Topic: Winter tires all year round?

[ppl4golf]

I did the switch from all season to the nokian wr's last fall.  I like them.  Good in the winter I travel alot on the 401/400 to the North Bay area and they are good on the ice packed backroads and driveways.  Have gotton me out of areas I wouldnt go with the all seasons.  That being said I know there are better strictly winter tires out there but these are a nice compromise.  I dont notice any difference in summer driving - I do no performance driving though.

They really are not that expensive.  One location in London was selling them for $120 each installed plus tax the other place $129 each insatlled plus tax.  Comparable to expensive all seasons like the Michelin Harmony and not much more than a typical all season in the $85 to $95 range.  Look out for tires at places that charge extra, extra for valve stems, disposal fee, etc after the fact.

I do not have the cost twice a year to do tire changes.  The added cost of steel rims.  The added cost of 4 seperate winter tires.  I keep my aluminum on all the time.  Dont interupt two saturdays out of my year watching someone change my tires while I pace around the shop floor or the display section.  Just put them on and forget about it (check the pressure often).

I would recommend them.

What's the specs of the WR that you got for ~$120 ??

[bowser]

not sure what you mean

the size are Nokian WR (P195/70R14)

I guess you could go to their page for more specs

[CSH]

Hey Bowser, do you have the name and if possible the phone number of the dealer where you get the Nokian's installed. I am thinking of getting them too but they are asking anywhere from 130-140$

thanks

[ppl4golf]

not sure what you mean

the size are Nokian WR (P195/70R14)

I guess you could go to their page for more specs

Tire size you gave was what I meant...I suspect the more contemporary tires/rims (read 16"+  lower profile) can easily be over $200 :~(

[PJungnitsch]

Just worked out my tire mileage, and I have 92,300 km on two Yokohama Guardex winter tires, and 67300 on two Michelin Arctic Alpin.

The Michelins are pretty much worn out by now, the Yokohamas have lots of tread. The Michelins had a low tread height to begin with and seemed to rely on a soft rubber compound and lots of sipes to get its traction, the Yokohama on 'threads' in embedded in the rubber. Corresponding with the CR report the Yokohamas had quite a bit more traction in snow, IIRC the Michelins are supposed to brake better.

Abt 30,000 of the Yokohama mileage was winter, the rest was done all year round. The Michelins spent 5000 as a pure winter tire, the rest year round. To be fair the Michelins spent their time on the back axle of my pickup and took a lot of weight at times hauling heavy loads in the spring/fall moving my gear back and forth from university.

[bowser]

The first set I got at Tirecraft at 85 Bessemer Road (519-453-5800 or 1-800-860-5486).  When I phoned (about 6-12 months later) for a second set for a 2001 protege they did not have any - but MTC Tire had them (but for $129) at 762 Industrial Road (519-455-6922 or 888-349-4487).

Go to the Nokian website - they list the dealers for ontario - just start calling around