Topic: Winter tire help - 2010 Santa Fe

[2010Santy]

While crashing around the web I was glad to find you guys (and gals) to get a Canadian opinion on car issues, as things are a little different north of the border. I am in the process of shopping for winter tires for our new vehicle, a 2010 Santa Fe Ltd. (3.5L AWD). OE for this model is 235/60-18 (102 H), for the base GL model OE is 235/65-17 (103 T). Here is where my problems start. I know I can change the fitment to a -1 (235/65-17) and am told I can also go to -2 (235/70-16); I am putting the new tires on steel rims to save the mags from salt and potholes. I am not the only driver on this CUV so I am worried about the change in handling if I go the 16” route, as I was told this could be a short-term issue.  Any thoughts on 16” or 17” tires would be a great help. Also here a short list of tires I am considering. Here again your input would be greatly appreciated.
Yokohama Geolandar I/T G072
Toyo Open Country G-02 plus
Hankook RW11 i*Pike
BFGoodrich Winter Slalom KSI
Thank in advance for you help.

[airbalancer]

From Nov 09
Check out pg 2 on the PDF

[KptKrunch]

I had the Yoko Geolander I/T GO72 on my Pathfinder last year and they did great in snow and decent on ice (I have a glare ice spot just outside my cul de sac and the wheels would spin there to get going but I stopped OK). They are also a lot quieter than I expected. Some reviews complained that they were a very noisy tire but I did not find them noisy at all - even at highway speeds. They also handle very well. For this reason I'm heavily leaning toward the Yoko Ice Guard IG20's for my new vehicle (a Subaru Outback)

[Robeye]

I just got a 2010 GL sport, has the same 18"  wheels... I've put my Nokian Haka's 225 -R70-16" on that I already owed on steel rims, fit perfectly. Narrower (better in the winter) and about 1/2 " less in diameter. Which should throw off the speedo a bit.. Not concerned.  Such little difference should not effect the handling.  And because all four tires are the same size should not effect the wheel sensors. 
BTW how do you like your SantaFe ?  I travel 500 km every 4 days to work, over three mountain passes here in BC.  I'm a true test of what stuff a vehicle is made of.. I like this one the best so far.. 

[davidy]

General Altimax Arctic and Nokian Nordman comes in a 235/70-16. Ride would a bit softer than the 60 or 65 series. Handling would be less agile too.

Dave

[2010Santy]

First SUV we’ve owned in a while. Had a 4Runner with locking hubs. Did we love that truck! The Santy is only 3 weeks old and we are just at a 1000 clicks, so far the ride is nice. This is our first Hyundai, great bang for the buck, and you can feel the power on the highway. The extras we got with the Limited edition are a nice treat. Thanks for the input on the 16” tires. On the 16’s the difference is about 0.5% on the speedometer. The dealer told me that there are no tpms sensors on the vehicle.

[Robeye]

Yes the handling is not as "crisp" as with the 60 series 18" stock tires. But hey it's winter ! and we should slow down ..a little.  Never screw with the laws of physics..  I like to stay out of the ditch.  I bought some very nice Sachs alloy rims for my snow tires.. considering I'll be driving on them for 5 months. 
 3900 kms on the clock now ... still love this ute.  Better fuel mileage than the 05 Ford Escape V6 that it replaced.  And way better range between fill ups. 
 Quiet and roomy. Nice sounding stereo. Does the mountain passes with ease.  Too bad that Hyundai pared with XM.  XM only works on the prairies. where there are no trees or mountains!  So that's a bust... I've got Sirius in my Avalanche and it works no matter what.  It's also too bad that the bluetooth does not hold your phone book .. instead it loads it every time.. So keep your phone book small !

[Guy]

Welcome here Santy, I've had good luck with the General Altimax on a Tucson. They are in fact Gislaved Nordfrost 3. (Continental who owns General also owns Gislaved.) I have put the Toyo's G02 Plus on my Volvo XC70 last winter and was not impressed. Major deterioration in handling and the grip in snow and slush is good but not that great. 235/70 -16 should work well.

You don't get that much snow in Montreal anyway...

[Angry Chicken]

Welcome here Santy, I've had good luck with the General Altimax on a Tucson. They are in fact Gislaved Nordfrost 3. (Continental who owns General also owns Gislaved.) I have put the Toyo's G02 Plus on my Volvo XC70 last winter and was not impressed. Major deterioration in handling and the grip in snow and slush is good but not that great. 235/70 -16 should work well.

You don't get that much snow in Montreal anyway...

I didn't know that the Gislaved Nordfrost 3 and the General Altimax were the same tire!  Here's a quicky tire test on the Altimax http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/wheels/129_0709_general_altimax_arctic_tire_test/index.html  Also, I looked at the pics of the Nordfrost 3 here: http://www.gislaved-tires.com/generator/www/com/en/gislaved/automobile/hidden/nord_frost_3/master_nf3_en.html and the tread design is identical.

I probably have to replace the winter tires on my wife's Santa Fe this year since they are droning like crazy after 3 years of use and I can't stand the sound anymore.  I thought the wheel bearings were gone.  The tires have been regularly rotated and show even wear so I'm not sure what's up.  I think I'll bring them into the distributor (they're Nokian SUVs, so that would be Kal Tire) to see if there's something they can do.  Failing that I might pick up a set of these Altimax tires, as I've already got the rims and the tires are attractively priced.  Not to mention that they have achieved stellar review, of course!

[Guy]

Yes, for the price, you can't go wrong with the Altimax.

[Angry Chicken]

Yes, for the price, you can't go wrong with the Altimax.

$122.99 ea. @CT for size 225/70R16 which is according to the tire size calculator here:  http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html will throw my speedometer off by 2.4% too fast when compared to the OE 235/60R18 tire fitment.  I'm pretty anal about these things, so I wonder if I would be happy? 

It doesn't appear that CT has the 235/70R16 size available. This would be 0.5% too fast

[stodge]

Canadian Tire has the Generals on sale - I got mine for about $83/tyre for 185/65R15.

[Minou]

I have a set of Continental Extreme Winter Contact 235/70-16 on order for mine since Sep 09th.  I called the shop today and the tires should be here by next week (hopefully).
Will use the 16" steel wheels I had for my Sonata to replace the OEM 17" alloys.

[anav_ds]

Same issue looking for new tires but the altimax does not come in 235 65 16 OR the best match, 215 70 16, either (am looking at the 225 70 16 (1.33 percent off - well within the 3% most sites recommend to be  under).   
It appears that CTC does not carry specific models while Continental does with their wintercontact series.  The tires look to be similar??

[davidy]

Same issue looking for new tires but the altimax does not come in 235 65 16 OR the best match, 215 70 16, either (am looking at the 225 70 16 (1.33 percent off - well within the 3% most sites recommend to be  under).   
It appears that CTC does not carry specific models while Continental does with their wintercontact series.  The tires look to be similar??

Tread patterns are different...General Altimax Arctics are directional; Continental ExtremeWinterContacts are asymmetric.

Dave