It's not even January yet and no one I've called can get the General Alitmax Artics in 215/45-17 from any of the distributors they use. Does anybody know where I can get this affordable snow tire? All the other top rated tires cost $160 and up, but these are more like $120.

 

Tire manufacturers typically only stamp out so many units in anticipation of a season, with a heavy snow year like this is is quite common for a specific model from any manufacturer to get back ordered through distribution, it usually happens that in January or early February they'll start again and get a couple of shipments out, but unless you can wait that long, you might have to consider ponying up for something else

 

You might also try hitting up corporate customer service- that was what I did when I needed a Goodyear that everyone was "out of", corporate usually has someone who can give you the real low-down;
http://generaltire.custhelp.com/

 

get them off tirerack, thats what i did

 

because they are the least expensive of the top rated so everyone bought them all before you

 

Tirerack doesn't have them in that size anymore. Maybe I should just get the 225/45-17 which they still have in stock. They should fit my 17x7 rims ok and only be a little larger diameter.

 

225/45-17 will be perfectly at home on a 17x7 inch wheel. Buy them.

 

Yup, it is a perfect fit. The narrower the tires, though, the better it does in snow. But for general use a 225 won't make a difference.

 

this.

 

You can also get 205/50-17 (in stock) for $99.

 

205/5-17 - perfect. Who's the cheapest to install Tirerack tires?

 

see if you can get a general dealer to price match the rack. that will be cheaper. most places charge an extra $10 to mount/dismount per tire if you bring your own.

 

That's a killer deal and a good size for snow. Should fit very well on a 7" width.