Snow tire information

[jljamieson]

I recently purchased a Genesis with the 3.8 motor and 18" wheels. I live in Northeast Ohio and think I better buy snow tires since the Genesis is rear wheel drive. Back when all cars where rear wheel drive we only bought snow tires for the rear. What is the recommendation for the Genesis, 2 or 4? I see most owners use Bridgestone Blizzak tires. Is their a recommended site to buy them on the web? Lastly, is it acceptable to use the OEM rims as I would still like to buy the family a few Christmas presents? Oh yeah, since the car has TPMS does anything need to be done with this when going to snow tires? Thanks, jljamieson

 

[scottdk]

I recently purchased a Genesis with the 3.8 motor and 18" wheels. I live in Northeast Ohio and think I better buy snow tires since the Genesis is rear wheel drive. Back when all cars where rear wheel drive we only bought snow tires for the rear. What is the recommendation for the Genesis, 2 or 4? I see most owners use Bridgestone Blizzak tires. Is their a recommended site to buy them on the web? Lastly, is it acceptable to use the OEM rims as I would still like to buy the family a few Christmas presents? Oh yeah, since the car has TPMS does anything need to be done with this when going to snow tires? Thanks, jljamieson

Using just 2 winter tires was common decades ago, but the tire technology has drastically improved. Using only 2 winter tires is dangerous and not acceptable. You will have dangerous understeer.

See video

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzB7hpWhqIA"]Tire Rack Tire Test - Winter Tires: Mixed vs. Matched Tires - YouTube[/ame]

 

[BBQ Bandit]

What is the recommendation for the Genesis, 2 or 4?
4


I see most owners use Bridgestone Blizzak tires. Is their a recommended site to buy them on the web?
Tirerack.com


Lastly, is it acceptable to use the OEM rims as I would still like to buy the family a few Christmas presents?
Sure

Oh yeah, since the car has TPMS does anything need to be done with this when going to snow tires?
Either keep the wheels @ the same corner when changed to Winter tires, or live with a lit TPMS light on the dash until changing back to the original set-up - same wheel/same corner. However some people have had better luck than I that re-sync.

 

[Gurkha]

IBack when all cars where rear wheel drive we only bought snow tires for the rear. What is the recommendation for the Genesis, 2 or 4? I see most owners use Bridgestone Blizzak tires. Is their a recommended site to buy them on the web? Lastly, is it acceptable to use the OEM rims as I would still like to buy the family a few Christmas presents? Oh yeah, since the car has TPMS does anything need to be done with this when going to snow tires? Thanks, jljamieson

4 tires are the only way to go. Ideally 17" rims and tires for the winter: 225-55-17 or 215-60-17. Blizzak, X-Ice Xi2, Altimax Arctic, IG-20's are all good, as are many others.
Each is made for slightly different conditions with the associated trade offs.
You could use the OEM 18" rims, but the cost of bigger tires might be considerable depending on supply and demand. Not to mention the cost of dismounting them on and off each season as well as the wear on the tires and rims in doing so. I'd swallow the pill and get regular black steel wheels and the 17's, less costly than mag wheels which will only deteriorate winter after winter especially in areas with salt.
You have 2 choices for TPMS if you have it (I don't).
First is to buy Hyundai approved TMPS from ebay or where ever you'd like and have the dealer program it ($$$). Secondly you could just live with the light on for a few months and check your air pressure every few weeks or at least once a month.

 

[TEF]

I live in NW PA not that far from Boardman and, in my opinion, without snow tires, the Genesis would be worthless in deeper snow with OEM tires. One might as well put the car storage for the winter months. Like you, I also desired to go the snow-tire route on the cheap. I went with 215/60-17" Blizzaks on second-hand OEM rims (from ebay). Moreover, I skipped the TPMS sensors and just endure the yellow dash lights. You might also consider the slightly cheaper Firestone Winterforce (also owned by Bridgestone) - another popular choice here in the snowbelt.

 

[jljamieson]

What is the recommendation for the Genesis, 2 or 4?
4


I see most owners use Bridgestone Blizzak tires. Is their a recommended site to buy them on the web?
Tirerack.com


Lastly, is it acceptable to use the OEM rims as I would still like to buy the family a few Christmas presents?
Sure

Oh yeah, since the car has TPMS does anything need to be done with this when going to snow tires?
Either keep the wheels @ the same corner when changed to Winter tires, or live with a lit TPMS light on the dash until changing back to the original set-up - same wheel/same corner. However some people have had better luck than I that re-sync.

Hi and thanks for the info. When you say keep the wheels at the same corner do you mean to keep the rims in the same location they were in prior to snow tires?

 

[BBQ Bandit]

Hi and thanks for the info. When you say keep the wheels at the same corner do you mean to keep the rims in the same location they were in prior to snow tires?

Yes... the situation is:

Each wheel's sensor is synchronized to each separate wheel hub... by relocating the wheel, it will need to be updated/re-synchronized via a handheld wireless code reader and being reprogrammed thru the OBD2 port and the ECM. So by keeping the wheels in the same corner/hub... will save you dealer's labor/time to reprogram the TPMS... or live with the yellow TPMS light on the dash.

 

[dlevitt]

Does this mean that just rotating the tires will require a dealer visit? Shouldn't the car read the sensors and determine what wheel they are on?

 

[scottdk]

Does this mean that just rotating the tires will require a dealer visit? Shouldn't the car read the sensors and determine what wheel they are on?

No. I rotate my tires and have had new tires put on with wheels going onto different locations and the sensors have automatically synced back properly by themself.

 

[BBQ Bandit]

No. I rotate my tires and have had new tires put on with wheels going onto different locations and the sensors have automatically synced back properly by themself.

That might be true... until another set of tires/TPMS (Winter) enters the equation.
[Wife's car - Blizzak tires/2nd. set OEM wheels/2nd. set OEM TPMS- had to re-synch]

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[pusaterkm]

Big fat snow flakes were falling in Boardman Ohio this morning. Didn't stick, but they were falling. I am in the process of comparing prices from NTB, Sams Club, Tire Rack, Pep Boys, Firestone, and Flynn's Tire. I'm trying to figure how how important the speed and load rating will be since on the days where the road is dry I will go back to performance driving. Hankook, Blizak, Pirelli, Good Year all have offerings.

 

[scottdk]

That might be true... until another set of tires/TPMS (Winter) enters the equation.
[Wife's car - Blizzak tires/2nd. set OEM wheels/2nd. set OEM TPMS- had to re-synch]

Correct. Sorry, I was just speaking of the OEM wheel/TPMS's.

 

[Gurkha]

I'm trying to figure how how important the speed and load rating will be since on the days where the road is dry I will go back to performance driving. Hankook, Blizak, Pirelli, Good Year all have offerings.

If you want a H or V speed rated rated winter tire, you'll have to go the 'performance' winter route. This will of course have a trade off in traction vs. true winter tires. Generally you should try to be close to the original load rating (97) as possible, but I don't think it's a big deal unless you're driving with the maximum load rating of the car (860 lbs) all the time. You could also add Michelin, Nokian, Yokohama, Dunlop and Toyo to that list.