[Carbon]

I ended up going with a wheel/tire combo for winter. Here is what I found useful.

18" will fit on our cars. The problem is caliper clearance and offset. After talking more with tirerack.com, they actually test fit each rim or check the clearance and fit in CAD before they put them on the website for a car. So, any choice from tirerack.com for the ISF should work!

I ended up with the 18" Enkei Imola wheels with Michelin X-Ice Xi2 tires. The X-Ice tires aren't the most grippy tires out there, but they will last twice as long as most snows, have a low rolling resistance rating, and can be driven on dry pavement without much worry of burning them out. So far they have been great around Toronto, since we don't see snow covered roads often.

Total cost on Tire Rack before shipping was about $1300.

So far my experience with using the X-Ice tires has been great. With a T rating, they aren't sold as a performance tire, but they do meet the XL load requirement. At speed they feel well planted on the road and have been nicely predictable corning in all conditions (although their handling limits are lower than a super sticky winter). Michelin did this on purpose with the goal of having a tire that can be driven well into spring without damaging the tire. These tires are a great compromise of life vs traction.

With all that salt spray and dirt, they blend into the car nicely

Enkei says they are "Bright Silver"...

 

[Fig]

nearly identical to my setup except I was able to get the Kosei K1-TS, super light wheels. These Xice tires held up good for 2.5 season despite my heavy foot and 4 wheel drifting up the canyons. In some ways I like a loose grip tire to float the car around with less effort. I rotated easch season but the rears saw the abuse first. So I have recently mounted the 255 Michelin PA2 in the rear that I got used off another IS350 member that sold his car.

I am a big fan of Michelin tires.

 

[Carbon]

Looks great Fig.

Heh, your right, the way these tires transition from traction to drifting and back is a ton of fun. The cost of the tire is so low you don't even feel bad doing it

I'm not sure it is worth going overboard with a performance snow though. Although I would try it also if someone was selling theirs.

 

[johnsy]

I went with a 19" blizzack package from tirerack.... $1200 shipped. As some may have heard we have had a bit of snow here in Minneapolis this year and this setup has been excellent. great on dry and great on snow/slush and ice. these tires held well at 140 too.

 

[Carbon]

Ah, those are the KV5 wheels? I was torn between getting those or going 18". The tires are certainly cheaper at the close out price. That is probably the best deal for any ISF owners looking for winter tires/wheels.

 

[Fig]

just mounted my front PA2's today. The squish difference was untolerable and the front were toast anyway for snow. Will post up some pics of the 255 on the 18x8. snug. Its def a lot firmer shoulder.

 

[johnsy]

Ah, those are the KV5 wheels? I was torn between getting those or going 18". The tires are certainly cheaper at the close out price. That is probably the best deal for any ISF owners looking for winter tires/wheels.

yep KV5s , my only hang up was with the "fake" rivet deal but then it set in that these are just a winter package and they will take some damage so why not. Today was another test of the tires as we got hit again last night with 4ish inches here in Minneapolis...im still happy

 

[Lexura1414]

yep KV5s , my only hang up was with the "fake" rivet deal but then it set in that these are just a winter package and they will take some damage so why not. Today was another test of the tires as we got hit again last night with 4ish inches here in Minneapolis...im still happy

Hey Johnsy, is your set up staggered or not? I have this set up with stock wheels sizes and I also almost lost it on 494 this afternoon. One section near Minnetonka was so icy thatI I had to slow down to 30 mph but I still fish tailed to the point of really losing control.
How is did your F drive today?

 

[johnsy]

Hey Johnsy, is your set up staggered or not? I have this set up with stock wheels sizes and I also almost lost it on 494 this afternoon. One section near Minnetonka was so icy thatI I had to slow down to 30 mph but I still fish tailed to the point of really losing control.
How is did your F drive today?

Not a staggared set for me but the offset is pushed out a little more than stock front and rear.Today was Ok, its the people around me that are driving like idiots. I catch alot of people checking out the "F" too instead of paying attention to the road . mine has been great since the first big hit earlier this winter. I drove an IS 300 manual here for the past 3 winters without incident and the F is waaayyyyyy better in snow. My commute is 394 w,494 N, 55 . Good to hear you are out there battling the snow with the F, I was feeling lonely out there. carefull and ill see this spring. thinking of a track day at Brainard when the weather is right if your interested.
Cheers!

 

[Lexura1414]

Not a staggared set for me but the offset is pushed out a little more than stock front and rear.Today was Ok, its the people around me that are driving like idiots. I catch alot of people checking out the "F" too instead of paying attention to the road . mine has been great since the first big hit earlier this winter. I drove an IS 300 manual here for the past 3 winters without incident and the F is waaayyyyyy better in snow. My commute is 394 w,494 N, 55 . Good to hear you are out there battling the snow with the F, I was feeling lonely out there. carefull and ill see this spring. thinking of a track day at Brainard when the weather is right if your interested.
Cheers!

Hey Johnsy,

Thanks replying! You have more experience than me driving a RWD car as I came from an Acura TSX which was FWD. I am thinking its my staggared set up that is making more unstable in the rear becuase its wider..just my theory.
I actually hang out more in Clublexus. Here is a thread I started:

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-f/550318-sport-steering-wheel-flat-bottom.html

Yeah, I agree the F gets a lot of attention. Case in point, two blondes in a new Maxima goes beside me and the one on the driver side looks at me and pronounces the "F" as if trying to get my attention..LOL. I am hard to get..hehehe. coz am married.

 

[Carbon]

You are right. A wide rear tire will cause the car to hydroplane/float on slush and snow. Even with the 8" wide tires it struggles to punch through the heavy snow and slush.

If you are running 19" there is less side wall causing the tire to be less pliable on ice or hard packed snow. Check your tires pressures and lower them if you are having trouble (34-36 PSI warm). No less than 30 PSI though or you could damage the tire on dry pavement.

 

[johnsy]

Hey Johnsy,

Thanks replying! You have more experience than me driving a RWD car as I came from an Acura TSX which was FWD. I am thinking its my staggared set up that is making more unstable in the rear becuase its wider..just my theory.
I actually hang out more in Clublexus. Here is a thread I started:

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-f/550318-sport-steering-wheel-flat-bottom.html

Yeah, I agree the F gets a lot of attention. Case in point, two blondes in a new Maxima goes beside me and the one on the driver side looks at me and pronounces the "F" as if trying to get my attention..LOL. I am hard to get..hehehe. coz am married.

Looks like we have traveled simular paths...I had a TSX when I live in quebec back in 2004...brought it here and couldnt keep it due to regulations. got the IS300 now im EFFing it

 

[Lexura1414]

You are right. A wide rear tire will cause the car to hydroplane/float on slush and snow. Even with the 8" wide tires it struggles to punch through the heavy snow and slush.

If you are running 19" there is less side wall causing the tire to be less pliable on ice or hard packed snow. Check your tires pressures and lower them if you are having trouble (34-36 PSI warm). No less than 30 PSI though or you could damage the tire on dry pavement.

Thanks Carbon, I will try this as it might work..