Can't decide on winter tires.

[toyopl]

Hey guys, I'm new here, I browsed this forum today and seems a lot more interesting than my car specific forum's. I have '06 Scion Xb, fwd, manual, little 1.5 engine, 185/60/15 and very light at Curb weight 2,395 lb.
So I never had or drove on winter tires before so I hit the forum to look at what's good. and I see that everyone either recommends Michelin X-Ice Xi2 or Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60. I'm guessing buy either one, both get good reviews I wouldn't know a difference cuz I never drove on winters But I also see a lot of ppl mentioning Nokian Hakkapeliitta. How are those compared to the two mentioned above ? Are those tires something I should look at ? I can't even find a place that sells it so I don't know the diference in price Also does Unstudded and Studless mean the same thing ?

[Trainman]

Welcome!

I have the WS60's and they are terrific tires but are very pricey.  The Hakkapeliitt's are in the same category, excellent tire but pricey too.

I see three basic types of winter tires:

Studless, like the WS60's;
Studable but without the studs;
and of course studable with the studs.

Most studdable tires can be run had with or without studs.  Many areas of Canada no longer allow studded tires, so that is a factor.  I have found that a lot of the tires that can take studs should have then as they are not good on ice, like a true studless tire.  But they can be very good in deeper snow.

This is a tire that can take studs and should if you want them to perform well in the winter (I use these in the summer for their off-road traction and use the WS60's in the winter):



There are lots of options for snow tires, with many good ones in the medium price range.

What kind of winters do you expect to see?  Cold?  Lots of loose snow?  Lots of ice/packed snow? Lots of slush?  Different tires for different conditions.

[toyopl]

thx for ast reply, i'm in a city, so we never get much snow, even if we get lots of it, in few hours it's just slush, usually it's more about ice and slush.

[tpl]

Studs are not allowed in Southern Ontario. 

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

I have Toyo G-02 Plus for my car, I love them and they work well (studless) and they will fit your car. Be sure to buy separate rims for them.

http://www.toyocanada.com/products/ObserveG02plus.asp

You can't have studs in Ontario unless your car is registered to Northern Ontario and the Ontario Government is specific of what is considered "Northern Ontario". Check with the MTO to verify. If you live in Milton, you can't have studs anyway.

 

[toyopl]

thx, wouldn't buy studed for sure, read they'r noisy and don't grip as good if road is dry.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

Here is info from the MTO regarding use of studded tires

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900625_e.htm



“Northern Ontario” means the Territorial Districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Timiskaming and Thunder Bay;

9.  (1)  No person shall operate a vehicle equipped with studded tires on a highway unless all of the following conditions are met:

1. The vehicle is operated during the period starting on October 1 and ending on April 30.

2. The permit holder of the vehicle is,

i. a resident of Northern Ontario,

ii. a corporation with a business premise in Northern Ontario, as shown by the address on the plate portion of the vehicle permit,

iii. a municipal corporation having jurisdiction and control of a highway or portion of a highway located in Northern Ontario,

iv. a road authority having jurisdiction and control of a highway or portion of a highway located in Northern Ontario,

v. a district school board in Northern Ontario,

vi. a school authority in Northern Ontario,

vii. Her Majesty the Queen in right of Ontario, or

viii. not a resident of Ontario and the vehicle is in Ontario for no longer than 30 days.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

More info on studded tires from MTO

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/topics/wintertires.shtml

"Studded tires are most effective on wet ice when the temperature is near zero."

Winter tires -  "Deeper tread. Best for snow, slush and on ice, as well as wet and dry roads." (Sounds like the conditions you'll be driving in toyopl)

[airbalancer]

I think for southern Ont I would look at a tire more for ice, because usually the road get cleared in time
but black ice can happen very day
I bought Ice Bears for the BMW since  I was look for a tire that works in cold dry winter rather then a snow tire

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

Aren't they now called winter tires instead of snow tires now?

All they need is cold weather and they work better than "all-season" tires.

