Topic: Yokohama vs Nokian vs Gislaved vs Michelin

[mtlrabbit]

So I just got new prices on the tires installed and balanced:

Nokian RSi = $170

Gislaved = $175

X-Ice Xi2 = $239

Yokohama IG20 =$219

Walmart sell Dunlop graspic ds-2 205/55/16 at $112, since I have the Rabbit, this is the cheapest band name tire I can find so far in the market, APA rank this as top pick. Anybody has good experience on this tire? If APA is a good source, I can find any resason people should pay double above unless you want race on ice.

[quadzilla]

Quadzilla:

May I asked what tires you had before you had the Dunlop's?  Also how did you find the dunlops last winter after any of th many big snow falls?  Finally, do you live in Toronto or do you live in the GTA (the reason I ask is that I find that its actually easier to drive outside of the city in the winter because they have better snow removal and don't just pile on the salt).

The first set were the Champiro WT's. They worked great in the snow and dry but were just too soft for me. The slow turn in and wallowing (?) made me feel the car turned into a Toyota.    The tires performed as they should, just not what I wanted.

I live on the Beaches area of Toronto and the Dunlop's went on before last winter, yes the big one with record snowfalls. The city street into the back of my building usually doesn't get plowed so it is rough going every year but last year, even worse than normal. The good news is I never got stuck once even though I was plowing through the snow with my car many times due to the depth. I also do a lot of hwy driving (London, Tobermory, Quebec) and have driven the tires up to 170kph and they were very solid. That was something I wouldn't do with the Champiro's.

Hope that helps.

[SMS1977]

Quadzilla:

Thanks for the info, you are starting to make me re-think my choices.  My question is this:  do you really think that there will be a big difference between an H rated and a T or R rated tire for winter?  I mean R and T rated tires are rated for 170 to 190 kms per hour and I never go that fast in the summer let alone in the winter.

[SMS1977]

Given the responses from TheMAN, Quadzilla and others I am now contemplating getting a performance winter tire and I've narrowed it down to the following:

1.  Dunlop Winter Sport 3D

2.  Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance

3. Conti Winter Contact TS810

Which is the best choice and why? Also most of these tires come in both H and V rated models, which would be better and why?

thanks

[huota]

Given the responses from TheMAN, Quadzilla and others I am now contemplating getting a performance winter tire and I've narrowed it down to the following:

1.  Dunlop Winter Sport 3D

2.  Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance

3. Conti Winter Contact TS810

Which is the best choice and why? Also most of these tires come in both H and V rated models, which would be better and why?

thanks

You can't go wrong with the TS810. It was the winner of Teknikens Värld's (a Swedish auto magazine) winter tyre test last year by a fair margin. It scored very well in all categories.

[quadzilla]

Quadzilla:

Thanks for the info, you are starting to make me re-think my choices.  My question is this:  do you really think that there will be a big difference between an H rated and a T or R rated tire for winter?  I mean R and T rated tires are rated for 170 to 190 kms per hour and I never go that fast in the summer let alone in the winter.

Both my tires were H rated but they performed like night and day so there is more to it than just a speed rating. There are quite a few great choices out there but you can only go with other opinions which makes this very hard. I had to take a 'loss' and sell my first set of winters to find what I truly wanted. Hopefully, you get what you want/need the first time. Good luck.

[ktm525]

Quadzilla:

Thanks for the info, you are starting to make me re-think my choices.  My question is this:  do you really think that there will be a big difference between an H rated and a T or R rated tire for winter?  I mean R and T rated tires are rated for 170 to 190 kms per hour and I never go that fast in the summer let alone in the winter.

Both my tires were H rated but they performed like night and day so there is more to it than just a speed rating. There are quite a few great choices out there but you can only go with other opinions which makes this very hard. I had to take a 'loss' and sell my first set of winters to find what I truly wanted. Hopefully, you get what you want/need the first time. Good luck.

