Np, that's why we have the forums, I dislike when people who use the "search it" response... At least link the thread that pertains... /End rant/ though,
1. most think they can drive a car beyond what conditions allow esp following distance. (ie: rallycar bro!) Sounds like your well aware of driving within what conditions will allow...
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2. Once the dws are about 1/2 worn run the piss out of them on a couple fun auto-x's or a track day to use up the tread before you replace them with something else.
3. Stock wheels, and stock suspension (not lowered folks have run up to a 215/45r17
(mich PSS read: check tread and section width to truly know what the max if when comparing to other tires/brands)-
knowing this gives you a little more room to play with alternate sizing ie: 195/50r16 or 195/55r16...currently offered in that size:
Tirerack.com
Yoko ice guard : $94.25
Pirelli winter sottozero : $96.25
Dunlop winter max : $97.25
Conti winter contact: $106.83
Just a couple options ( rolling diameter is 620~ which is smaller then a standard 215/45 ) and should fit without issue
195/50r16 is much closer to factory diameter (600~ mm):
Yoko ice guard comes in at 106.74 &
blizzacks are 117.34
Options are good
but the final decision between winters & all seasons is totally up to you (armed with the knowledge of treadwear on the a/S tires)
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
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Thanks again, LT Berzerker. I truly appreciate your depth of knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge.
...Not sure what you meant by, "I dislike when people who use the "search it" response... At least link the thread that pertains...", but it sounds like I somehow peeved you, unintentionally. All my research was from TireRack.com and the British tyre/wheel set-up calculator you provided.
Though not a paid representative of either TireRack or Continental Tire, I believe in telling people when I've found something good. Therefore,
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...all=Blackwall&partnum=145WR7ECDWSXL&tab=Sizes, shows a Continental EXTREMECONTACT DWS Ultra High Performance All-Season in 215/45ZR17 (which I believe you Ok'd for stock fitment on a 2016 FiST?). That website also includes TR's video review of the tires from their winter test track in Sweden, and their breakdown of the tire's performance across 11 standardized categories, all of which 'Excellent' or 'Superior', thus:
WET:
Hydroplaning Resistance 8.8
Wet Traction 8.8
DRY:
Cornering Stability 8.2
Dry Traction 8.8
Steering Response 8.2
WINTER/SNOW:
Light Snow Traction 8.2
Deep Snow Traction 7.4
Ice Traction 7.0
COMFORT:
Ride Quality 8.6
Noise 8.2
Treadwear 8.1
...And there are 3,811 user reviews (one of which mine). Set aside a day or two to read them all and Enjoy!
Since these 215/45ZR17 tires are on closeout at a significant savings -- and this exercise is rapidly gaining complexity in the variables, rather than increased clarity -- I'm going to go with tires-only ($94.25 + $17.82 shipping + c. $25 mounting at local NTB per tire = $137.07 x 4 = $548.28) and punt the rest of it down the road, when time -- and availability/pricing! -- allow deeper reflection.
In closing, I trust this out-going generation of Conti DWS with my life. I've owned 3 sets (2 on the Sky, 1 on a Focus) all of which went over 48k before the 'S' was no longer visible, all of which went over 64k before the 'W' was no longer visible! ...At which point I 're-tired' them, cuz I ain't never slowing down for a garden-variety torrential rainstorm. In my experience (528,000 miles over the past 16 years),
they have been in all respects superior to any OEM tire from Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, etc. costing twice as much. I know what I've got -- and what I will get! -- in the Continental ExtremeContact DWS. Specifically, -- running them 365.25 days per year -- I get 2 full Great Plains/'Flatland' winters and a couple extra summers. This means that with a spare set of rims, I can manage a set of 8 for over 4 years and c. 132,000 miles for around a grand (less the cost of extra rims), in biennial $500 installments. That's a bargain that does not compromise safety, comfort or aggressive handling (read: 'fun').
Notes:
1. Previous reference: The wife's 2013 FWD EcoBoost Escape and my 2014 FWD N/A Ford Focus SE were shod with OEM non-DWS a/S Contis and had no problem in 5" snow over ice. The Focus' tires wore out for snow after 1 season and were replaced with DWS, which easily pulled 2 winters.
2. Sky came with Goodyear Eagle F1's. Utter shite. Replaced them after 6 months with Bridgestone Potenzas at half the cost of OEM (still in excess of $1,200 for 4), but they were noisy and wore out around 42k. Dunlop A/P Sport's were cheaper and superior performers, 50k tread life, $c. $700 from Sam's Club. Found TireRack and
completely superior in every way Continental DWS, and the rest is history.
3. I drive to/from work for over 10 hours per week. I feel no need to track my mission-critical resource daily driver on my days off, especially since the nimrods with whom I share the road on my commute would scare the living crap out of a NASCAR driver. ; )
4. I have literally sold cars because the tires needed replacement after 64k miles...
5. ...and luckily, Ford have special incentives for veterans and first responders, which makes changing cars almost as easy and cost-effective as changing tires. Not to mention Fiesta and Focus are developed in hyper-competitive European market and are the best 'domestic' cars you could possibly find. Ford have got their shit together.
Have a sweet one, bro. Thanks for the assist.
-zed
