All Winter Tire Questions/Thoughts Go here...

[Augie]

So I am switching to my winters today. Dunlop Graspic DS2. Not as good as Blizzaks in the deep snow, but living near a major metro Area I am more concerned about ice/slush than deep snow. But I want something that will handle snow better than the Michelin XIce but still giving me some good handling on the dry.

This may be the latest I have switched over from Performance All Seasons in memory.


Here is a great link as to the reason you should have dedicated winter/summer tires. Even if your Summer tires are all seasons.

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http://www.tirerack.com/videos/index.jsp?video=23

The braking comparison measured the tires' ability to provide traction during an ABS-assisted panic stop in a straight line. A 30-foot difference in stopping distance during a panic stop at 30 mph on a snow-packed road is more than enough to determine whether it's a near miss or an accident!
Conclusion

While all-season tires may provide enough wintertime traction for drivers in areas of the country that only receive occasional light snow, Tire Rack feels there isn't a viable alternative to dedicated winter / snow tires if drivers expect to encounter deep or frequent slush, snow or ice.

Tires are often the difference between wintertime gripping and white knuckle slipping, and only matched sets of four will do!

Who else is rocking some winter rubber?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

For sure way too early for winter tread. But then, I have not used snow tires for about 45 years. Before anyone jumps on this because maybe I don't live in a deep snow area, which I do not, I will point out that I have also lived in one of Michigan's snow belts where our lowest snowfall for any winter was still in excess of 200 inches. We also have lived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and that speaks for itself. No, I won't be putting snow tires on this year either. However, if I lived in a really hilly or mountainous area, then I'd have not only snow tires but also chains.

 

[firefighterjake]

After years of running all season tires this year I am contemplating buying some tires from a nearby scrap yard and getting some snow tires for my wife's Subaru . . . which will eventually become my Subaru.

 

[mithesaint]

We put Blizzaks on the wife's Fusion. The standard conti's are terrible in the snow. Using the snow tires allows for safer winter driving, and also allows us to run the summer tires longer than we would have normally kept them. Even though we don't get that much snow here compared to others, it's a no brainer, especially when she's transporting my kids all over the place.

 

[jharkin]

Ive always runs snow tires ever since Ive owned a car, usually Blizzaks or Michelin's.... though I hear great things about the Hakka's.

I used to run true summer tires (Goodyear F1) on the Acura and Michelin Pilot Alpin's in the winter, and with that combo I'd be switching this weekend as the summer tires get hard as a rock when it dips into the 40s. Now I run high perf AS in the summer and MIchelin X-Ice3 in the winter and will be switching sometime around around Thanksgiving.

On the wife's 4WD pilot I just have all season Michelin LT tires as we never need to take it out in a snowstorm but might consider snows on that in the future, especially when we trade in the Acura and I start driving the Pilot more in winter.

In the long run it doesn't cost anything more as you get a couple extra years out of the summer tires.


For everyone who lives in the snowbelt and figures they dont need snow's because they have 4WD, AWD, traction control or just manage to creep up that one big hill in snow by going real slow.... Remember that the largest benefit to snow tires is increased traction for braking and cornering that could save you from an accident.

 

[Grisu]

Although we do get up here a good amount of snow the road crews are really great in clearing the streets. We therefore did not get dedicated winter tires but went with the only all-season tire that performs well in snow: Nokian WR. No changeover necessary twice a year and it has handled all the ice and snow we got so far. However, treadlife is not the best; about 35-40,000 miles which may be the only reason for me to get dedicated winter (probably Hakka's) and summer tires next time.

 

[peakbagger]

Hard to beat Hakkas winter tires, I see car in VT where the Hakkas tires are worth more than the car

 

[ewdudley]

Fresh radials are usually just fine in the winter, but they don't stay fresh for for more than a year usually. Plus they're using wider and lower profile tires for OEM these days, which puts them at more of a disadvantage.

We have always preferred Hakkas, but the Hankook knock-offs are nearly as good for less money.

I like studs in heavy traffic urban environments where the stop and start areas get glazed by cars skidding to a stop and spinning away, but on the open highway studs rarely offer any advantage.

Cooper, Michelin, Hankook, and others make some great winter tires these days, lots of good choices unlike thirty years ago. Bilizzak if you just want to throw money at the problem.

 

[smithm1979]

Check out Goodyear. They are having a promotion right now, save $60 on four and another $60 if you put it on a Goodyear credit card (which I'll be applying for when I go to buy my tires).

 

[Flatbedford]

I have run my front drive commuter cars on all season radials for years now. As long as they are pretty fresh I usually have no problems. My commute is on pretty heavily traveled and usually well maintained roads. I think that having a manual transmission, and knowing how to use it, is a huge advantage in winter weather. I probably replace my tires sooner than average, but I feel that at the about the same cost as the deductible on my collision coverage, it is worth it knowing that I will be under control in all weather.
I am thinking about picking up a set of chains for my Ford Focus as extra insurance. There are light duty chains made for front drive cars, has anybody here ever used them?

