winter wheel/tire package

[Wags]

I just got off the phone with TireRack. They claim that they will have a package available within the next three wks. for the Marauder. He said that they are waiting on wheels to come in. We will see I guess.

Wags

[Murader03]

Wags,

When they call you back with the information on the package, be sure to post it for us!

Thanks

[mtnh]

I am going with 16" wheels, 225/55 fronts and 235/60 rears in Michelin Pilot Alpin. I just could not come up with much else for the size ratio that we need to maintain, 1.05 revs of the front wheel to 1.0 revs of the rear, which is needed to maintain the ABS code happy. I talked with a guy named Buddy at Tire Rack last week, and this is what he and I agreed would be able to come close to doing the trick for us. Maybe he went forward with the proposal, because he was dead set against my using anything less than an 18" wheel, until I told him that 16" with the proper offset off this year's CV/GM line works. He claimed that he calipers would not clear the wheels, but I said they would, according to sources unnamed who have done just that.

Mike

[tetsu]

Those Pilot Alpins wont be much better than the BFGs that we already
have if you get "real" snow where you are at. If you get RealSnow(tm)
then you are going to need a serious SnowTire that probably wont be
good at High Speeds.

I've got to drive my MM in the bad stuff and I'm going to go with Blizzaks
on 03 Crown Vic steelies.

Johnny

[Ray Snyder]

Now I remember why I like living in Houston. You don't have to change tires for the humidity.

[Cooper]

I just put 16" steelies with 225R60 Michelin Pilot Alpins (front + rear) on my Crown Vic LX Sport and retired the 17" 5-spoke aluminum wheels for the winter. No snow yet but I drove them on wet pavement Monday and dry pavement today. Call me crazy but I could swear they give a smoother ride than the OME Goodyear Eagle LS 235R55 tires that came mounted on the 17" Crown Vic Sport wheels. I was expecting a rougher ride on a snow tire but these Pilot Alpins ride real nice. A pleasant surprise! :D

[mtnh]

I read the reviews at tire rack for those pilot alpins and they pretty much say that the car is unstoppable by most snow storms, the users get to cruise at very high speeds in a couple-few inches of snow, and yet they handle close to what good all season tires provide. Lots of BMWs, a Porsche, Subaru, Audis are running them (by reviewers) and their happiness is quite evident. They also claim that noise is the worst at lower speeds, so apparently, the tires run quieter at higher speeds. Sounds like just what I was looking for. I ran some "Town and Country" snows on my '96 Grand Marquis and was NOT impressed by their noise levels. These were studded tires and hence more noisy than non-studded. I really don't want to run that aggressive of a tire on 4 corners. I run Firestone Winterfires on my Lincoln LS, a studdable tire, not studded, and was quite happy with their performance, but they just don't make those tires in the correct combo of rolling circumfurence that we need to maintain for proper ABS system function on the MM. Their price is close to a little over half the price of the Pilot Alpins, which makes it frustrating that they don't accomodate our size needs.

Mike

[MarauderBoy]

Those of you who have purchased winter combos or are considering would you mind detailing the costs you have incurred or found?

[Cooper]

Originally posted by MarauderBoy
Those of you who have purchased winter combos or are considering would you mind detailing the costs you have incurred or found?

I bought my winter tires + wheels from Tire Rack in August. The black 16" Ford steel wheels were $49.00 each, the Pilot Alpins were approx. $115 each. (Sorry I can't remember the exact price of the tires themselves). S&H was $75.00 from Tire Rack to Massachusetts. The mounting and balancing was included in the price. Tire Rack is an excellent company to do business with. I have outfitted BOTH of my Crown Vics with wheels + tires from them and was extremely pleased with their helpful advice, professional knowledge, and fast service. If you are interested, call their toll free number- they'll quote you a price over the phone. :)