Author Topic: Winter Rubbers! (Read 4110 times)

mmret · « **on:** August 11, 2007, 11:14:39 pm »

Stock: OEM Michelins, 215/50 R17, 95V XL. Crummy. I truly doubt that the car acutally needs XL rated tires.
Current: Potenza RE960AS. 215/50 R17, 95W XL. Ridiculously good in dry and wet. Probably not so good in the snow.

Locale: Ottawa / 401 Lake Erie North / GTA

Options: [Updated List]
~~Bridgestone Blizzak REVO1, 205/60 R16, 92Q.~~
~~Michelin X-Ice, 205/60 R16, 92Q.~~
Michelin Pilot Alpin 2, 205/60 R16, 92H.
Nokian Hakkapelitta 4, 205/60 R16 92T. Might be discontinued.

Nokian Hakkapelitta RSi, 205/60 R16 96R XL
Gislaved NordFrost5, 215/55 R16, 97T XL

Any anecdotal evidence is accepted, as are other recommendations. Not sure if anything else comes in 205/60 R16, and I don't really want to pay up for 17s when its just winters.

EDIT: I'm probably over-analysing this, I realize. That's why I'm accepting any winter tire success / scare stories you may have.

Guy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2007, 11:21:37 pm »

Go with the Nokian's. I had 4 season's WR last winter and they were excellent. I can only imagine that their dedicated winter tires can only be better!

stalker · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2007, 03:45:55 pm »

I never tried these ones myself, but I hear people are quite happy with their X-Ice...

airbalancer · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2007, 05:53:35 pm »

Ice bears are nice tire

quadzilla · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2007, 11:23:00 pm »

One thing that help make my mind up on my last winters was speed ratings. Most of my driving is hwy and I (weather permitting) can see speeds of 140kph+ quite often. I don't know how fast you drive on the hwy but might be something to consider.

Also, going from a V to Q tire you may notice a huge difference in handling...Sure in winter everything is slower but if you do drive a lot of hwy, something else to think about. My next winters will probably be V rated (H now) as I hardly see deep snow.

random006 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2007, 01:26:43 am »

I've enjoyed my Yokohamas for two seasons now. Excellent tire with good handling characteristics for a winter tire (T rated).

That being said, I've never heard a discouraging word about the Nokians (to paraphrase the old song).

articsteve · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2007, 09:58:31 am »

You can't beat GISLAVEDs for wear, performance and price.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:10:28 am »

Hey mmret, mind if I join in?

I need to buy winter tires for the 2007 Camry LE. I don't have much experience driving in snowy conditions, two Toronto winters driving the Corolla on all seasons and the Camry on OEM all seasons. OEM tires are horrible even in Toronto winter conditions

.

I have steel wheels on the Camry right now and thinking of mounting the winter tires on these and get alloys for the summer.

The OEM tire size is 215/60R16 94V.
Driving conditions : Rush hour commute on the highway and city streets.

Appreciate the suggestions.

articsteve · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:22:46 am »

215/65/16 NordFrost 3 directional Gisalveds. Probably this season $130. installed and balanced at Steelcase Tire in Markham. Best prices in the GTA, IMO. Problem for you is that you'll want to do the switch in November or there abouts, I assume, and at that time Steelcase is an absolute ZOO and way beyond my tolerance level.

I edited the price up $10 to $130. I paid $118. last September, but you won't see that price again.

tortoise · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:23:23 am »

I'm going to Echo Quad's comments regarding the speed rating. Going from a V-rated summer tire (Toyo Proxes4) to an H-rated winter tire (Kumho KW-17) makes a noticeable difference in the handling. I would not want to go any lower.