 

[semipro]

There are light duty chains made for front drive cars, has anybody here ever used them?

I've used cables and was very impressed especially in the ice and hard packed snow.

 

[jebatty]

I switched to full winter tires after I rolled my pickup truck on a snowy curve. The impressive traction improvement of winter tires over all-season tires made me a real believer, and I now use them on our two cars (sold the truck). I've switched my wife's car over already and mine will have the switch this week.

 

[ewdudley]

I switched to full winter tires after I rolled my pickup truck on a snowy curve.

(Lemme guess, it was a Chevy and you let off of the gas.)

This may seem counter intuitive, but I've always observed that the guys with the best tires roll over more often and the most dramatically.

 

[Boog]

Grew up in Buffalo but living now in NE Ohio. I run dedicated snows during the winter on a second set of rims. Currently have Blizzaks on my E150 "Conversion" Van, and Latitude X-Ice on my Highlander. They are both great with the Blizzaks having the edge in deeper snow and the X-Ice on ice.

I like to tell the story how I pulled into the driveway a few years ago with a then RAV4/X-Ice. The driveway didn't look "too bad", a little bit icy. I pulled in at a good speed and stopped "on a dime" as usual about 3" from the garage door. Opened the door, put one foot out, tried to stand up and went down hard ................ really hard. I laid there for what seemed like several minutes before I was barely able to get up and slide to the door. That driveway was solid slippery ice, but you would never have known it driving the car!

 

[firefighterjake]

Anyone ever use General Altimax Arctic tires? I've used other General tires in the past and have liked them . . . not winter tires though. Price point seems good and you can stud them . . . which reminds me . . . do folks prefer studded or unstudded?

 

[flyingcow]

winter tires with studs go on all 3 vehicles soon.

 

[Augie]

I have not used snow tires for about 45 years

You should think about them again, in the last 5-10 years snow tire tech has come a long way. Winter tires are now better than allseasons by a large amount when ambient temps are below 40F. Better on Ice, in slush. there is no reason no to have them at this point. Yes you have to switch wheels twice a year, you usually should rotate your tires twice a year too. I costs a small amount more, but your winter driving is safer, I see no reason not to have them. Once you drive a car with them you will never go back to all seasons in the winter.

 

[CTguy9230]

theres just no comparing an all season tire to a true snow tire

 

[Augie]

Anyone ever use General Altimax Arctic tires?

I have driven on them, they seem good, they have always been on the list of tires to consider, but have found great deals elsewhere. The last couple of winter sets I have picked up were used one season from friends that have gotten new cars and needed different sizes.

As far as my research has shown they are just rebranded Gislaved Nordfrost 3, a little older tech, 3-5 yr old design, but still really good.



Gislaved Nordfrost 3 is a tire out of Norway that always gets some of the best reviews and test results. YOu really cant go wrong with the General Altimax Arctic as a budget choice. Better than ANY all season and pretty close to tires costing 2-3 times as much.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=295897&page=2

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=123

If I lived where I needed Studs, they were allowed, this is the tire I would have

 

[ewdudley]

Yes you have to switch wheels twice a year, you usually should rotate your tires twice a year too. I costs a small amount more, but your winter driving is safer, I see no reason not to have them.

The last couple of winter sets I have picked up were used one season from friends that have gotten new cars and needed different sizes.

Need to get your story straight! First they're just a minor expense, then you're saving a bunch because your friends took a beating on tires they couldn't use anymore.

 

[Augie]

Need to get your story straight! First they're just a minor expense, then you're saving a bunch because your friends took a beating on tires they couldn't use anymore.

I would have winters even if I didn't get the great deals from friends, and I have in the past. If you dont get a great deal they are a minor expense amortized over a few years. One accident avoided and they pay for themselves. The added confidence in the winter is amazing!

 

[mithesaint]

Need to get your story straight! First they're just a minor expense, then you're saving a bunch because your friends took a beating on tires they couldn't use anymore.

Well, given that you can keep your summer tires a bit longer by using winter tires, yeah, they're a minor expense. Price of tires vs auto insurance collision deductible.

Who said anything about his friends taking a beating on the tires? Why assume he didn't pay them a fair price? Besides...buy ANYTHING new, and try to sell it a year later for a decent price. Good luck.

 

[AddictiveStew]

I always order winters from tirerack pre-mounted and balanced. Bought a WRX last year and the thing was unstoppable with AWD and snows! My driveway is very steep and it climbs it like nothing.

 

[firefighterjake]

Thanks for the info Augie.

AddictiveStew . . . any pictures of the T-Rex that we Subbie lovers can drool over?

 

[AddictiveStew]

How's this?