Topic: Yokohama Geolandar i/T G072 vs Blizzak DM-V1, $150 Difference worth it?

[Trainman]

So I have some options and prices.  Turns out the Blizzak WS-70 is not available for the RAV in the size we need (it has "truck" tire size, go figure) so for a Blizzak it has to be the DM-V1 (see the other post here, most of the recommendations were for passenger car sized tires http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php/topic,80947.0.html )

Price wise, the Geolander is about $150 cheaper after the rebates are counted in; and the Toyota dealer has them cheaper than Kal-Tire.  So the question is: is the extra money worth it for the Bizzak's?  From what I can see on the web, they have similar properties; also the Geo's are popular around here with CUV/SUV owners so unless something horrible comes up for them, we will probably go for a set of these.

Just a reminder, tire size we are looking at is 225/70R16, with a 102Q rating for the Geo's and 103R for the DM's according to the Toyota quotes we have.

Also, I searched for the Geo's on the site and the newest that showed up was from 2010, so I am hoping for some more current info/experiences.

Thanks,

Tman

[PJungnitsch]

We had the Geolander A/T-S on our trucks and they were terrible in the winter, that jives with the CR test. The i/T's seem to test better:

[Railton]

Anyone have any experience with General Tire Grabber A/T2 tires?
I need to get tires for the Escape soon and these are on sale at CT for $135 each for 235/70/16.
Railton

[Trainman]

Anyone have any experience with General Tire Grabber A/T2 tires?
I need to get tires for the Escape soon and these are on sale at CT for $135 each for 235/70/16.
Railton

Had them on the Forester.  They are a terrible winter tire, even thought they are pinned for studs.  At about -5 or so they essentially turn into hockey pucks, very slippery, hence why I ended up on Blizzaks.

Other than that, they were good for off-road use.  They will give you about a 10% hit on fuel consumption, and a significant increase in noise.  I never had any flats, and got about 50,000 kms from the set.  I would not recommended them if you do not need the off-road ability they have, there must be better choices than these for pavement use.



They handled this kind of road conditions really well:


And they don't mind getting dirty

[Trainman]

We had the Geolander A/T-S on our trucks and they were terrible in the winter, that jives with the CR test. The i/T's seem to test better:

Thanks, good info.  Interesting to see the Geo's are listed about the same price as the DM's, while up here they are a good ways apart, at least locally.

[Railton]

Anyone have any experience with General Tire Grabber A/T2 tires?
I need to get tires for the Escape soon and these are on sale at CT for $135 each for 235/70/16.
Railton

Had them on the Forester.  They are a terrible winter tire, even thought they are pinned for studs.  At about -5 or so they essentially turn into hockey pucks, very slippery, hence why I ended up on Blizzaks.

Other than that, they were good for off-road use.  They will give you about a 10% hit on fuel consumption, and a significant increase in noise.  I never had any flats, and got about 50,000 kms from the set.  I would not recommended them if you do not need the off-road ability they have, there must be better choices than these for pavement use.

Thanks for that Trainman. Back to the search.
Railton

[sailor723]

I can't comment on the Geolanders but I did run a set of DMV-1's on the ML last year and was very impressed with their performance. Just bought 4 for my daughter's Tribeca

[davidy]

The G072 are probably similar in performance to the Yokohama IceGuard IG20....which was 15th out of 16 winter tires as tested by CR for the November 2012 edition.

Personally, I would get the the DM-V1 if the price is similar to the Generals. They are on my shortlist for my next winter tire. My Generals only have 2 winters on them so far....should get 3-4 more. The General Altimax Arctic are also available in 225/70-16....should be cheaper and longer wearing than the DM-V1 (US$99 vs. US$127, Tirerack). Can you wait for a 25% off sale at Canadian Tire for the Generals? Regular price is $185.xx/tire. If you don't like CT, you can always buy them and then have them installed elsewhere (or have a local tire shop pricematch CT's sale price).

Hankook I*Pike RW11 and Continental ExtremeWinterContact are also available in 225/70-16. However, I probably would avoid the EWC for Vancouver Island and the greater Vancouver area.

Tirerack lists 215/70-16 (-2.3%)...stock tire size for 2WD. https://www.toyota.ca/v4/media/pdf/12rav4_e.pdf lists 225/75-17. 225/70-16 (-0.4%).

Dave

[Trainman]

The G072 are probably similar in performance to the Yokohama IceGuard IG20....which was 15th out of 16 winter tires as tested by CR for the November 2012 edition.

Personally, I would get the the DM-V1 if the price is similar to the Generals. They are on my shortlist for my next winter tire. My Generals only have 2 winters on them so far....should get 3-4 more. The General Altimax Arctic are also available in 225/70-16....should be cheaper and longer wearing than the DM-V1 (US$99 vs. US$127, Tirerack). Can you wait for a 25% off sale at Canadian Tire for the Generals? Regular price is $185.xx/tire. If you don't like CT, you can always buy them and then have them installed elsewhere (or have a local tire shop pricematch CT's sale price).

Hankook I*Pike RW11 and Continental ExtremeWinterContact are also available in 225/70-16. However, I probably would avoid the EWC for Vancouver Island and the greater Vancouver area.

