Cheap winter tires?

wahooooman · 11-12-2012, 10:00 AM

I know, i know not another winter tire thread

, but i am in need of opinions.
So i work full time and go to class full time so most of my money goes to class the rest to my car, occasionally the GF

,and don't want to spend over $700 on tires(mounted and balanced i have rims). So in my area for that price are only 2 tires, and i cannot find many people who use them on BMWs. Choice 1 is TBC arctic claw Winter Txi by cooper tire from National tire and battery. Choice 2 is General Altimax Arctic, or for a bit more i guess i could go with Dunlop Graspic DS-3
So if anybody runs these tires for winter please let me know how you like them, also open to suggestions, thanks

WingZeroX5 · 11-12-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahooooman

I know, i know not another winter tire thread

, but i am in need of opinions.
So i work full time and go to class full time so most of my money goes to class the rest to my car, occasionally the GF

,and don't want to spend over $700 on tires(mounted and balanced i have rims). So in my area for that price are only 2 tires, and i cannot find many people who use them on BMWs. Choice 1 is TBC arctic claw Winter Txi by cooper tire from National tire and battery. Choice 2 is General Altimax Arctic, or for a bit more i guess i could go with Dunlop Graspic DS-3
So if anybody runs these tires for winter please let me know how you like them, also open to suggestions, thanks

I wouldn't go "cheap" if I were you. Get some well known brands and designs such as Blizzaks/Wintersport 3D's and if/when it does snow balls deep you will definitely not get stuck. Noticed that you have an XI...some nice snows + xi = tank.

I had a set of LM60's on 189's a month ago which I sold for like 700. Wish you were there then cuz then i didn't have to ship it. What a PITA too to ship haha

Gary@TireRack · 11-12-2012, 10:59 AM

If you're using 225/45R17, the Dunlop Graspic DS3 will still get you a soft compound and aggressive tread pattern much like a Blizzak WS-70. The DS3 is a good entry level winter tire at a good price and should be better on packed snow and ice compared to the General Altimax Arctic.

Winter http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&...nter/index.jsp

Bronze · 11-12-2012, 11:04 AM

Dunlops are fine, and General Tire is owned by Michelin, so I'd suspect some Michelin engineering or process information is shared internally, benefiting both brands.

rdub315 · 11-12-2012, 11:53 AM

I've had the General Altimax Arctics on a couple of previous cars and I absolutely loved them for what they were.

Gary@TireRack · 11-12-2012, 12:24 PM

General is owned by Continental.

Michelin owns BFGoodrich and Uniroyal.

Bronze · 11-12-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

General is owned by Continental.

Michelin owns BFGoodrich and Uniroyal.

Whoops! Thanks for the correction. I knew there was some brand consolidation out there.

Dominus · 11-13-2012, 10:08 AM

Just just picked up a set of hankook Ipikes for I little more than 550

gunnerxq · 11-13-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdub

I've had the General Altimax Arctics on a couple of previous cars and I absolutely loved them for what they were.

+1 General Altimax Arctic

wahooooman · 11-14-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominus

Just just picked up a set of hankook Ipikes for I little more than 550

thats interesting i may have to check those out thanks!!

wahooooman · 11-14-2012, 10:43 AM

Thanks all!! Very helpful

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

+1 General Altimax Arctic

Yeah i may go this route seems like a solid tire and the price cant really be beat!! thanks

gunnerxq · 11-14-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahooooman

Thanks all!! Very helpful

Yeah i may go this route seems like a solid tire and the price cant really be beat!! thanks

Just careful on the gas on dry roads. Only let loose when there is snow on the ground.

N8N · 11-14-2012, 07:10 PM

another option is to troll craigslist, 225/45R17 is recommended size but I can tell you on the correct wheels 225/50R17 will fit OK. Got a full set of Blizzaks that look new off Craigslist for $600 mounted on nice wheels (that I need to sell...)

///M3NACE · 11-14-2012, 07:15 PM

I've seen maybe 10-20 sets on local CL here in chicago go from 100-700 dollars. Many at the 3-400 range were 17s with good winter tires.

