review my winter/snow tire seletion

[JakeF]

As I wait for my 2011 STI DGM 5 door, I am planning my winter/snow tire purchase since winter will be here when the car comes in and I want to head to the WVA slopes. Snow in my area of VA is moderate, sometime a lot and some times ice and a few inches. The mountains of West VA where I ski get a lot. I’ve never purchase tires from the Tire Rack before, but I want to keep south of $2K for wheels and tires. My selection so far is as follows:

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D (stock size) $892
Motegi Racing MR118 $596
My local installer $140

Total $1,628

Please provide some feedback/opinion of these choices.

Thanks

[rockman]

I have had the dunlop wintersports on for the last three weeks and we had are first small ice storm yesterday. They drive extremely well on drive pavement and worked great in the ice. Will see in deep snow. I think they will perform well. I love tire rack and think it is a great way to go.

[wrecks]

I just ordered from Tire Rack last Friday - my third (or fourth?) time ordering from them. Great service and a price that is either the best or darn close.

I just ordered a 16" set up, which was one reason for getting a WRX over an STI, which can only take 17's (pls don't tell me otherwise! lol).

My goal was to get something which had very good ice and snow ratings and I didn't give much consideration to dry pavement handling, noise, etc. After reading their tests, I'm getting General Altimax 205/60-16's mounted on Moda D12's, which were reasonably light and decent looking, especially for winters. Everything, shipped to my door for just a few buck over $1000.

The Altimax's are studdable but I didn't order them that way (still may do that though).

Your choice is definitely more balanced than mine in that it looks like a very good dry set up yet will do duty on snow/ice, leaning towards better on ice than on snow due to sticking to stock size with the bigger foot print.

I think I am just expecting a crappier than normal winter here!