Help me decide which winter tire to get for my brembo stang. They're about the same price on tirerack at 290 each 255/40/19. I called around NTB and the quotes me $300 each so thats a no go and they wanted me to do a wheel alignment. Is that even necessary?

Which one should I get. Alpins win based on reviews on tirerack but I wanted to hear from fellow stang owners.

 

Wheel alignment not necessary.

I went with the blizzaks. Haven't had them on the car yet though. Will be going on in the next few weeks.

 

Balancing yes, alignment no. I've heard nothing but good things about either tire for winter use. Michelin is a hard name to beat, and from what I've read/heard, the PA3s are basically a PS2 for snow. On the other hand, I've owned two sets of LM series Blizzaks, and they are fantastic in cold weather. The LM-25s and LM-22s I owned prior held up like tanks as well. After three seasons, they barely had any signs of significant wear on them. I think you'd be set with either tire you're looking at.

 

I'm considering these as well as the Pirelli Sottozero 240. I got installed quotes from the local tire barn. $381 for the PA3. $338 for the Pirelli. $397 for the Blizzaks. Yikes. Basically $100 extra per tire for shipping mount and balance and installation. What a joke.

 

I have the Blizzaks, but I replaced the 19's with 18" SVT wheels, the entire package from Tire Rack. I used them last winter and they are a true winter tire, not a "snow" tire. Performance was outstanding to include a 1250 mile round trip, during the winter, to Minneapolis. I was so impressed I bought them for my wife's '09 Passat wagon for this winter.

 

I've owned the michelin alpin pa3 and they were awesome. It's a high speed rated tire, I believe 140mph. You can't beat that, and they're great in the snow and ice.

 

Jesus, talk about gouging you if you have to pay for the alignment. I've owned Mustangs since 1994 and in that time I've had to get ZERO alignments done to the cars, with the strut front end you have to pretty much wreck it to knock it out of alignment and the log out back is pretty much the same.

Other than wear and tear (worn bushings, tie rod ends, ect) the only time I've really seen the need for an alignment is when the suspension is modded.

 

Michelin makes the best tires PERIOD.

 

Blizzacks.... Are you by chance from IL?

 

Is there much of a difference between the LM-60 and the WS-60?

I definitely won't be doing any drag racing or top speed runs during the winter!

 

I also have gone with the Bridgestones, after reading a lot of reviews and hearing how fabulous they've been for a couple close friends. Haven't put them on yet - thinking I'll wait until Thanksgiving weekend. We may get a dusting of snow before then but the temperature isn't consistently 40 or lower here until early December, and I don't want to chew these things up driving them in warmer temps than that.

Here's how my wheel/tire combo from TireRack turned out - cost was $1,700 or so and I skipped having TPMS sensors put in these tires.

 

Yes, the WA60 would be better on snow/ice but not as good on dry. Opposite for the LM. In WI a true snow/ice tire is better than a winter performance. Just depends how much snow driving your expecting.

 

WA-60 is not available in sizes above 18" though, while LM-60 is available in the standard 18" and 19" sizes for our Stangs.

 

If you're driving in cold weather and mild conditions (most people in the Midwest), the LM-60s are a better tire IMO. You may never need the higher speed rating over the WS series, but the higher load rating will make your car feel more normal compared to them. If you drive in heavy snow frequently, then skip the performance winters and get something like the Nokians or WS Blizzaks.

Just my $.02