Tirerack lists 215/70-16 (-2.3%)...stock tire size for 2WD. https://www.toyota.ca/v4/media/pdf/12rav4_e.pdf lists 225/75-17. 225/70-16 (-0.4%).

Dave

Thanks Dave.

This is where it gets interesting as according to PJungnitsch list above, the G072 ranks fifth on the list, only 2 points back from the first place Conti and just ahead of the DM-V1.  This is the sort of thing that really just makes my brain hurt (of course, my wife says I have no brain worth hurting  ).

We are going with the 225/70R16 as we have steel 16" wheels left from the Sienna that the dealer says will fit just fine, and that size is close enough to the stock 17" in rolling diameter that we don't have to worry about it.  They are $900 installed with all taxes and eco fees etc from the dealer.  The DM's are as noted another $150 more; and both have similar mail in rebates although the Bridgestone one is AMX gift card rather than cash.

[davidy]

The G072 are probably similar in performance to the Yokohama IceGuard IG20....which was 15th out of 16 winter tires as tested by CR for the November 2012 edition.

Personally, I would get the the DM-V1 if the price is similar to the Generals. They are on my shortlist for my next winter tire. My Generals only have 2 winters on them so far....should get 3-4 more. The General Altimax Arctic are also available in 225/70-16....should be cheaper and longer wearing than the DM-V1 (US$99 vs. US$127, Tirerack). Can you wait for a 25% off sale at Canadian Tire for the Generals? Regular price is $185.xx/tire. If you don't like CT, you can always buy them and then have them installed elsewhere (or have a local tire shop pricematch CT's sale price).

Hankook I*Pike RW11 and Continental ExtremeWinterContact are also available in 225/70-16. However, I probably would avoid the EWC for Vancouver Island and the greater Vancouver area.

Tirerack lists 215/70-16 (-2.3%)...stock tire size for 2WD. https://www.toyota.ca/v4/media/pdf/12rav4_e.pdf lists 225/75-17. 225/70-16 (-0.4%).

Dave

Thanks Dave.

This is where it gets interesting as according to PJungnitsch list above, the G072 ranks fifth on the list, only 2 points back from the first place Conti and just ahead of the DM-V1.  This is the sort of thing that really just makes my brain hurt (of course, my wife says I have no brain worth hurting  ).

We are going with the 225/70R16 as we have steel 16" wheels left from the Sienna that the dealer says will fit just fine, and that size is close enough to the stock 17" in rolling diameter that we don't have to worry about it.  They are $900 installed with all taxes and eco fees etc from the dealer.  The DM's are as noted another $150 more; and both have similar mail in rebates although the Bridgestone one is AMX gift card rather than cash.

Didn't you have the studded General Altimax Arctics while in the interior? I have the same...I probably won't go studded again unless it's absolutely necessary. If you liked them (excluding the noise), you would probably be happy with them again.

Ratings by CR have all over the place. In 2009, the Altimax Arctic placed 2nd behind Xi2 (passenger car winter tire). In 2011, the Altimax Arctics placed 3rd (PJungnitsch's post) in the winter SUV/truck tire. In 2012, the Altimax Arctics placed 11th out of 16 winter tires.

[random006]

I'm about to install my second set of Yokohama Geolandar winter tires on my Kia Sorento.  I found my current ones worked quite well on a variety of surfaces, although there was one time when my rears slid out a foot or two on some compressed slush / ice mixture while taking a corner a mite too fast. 

The first set, though old, was still good until a fender bender took out my left front tire.  The closest they could come was the new generation Geolandars.  So, I will buy three new ones to match the one covered by the insurance.

Apparently, the new generation is even better but time will tell.

Now if only I can find a way to finagle that rebate ... 

[Trainman]

Didn't you have the studded General Altimax Arctics while in the interior? I have the same...I probably won't go studded again unless it's absolutely necessary. If you liked them (excluding the noise), you would probably be happy with them again.

Ratings by CR have all over the place. In 2009, the Altimax Arctic placed 2nd behind Xi2 (passenger car winter tire). In 2011, the Altimax Arctics placed 3rd (PJungnitsch's post) in the winter SUV/truck tire. In 2012, the Altimax Arctics placed 11th out of 16 winter tires.

We did indeed have studded Arctics on the van.  For some reason the price of these, in the size we need, is almost the same as the Geo's, so I can't see us getting them if the Geo's are a better tire, and according to all the tire stores here that handle each, that is what they say.

And I think I am giving up on tire rankings as they seem all over the map, with little consistency    

[Swapper]

Anyone have any experience with General Tire Grabber A/T2 tires?
I need to get tires for the Escape soon and these are on sale at CT for $135 each for 235/70/16.
Railton

My recommendation for your Escape, if you are looking for a great all around A/T tire, go with the Cooper Discoverer AT3's.  We have installed them on a few vehicles lately and they all seem to love them, also the top pick from Consumer Reports.  The 235/70R16 106T go for $140.00/tire + install, oh ya, and we do the install right in your driveway! (Within our service area)

Swapper