Author Topic: All Seasons for snow??? (Read 3145 times)

workinmom · « **on:** October 28, 2009, 08:57:38 pm »

Hey everyone, just had a question, I have a 2004 Pontiac Montana, and I was going to buy snow tires this year for the first time, but then I was told that my tires that are on there now are crap and need to be replaced soon!
So of course I know nothing about tires, but I do know that I cant afford winter tires and then turn around and buy all seasons come spring, so my question is what is the best All season tire? I drive about 45 mins to work and most of it is back roads, so I want something that is dependable,
Any suggestions would be great!!!

davidy · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2009, 09:14:40 pm »

If you are only going to buy one set of tires, then consider a set of all weather tires like those Nokian WRG2. Although they are rated for severe snow, they will not perform as well as true winter tires in winter conditions. However, unlike most true winter tires, you can run them year round. They are pricey though. They are better in winter conditions than most all (three) season tires.

Another option is to look at the cheap entry level winter tires now and cheap all (three) season tires in the spring or summer. The price of this option isn't that much different than the pricey Nokian all weather tires (except that you don't need do the changeovers every year). Cheap winter tires include the Nexen Winguard 231 (at Walmart), Arctic Claw TXI or Goodyear Nordic (at Canadian Tire when on sale).

Depending on the size of the stock tire on your minivan, you reduce costs by MINUS sizing your winter tires. However, you will need a second set of rims/wheels. If you are planning to own your Montana for several more years, it makes financial sense to get a second set of rims....otherwise, using two set of tires on one set of rims, you will need to mount/balance/dismount your winter/all season tires (except the all weather ones).

Dave

davidy · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2009, 09:42:06 pm »

I have read that some in the Vancouver area have run an H-rated winter like the Hankook Ice Bear W300 year round. These are a winter performance tire....harder compound that is more suited for highway commuting. Won't perform as well as the softer Q-rated winter tires like the Hankook I*pike W409. The W300 should wear decent due to it's harder compound.

Dave

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2009, 10:28:52 pm »

My parents run the WR's all year round and they have been great. They are expensive though.

Another idea may be the Hankook Optimo 727 all season. It is Consumer Reports #2 rated all season all round, and unusual for an all season, has a ranking on snow and ice up there with the best snow tires. Going by 1010tires.com it is also quite reasonably priced.

rrocket · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2009, 10:49:58 pm »

Quote from: PJungnitsch on October 28, 2009, 10:28:52 pm

My parents run the WR's all year round and they have been great. They are expensive though.

Another idea may be the Hankook Optimo 727 all season. It is Consumer Reports #2 rated all season all round, and unusual for an all season, has a ranking on snow and ice up there with the best snow tires. Going by 1010tires.com it is also quite reasonably priced.

Where did you see that? I don't see it in the top anything in CR for snow tires...

KptKrunch · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2009, 11:11:41 pm »

I'll second the Nokians. I got about 90,000 km's out of mine and am now going to do winter/all season and the all season will be the Nokian WR G2's.

I will say the are not the greatest on ice, but not bad either, and better than all season. For snow, I found my stock all season Duellers were as good, maybe slightly better than my Nokian WR's, but that was the older tread design too. I found them to slip a bit in the snow, and was very disappointed in them for that.

For wet conditions (rain and even slush) they are fantastic. A huge step up over the Duellers which would start to hydroplane on me once I hit around 115 km/hr. With the Nokians I could go 130 km/hr easy and felt like I was on dry pavement.

For dry weather conditions they were fine. Not as good as summer tire would be but better than I thought they'd be.

On gravel roads, they didn't do bad their either. I think a more aggressive tread would do better there though (as it would in snow).

Now, as already mentioned, they are pricey though, very pricey. The reason I'm getting them for spring/summer/fall though is because sometimes we can get our worst driving conditions, especially ice, in spring/fall. Unfortunately in between snow/ice storms it can be 25C and I really don't want to chew up my winters, so I want a tire that can handle the odd snow/ice storm.

I also believe that the Good Year Triple Tread is an 'all weather' tire. Though I have no personal experience with them so I'll leave any comments on those to people who have/had them.

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:00:03 am »

Quote from: rrocket on October 28, 2009, 10:49:58 pm

Where did you see that? I don't see it in the top anything in CR for snow tires...

That's because they grouped it with the all seasons. But the snow traction and ice braking test was the same.

rrocket · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:04:24 am »

Quote from: PJungnitsch on October 29, 2009, 12:00:03 am

Quote from: rrocket on October 28, 2009, 10:49:58 pm
Where did you see that? I don't see it in the top anything in CR for snow tires...

That's because they grouped it with the all seasons. But the snow traction and ice braking test was the same.

Was that measured in feet, or was that just measured with their symbols of "good", "very good", etc?

