SpecB winter tires

Since the stock SpecB tires are 215/45R18 at 24 lbs and 25.7" OD,

17" for winter options would be :

 

215/50R17.6% smaller or

205/55R17 1% smaller than stock

225/50R17 .9 smaller than stock (IMO 225 is already too wide for snow)

 

 

Available tires in 215/50R17

 

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 tirerack.com

Dunlop Graspic DS-2

Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3

Nokian WR ----------98v rating 21.6lbs OD26.3 -------215/50R17XL are 95V 21.4# OD 25.5

Pirelli Winter 210

Yokohama Ice Guard IG721

 

 

205/55R17

 

ContiWinterContact TS810 S tirerack.com

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2

 

 

225/50R17

 

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22

Bridgestone Blizzak WS50

Dunlop Graspic DS-2

Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3

Hankook Ice Bear W300

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 Nokian Hakka 4

Nokian RSi

Nokian WR

Pirelli Winter 210

 

I decided to go with RSi in 205/50R17.

While a .4" smaller overall than SpecB, it will get me through the worst of winter.

 

If anyone has any other options let me know, I'll be updating this.

I'd recommend the thinnest tire you can stand, the 205/55r17, or the 215/50r17. There's a Nokian dealer around there somewhere - go to the website. In the 205 size, both of those are, afaik, excellent choices - I've run the arctic alpin in the past with good results, the pilot is more performance oriented. The conti is what I am going to use on my car here in MA.

 

The graspic is a fairly low performance tire, under all conditions there are better choices like the blizzak ws-50. the wintersport is a good tire too, more performance oriented.

 

Basically if you are looking for the best snow and ice performance, you'll want the ws-50, the hakka (2 I thought), or the TS810. For a more dry performance oriented tire with a firmer sidewall, I think the best choices are the the pilot, the WR, wintersport M3, or the LM-22, in that order IMO, but I could be wrong.

 

I used to live in Clifton Park, btw. Hi old neighbor!

I'm not yet sure which I'm getting. I had Gislaved NordFrost on my WRX, but they're too soft for rallyX. Plus they don't make them in 17".

 

I just wanted let people the people know what kind options there are for specB.

You could also drop down to LGT sizes of 205/50R17, 215/45R17, or 225/45R17 and have your speedo recalibrated by the dealer. Let's face it, a SpecB pretty much is an LGT. I suppose spare tire size would be an issue then though.