Just started posting here... in Utah using Blizzak 215/60R16 on 16x6.5 (5x114.3) without any fitment issues. Car ('23 LE eAWD) has been GREAT in the snow. Better than my previous RAM with cheaper snow tires. The only concern I would have is the ground clearance in deep snow/drifts from the plows...
Michelin now has the X-Ice Snow on their website for both 195/50R19 and 195/60R17, but good luck getting a set right now. My dealer says 0 available nationwide(USA). I'm going to call them every few weeks until mid-Feb to see if that changes. I'm thinking of a trip to Oregon yet this winter, but I'm not super comfortable crossing the Rockies in winter on my stock Toyos. If I can get a set of the X-Ice, I'll drive; otherwise I'll fly.
Just ordered a set of Michelin X-Ice Snow in my stock size of 195/50R19 from TireRack.com. Should be here the end of this week, and a local tire shop will mount them middle of next week. Tire price with tax was $915($213.99/tire), but a $100 rebate will bring that down to $815. Mount and install price will be extra. Costco also has them for the same price including installation, but their rebate is only $60 for the set and I don't have a membership, so the price difference was a wash for me. $100 Michelin rebate with TireRack is only good through Dec 31. Costco's rebate is good through Jan 30.
Yeah. I know a two-rim setup would be more efficient, but I'm hoping Michelin will be making a CrossClimate2(or 3 by then) in 195/50R19 within five or so years. My end goal is to run a single all-weather tire year round rather than swapping summer and winter tires, but I'm really not liking these stock Toyos in the snow and ice, and I don't want wait until something becomes available. I just don't want to pay for a second set of rims for what I consider to be a temporary situation.
So you're just going to pay $120+ for mounting/balancing 2x year for next 4-5 years because a 2nd set of wheels cost too much?
1. I don't know if it's going to cost $120 for mounting/balancing. I live in a very different part of the country than you, and prices are often much, much lower for labor-based jobs. 2. I'm not 100% going to go even 5 years if CrossClimate3s or WRG5s become available earlier. 3. But even if I pay $120/fitting and go 5 years, the only wheels I like on the car are the stock wheels or the 17" Modellistas that I'd have to import from Japan. So that's around $2200 for a set of stock 19" wheels, and around $2000 for the imported 17" wheels*. At $240/year, it would take me 8-9 years to reach the break-even point. 4. A final consideration for me: I'd probably not even be able to get either set of wheels until this winter is over anyway(likely 1 month to get OEM, and definitely 2+ months to import). So the math works out if you're willing to accept a cheaper set of aftermarket wheels or you're going to do the summer/winter switch for the life of the vehicle, but in my case, going with a single set of wheels is actually the better solution. I've been thinking about this for over a year now(since the gen5 was announced last Thanksgiving), so this hasn't been an impulse decision. *Showing my math: Stock wheels: 42611-47551, 42611-47671, or 42611-47381. All run $595.59 MSRP or $411.78 at discounted dealerships(includes free shipping). The Modellistas(MSC13-47001) run about $225 each, but there'd be around $700 in shipping and customs for the set. Plus there's a set of TPMS sensors I'd also have to get at $97.52/$67.42 no matter which set of wheels I'd get. Plus taxes. 19" - ($411.78 + 67.42) x 4 x 1.08 = $2070.14 + $120 for the first mounting and balancing = $2190.14 17" - ($225.00 x 4 + $700) + ($67.42 x 4 x 1.08) + $120 = $2011.25
I respect your time to put this all together. All I see out of it is many hours wasted in a waiting room, many opportunities for a careless tech to scratch your wheels, cross thread studs, and losing the opportunity to have a second set of wheels ready to go at a moments notice in case you have a total loss in one of your tires. I can't stand downtime in a car.
I've got a spare tire under the cargo floor, so that last one isn't a big issue. The tire shop I'll be using has a restaurant across the road, so I plan to just schedule my appointments to have the tires swapped while I'm having lunch. As for scratching the wheels or cross-threading studs, that is a risk. But in balance, I still think this is the right choice for me.
Maybe Camry Steelies? Especially if you can find some gently used or “take offs”. I think the inference with the latter is they came off a car at dealership, fresh from factory, due to buyer who wanted to upgrade.
Style has its price!!! Wow!! I have steelies for my winter tires. If I want Style I can buy a set of wheel covers for $40. Did you know you can't see the outside of the car from the inside? And when the whole car is covered in icy crud,,,, who cares. And do my own seasonal swaps, bc I'm a manly man. But I just bought a set of cheap Dunlap winter tires thru Discount Tires and they claim they'll do the seasonal swaps for me and re-balance while doing it. Good. On my prius the TPMS relearn is not something I can do at home. On my Bolt it takes a $25 relearn tool.
On our '10 for the first 12 winters with snows it was 15" Corolla steelies, that were $70 CDN apiece. Moved upmarket when I replaced the snows for this winter, with a set of Prius Plug-In rims (15"), purchased some time back from a California Priuschat member, $400 USD for the lot.
Personally, i use 205-55R17 Studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10's.. It's perfect even if not for everyone!
Possibly the best tire on the market if you have to deal with smooth ice. I've got a friend that swears by them(his road to work goes near a cooling tower that releases a lot of water vapor that freezes to the road). I almost never deal with ice on my roads, so a modern non-studded is slightly better for me. The Hakka R5 and Mich X-Ice Snow are neck and neck on dry pavement and moderate snow(my usual conditions), so it came down to cost and availability. $380/tire and over a month for the R5; $215/tire and two days for the X-Ice.
I like the Michelin X-Ice, because at least where we are prep'ing for snow is mostly cargo cult, and the X-Ice roll very nice on bare roads.
