oops...i think i screwed the earlier message. anyway, as i was saying, i'm not sure if i need winter tires, but what i'm sure is the salt will damage my alloy rims. does anyone know where i can purchase not-too-expensive winter tires & rims? and any suggestions regarding tire size etc, would be helpful. thanks.

 

you should get some 15 inch steel rims from canadian tire, i think they're still on sale for like 35$ each brand new, which is pretty good, and as for tires, well i got the michelins artic alpins, but you can go cheaper with the nordic ,( canadian tire brand ) , as for the size, im not sure about the nordics, but the michelins are 195/55/15 , its a good tire, and handles , and even grips better that the original dunlops the car comes with. Not sure how it is in the snow yet, hasnet snowed yet here in montreal
hope this helps

 

I haven't had too bad an experience with the stock rims and tires over the last winter. If pressed I think it'd be ok to use them over one winter. If you wanted, you can try the dealer too. I remember last year they had some winter steelies with tires for like $460.

 

My dealer sold me rims for 50 bux each which I then had them put my Nokian Hakkapilleta NRW's onto.

The rims are 15" and the tires are P195/55R15

 

I have BFG MZ01's on black steelies (now have silver hubcabs) for winter use only.

 

I have Kumho KW-11's in 185/65R14 on black steelies. I got the rims for $15 each used from a tire dealer, and the Kumhos from www.tiretrends.ca (about $56 each when I got them last year). I can't say how well they perform in the snow (it only rains here), but they are quiet and stable on both dry and wet roads.

My dad uses CT's Nordic WinterTrac (rebranded BFG Winter Slaloms) on his Nissan Quest, also decent in dry/wet conditions (no snow for them yet, either).

I ran CT's Nordic IceTrac, an older Kleber design (European brand Michelin sells under), on my junk heap Civic which I am so thankfully rid of . I ran those in a couple of our rare snow storms, and they were awesome! My brother uses them now.