Leviathan · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:16:46 am »

The Fortera TripleTreds have the mountain+snowflake symbol. I have them on the Tribute and in the last ~9,000Kms have driven them in deep snow, slush, heavy rain and the nice dry summer we had. Great tire but pricey.

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:23:31 am »

Using symbols, but they are the same between different types of tires (which is a pretty good idea, I think).

Starting with these tests, our tire Ratings are now designed so that you can compare the individual performance of one type of tire with another. For example, you can compare the Ratings of all-season and winter tires to see how much dry and wet grip you give up with winter tires in return for better snow and ice traction.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/tires/how-we-test-tires/overview/index.htm

Snow acceleration is 5-20 mph distance on packed snow. Ice braking is 10-0 mph distance on an ice rink.

I think CR really needs an 'all weather' category, although I guess the pickings would be slim.

rrocket · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:25:35 am »

^^I much prefer distance in feet, acceleration in time, etc.....Symbols don't mean anything, ya know?

Canada Stig · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2009, 08:37:43 am »

The Nokian WRs and Fortera/Assurance Triple Treads are certified as winter use by the Quebec government - in other words, the only all season/4 season tires that are allowed to be used in the winter in that province. Something to be said for that.

As I have said before, the BF Goodrich Traction T/A has been a very, very dependable 4 season tire for me, with snow traction comparable to the blizzaks I had used on the same car prior to that. They are moderately priced and available just about anywhere.

Traction T/A Ice traction is admittedly not as good as NEW winter tires, but definately acceptable. Always remember once winters get to about 7/32" they no longer have the ice advantage - although I did read that the new Michelin Xi2 has ice traction all the way to the wear bars.

airbalancer · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2009, 09:22:55 am »

Quote from: rrocket on October 29, 2009, 12:25:35 am

^^I much prefer distance in feet, acceleration in time, etc.....Symbols don't mean anything, ya know?

But this table is not meant for anal engineers

who need measurement to the 9th degree but for the everyday lay person
Should they be using green as good, like go and buy them and red as stop do not buy them

mrthompson · « **Reply #13 on:** October 29, 2009, 09:32:43 am »

Buy a set of dedicated winter tires and put them on now. If cost is a big issue, buy a set of used steel wheels on which to mount the winters. Or you could mount the snows to your existing wheels and then swap the tires for summers come spring (and buy steelies next fall for the winters).

If you drive mostly back roads you will see minimal wear between now and when the snow flies. Heck, many people on this forum living in Soutern Ontario would normally install their winter tires soon anyhow.

I had Firestone Winterforce tirse on my wife's old Cavalier (we no longer have it, thankfully). My sister lives in a rural area and she now runs those same tires on her Cavalier. They served me well and continue to serve her well. There are other less expensive winter tire available to suit your needs. Canadian Tire will likely have their Goodyear Nordic tires on sale soon.

mmorriso · « **Reply #14 on:** October 29, 2009, 09:52:12 am »

lots of inexpensive choices for 215/70/15, you could even go 205/75/15 to save some cash. you could call your local GM dealer as a starting point.

+1 for dedicated winter tires/rims

no Goodyear Fortera TripleTread in those sizes, no snowflake on Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread

how is your intake manifold gasket holding up?

happy shopping!

mmorriso · « **Reply #15 on:** October 29, 2009, 12:38:52 pm »

what part of hamilton are you in?

tortoise · « **Reply #16 on:** October 29, 2009, 02:17:13 pm »

If money is truely an issue, go used and buy a set of all seasons in the spring. Act fast though as used deals usually aren't around long.

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/mss/pts/1439826851.html

DKaz · « **Reply #17 on:** October 29, 2009, 03:21:43 pm »

To those of you who think the Consumer Reports is some holy bible...

Is it a good source of information? Yes.
Is it the best source of information? Hardly.
Is it the only source of information? No.

Put it down and research from other sources. For popular tires I can Google a tire and get an in depth review from almost every car forum out there.

weebl · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:15:48 am »

Quote from: DKaz on October 29, 2009, 03:21:43 pm

To those of you who think the Consumer Reports is some holy bible...

Is it a good source of information? Yes.
Is it the best source of information? Hardly.
Is it the only source of information? No.

Put it down and research from other sources. For popular tires I can Google a tire and get an in depth review from almost every car forum out there.

Well said. The outstanding performers will stick out, as everyone will have good things to say about them. Same with the poor performers, nothing but gripes. Consider information from all sources, and consider how reliable that information is based on the source. I use Tire Rack as one of my assessment tools. A comment from someone who writes like a 16 year old in all caps, and has only put 100 miles on the tire being reviewed I give zero credibility. But the average of many comments from people who do not post childish comments, with a similar driving style and vehicle to mine, I do give consideration to (not any single comment, but an "average" of them all).

safristi · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:40:13 pm »

..where is this WEEBL wobble Bible on tyres available to the great unwashed.....

....................