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Message started by KDeV on 10/29/13 at 19:24:00

Title: Winter Tires?
Post by KDeV on 10/29/13 at 19:24:00

My car's (Nissan Sentra) winter tires need replacing so I thought I'd ask for opinions from folks on here. Pro's/Cons of tires you've used in the past? No particular brand that I love/hate, just looking for suggestions.

Thanks

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by Dave Cotie on 11/01/13 at 22:11:59

Where you live and what you normally get for winter weather plays a huge role in this situation.

Ice - Blizzaks are quite popular, Michelin X-Ice

Snow - Personally I like the Firestone (Bridgestone) Winterforce

Both - Hakkas or General Altimax Arctic (Highest Rated Winter Tire on Tire Rack.com BTW)

I have personal experience with The Winterforce, Altimax, and Michelin X-Ice. Really like the Winterforce and Altimax. Hated the Michelin's - but I am in a snow area.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by rosswood on 11/02/13 at 06:13:54

Any tests I have seen in recent years on winter tires has concluded that the difference between brands is mere percentage points. Even the off brand tires are mostly quite good. Some are better in snow, some better in ice etc. So it depends mostly on where the majority of your driving will be done. The wear factor varies as well, but for most people that is irrelevant, as you should not be using them for more than five seasons.

You also have to consider dry and wet pavement use, which is the majority of your driving. I have found the Michelin X Ice to be especially stable, quiet and smooth. They are very good on ice and wet pavement. As Dave says, they are not quite so good in deep snow.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by RyanHuber on 11/02/13 at 08:18:34

Another thing to consider, if the tire is designed to be studded (like the Hankook W409s I have for my Hyundai) then it's likely to be useless on ice without the studs! I've not been very happy with them, other than in heavy snow, then they do alright.

Once you've found something you like, have a look on http://winter-tires.pmctire.com/enw before you shop locally. I got my IG20s for the rallycar there last year for a steal of a price.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by KDeV on 11/02/13 at 21:40:48

Dave,

Being in Southern Ontario I get just about everything ice, slush, snow. Just maybe not the crazy snow depth that you might.

I've found out I might be able to get a discount on the Toyo GSI-5's, anyone used them?

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by madspeed er on 11/09/13 at 22:49:52

Nokian Hakkas are great tires.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by rosswood on 11/10/13 at 07:49:19

I had a set of the Toyos - they were pretty good.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by Dave Cotie on 11/10/13 at 08:50:51

:). 205/55R16 Firestone Winterforce on steelies. Picked up off Kijiji. Need to get my flaps back on and mount the light bar before Pines.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by KDeV on 11/13/13 at 10:09:51

Thanks for that link Ryan. The new IG52's came out to about 109 each before tax and there's a $70 rebate on purchases of 4. And free shipping.

The IG20's are discontinued and were 116 a piece.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by RPRacing on 11/17/13 at 21:24:47

I'd go with either Yoko's or Toyo's. Both back Rallying locally.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by rosswood on 11/18/13 at 07:14:45

Excellent point and they both make fine winter tires.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by KDeV on 11/19/13 at 14:28:40

I was leaning towards the Yokohamas in part due to their backing of rally in Canada. As well if the top guys in the sport are using their street tires (albeit modified) to compete on the ice rink that is Perce Neige, I'm sure they'll be just fine for 401 driving and in town puttering.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by KDeV on 12/05/13 at 11:03:26

Went with the Yoko I/G52c. Factor in a $70 rebate and it came out to $104.34 per tire taxes in and free shipping to my door. The girlfriend took the car to get an oil change and the tires installed earlier this week, so I haven't had a chance to take it for a drive. With the snow and ice that hit, I'm sure she isn't complaining

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by Slowpoke on 12/13/13 at 10:32:55

I was pleasantly surprised with my new 205-60/15 Toyo Observe GSi-5. I had a chance to drive them back to back against the Michelin Xi3 and the ice grip was almost equal. For snow, the GSI-5 beats any X-Ice I've driven.

They did very well on the Pines roads. Obviously we weren't driving 000 as fast as the competitors, but I thought for sure we'd cut two on an embedded rock I couldn't avoid but they survived it just fine. I'm considering running them as is for MLWR instead of changing to my Blizzak WS60's with cuts. Hrmmm.

Toyo is a sponsor of the KWRC SNATR series. Amazing prices available for their R-Compound tires (Shannonville Stages domination???) by joining the Toyo Racing Group and it can also benefit you on any Toyo tire if you chose the right vendor. 205/50-16 is around $152 a tire, all in, shipped to your door from a Canadian vendor (Talon Tire). 205/60-15 around $140.

If you're not able to find those prices locally, contact me and I'll introduce you to Talon.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by nhibbert on 01/05/14 at 10:35:41

For anyone who misses the Nokian Hakka 2 - there is a very similar (possibly manufactured from the same molds) tire available. There were available from Walmart.

This is the Hakka2:

and this is the Walmart Nexen Winguard 231:

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by RyanHuber on 01/05/14 at 12:25:34

My experience with my studable Hankooks, if they're made to be studded and you don't, they won't work well on ice. The compound is just too hard (needs to be to keep the studs in) and they tend to give up a lot of sipe area for the solid blocks needed to anchor the studs.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by staff on 01/05/14 at 17:46:17

I go through a lot of winter tires up here in owen sound and what my problem is, is that most of those tires mentioned work great for grip driving (for normal people) but as soon as you decide to play a little sideways most tires loose a little too much grip and slide wide, yoko's are the most predictable sideways up to 3" of snow. then winterforce/haka's for deeper stuff.

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by TomH on 01/17/14 at 07:35:04

After listening to the traffic reports for Toronto this morning after 2cm of snow I wonder why the government won't make winter tires mandatory in Ontario

Title: Re: Winter Tires?
Post by KDeV on 01/27/14 at 13:24:16

Just got a message from my girlfriend, thanking me for putting the Yoko's on the car. With all the snow and crap the last few days, she said she's had no wheelspin from a stop, no understeering in corners and minimal sliding when braking.