BLM

Although the 19" Kuhmo's handle very well in wet conditions, we can't survive our roads here w/o winter tires. I put a set of 17" wheels on with Blizzaks (not studded) and am more than happy. I can motor around in 6" of anything with no troubles. After 10 years in a Suburban, I'm very impressed with how the AWD (with winters) handles. Hakks' are great tires, Hankooks too.

Due to the lack of 19" winters, I ended up getting a set of 17" OEM's and sensors from the dealer, and put the Blizzak 225/65/r17's on. No one here wants to mount tires w/o the sensors, and the little light would drive my DH nuts for 6 months at a time. Hated to spend the $$, but they pay for themselves in a couple of years of not having to have tires remounted/balanced twice a year. Did you go from 225's to 245's for winters? Going wider usually is not the way to go.

Hmmm. We just went through that same cold snap. I didn't notice anything, but opening my window at -5° was the last thing on my mind, lol! I'll keep that in mind and try it next time. I park in a garage so with no ice issues it will be interesting to verify that it is/is not a cold issue.

Because it was cold????? Well that's a little scary......since we push -30° here in the winter!!

Ok. I have an SXT AWD with the 19" wheels. I want to get a set of 17" wheels/tires for winter. But the Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors add another $232 for a set of four and it sounds like these have to be professionally installed? The whole point of getting a second set mounted is so we can swap out or own tires (and have better handling/durability with the 17's), so having to have the sensors swapped kind of defeats the purpose. So, CAN you run w/o the sensors (on the winter set)? Does it cause any damage/malfunctions/etc. or does the TPMS simply not read? Or do we just have to cough up the extra couple hundred bucks for a set of sensors?

Winter tires here are a must. Over 60% of our states roads are Class III (aka....dirt). I live 1-1/2 miles out on one, on a hill, that gets pretty damn beat up during the winter. They don't use salt on the Class III roads, just sand, and you don't make it far w/o winter tires. I've downsized from a 4x4 Suburban to an AWD SXT, this is my first AWD and am anxious to see how it will handle. But the 19" wheels won't last a season on these roads. I'm looking for a set of 17" wheels/tires so we can just swap out every fall/spring instead of re-mounting each time. We knew this would be an issue when we bought it, but as mentioned, the 19" wheels are the only option on this model. Anyone have any OEM 17"ers they want to offload???LOL!

Me too. Reservoir switch had to be replaced a few weeks ago at about 3300 miles.

Oh yikes! I ordered May 3rd and picked it up on June 21st <_< In VT the front plate is not required, but our dealer is in NH. We had no bracket, just 2 drilled holes.

Oh....that's good to know!! I've done that a number of times myself. Also, on the front passenger side, the plastic molded 'plug' that covers the front 3" or so of the seat track (on the door side) keeps getting popped off by feet as well. One of these days I'm gonna loose it.