I just faced this problem myself. This will be the first time we've driven our Mustang in the winter. My past Mustangs have been fair weather vehicles only and been my toy. Our 06 GT Vert is shared by my wife - she's retired so if it's really bad out here in southern Michigan, she and the stang can stay home. She did convince me to get snows, so I bought used GT 17" bullits and a apir of snows. Here's the interesting part - Tire Rack REFUSED to sell me just 2 snow tires, it was 4 or none. I told them I've been driving in Michigan winters for decades and have had several rear drive vehicles with snow only on the back and had no problems. They still refused to sell just 2 to me. I went to Discount Tire Direct, ordered 2 snows with free shipping and saved $30 overall. They just arrived so I will have the mounting and balancing done soon (no hurry as there is no snow in the forcast for a week). I'll see how it handles and if I feel there is a handling issue I can always buy 2 more snow from Discount.

That's my plan and I'm sticking with it!

 

Maybe I'm off the mark here (and feel free to tell me so), but I think "snow" is different in different areas. Places that are colder and drier have more powder like snow and the stock tires are probably passable. Here in PA (and probably South Jersey as well), it usually does not stay really cold. Snow melts during the day and freezes at night. The result is hard snow and ice. I don't think the stock tires have any real traction in these conditions. Even plowed and salted, roads may have thick patches of ice.

Like many of you, my GT is my daily driver. Now if the conditions are really bad, I won't go out. The rest of the time, I look for the best way to get around. After careful consideration, I am considering a set of four winter performance tires, specifically Michelin X-Ice. Only thing is, they are very hard to come by. Michelin said many sizes are on back order and won't be produced until next "season". Only hope is to find a store with tires in inventory (and TireRack.com does not have the 18"). I have my Ford dealer doing an inventory search of area tire suppliers.

 

Blue GT - I suggest you do what I did - buy a set of 17" Bullitts on e-bay, then have your snows mounted and balanced on those. I ended up paying just under $400 for my set of wheels (with tires). That way you'll save your 18" from the salt and crap, and you won't have to have your tires mounted & balanced twice a year. Plus the 17" snows are cheaper and more available.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Go Goodyear
Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 Named Top-Rated Performance Winter Tire!
Among 19 winter tires that were tested this year for noise, ride, treadlife and driving performance by a leading consumer magazine,
http://www.goodyeartires.com/about/news/gw3.html

 

i also live close to where I work in south jersey. It's actually 7 miles one way to work. I have a 1991 pontiac firebird (v6). Insurance alone cost me 800 bucks a year for the bare legal min . I have gieco ins and a clean driving record. My roads don't even get plowed until about 4 days after it snow's and usually they are clear before they even get to me.

Here in south jersey if you live near the shore like I do(30 miles away), it mostly rain's while up north they really get dumped on.

sorry about the long post but hope this helps.

 

Sounds like a great plan to me. I really POs me when sellers try to tell me what to do. Who need them anyway??

 

Lets see, $1900 for tires and rims. 12 miles to work. For only $400 I found a beater 4 wd F150 that will work just fine. And I have a spare around to haul parts.

 

Thats all you had to say

 

Thanks for the advice principalpony. I probably would have done just what you did if I hadn't bought some Ford Racing 18" Chrome Bullitts. The thinking was I would use the polished Bullitts for winter tires and the Chrome Bullitts with the all season tires during warmer weather. 17" are preferable for winter, but I already had 18" rims and I wanted chrome rims for fairer weather.

Stoenr, I appreciate your recommendation. User experience on this forum has helped me many times in the past. My choice of Michelin X-Ice was based on past experience with Michelin all season tires and a recent review by Consumer Reports that said Michelin X-Ice was the best winter performance tire of 12 tested. Of course, it might not matter if none are available.

 

Lol, I guess they all are winners.

Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 Named Top-Rated Performance Winter Tire!
Among 19 winter tires that were tested this year for noise, ride, treadlife and driving performance by a leading consumer magazine
http://www.goodyeartires.com/about/news/gw3.html

 

Ok, so I put the snows on the rear and went for a test drive. Roads here were clear and dry (no snow in the 10 day forcast either). I tried making the stang swerve and went through some curves, no problems. I do know that the front will tend to plow as I drive through the snow (when & if it comes), but it shouldn't be any different than the knobby snow tires everyone had back in the day when most cars were RWD. I could feel some difference in handling between the snows and the stock tires on the front, but I don't see where it could or would proved to hazardous, even for my wife.

Sorry Tire Rack, I still don't buy your story (or your tires, now).

 

Maybe I'm missing something, but if I use the vehicle selector at Goodyear and select winter tires, it says "We do not have any Winter tires available for your vehicle." A manual search also does not list any winter performance tires for my wheel size. Can anyone confirm otherwise?

Thanks.

 

Try this:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...=W&RunFlat=All

 

I'd say pretty crappy web site, lol. Because if you search for the 17" size it finds them.
Goodyear has nothing to offer in the 18" stock size other than the dunlop wintersport M3 - 235/50R18 98V DUN WIN SPT M3

But the 17" option 235/55/17 has the Ultra Grips P235/55R17 98V S2 EAG UG GW3 VSBRPTL http://www.goodyeartires.com/goodyea...=88&image.y=23