Car Arrives Next Week, Snow Tires Question
 

I'm definitely stoked, the dealer informed me a 2003 3.0 Avant QMS special-ordered with my name on it comes off the car-carrier in his parking lot next week. Looking ahead, and to the weather (its already snowing!), I need to order 4 snow tires from tirerack directly to the dealer, who said he'd put them on before I picked it up. Best snow tire choice for value that doesn't ruin handling/performance? Tire size 235\45-17, thanks

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 or Dunlop Wintersport M2

snow tire that doesn't ruin handling/performance? hehe... no such thing...
 

The question is: how much will it ruin your handling/performance.

To answer this better, you need to tell us where you live and how much snow you see during your typical winters and what kind of road conditions you encounter, etc.

In some cases you may be OK with just an all-season tire. In some others, you may be OK with a high perf. H-rated winter tire, like Dunlop M2/M3, Pilot Alpin, Blizzak LM-22). And if you get lots of snow, you may be better off with some 16" rims and heavy-duty winter tires like Arctic Alpin or Blizzak WS-50.

Congrats! But best snow tire that won't ruin handling / performance? In snow? (more)
 

If you want winter performance, you probably shouldn't put 235/45/17 winter rubber on it. If you search the forum, you'll find plenty of discussions on the topic. You should run a more narrow tire for snow, otherwise, you risk the tire acting like a ski and not diggin into snow. Most people that I have seen here on the forum discussing it (including myself) have put 16" wheels on our cars and 215/55/16 winter snows on the car. That can be steels rims w/ or w/o hub caps or buy some cheap alloys.

Benefits include: having dedicated wheels to take occasional abuse of winter roads / salt / scrapes, not having increased opportunity of scratching your rims from changing winter tires on & off with summer tires, more economical to buy 16" winter tires than 17" (about 2/3 the price).

But if you are 100% set on buying 17" winter rubber, the Dunlop WinterSport M2s come recommended by Audi, BMW, Porsche for their vehicles....

Ya beat me to it!!

You're probably right but...
 

I guess I'm just looking forward to seeing a nice set of 17's on my car when I pick it up. On the other hand, if I go with 16" I guess I can save those nice 17's for when the sun comes out again, which would be nice. So where's the best/cheapest place to get a package?

Dunlop M2 Wintersports, they are wonderful and great in the dry also

Michelin Pilot Alpin's... great ride and stick in snow and ice

you should also be concerned about winter potholes...
 

It's easier to hit a pothole and bend a larger (17") rim during winter because the potholes are harder to see. Having 16s reduces that risk greatly. Again, it depends on how good/bad the roads are where you live.

=)