Winters @ Tirerack (attn: Gary)

[dekaliber]

Doesn't look like Tirerack has had 18" snow tires for a while now. I was hoping to get an idea of what they cost new to see if it might be worth it to buy used...

Last year I got a set of 225/45R17 Dunlop SP WinterSport 3Ds for $141 each. What does the same tire cost for 225/40R18? What about 255/35R18?

How about Blizzak WS-60s? Would it be a good idea to go to grippier tires with the 18" dia (vs. the 17" I had before)?

I'll be running a staggered setup for winter (18x8 front, 18x8.5 rear). Can I put the 225/40R18's all around? The OEM setup has 255/35R18 for the back.

Thanks!

[LMC]

Doesn't look like Tirerack has had 18" snow tires for a while now. I was hoping to get an idea of what they cost new to see if it might be worth it to buy used...

Last year I got a set of 225/45R17 Dunlop SP WinterSport 3Ds for $141 each. What does the same tire cost for 225/40R18? What about 255/35R18?

How about Blizzak WS-60s? Would it be a good idea to go to grippier tires with the 18" dia (vs. the 17" I had before)?

I'll be running a staggered setup for winter (18x8 front, 18x8.5 rear). Can I put the 225/40R18's all around? The OEM setup has 255/35R18 for the back.

Thanks!

I'm not Gary but I can help with part of this. The Tire Rack ads with prices come out in the late fall/early winter before the season. So I'm looking at a Dec07 Tire Rack ad and it says that Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D in 225/40VR-18 were $163 each. And they did not list a 255/35 for the rear.

Blizzak WS-60s were listed at $135 for 225/45R-17 and were not listed in an 18" sizes. But the Blizzak LM-25 was listed at $144 for 225/45HR-17 and $153 for 225/45VR-17 and was available at $178 for 225/40VR-18. Again, no 255/35 for the rear is listed.

In fact, looking through the ad, I don't see 255/35R-18 available in any winter tire at all. But I also think that many users would put 225/40R-18s all-around. Or even cheat just a little by fitting 235/40R-18s at the rear...

Of course all the prices may be higher next year...

[Gary@Tirerack]

Doesn't look like Tirerack has had 18" snow tires for a while now. I was hoping to get an idea of what they cost new to see if it might be worth it to buy used...

Last year I got a set of 225/45R17 Dunlop SP WinterSport 3Ds for $141 each. What does the same tire cost for 225/40R18? What about 255/35R18?

How about Blizzak WS-60s? Would it be a good idea to go to grippier tires with the 18" dia (vs. the 17" I had before)?

I'll be running a staggered setup for winter (18x8 front, 18x8.5 rear). Can I put the 225/40R18's all around? The OEM setup has 255/35R18 for the back.

Thanks!

Since these are a seasonal item we're often sold out this time of year. We have the most inventory around mid to late September. I am not sure what pricing will be until much closer to that time.

225/40R18 will fit both the front and the rear wheels and was a very common way to go last season.

The WS-60 has outstanding snow and ice traction, but some consider the tradeoff in dry road grip and stability too much. These also aren't available in 225/40R18.

We should have more info on next seasons upcoming tires around late August, early September.

[dekaliber]

Larry, thanks for looking those up! So looks like a set of 18s in 225/40 will run me around 650 plus shipping.

Thanks Gary, you can probably expect an order from me sometime in the fall then.