Ottawa doesn't get a lot of snow and the crews are pretty efficient at plowing and salting the living daylights out of our roads (you Krowned your car yet?). My recommendation is an H (or better) rated tire that's designed for ice vs. snow.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:30:08 am »

The review is quite impressive. hmm

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/mc/wintertiretest06-07_5.htm

Guy · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:47:07 am »

I prefer Nokian's but you can't go wrong with Gislaved's either.

safristi · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:31:19 am »

..Only CANUCKS would argue ovr Winter TYRES on the HOTTEST DAYS of the YEAR.............

mmret · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:18:58 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on August 13, 2007, 09:58:31 am

You can't beat GISLAVEDs for wear, performance and price.

Thanks. NordFrost 3 isn't available in a suitable size (going from Gislaved's website), but the 5s do come in 205/55/R16, 97T XL... will definitely take a look.

Just checked out the actual speed for Q-rated tires. Its gross. Nixing the Q-rated ones.

Admittedly R isn't much better, but I've heard so many good things about the RSi and Nokian in general I'll leave them up for now.

safristi · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:24:00 pm »

Heat_STROKING...is my best guess......

....

Julie · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:34:18 pm »

Quote from: quadzilla on August 12, 2007, 11:23:00 pm

Also, going from a V to Q tire you may notice a huge difference in handling...Sure in winter everything is slower but if you do drive a lot of hwy, something else to think about. My next winters will probably be V rated (H now) as I hardly see deep snow.

That's why I went with V rated ones. I do a reasonable amount of highway 401, and snow becomes pretty much slush on highways.

By the way, you probably already know this, but it appears Acura recommends the Michelin Pilots as winters for the TSX. It's pretty well rated in CR too.

mmret · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:47:12 pm »

Julie: Were you able to get V-rated Alpin PA2s in 16" form? The only 16" ones I've seen are H rated.

Also, anyone have experience with Dunlop SP Wintersport 3D? They come in 205/55R17 94V. I'm guessing they're not as good in pure ice/snow than our Scandinavian friends, though.

Its hard to answer "how good on ice and snow is good enough?"

Julie · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:51:27 pm »

Quote from: UmroAyyar on August 13, 2007, 10:10:28 am

Hey mmret, mind if I join in?

I need to buy winter tires for the 2007 Camry LE. I don't have much experience driving in snowy conditions, two Toronto winters driving the Corolla on all seasons and the Camry on OEM all seasons. OEM tires are horrible even in Toronto winter conditions .

I have steel wheels on the Camry right now and thinking of mounting the winter tires on these and get alloys for the summer.

The OEM tire size is 215/60R16 94V.
Driving conditions : Rush hour commute on the highway and city streets.

Appreciate the suggestions.

Wow, you got a V on the Camry. Well, that's good. I'd stick with V then, since I think the roads you travel will not have deep snow.

I don't think X-Ice has V-rated tires. For V's, I'd recommend the Michelin Pilots or Goodyear Eagle "something" - darn, I forgot. But it's in Consumer Reports, under "Performance Winter Tires", it was the top-rated one. It's not the usual Goodyear Ultra-Ice ones. Anyways, that's what I got, but I think they're harder to find. So maybe the Pilots sell better.

EDIT: I found the name: Goodyear Eagle Ultragrip GW3.

Julie · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:53:12 pm »

Quote from: mmret on August 13, 2007, 12:47:12 pm

Julie: Were you able to get V-rated Alpin PA2s in 16" form? The only 16" ones I've seen are H rated.

Also, anyone have experience with Dunlop SP Wintersport 3D? They come in 205/55R17 94V. I'm guessing they're not as good in pure ice/snow than our Scandinavian friends, though.

Its hard to answer "how good on ice and snow is good enough?"

Hmm..... I thought I was...... I told the dealer I wanted V-rated. But I ended up deciding on the Goodyear ones, and he had them brought in.

Julie · « **Reply #19 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:55:26 pm »

Quote from: mmret on August 13, 2007, 12:47:12 pm

Its hard to answer "how good on ice and snow is good enough?"

I wonder what curls' car wears, as he's in Ottawa. Ray T, another Ottawa TSX owner, bought H-rated for his wife, because of the weather conditions in Ottawa he told me.