GET YOUR DEDICATED SNOW TIRES NOW !!!

^ That raises engineers' eyebrows a bit I think. I'd think especially for applications using the smaller bolt circle. I'm sure it's been vetted though.

For reference, the same zone on the Corolla rim:

 

Dual bolt pattern are fairly common on aftermarket rims both for steely as well as alloys. Although, I don't know if there has been any studies done on structural integrity differences, it has to be good enough. My winter alloy rim has dual pattern, so as the full size spare on steely. I would think at the least, they are slightly lighter than rims with only one bolt pattern, thus maybe better mileage?

Dedicated winter tires going for the second season wear very soon.

 

I'm sure there has been, something like that has to pass tests. But still: those one-size-fits-all are definitely sailing a little closer to the wind. There's precious little meat between the inner bolt-circle holes and material edge. And if that edge is sheared, it's further weakened.

Even using the outer bolt-circle (which I assume is the case with the Prius?), there's less material, more holes, larger hub opening, and no flange on that opening.

That flange allows you to push on a 2" ABS end cap too, my pref. In lieu of that I'd consider coating the exposed hub with boiled linseed oil.

 

Apparently, all you need is a single spoke to support the car! LOL

 

I just looked up the Corolla rim (p/n 42611-02471): the price has gone through the roof on those, new at least.

I got mine for $70 (CDN) apiece, and I'm pretty sure they were brand new. They might have been virtually new take-offs; it was through a dealership.

Looks like the going price now is around $110 US. Again, dealership might have take-offs??

 

The lowest used one I can find on Ebay is $60. 15" INCH TOYOTA COROLLA 2003-2008 OEM Factory Original STEEL Wheel Rim 69423 | eBay

For that price, you might find used PRIME OEM alloy. I just ordered used OEM alloy wheels from eBay for winter use on our Pathfinder. Four matching 18 inch alloy OEM wheels ~$60 each shipped.

 

...er, um well yes, I guess if you put it like that! ...I'm reminded of the Woody Allen and the miners' hat (...remember that one?)

 

The Cookie Shop caper, yes. Saw that in a double feature with Bubba Ho-Tep...

 

Sorry, it's not for PRIME, but I just got a set of 4 OEM 18" alloy wheels for our Nissan Pathfinder from eBay today. Surprisingly, all 4 wheels came with center cap and OEM TPMS. If those TPMS still works, at ~$60/each, that was a great buy. I now need to find winter tires that fit on those wheels.

 

Wouldn't that be included in the regular installation cost? I am not going to mount tires DIY.

 

Well, I don't do a burger, but at the same time, I've never had McDonald's burger either. To tell the truth, I don't know who does it better. lol

I've never cleaned wheel myself, but I am sure the guy that makes ~$11 bucks an hour at the tire shop must have done that many times. I'll see how my cleaning skills are.

 

Are your snow tire rims going to outshine your regular rims...

 

Regular rims are 20" alloy. Finding snow for this size is difficult and rims are very expensive even used.

 

In testing there is a pretty big difference between lesser brand snow tires and the big 3 (Blizzak, Xice, Nokkian) in the tests I've seen. I got Xice for my Prime and last winter it was unstoppable. I just put them on the steelies for a Corolla. And I'm not saying I left off the TMPS but I'm not saying I didn't.

 

I am always curious to know what those professional driver test results really mean to the day to day use by ordinal drivers like me. A semi-scientific test drive on a more controlled conditions of a test course certainly gives an edge to some tires, usually a more expensive well-known brand. But I never drive my car on an icy course doing slalom. Are $40 no-name brand tires so unsafe compared to $150 well-known brand tires? I don't know... But if I can buy those well-known brand tires at the cost similar to the no-name brand tires, naturally I am more likely to buy those.

I am in search of winter tires for our newly acquired SUV. Being much larger tires, they cost quite a bit more in comparison to the tires for Prius. My current shortlist of winter tires shows the cheapest $102 Sumitomo ICE EDGE to the most expensive $235 Nokian Hakka 9. There are several tires in low $100 range which are never hard of tire brands, at least to me, like Eldorado and Mastercraft. But, when I do some searches for a great deal with coupons, discounts, and rebates, I can find a deal for Michelin Xice or Conti Winter Contact for the middle of the pack price range of $135-150 which is about the same as Kumho Wintercraft and Hankook Winter iPike. Given the reputation on brand names, even without reading up on any professional reviews on winter tires, I am more likely to buy Michelin or Conti in this case.

 

There's lots of factors to snow tires, or any tires for that matter. Some snow tires might have a slight (or moderate) traction advantage, but I love the road-manners of the X-Ice, never "notice" them, which is good in my books.