POLL: Winters vs All-Season Tires

[johngenx]

Thanks for all of your info everyone.  I have heard a couple of people recommend Blizzacks but apparently there is a sprayed-on- compound that wears off after one season and then the tire is just as good as an all season.  What are your thoughts there?

Also, I heard the Michelin Ice (?) are very spongy and the tread doesn't last the winter.  And there is trouble driving on the expressway with them cause they grab a lot on dry pavement.

You've heard the oddest things.  The Blizzks used to have a compound where the top 45% was "super winter" and the remaining 55% was all-season/normal winter.  But, that made no difference anyway, as you should not be using a snow tire with less than 6/32 anyway.  But, that is long gone with the original WS-50, not made for many moons now.  Blizzaks are excellent winter tires.

That information about the X-Ice is pure BS.

[UmroAyyar]

Thanks for all of your info everyone.  I have heard a couple of people recommend Blizzacks but apparently there is a sprayed-on- compound that wears off after one season and then the tire is just as good as an all season.  What are your thoughts there?

Also, I heard the Michelin Ice (?) are very spongy and the tread doesn't last the winter.  And there is trouble driving on the expressway with them cause they grab a lot on dry pavement.

I need something that will allow me to tackle the many storms and deep snow up north AND still be able to drive smooth and agile on the highways here in the city cause 70% of my driving is on the highways - Gardner, 427, 401, QEW etc..

BTY - If you guys happen to mention a tire code (XP90 for instance) can you through out the  name brand on them as I'm not to tire brand savy and I'll have to try to call around for them. 

I'm in Etobicoke so if anyone knows what the best tire store is here let me know.

Thanks!

If you are driving in the middle of snowstorms north of Toronto, its advisable to go with a dedicated winter tire, you'll definitely need them, a compromise on your vehicle's highway handling but the added safety eclipses that factor.

Your car most likely came with H-rated tires (you mentioned you've been driving on 16" tires).

Hankook IceBear W300 is mentioned here quite a few times for its dry handling and adequate snow/ice capabilities. Gislaved Nordfrost from Steelcase Tire in Markham seems to be another choice.

I've personally gone with Nokian WR G2, its a winter performance tire with better dry/highway driving but I won't be driving much outside Toronto.

(My impressions by gleaning information from this forum.)

[tpl]

Thanks for all of your info everyone.  I have heard a couple of people recommend Blizzacks but apparently there is a sprayed-on- compound that wears off after one season and then the tire is just as good as an all season.  What are your thoughts there?

Also, I heard the Michelin Ice (?) are very spongy and the tread doesn't last the winter.  And there is trouble driving on the expressway with them cause they grab a lot on dry pavement.

You've heard the oddest things.  The Blizzks used to have a compound where the top 45% was "super winter" and the remaining 55% was all-season/normal winter.  But, that made no difference anyway, as you should not be using a snow tire with less than 6/32 anyway.  But, that is long gone with the original WS-50, not made for many moons now.  Blizzaks are excellent winter tires.

That information about the X-Ice is pure BS.

The new Blizzak WS60 is the same AFAIK.  The first 50% of the tread is the really sticky stuff.

[initial_D]

I found snow tires' performance decorates after the first 2 seasons somewhat, especially in braking 'feel'. Had Michelins, Toyos, BSs, ...

[Loudpedal]

I found snow tires' performance decorates after the first 2 seasons somewhat, especially in braking 'feel'. Had Michelins, Toyos, BSs, ...

I've found the same thing when running Blizzaks (admittedly nearly a decade ago) and more recently with Michelin Arctic Alpins.  I don't think I'll buy either of those two brands again. 

I've been quite happy with both Continental and Hankook winter tires, and extremely happy with Nokians, as I've found their winter performance did not drop off after the first few seasons.   

[HeliDriver]

The new Blizzak WS60 is the same AFAIK.  The first 50% of the tread is the really sticky stuff.

IIRC, the original Blizzaks had the fancy multicell compound for the top 45% of the tread, with an all-season compound for the remaining 55%.

Then they switched to multicell for the top 55%, with a traditional winter compound for the bottom 45%.

Not sure exactly which years/tire models they made the switch, though. I've only had the performance Blizzaks, which AFAIK have always had the same tread compound all the way through.

[safristi]

wot about the ones wif crushed nuts on the top 45%..then Marshmallow and CHOCKIE
 on the bottom..........S'MORES GRIP fer THE XMAS TRIP...............

[2hondas1BMW]

Just bought and installed 4 Michelin X Ice tires today for the Accord. Purchased at Active Green + Ross. They had a $100 mail in rebate special. AFTER rebate cost was approx $499 with everything included. 

Tires definitely feel more squishy than our Bridgestone Potenza G009's...this is our first set of winter tires. This Wednesday's forcast calls for rain at 14 degrees C. 

[bcspud]

I believe in Winter tires, especially driving in Mountain winter conditions in British Colulmbia. I am force now to use All-season tires because I bought a 2008 GMC Acadia (in Canada) later to find out that you can't buy winter tires for this vehicle. Due to the size of rims 19' and GMC change the set up of the lug nuts (this is what I learn after I bought the vehile) and no other rim will fit.

