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View Full Version : Best snow tires for new england marauders



Eric-Blk2004
03-25-2008, 07:37 AM
Hey guys,

I know spring is right around the corner if not here already, but I wanted to get input on what you guys use for snow tires in the winter.

The car is more then likely going to be my daily driver all year round - in the winter I have a truck for the heavy stuff. But for light coatings and slush it would probably be the marauder on duty.

Any recommendations? Or do you guys shelve the car in the winter.

Thanks,
Eric

Egon Spengler
03-25-2008, 08:03 AM
Blizzak WS60's mounted on 16" '07 Grand Marquis Wheels! 200lbs of plastic pellets in the trunk... goes through the snow like a tank!!! Good wheels are on now as of last weekend!!!
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/7/8/6/6/FullView.jpg

Dragcity
03-25-2008, 08:07 AM
I have Winterforce on 16" steelies.

No added weight in the trunk. I'm o.k. with it here in Buffalo, NY. Land of the never ending winter....

Raudermaster
03-25-2008, 08:26 AM
I had these for one season:
http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Dunlop&tiremodel=Graspic+DS-2+Winter+Studless
Absolutely kicked ass and I wouldn't run another tire but those. I don't drive the MM anymore in winter so that's why I got rid of them.

arejayesss
03-25-2008, 08:33 AM
In the winter time, I use the g-force T/A.... oh sorry, i guess this question is for you whom have snow:P

Thunderace
03-25-2008, 08:41 AM
For winter the alloy's come off,and on go 225/60-16 Blizzak WS-15 on steelies for our Grand Marquis (DD),they are awsome tires,no added weight,Having a extra set of rim's for your snow's is the best way.Marauder get's parked for winter!

Raudermaster
03-25-2008, 08:46 AM
I forget the guy's first name, but the one who owns all of the Sullivan Tire chains, he uses those Dunlop Grasspic's on every vehicle he owns FWIW....

bob6364
03-25-2008, 08:50 AM
I have Winterforce on 16 steel rims also they had no problem in any of the winter storms we have had so far.I just ran them to Chesapeake,Va and back at 80mph and they handled that very well too.

Dragcity
03-25-2008, 09:24 AM
I have Winterforce on 16 steel rims also they had no problem in any of the winter storms we have had so far.I just ran them to Chesapeake,Va and back at 80mph and they handled that very well too.


Did we mention the Winterforce are CHEAP !??

rayjay
03-25-2008, 10:03 AM
Studded WinterForce on 16" steelies. I have alot of hills to negociate here and lots of snow. No problems. BTW, its still winter here. :(

larryo340
03-25-2008, 11:27 AM
Ditto on the winterforce 16". When it does snow here it drove like a 4X4.

Eric-Blk2004
03-25-2008, 11:47 AM
I am looking at the winterforce - where can I get a set of 4 steel rims and what size winterforce tire should I get?

Thanks,
Eric

Egon Spengler
03-25-2008, 11:56 AM
I'd keep an eye out on eBay... get a set of used CVPI (crown vic police interceptor) steelies used and spruce them up for cheap.... I priced them out at my local dealer and they were around $80 each wheel new

larryo340
03-25-2008, 12:04 PM
I got mine 2 years ago from TireRack. They cost $520 total for the set mounted balanced and shipped. I just had to buy the shouldered lug nuts because I wanted to use the P71 centers.

Egon Spengler
03-25-2008, 12:12 PM
They told me they didn't have steelies when I I was looking into it last fall... They don't carry a steelies for our vehicles anymore

Dragcity
03-25-2008, 12:20 PM
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/3/8/P2210131_thumb.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=1634&c=3&userid=4038)Now That is a truck tire.....

courtmarshall
03-25-2008, 01:02 PM
So, by the looks of the responses, nobody is using 18's. I can't get the 16 steelies to fit, on account of the Baer brakes. The only place that I could find size comparability was the OEM Tread for a Porche Cayane (sp)....

:alone:

Eric-Blk2004
03-25-2008, 01:44 PM
That is a good point about brake size. I am defintely getting upgraded breaks - i dont like the soft feel of the stock brakes

Raudermaster
03-25-2008, 03:19 PM
That is a good point about brake size. I am defintely getting upgraded breaks - i dont like the soft feel of the stock brakes

You're better off saving your money if you're not blown or anything yet. I have drilled/slotted rotors with Ceramic pads and DOT4 fluid, and mine are tight as hell and stop great.

larryo340
03-25-2008, 04:27 PM
So, by the looks of the responses, nobody is using 18's. I can't get the 16 steelies to fit, on account of the Baer brakes. The only place that I could find size comparability was the OEM Tread for a Porche Cayane (sp)....

:alone:
Why not try the 17" steel wheels from the '03 and up P71s

Eric-Blk2004
03-27-2008, 04:22 AM
I just went to town fair tire last night. And the dude would not budge on tire sizes or options. All he kept saying was that if i go to a smaller rim or a smaller tire i would break the car faster - abs tc etc. He said my only choice was the stock tires and thats it.

I will never go there again...

Can someone give me the tire size for the winterforce and where I can get P71 rims. I like Draqcity's set up.

Thanks

Dragcity
03-27-2008, 06:12 AM
I'll get it for you this evening when I get home. Part numbers, sizes and prices I paid. I have the full wheel covers, in chromed plastic. They are cheap, and stay on the wheel.