I agree there is more to the speed ratings. No sane driver in Canada is going to push their snow tires to 200 km/h. In my experience the higher speed ratings equate to stiffer sidewalls which help handling feel on dry pavement. You still get some initial tread squirm but that sickening sidewall rollover feeling is much reduced.

[TheMAN]

Given the responses from TheMAN, Quadzilla and others I am now contemplating getting a performance winter tire and I've narrowed it down to the following:

1.  Dunlop Winter Sport 3D

2.  Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance

3. Conti Winter Contact TS810

Which is the best choice and why? Also most of these tires come in both H and V rated models, which would be better and why?

thanks

Goodyear is the newest model, with new technology. And check out their website for mail in rebates up to $100.

[20vcq]

Most of the tires you list are great especially the Gislaved and Michelin. I would not however use your stock rims. Go onto Tire Rack and order steel 16 inch or even 15 inch. Last year they were only $45 each. I have them for all my Audi and Mitsu - so my mags all look like new.
Your road surfaces are not for the faint of heart in winter and a little more rubber and steel rather than aluminum shiny cuties would be safer and less costly.

[SMS1977]

20vcq:

What is it about the Gislaved and Michelin that makes them great?  The reason that I am using my stock rims is because I bought 18's for summer.

[SMS1977]

TheMAN:

I saw that Goodyear was offering $100 on the Ultra Grip Performance, but they are also offering $80 on the Dunlop 3D.  So there really isn't much of a price difference, which why I am trying to figure out which tire is the best suited for my purposes.

[ktm525]

20vcq:

What is it about the Gislaved and Michelin that makes them great?  The reason that I am using my stock rims is because I bought 18's for summer.

They are Euro brands and we all know that the Euros do everything so much better....

[SMS1977]

I have been quoted what I think are really good prices on the following tires:

1.  Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3;

2.  Nokian WRG2

Does anyone have any experience with either of the following tires and if so what are your thoughts?  I know that the WRG2 is an "all weather" tire, but is it any good as purely a snow tire?

thanks

[tpl]

20vcq:

What is it about the Gislaved and Michelin that makes them great? 

Probably nothing.  I've had  Bridgestone, Yokohama and Hankook winter tires and they were great and certainly not European.

A chart of who owns who in the tires world would be useful  I think.

[Arctic_White]

From what I gather, Dunlop Winter Sport3D are the best performance winter tires.  They ranke # 1 on www.tirerack.com

And they're fairly inexpensive as well.

[Calbrez]

Quadzilla:

May I asked what tires you had before you had the Dunlop's?  Also how did you find the dunlops last winter after any of th many big snow falls?  Finally, do you live in Toronto or do you live in the GTA (the reason I ask is that I find that its actually easier to drive outside of the city in the winter because they have better snow removal and don't just pile on the salt).

I don't agree at all.. If you live outide the city, especially in place like Oak Ridges, King City, Northern Vaughan, Caledon, etc... you're looking at icier roads, a bit more snow, colder temps, etc.. snow and ice in the city melts quicky with the extra urban heat, more cars and lots od salt! those roads in the city are usually bare, even after some snow...unless we get dumped on

[Noobee]

From what I gather, Dunlop Winter Sport3D are the best performance winter tires.  They ranke # 1 on tirerack

And they're fairly inexpensive as well.

Not that much difference between the 3D and the Michelin Xi2s.  Costco has a $60 rebate and if you're in BC, it can be had for $827 installed including taxes.  The Xi2s also appear to handle ice much better than the older 3Ds.

[ngm]

My 2 cents: I own both the Gislaved and X-Ice (first gen though).  Gislaved is less squishy feeling and has better handling (especially on the highway, it feels less squirmy).  However, it's tread is not as soft and I think had I studded them, the traction would be better on ice.

If I had to choose between the two, I'd take the Gislaved over X-Ice 1, but not over X-Ice Xi2.   The Xi2 supposedly has much better braking than the first gen, and the Gislaved's at best are equivalent to the X-Ice 1's for braking (in my experience).

I drive an Eos and it the only winter tires I could for a decent price at the time.