[normancw]

I see that everyone either recommends Michelin X-Ice Xi2 or Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60. I'm guessing buy either one, both get good reviews I wouldn't know a difference cuz I never drove on winters But I also see a lot of ppl mentioning Nokian Hakkapeliitta.

I've used Blizzaks for many years and currently have WS-60 tires on my car.  My wife has Nokian Hakkapeliitta on her Mazda 3. 

The Blizzaks are good in the snow and excellent on icy roads (much better that the Nokians) for the first 2 winters.  They're made with a multi-cell compound - the top layer is great on ice, but wears quicker.  After that, they are still good on ice, better than the Nokians, but not as good as when new.

The Nokians are great in deep snow (better than the Blizzaks), but just good on icy roads - they feel harder than the Blizzaks.  There have been a few times that I could not drive my wife's car (with Nokians) up the very slight slope of our driveway covered in a sheet ice.  I never had this problem with Blizzaks.

Next time, I might try the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 - here's a comparison test:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=111
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=94

[TheMAN]

Hey guys, I'm new here, I browsed this forum today and seems a lot more interesting than my car specific forum's. I have '06 Scion Xb, fwd, manual, little 1.5 engine, 185/60/15 and very light at Curb weight 2,395 lb.
So I never had or drove on winter tires before so I hit the forum to look at what's good. and I see that everyone either recommends Michelin X-Ice Xi2 or Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60. I'm guessing buy either one, both get good reviews I wouldn't know a difference cuz I never drove on winters But I also see a lot of ppl mentioning Nokian Hakkapeliitta. How are those compared to the two mentioned above ? Are those tires something I should look at ? I can't even find a place that sells it so I don't know the diference in price Also does Unstudded and Studless mean the same thing ?

I would recommend the Pirelli Winter Carving as they currently have the $40 rebate, making it ones of the best deals available currently. http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Pirelli&tiremodel=Winter+Carving+Edge

[Angry Chicken]

Hey guys, I'm new here, I browsed this forum today and seems a lot more interesting than my car specific forum's. I have '06 Scion Xb, fwd, manual, little 1.5 engine, 185/60/15 and very light at Curb weight 2,395 lb.
So I never had or drove on winter tires before so I hit the forum to look at what's good. and I see that everyone either recommends Michelin X-Ice Xi2 or Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60. I'm guessing buy either one, both get good reviews I wouldn't know a difference cuz I never drove on winters But I also see a lot of ppl mentioning Nokian Hakkapeliitta. How are those compared to the two mentioned above ? Are those tires something I should look at ? I can't even find a place that sells it so I don't know the diference in price Also does Unstudded and Studless mean the same thing ?

I would recommend the Pirelli Winter Carving as they currently have the $40 rebate, making it ones of the best deals available currently. http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Pirelli&tiremodel=Winter+Carving+Edge

I'm sure there are other features of these tires beyond their price that will recommend them to this application?   

[sailor723]

I suspect the best feature of these as far as "theman" is concerned is that 1010tires has a bunch of these to move

[TheMAN]

I suspect the best feature of these as far as "theman" is concerned is that 1010tires has a bunch of these to move

You forum sponsor? TireTrends carries this model, if you bothered to look.
Personally I would buy the Blizzak WS-60, if money was no object. 

[toyopl]

K, in my price range my guy carries these ones. which ones would b a better buy ? I drive really really slow, I take my time and I'm always scared, never too cocky. More of ice, slush than heavy white snow as it's gone within hours from many cars and snow trucks.

Pirelli W190 Snow Control
Hankook SW41
Semperit Speed Grip
Hankook W409 iPike

[rrocket]

I had the IPikes on my Echo before.  Not bad......not bad...

[Noobee]

Canadian tire has their GoodYear Nordics on sale, a very good inexpensive tire.  It's not the best but recommened by many.

[kpgd]

any one used the Semperit before? comments? i hear its pretty good for the price you get..

[bman]

I have the semperit speed grips installed on my Mazda 3 for the winter. Very good tires. My wife keep commenting that there is almost no road noise (very quiet). Handling and grip seem to be very high too. Highly recommended.