I have already STFA. I'm doing my search now because its easy to find snow tires now and wheel specials abound in summer. Here in the N.E. we actually run out of the best snow tire choices if you wait until after the first snow. Anyway, I'm going with Nokian Tires most likely but cannot decide which 17" wheel to buy to go with them.

Some of the 2IS setups look fantastic and I don't want to lose too much aesthetic in the winter. I'm also not going to spend $2k on winter wheels to throw the tires on. Since I have awd I need to run the same size at all four corners.

On the IS350 you can run snows with a staggered setup obviously so you may have some better options for keeping the car looking good all year 'round. I refuse to run steel wheels or something just because its "cheap." I'm looking for a good balance of the looks and practicality.

Thanks in advance if anyone has some good sources or ideas.

Moderator PS: Can we get a snowman icon for us awd owners?

 

97 Isuzu Trooper!

 

Hah!! Thats cheating. I could buy a 97 Trooper for about the cost of the insurance/reg/tax here.

 

c'mon, I can't be one of two or three 2IS owners who is going to run a dedicated winter setup. I'm new to Lexus, help a brotha out. My search has brought up tons of sites with 200lb chrome wheels with some crazy a$$ winter tire package. I don't want that and I just want to see if there is a good alternative to tirerack (not that there is anything wrong with tirerack).

 

i wouldnt know i live in hawaii =P

 

Tirerack 18' Kazeras with Perilli Snowsports,...

 

Thanks man, I"ll give em a look. This is the problem with a new awd model. Very few people realize the benefit of a dedicated winter setup. Plus, the IS350 people are either winter car/summer car people, they have no intention of seeing snow, or they throw on a staggered set of snows. None of which work for me.

 

My winter set up is as follows:


Nice!! Can I borrow it for a winter?

 

blizzack lm-22 on 17s

 

I ran the 18" Pirelli SnowSports last winter on my RWD IS350. They were fine for the amount of snow we get in central NJ, but believe me - for ultimate performance on snow and ice - they don't hold a candle to the 17" Nokians you are considering.

 

Thanks all, I really do appreciate the input. I don't have the energy to "reinvent the wheel" as far as snow wheel/tire setups on this model if its already been done. I'll post my info once I get a setup.

 

Wonder if I can make it through the winter with the summer performance tires. (I'm poor)

 

sorry, i went to the tirerack picked out a base wheel and some decent winter tires. on the 350 in a winter tire, it's almost a must. back in nov/dec, there were a bunch of good threads discussing this very topic with lots of details.

 

You would be foolish to try. Wide low profile summer tires are atrocious in snow and ice. Just think of how stupid you are going to feel when you wreck. If you can't afford proper tires, leave the car parked in bad weather.