Is this common practice? It seems stupid to sell a vehicle in Canada that you can purchase winter tires!

[Benhaze]

That information about the X-Ice is pure BS.

 

We are starting our 3rd winter season with a set of X-Ice and have only good things to say about them.

[safristi]

  How do they handle on PURE B/S???...........

[Arhidia]

I've been driving for 14 years and I've never driven on winter tires, only all-seasons. I'm not opposed to winter tires, I just don't think I really need them when I'm driving in the Toronto area. I always adjusted my driving habits to the weather and never had a problem.

I was listening to the Adler radio talk show a couple of days ago and his guest said that all-seasons are really 3 season tires and people should get an all-weather-tire which is good all year round. Has anyone used these all-weather-tires? How are they?

[Loudpedal]

I've been driving for 14 years and I've never driven on winter tires, only all-seasons. I'm not opposed to winter tires, I just don't think I really need them when I'm driving in the Toronto area. I always adjusted my driving habits to the weather and never had a problem.

I was listening to the Adler radio talk show a couple of days ago and his guest said that all-seasons are really 3 season tires and people should get an all-weather-tire which is good all year round. Has anyone used these all-weather-tires? How are they?

Unless I'm mistaken, they are likely referring to the Nokian WR, which is branded as an 'all weather tire'.  They meet the criteria for winter tires and also can be run all year round.  I've had them on my wifes Odyssey for the last 1.5 months and I'm not impressed with them at all.   While I am a big fan of Nokian tires (I currently have a set of Hakka 2's on my car), the WR's have been a huge disappointment.  I  personally would never buy them again.       

[davidm]

I've been driving for 14 years and I've never driven on winter tires, only all-seasons. I'm not opposed to winter tires, I just don't think I really need them when I'm driving in the Toronto area. I always adjusted my driving habits to the weather and never had a problem.

I was listening to the Adler radio talk show a couple of days ago and his guest said that all-seasons are really 3 season tires and people should get an all-weather-tire which is good all year round. Has anyone used these all-weather-tires? How are they?

Unless I'm mistaken, they are likely referring to the Nokian WR, which is branded as an 'all weather tire'.  They meet the criteria for winter tires and also can be run all year round.  I've had them on my wifes Odyssey for the last 1.5 months and I'm not impressed with them at all.   While I am a big fan of Nokian tires (I currently have a set of Hakka 2's on my car), the WR's have been a huge disappointment.  I  personally would never buy them again.       

Interesting, we've had the WR on our XC70 for about 2 months and we're very pleased with them.  Far, far, far better than the Michelin Synchrone 4x4 (cute-ute tire) we had on it before (to replace the Pirelli Scorpions that are OEM).  Been in slush, wet snow, ice, rain, and dry and very pleased so far (except that I can only buy them from 1 place in Canada).  What haven't you like about them?

[Loudpedal]

I have not been pleased with the outright grip in snow, slush, etc, but they would be better than an a/s tire.  The main issue however, is the ride is so harsh, that I had to drop the pressure in them by 4 psi (per tire), below Hondas recommended pressure of 36 psi.  Cracks in the pavement could be heard reverberating in the tire, and into the vehicle.  Also, there is a vibration at highway speeds that required them to be balanced 2 additional times.  Consequently the vibration could not be eliminated.  The tire dealer ended up swapping one out with a new WR (goodwill) as they thought that there may have been a crossed belt.   This helped somewhat, but the vibration still exists (but not as bad as before). 

As I write this, the van is at our local Nissan/Infiniti dealer awaiting a balancing job with a Hunter Road Force balancer (the only one in town).  From what I understand, this machine simulates being on the road with up to 1400 pounds of applied pressure during balancing.  Hopefully this will aid in curing the vibration.   

Having said all that, apparently Honda Odysseys don't like many tires beyond what is OE.  Specifically, stiffer, higher speed rated tires with >1 ply sidewalls.   2 different tire dealers as well as my local Honda dealer confirmed this today.   So, who knows, maybe the tires aren't the issue...

What I do like about the tires is that they are very communicative regarding breakaway and the approaching limits of adhesion.   In this respect they are a very predictable tire, and IMHO that's a very good thing in a tire.   

[gotak]

Which dealer has this balancer?

[Loudpedal]

Which dealer has this balancer?

Doner Nissan/Infiniti in Newmarket has one, as well as McAlpine Ford in Aurora.    It's the Hunter GSP9000 Road Force. 

[gotak]

That's pretty fricking far to go... 

[airbalancer]

That's pretty fricking far to go... 

http://www.hunter.com/pub/company/findrep.htm

[Loudpedal]

[quote author=Loudpedal link=topic=40548.msg467214#msg467214 d

As I write this, the van is at our local Nissan/Infiniti dealer awaiting a balancing job with a Hunter Road Force balancer (the only one in town).  From what I understand, this machine simulates being on the road with up to 1400 pounds of applied pressure during balancing.  Hopefully this will aid in curing the vibration.   
[/quote]

Just took the van out for a quick spin on the highway, the Road Force balance did the trick!   I'm joyous!