These tires are the absolute largest you can stuff in the wheel well. 3 winters and going strong.

Thunderace
03-27-2008, 06:41 AM
Tire Rack's got winterforce m&s,size 225/55-17 on sale for $78 ea.

Go Mifuni
03-27-2008, 06:48 AM
I just went to town fair tire last night. And the dude would not budge on tire sizes or options. All he kept saying was that if i go to a smaller rim or a smaller tire i would break the car faster - abs tc etc. He said my only choice was the stock tires and thats it.

I will never go there again...

Can someone give me the tire size for the winterforce and where I can get P71 rims. I like Draqcity's set up.

Thanks

They're idiots!
I went there once and they gave me a hard time about buying two different tire sizes as they like to sell them as a set of four. Then they gave me a hard time about buying "light truck" tires for my "car". Whatever. I just told them to shut up and sell me what I asked for.
I run steelies with Winterforce 215/70/16 on the front and 235/70/16 on the rears plus 180#s of tube sand in the trunk.
I've been running this set-up for the past 5 winters and never got stuck. My wife did though, once in my own driveway. It was sheet ice. The best thing about carrying sand in your trunk for weight is that you can use it in a pinch on the rare occasion you do get stuck.
Oh, and those uglies came off last weekend. :D

MENINBLK
03-27-2008, 07:11 AM
Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Winter Tires (H Rated) 215/65TR16 98T, 225/70TR16 102T
(Tirerack) Sport Edition TK5 (16x7) Winter Allow Wheels

Call Tirerack.com for prices.

You won't be sorry....

p.s. The only thing in your trunk should be an organizer.

Eric-Blk2004
03-27-2008, 07:13 AM
Where you guys pickin up the steelies? I am assuming ebay but I am work and cant look on there. I want to make sure I am good for winter now so I wont be running around payin top dollar in october.

And those scorpions look perfect - but there is no 215/65 for the front I only see 225 not sure if the 10mm maters. I will call them this weekend.

Dragcity
03-27-2008, 07:18 AM
I went to Firestone, brought them the four new wheels and told them to put P235/70R-16 on two wheels and P265/70R-16 on the other two wheels. Static balance - no weights on outer rim. Make sure the Tire rotation marks were correct for one on each side of the car.

They were confused as to why I wanted two different sizes, I explained it, but they didn't get it. I think I paid $75 and $77 respectively.

Bring a truck to pick them up, they won't fit in the trunk, they're friggin' big. I remember I went to pick them up with my Jag. Two in the trunk (sorry, 'rear bonnet') two in the back seat, trunk, er rear bonnet, would not close.

Go Mifuni
03-27-2008, 07:19 AM
Where you guys pickin up the steelies? I am assuming ebay but I am work and cant look on there. I want to make sure I am good for winter now so I wont be running around payin top dollar in october

I got mine from Tirerack.

jdando
03-27-2008, 08:31 AM
I run Hankook IceBears (http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/tire_detail.asp?pid=863) on the stock Marauder wheel.

235/50/18 up front and 255/55/18 on the rear. I needed to stay with a 18" wheel to clear my brakes.

I am thinking about changing to a Nitto Terra Grappler (http://www.nittotire.com/#index%2Etire%2Eterragrappler% 2Esizes) on the rear. It appears to have more of a "lug" pattern to grip better in deeper snow. It is available in a 255/55/18 also.

The good thing about running these sizes is that the traction control still functions.

Looks like stock, but works 100x better on ice, snow, slush, frozen pavement, etc.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/jdmm.jpg

Eric91Z
03-27-2008, 08:56 AM
Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Winter Tires (H Rated) 215/65TR16 98T, 225/70TR16 102T

Call Tirerack.com for prices.




This is the exact tire and size that I have ran the last 3 winters: 2 with the Marauder and this last one with the Crown Vic. Never had to add weight in the Marauder, but did add 1 tube of sand this year in the Crown Vic.

Thay have worn well, but are starting to get a little cupping. I run them from about October to April and the first 2 winters in the Marauder I was commuting about 500 miles a week (if not more) and they have worn well.

They do advise a narrower tire for winter use as a wider tire has more snow to push out of the way. But from posts here obviously some are having good luck with a wider snow tire.

As for the 16" CVPI steel wheels, get ahold of Ray (TheDealer on here) and he can hook you up. I got mine new from him for $50 each, plus $10 each for shipping (if I remember correctly). That is for brand new wheels.

Paul T. Casey
03-27-2008, 10:21 AM
OEM's. But then again, I lack sense sometimes. Actually, I'm not home too much in the winter. I have tried with the OEM's. It's like having one of those 3 wheeled mover's casters under each tire. :eek:

Dragcity
03-28-2008, 06:28 AM
This is what I got:

Wheels:
3W7Z*1007*DA W218CWHEEL AS
3W7Z*1007*F REPLACING PART-NO. FOR ABOVE PART $56.56 @

That is the "Good Guy" price, listed at $82.68 @. Purchased from Ford Dealer.

Tires:
Firestone Winterforce BL P235/70R16 $73.99 @ FRONTS
Firestone Winterforce BL P265/70R16 $73.99 @ REARS

Purchased from Firestone Tire & Service Center on "house tire package"

Wheel Covers:
CVPI ’03-’05 16 Inch 412c16 Replica Set

Purchased at Hubcap Haven dot com $70.00 They are chromed plastic, but stay on and look just fine.

Hope that helps.