For the Celica GTS (2003) stock factory 16" wheels, what is the traction rating? From the partnumber I found they were Z rated speed tires but I do not know where to find the traction rating. Also the manual says these are “dry pavement” tires for high performance. What’s going to happen when I run these tires in a midwest snowstorm?:eek:
According to tire rack the Michelin XG V4 and Bridgestone Potenza RE92 where both origonal equipment. I think car manufactures have more than one brand of tire they use for origonal equipment for whatever reason. link
Both of these tires have a traction rating of ‘A’ but that only indicates wet braking performance. The traction rating has nothing to do with dry traction or snow traction. Most performance tires have an ‘A’ rating and it really does not tell you very much.
According to tire rack these tires are both ‘High performance all seasons’ and will get you through ‘light snow’ but are not really meant to be as good as all seasons or snow tires in snow.
Of course snow performance varies from tire to tire. www.tirerack.com has tons of info on the performance of tires in different conditions, click the ‘reviews’ link for a specific tire and you can see ratings for a tires performance in different catagories. Since it looks like there was more than one tire used as origional equipment, you would have to see what tire is on the specific car you are interesed in. (Is there some reason you can’t look at the tires on the car you are intrested in?)
Personally if I was going to buy a car with performance tires I would budget an extra $500 or so for snow tires on rims. If it is a new car car perhaps you could get the dealer to swap the tires for lower performing tires with better performance in the snow.
If you’re going for good winter tires, I reccomend at least considering Bridgestone Blizzaks. Those things get WICKED good reviews.
I just keep all-season on my car year-round though, personally.
I second the Blizzaks (LM-22s are pretty pricey, the WS-50s are cheaper) but prepare to spend $900 US or so on a set of 16" with rims (came to $1300 CAN for LM-22s 205/55/16s).
My friend’s WRX has the RE92s. Not many people on the WRX forums like the tire.