replaced by General Altimax Arctic tires that have a super aggressive thread.And I beat you to posting pictures!

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...forceFirestone Winterforce installed for less than even the Firestone dealer would do it for, along with some awesome 5w-30 synthetic Castrol for ~$445 installed/mounted/balanced/oil change.They have a very aggressive tread and a decent warranty. Plus, they can be studded.

Quote, originally posted by slmclarengt »They have a very aggressive tread and a decent warranty. Plus, they can be studded.Those do not have a tread life warranty do they?

Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »Those do not have a tread life warranty do they?I'm quite sure when I was looking at them originally (several weeks ago) that they were not considered "Light Truck/SUV" and had a tread life warranty but now it is just perplexing... The Vibe 16" tire size is 205/55R16 and that is exactly what was available for the Winterforce, and it was rated as a "P205/55R16" which indicates it's a PASSENGER tire. I did not buy them from TireRack, I got them from a local shop, otherwise I could probably pull up the details right now. I'm going to go check right now (it's late but I'm bothered by this confusion...)EDIT UPDATE: I checked the tire info on the tires and they did not say Passenger or Light Truck (LT), but I did speak with the store I bought them from. Many snow tires do not have tread life warranties according to them, because they have soft rubber cores, which in the wrong conditions (re: any temperatures above ~70F) would wear the tires in less than 10,000 miles, but using them in cold conditions (under 70F) would have a longer life. Lucky for me, these tires only need to endure two major winters, then they will not be as needed (but still used).

Quote, originally posted by Feelin’ The Vibe »I just put BF Goodrich Winter Slaloms on today. My gawd, they are by far the quietest winter tire I've ever rode on...almost completely silent. I drove home with the windows down, just listening to the unimpeded SRI and Magnaflow soundtrack.I hear + read they will be good in the snow, so so far I'm highly satisfied. I've had the same tires on my vibe --- going into winter #4 and still look new.

Quote, originally posted by bull77 »I've had the same tires on my vibe --- going into winter #4 and still look new. Cheers! I hope mine last that long

Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »And I beat you to posting pictures! LOL yup you did Sir