Need Advice - 17" Snow Tires & TPMS

[MadDog]

Hi Guys-

I posted a thread on here a while back about buying a second set of the 17" wheels that came with the limited for use with snow/winter tires. I know most of you advised to switch to steel rims or 16's, but I just couldn't part with the look of the 17's year round, it really goes well with the nerf boards & other chrome stuff on the limited. So to make a long story short, I found a set of 17's in great condition on ebay and won the auction last night. Now to the real decision: which snow tires do I buy in the 17 size? Keep in mind, almost all of the driving I do is on-road in the NY & tri-state area and I would only use these tires for October through April. Looking on tirerack.com, I think I have narrowed it down to three main choices...

1) Bridgestone Blizzak $108/tire - I've read they are great in snow & ice, but wear down pretty quickly

2) Michelin Latitude X-Ice $119/tire

3) Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow $137/tire

All tires are in the 235-65/17 size. So which one would you recommend? If not in these three, which others?

I also have an additional question regarding TPMS. I'm relatively certain these new rims don't have any magnets or stems that come with them. My current setup (stock 17 wranglers w/ silver valve stems & caps) definitely has some form of TPMS, but I believe it is the basic setup where it only alerts you to low tire pressure. I can't view the individual tire pressures on the EVIC. What parts would I have to get in order to keep the EVIC happy? If I went with straight rubber valve stems during the mount & balance, how crazy will the EVIC go?

Any and all advice about both questions is much appreciated!

 

[Marlon_JB2]

The EVIC and the TPMS light will go nuts because it can't sense the tire pressure sensors. I believe a "Service Tire Pressure Monitoring" error message will pop up, and it'll beep like crazy. (That's my experience with the modified Jeeps and other vehicles that I drive at work with TPMS.)

 

[MadDog]

I figured the EVIC would go crazy without having sensors in the wheels. Where would be the best place to get additional TPMS magnets for the 06 system? I'll need 4 since I am buying 4 new wheels. I'm also trying to avoid the stealerships on Long Island, they are pretty bad...

 

[Marlon_JB2]

A little clarification... what you want are the sensors, not the magnets. They're not required. You're going to need 5 because it monitors the spare too.

Sometimes they pop up on eBay.

 

[Dave]

You just need to put sensors in the wheels. Make sure they are for an 06.

I can't help with your tire choices as I have no experience with them. I just run A/T's all year.

Dave

 

[icarl]

I would personally go with Nokian winter tires as they are the best. But as far as the ones you mentioned the Blizzaks would be a safe bet. The Michelin X-ice were rated as the best passenger car tire, better than the Blizzaks. However the X-ice latitudes are not rated as well as the Blizzak counterparts but they would be ok I guess. I don't know much about the Pirelli's.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Take the sensors out of the current rims and put them in the new rims. Those things are $$ and you dont just buy new ones for the heck of it. They are around $60 a piece from the dealer if you cant find them on ebay.

If youre stock then you must get the 235/65/17 tires since the 245/65/17 tires will rub.