I finally got around to taking my 17" Goodyear Eagle F1's off for the winter. They look like I might get another season out of them if I'm careful.
So..........I went to put the 16s back on, but upon inspection, they're toast. So out I go to buy a set of dedicated winter tires. OMFG !!!!!!!!!! Are they ever pricey! OK, enough of that BS. I'll just settle for some all seasons to get me through the winter. NO I WON"T! They're just as expensive. I checked everywhere locally. I looked at Tire Rack, Discount Tire, Costco, Walmart. Hell, I even looked under my bed. Nuttin'. That is, nuttin' but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. The last time I bought 16" tires, I bought BFG Traction TA's, (which are very good, btw), I paid in the neighborhood of $65 ea. for them. The cheapest I could find them for now is $125. Thats about double within 3 years. Unbelievable!
I finally remembered an old-time friend who, (ahem), has a "position" at a large local Goodyear dealer. He hooked me up with a set of 205-50-16's Hancook Ice Bears for $309 inc. tax mounting, & balancing. Thanks Thad. I only have a few hundred miles on'em, but my impression so far is favorable. They look all right. You know, they're round, hard, and black. They ride very smoothly, and are uncommonly silent. I expected more noise from a winter specific tire, but nope? MUCH quieter than the Eagle F1's. I'll report back after it snows/gets slippery, and again after the winter season to let you know what I think then.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
keep the updates coming. The Michelin arctic alpins that I have on probably won't make it through the season. Going from -15 to +11 and back in under 48 hours wears out winter rubber in a hurry and we've already done that a few times this year.
Nothing is cheap anymore.
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
i haven't looked into prices yet, but i was hoping i could get away with less than three hundred...
If you look hard enough you might be able to get a winter beater for about that much . will probably have bald tires but $20-$40 at a junk yard could remady that...
I bought some 15's last year (Nokian Hakkapelitta) and they were pricey, but man do I love them! I"ve not put them on yet, but they're balanced and just need to be swapped out.
I'm hoping to get 3 maybe more seasons on them, but we'll have to wait and see. Last year she got a lot of pavement driving (didn't make me happy) due to the mild winter up here last year. They still have loads of tread to them and we'll see how they do when the flakes fly.
Best of luck finding something!
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The Hankooks are "all right." I'm not sorry I bought them, especially for the price, ($309 mounted, balanced and tax included for 4 new 16" tires).
My 1st impression was that they are very quiet and ride very smoothly. Both of those opinions are still in effect after 4500 miles. At this point, there don't seem to be any wear problems e.g. cupping or feathering despite having been driven on all dry pavement. This past week it snowed hard. We got over 2" of snow & lots of drifting due to very high winds. Are they good in the snow? Well, they're ok I guess. Nothing to write home about. They're better in light snow, but when it gets past 4" or so, they're unimpressive. I'm more impressed with them on ice, especially when braking. They stop pretty well & overall control on ice is pretty manageble.
So, for the price they're ok. Are they in the same class as Blizzaks or Alpins? Probably not. Always remember YMMV.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
!!!!!!!!!! Are they ever pricey! OK, enough of that BS. I'll just settle for some all seasons to get me through the winter. NO I WON"T! They're just as expensive. I checked everywhere locally. I looked at Tire Rack, Discount Tire, Costco, Walmart. Hell, I even looked under my bed. Nuttin'. That is, nuttin' but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. The last time I bought 16" tires, I bought BFG Traction TA's, (which are very good, btw), I paid in the neighborhood of $65 ea. for them. The cheapest I could find them for now is $125. 
Thats about double within 3 years. Unbelievable! 
. will probably have bald tires but $20-$40 at a junk yard could remady that...