11-12-2012, 10:00 AM	#1
wahooooman Lieutenant 65 Rep 507 Posts Drives: 2010 Atlantis M3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: NORTH SHORE Ma iTrader: (4)	Cheap winter tires? I know, i know not another winter tire thread , but i am in need of opinions. So i work full time and go to class full time so most of my money goes to class the rest to my car, occasionally the GF ,and don't want to spend over $700 on tires(mounted and balanced i have rims). So in my area for that price are only 2 tires, and i cannot find many people who use them on BMWs. Choice 1 is TBC arctic claw Winter Txi by cooper tire from National tire and battery. Choice 2 is General Altimax Arctic, or for a bit more i guess i could go with Dunlop Graspic DS-3 So if anybody runs these tires for winter please let me know how you like them, also open to suggestions, thanks __________________ 07 e90 335xi- Sold, 09 X5- Sold, 12 e92 335 xdrive - Sold 11 e92 M3- Sold, 15 M235-Sold,07 e90 335xi (current daily), 10 Atlantis e92 M3 (current) Way to many mods to list
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11-12-2012, 10:59 AM	#3
Gary@TireRack Moderator 369 Rep 4,745 Posts Drives: Formerly 1995 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Bend, IN, Tire Rack HQ iTrader: (2)	If you're using 225/45R17, the Dunlop Graspic DS3 will still get you a soft compound and aggressive tread pattern much like a Blizzak WS-70. The DS3 is a good entry level winter tire at a good price and should be better on packed snow and ice compared to the General Altimax Arctic. Winter http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&...nter/index.jsp __________________ Gary. Tire and Wheel Forum Moderator. Tire Rack Sales Rep Gary@Tirerack.com http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&url=index.jsp Please refer to 'Gary/E90 Post' as your previous contact when you order online to help support this forum.
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11-12-2012, 11:04 AM	#4
Bronze First Lieutenant 12 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 2008 335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Berkley, MI iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	Dunlops are fine, and General Tire is owned by Michelin, so I'd suspect some Michelin engineering or process information is shared internally, benefiting both brands. __________________ Bronze 2008 335i sedan \| black/black \| Sport \| Premium
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11-12-2012, 11:53 AM	#5
rdub315 Captain 75 Rep 650 Posts Drives: '07 E90 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Traverse City, MI iTrader: (8) Garage List 2007 E90 335i [10.00]	I've had the General Altimax Arctics on a couple of previous cars and I absolutely loved them for what they were. __________________ - VTT Stage 2 turbos, VTT inlets, Cobb Pro Tune (E30 and 93 octane tunes), MFactory LSD, 335is clutch, CSF radiator, slim fans, Walbro 255, AE exhaust, AA downpipes, ETS FMIC, Vishnu DCI, ETS charge pipe, Tial BOV, BMS OCC - H&R Touring Cup Kit, Apex Arc8, M3 style front bumper, MTech style rear bumper and diffuser
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11-12-2012, 12:24 PM	#6
Gary@TireRack Moderator 369 Rep 4,745 Posts Drives: Formerly 1995 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Bend, IN, Tire Rack HQ iTrader: (2)	General is owned by Continental. Michelin owns BFGoodrich and Uniroyal. __________________ Gary. Tire and Wheel Forum Moderator. Tire Rack Sales Rep Gary@Tirerack.com http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&url=index.jsp Please refer to 'Gary/E90 Post' as your previous contact when you order online to help support this forum.
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11-13-2012, 10:08 AM	#8
Dominus First Lieutenant 31 Rep 389 Posts Drives: 2009 Bmw 328i w/ XDrive Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [10.00]	Just just picked up a set of hankook Ipikes for I little more than 550
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11-14-2012, 07:10 PM	#13
N8N Lieutenant Colonel 170 Rep 1,843 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Berwyn Heights, MD iTrader: (2)	another option is to troll craigslist, 225/45R17 is recommended size but I can tell you on the correct wheels 225/50R17 will fit OK. Got a full set of Blizzaks that look new off Craigslist for $600 mounted on nice wheels (that I need to sell...)
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11-14-2012, 07:15 PM	#14
///M3NACE Banned 168 Rep 3,900 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E36 Vert , E90 N52 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Downers Grove, IL iTrader: (5)	I've seen maybe 10-20 sets on local CL here in chicago go from 100-700 dollars. Many at the 3-400 range were 17s with good winter tires.
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