Topic: Best Winter Tires? :)

[siovale]

I know this a contentious and huge topic with many different takes, but I really need some help. I have to buy new Winter tires and am looking to buy 17". I've used Hekkapeliitta tires for a number of years and loved them, but they are very expensive.

Southern Quebec is like southern Ontario, and I commute 50km every day, so I'm looking for tires that will perform very well on ice, slush, wet now, deep snow.

I've look at Michelin X-Ice xi2 reviews, Blizzard WS60 and General Altimax Arctic so far...

I would really appreciate feedback re. the best buy I can make re. value/expense. Thank you all so much for your patience and help. 

[Art]

The APA (Automobile Protection Association) view on winter tires for last winter is: http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=297

I have the Toyo Observe G-02 plus and they are excellent.  The Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 is favoured by a lot of people and there is an updated model out now called the WS-70.

The Consumer Reports reviews of winter tires is not very thorough and does not relate well to winter driving conditions that I face in Ottawa.  The Tire Rack has done extensive testing in actual winter conditions and their results can be found at their site: http://www.tirerack.com/index.jsp

Good luck with your choice

[CanuckG35]

Personally, I can't recommend the Blizzaks enough.  I've been running Blizzaks on my RWD G35's for almost the last 7 years and they have performed superbly.  Fantastic traction, cornering ability, and braking.  I won't run anything else on my vehicles in the winter.

On a side note, I find it hard to imagine that people do not invest in winter rubber (no matter if their vehicle is FWD, RWD, AWD, or 4WD).  They really don't cost any more than running AS tires all year around, and they can certainly save your life. 

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

As Art said, I have the Toyo G-02+ as well, excellent tires and prevented me from hitting a senior citizen who ended up jaywalking in front of me on a 4 lane roadway. Just missed him by a few inches. If they were all-seasons, he would've been dead or injured.

CanuckG35 - "On a side note, I find it hard to image that people do not invest in winter rubber (no matter if their vehicle is FWD, RWD, AWD, or 4WD).  They really don't cost any more than running AS tires all year around, and they can certainly save your life." AGREED. Or somebody else's. They don't cost much more (mounting, balancing and the extra set of rims) which balances out in the end. The sheer control, braking and stability are much more improved with the proper rubber. Ontario should just mandate winter tires for ALL VEHICLES just as Quebec has.

You may also get a 5% discount depending on your insurance company. I'm with The Personal and they give me a discount for 5% yearly.

Desjardin and Bel-Air Direct also give the discount as well. Be sure to notify them and keep your receipts of your purchase. Hell, it wouldn't hurt to ask the insurance company if they offer a discount. Maybe they don't advertise it. You don't get if you don't ask.

OP - With tires, you will literally get what you pay for. Buy the cheap tires and you get crappy performance, spend a little more money and you will get a better tire. Stick to a name brand tire (Yokohama, Toyo, Dunlop, Good Year, Bridgestone, etc.). Your mechanic would be a great place to start with tire/winter tire advice.

[initial_D]

I ran the Toyo G-02+ on my 325ix for 7 years, the performance in the last 2 years had declined, but still works better than AS tires. Definitely worth the money.

[aknutson]

Have heard that Altimax are excellent tires, and will be outfitting my car with those this winter. Consumer Reports named them in the top-2 last year overall, which put it ahead of much more expensive tires, even Blizzaks. I believe the Michelin Xi2's or whatever took top spot, but at nearly 60% of the cost the Altimax was a great buy. If you want low-pro winters your options are far slimmer - I actually reduced my winter rim size so I could get away with more affordable tires.

[keithb]

I used Altimax last winter as replacements for Goodyear Ultra Grip and was extremely impressed. Did not matter if it was ice or snow , the Altimax performed exceptionally well and was notably quieter on pavement even though it was studded. Even thinking back to when the Goodyears were new , the Altimax has a clear edge. I have also used an older version of the Blizzak which was a very good tire . However the Altimax seems to be as good as most , perhaps not all, of the competition and superior to many so combined with price then it is worth serious consideration.   

[FordEscort]

I bought Michelin X-ice Xi2's for my ford focus and they did very well last winter.  They had great snow traction and were extremely smooth and quiet on the highway.

[nan_wpg]

I drove a set of latitude xice for 5 winters. They were quite durable but I was disappointed. This tire is NOT an ice and snow tire, it is a performance winter tire, as it performed well on dry pavement and lasted so long.

If Michelin marketed these tires as performance tires I would have been very happy with them, but they are a dissapointment on ice.

I used to give weight to the APA tire lists, but they said the xice performs well on ice. This is false. I drive a 4x4 xterra and still found the xice to be lacking even in 4x.

I just purchased a set of Blizzaks DMZ3's (really good price in the US), they are discountinued but my friend drives a dodge dakota truck, non 4x, and he has driven his truck with NO weight in the box and he swears by them.

My mother in law had a set of blizzak revo 1's and they were excellent.

I am gonna have to diss Michelin and recommend anything blizzak. I will report back later on in the winter for an update on my dmz3's.

[siovale]

Thank you so much, guys, for all your opinions! Blizzaks seem to be favourites. I've looked around and people are saying the Altimax are really good.

Thanks again. 

[ktm525]

Thank you so much, guys, for all your opinions! Blizzaks seem to be favourites. I've looked around and people are saying the Altimax are really good.

Thanks again. 

Also check out Continentals ExtremeWinterContact. Similar to the X Ice Xi2 but cheaper. I just ordered up a set of these. I'll report back when they see some foul weather. They better be good the g8 is going to be my ski car.

[siovale]

Also check out Continentals ExtremeWinterContact. Similar to the X Ice Xi2 but cheaper.

Thanks for the tip.

I know this forum is supported by an internet tire dealer, but the next thing I need is to find out who has the best tire deals in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

I feel I need to see the tires before actually purchasing them. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[rrocket]

We love our X-Ice2s.  Have them on our IS300, Echo and soon on the Accord Coupe.

[siovale]

Have you ever tried Gislaved Nord Frost 5 one of the best in my opinion.

Thank you! I'll look into those tires too. 

[davidy]

Based on what I have read, the Gislaved Nord Frost 5 are very similar to General Altimax Arctic. Tirerack.com has done real world testing on the General Altimax Arctic (studded and unstudded) with others like Firestone Winterforce and Pirelli Winter Carving Edge....the Arctic were top performers. Testing on the XIce2, Blizzak WS60, etc were also done by Tirerack.com....check their website for the test results.

Dave

[Careener]

I have ws-60 on my Mazda wagon. They got me through some pretty hairy stuff on the way up to Mont Tremblant last Winter.

[CanuckG35]

Blizzaks have been the best I've had over the years, won't buy anything else now. 

[Railton]

What about Blizzak LM25? Any good for 100 bucks a tire?

Today I picked up some used 225/50-18 Blizzack LM-25's with 1 seasons use on them for $400 and drove home to drrop them off then I drove over to CAR KRAZE AUTO as they had some 18" x 8" MSR 045's rims on sale 4 for $499 +tax and I purchased them. They mounted the wheel on the car to make sure there was caliper clearance and let me inspect each wheel for defects.
Once it gets a little colder I will mount the tires on the rims and do the change-over myself.
Railton

[Railton]

Here's the ad on Kijiji for the wheels.
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tires-tires-rims-MSR-045-18-inch-New-4-Rims-499-Use-as-Winter-Wheel-W0QQAdIdZ227904086#
Railton

[siovale]

Testing on the XIce2, Blizzak WS60, etc were also done by Tirerack.com....check their website for the test results.

Will do. Thanks!