I used the factory wheels and mounted some Blizzak WS series on them for winter and bought a set of Rays 57DR 18x9.5 and used factory tires (for now) for summer.

 

Well, that'll be the third phantom black one around. I started seeing a black GSR in Alexandria just before I picked up my black MR in December.

Back in '03, I picked up my VIII in July in MA. At the time, there were very few rims that would fit over the big Brembos.
I was finally able to order some cheap ASA's in 17x7.5 (vs stock 17x8 Enkei) for Nokians in 225 (vs 235) width to cut through MA snow.
(In MA I wanted cheap winter rims for two reasons: I wanted narrower than stock tires for deep snow, and I wanted cheap rims because it's hard to avoid brushing curbs that are hidden by the deep snow.
For NoVA, the stock widths are better for handling ice.)

But, while waiting for the Nokians to arrive, I got caught in the snow once on the A046s. Not accumulating snow, just snow melting to cold slush on the roads.
Zero traction. Scary as hell.
Once I got the Nokians on it, I had no trouble with seven inches of snow.
I could drive it on surfaces I couldn't walk on.

It's not just the tread pattern and surface snow. Summer tires have a compound that turn to stone in cold temperatures.
Winter and all season tires stay flexible at lower temperatures.

So I was taking no chances on the X. I could have picked up my X a week earlier, but I waited for dry roads.
I picked it up on a Thursday, and immediately ordered all seasons from Tire Rack, and had them installed on the OEM rims on the following Monday.
The Yokos are sitting in plastic bags in the garage.

I've been through several ice patches already, in the Arlington/Alexandria area.
(There's an intersection, going to the office, where all the slush from route 1 runs onto the side road and freezes. When the light turns green, all the BMWs and SUVs sit there spinning their wheels. The EVOs have no trouble --- on tires that can handle the temperatures.)

I have summer tires on the 328, and the handling goes noticeably off below 40F.
They're like a gum eraser in summer, but they're hard as rocks in winter.
I rarely get the summer machine out of the garage before Easter, in NoVA weather. (If it's not the winter, it's the "cold, gray day in April" issue. )
Don't bet the farm on an early spring in NoVA.

If you're planning to use the OEM rims for winter tires, then don't wait.
Given the tendency of the OEM Yokos to wear, why waste them on winter ... and risk having no traction?
Get winter or all season tires NOW, and then look for summer rims come springtime.

Also: get it into a warm garage and give it a coat of wax to hold the road slime. A clean car in the DC area is an invitation for everyone to cut you off.
(I've heard of "bird brains" all my life. This is the first time I've actually seen drivers who instinctively aim at anything shiny.. )

 

I just bought a WW 2014 Evo X GSR w/ handling package. I got a $1,000 prepaid Mastercard with the purchase so first thing I did was spend it on a new set of Dunlop Winter Maxx tires for the stock BBS rims.

I did actually have to drive through some snow when I drove the car home from the dealer. The snow was very light but enough to convince me to buy dedicated snow tires.

My winter tires will stay on the stock BBS wheels, while I shop around for some Black 18x9.5 RPF1's to toss the Yoko Advan's on for the summer

 

Very good info, thanks mang. It's nice to have applicable knowledge from someone that lives in my area (I'm out in Manassas, btw).


I may go ahead and get winter tires, then. I mean, if I can afford to buy the car I should be able to afford some tires to keep from smashing into things.

Pay to play, as they say, eh?

So do you recommend full winters, like Blizzaks, or should I go with all-season like you did?

 

In NJ we can certainly get away with an all season tire so VA should be no different. If you have the funds for a winter tire be all means go ahead and grab them but IMO you don't NEED winter tires. If you lived in let's say upstate NY or Canada then I'd certainly suggest a dedicated winter tire. But I feel like we just don't get enough snow to justify the need for a winter tire (albeit this year we've had our fair share). Everyone's driving habits and styles are different though. Do you live in an area that isn't plowed very well or drive on back roads? Also if you get winter tires will you have tires to swap over in the spring/summer?

 

IMO, if you've already decided to have 2 sets of tires, don't bother with all-seasons. Get a set of true summer tires and a set of true winter tires. Switch to winter tires when weather starts getting close to or below 7°. This way you'll have the best tire possible year-round, rather than settling for something that should be good enough during winter.

 

I used all-seasons on the EVO VIII in MA ... but they were all season Nokians, from a place where the seasons are winter, deep winter, and ninth circle of Hell.
But that was because the roads were generally cleared pretty quickly, in MA.
(Winter tires wear quickly if you run them in warm weather on dry roads.)

I bought all-seasons for the X because I'm getting old and lazy, and it's a bit of work to drag out the 1000 lb low-rise lift twice a year to swap wheels.
(I bought the MR to hedge my bets in case my bum knee gets any worse.)

One factor was the TPMS (which the VIII didn't have): I didn't want to have to go to the dealer to reset the system for different rims.
Since then, I've learned about the programmable TPMS that can duplicate the OEM senors.

So I'm now on the fence whether I'm going to get a second set of rims for the summer tires. The all seasons are good enough for following the meanderthals driving around the city.

But if you don't mind swapping wheels, go for full winters for the ice handling.

 

I know you EvoM types will S your pants to hear this but I'm running All-Seasons in the front and summers in the back. Drove from Seattle to Stevens Pass and back last night, works fine.

 

i could not stop laughing throuout this entire thread..... so much logic, very sarcasm, much wow.

 

Err..

 

Just because it worked for one trip doesn't mean it's a genius idea. (which it isn't)

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=18

 

Just had a good conversation with a rep from Tire Rack.

Purchased a set of Michelin X-Ice Xi3's. They have slightly better characteristics when it's dry compared to the Blizzak WS70's, for instance. They should arrive on Thursday at the latest and hopefully I can get them installed that day if they get there early enough. We're supposed to get some wintry weather here on Thursday...

 

last year i had winter tires, what a difference... but this year i have the stockers on. Just drive slow, I've been fine in the NYC area and we've had one of the worst winters in a few years.

 

Yes, its Japanese. No, its not made of Bamboo. Its fine, dude.