Snow Tires

CVD · 10-08-2009

It's that time of year. I'm wondering if anyone knows a local or online place that sells Nokian snow tires.
And if anyone wants to use this thread to discuss snow tires in general, feel free.

Matt D. · 10-08-2009

I know a bunch of us have pretty much every brand and model of snow tire available and all work well. I have Hankook Icebear W300. Blizzaks are aren't worth the extra price.

Lots of Nokian dealers in the Twin Cities: http://www.nokiantires.com/dealer-locator

**Kracka** · 10-08-2009

Hankook Icebear W300's rock. Thats what I used during the winters. Great snow/ice ability plus they felt like a performance all-season in the dry.

If you're looking for an amazing snow tire and don't care about dry performance save the cash on the Nokians and get the Generals that Scheides has on his Evo.

1QUICK4 · 10-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

If you're looking for an amazing snow tire and don't care about dry performance save the cash on the Nokians and get the Generals that Scheides has on his Evo.

+1

My General Altimax Artics are comming up on their 3rd season. I drove on them all last summer and they still have 9/32.

They hook great in the snow and only cost $35 a tire for the Scummit (175/70/13)

CVD · 10-08-2009

I agree Blizzaks aren't worth the money. I have a set of Hankook Icebears and I honestly think they are terrible. I read somewhere that they were designed as a middle of the road winter tire with dry performance in mind. I'm sorry, if I wanted that I would have purchased all seasons.
I also have a set of Hankook iPikes, which are pretty damn good tires. On these I read they were made to copy Nokian. Go figure.

A//// Guy · 10-08-2009

Im probably going to go with Pirelli Snowsport 240s. I read some reviews and they seem like a good performance tire that is great in the snow.

They are cheaper than Michelin and Dunlops. Too bad the cheaper tires like Hankooks dont come in 18s. ugh

blageo23 · 10-08-2009

Shoot over to MNsubaru, They have a local place that is doing a discount on winter tires. I dont remember if you need to be a member or not tho.

**goodhart** · 10-08-2009

^^yeah you have to be a member for 30 days and have 50 posts I believe. I will most likely be running some Firestone Winterforce's this winter on the subie, they seem like a good, cheaper alternative to Blizzaks or Nokians.

**Tachyon** · 10-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodhart

I will most likely be running some Firestone Winterforce's this winter on the subie, they seem like a good, cheaper alternative to Blizzaks or Nokians.

+1 on the Winterforces, I've rocked them on all my winter vehicles for a while now and felt more way more secure in snow then with my AWD Raider with M+S tires.

Up in Duluth 3 years ago we put a set (Winterforce) on a GK Tiburon (with Torsen LSD) and proceeded out during the morning aftermath of a heavy snowfall. We had no trouble plowing though the still 8-10" of snow that was still on the roads. In fact, we had to stop on one of the steeply inclined side streets because there was a 4x4 Explorer blocking the road. The Ford was just stuck spinning its front and rear wheels on the icepack under the snow.

From a dead stop on mostly icepack, with a lowered FWD sports car, we proceeded to drive around him on the unplowed street. I wish I had a camera for the WTF look the driver gave us as we accelerated past him. After that, I've been sold on snow tires. I have used Blizzaks before as well, but honestly cannot say I noticed a difference between them and the much cheaper Winterforce on lighter vehicles such as the Dodge Colt.

I've not yet gotten the chance to try out Nokians, however I did witness a new Golf with Hakkapeliittas drive on the ice racing track after the races were over. It looked very stable at a good rate of speed. Obviously not as fast as with studs, but I was impressed for an all rubber tire.

Matt D. · 10-08-2009

The Hankook Icebear W300s work well enough for me that I could start from a dead stop on a hill with 4-6" of snow and not spin at all. The iPikes are studdable with a directional tread, they probably do work a bit better.

blageo23 · 10-08-2009

I got a set of Blizzaks used for $50 last year and I honestly LOVED them. My car couldnt even do donuts in our parking lot with them on there. Part of that was the lack of power in my car but I did them before the tires. I also had a set on my grand prix a long time ago and they worked super well.

**scheides** · 10-08-2009

How is there not a thread on this already? Oh wait there is

Which nokian's are you looking at? I run General Altimax Arctics on my evo, and they are damn near identical to the hakka RSi:
http://www.nokiantires.com/tyre?id=1...kapeliitta+RSi

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Altimax+Arctic

They are not a 'performance' snow tire in that they have soft sidewalls and are kinda mushy in the dry, but when it snows, the car is unstoppable (esp now that I have a real undertray LOL). These are studdable too, if you feel like getting stupid.

actually, I lied. They ARE stoppable, the car has so much grip in deep snow and ice stopping is super easy.

I like the w300's too.....damn you have me excited for snow now! LOL.

At-Least-It's-An-Evo · 10-08-2009

What size tires are you looking for?

CVD · 10-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by At-Least-It's-An-Evo

What size tires are you looking for?

Trying to find 225/50/17. They are for a RWD Cadillac. I'll check out some of the other options mentioned in this thread.

**cmspaz** · 10-08-2009

I need to figure my shit out, I've got 3 matching 16s and one stocker, wondering if I should get a matching set for winter or just run winter tires on the 17s...

**Kracka** · 10-08-2009

LM-22's on closeout at TireRack:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....&AID=10398365&

Kasey at MAP · 10-08-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

LM-22's on closeout at TireRack:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes....&AID=10398365&

The 245/40/17's are 65.00 a piece, thats cheap.

CVD · 10-08-2009

Went for the Blizzaks. Thanks Kracka.

ylimert01 · 10-09-2009

I have good year ultra grip tires and LOVE them..on there 3rd winter and many rallyx's and they look barley used..lots of grip on these deff ftw.

**asshanson** · 10-09-2009

I also run the ultra grips in my Talon, bought them used from CVD 4 years ago, still have good life left (though I don't drive that much). I absolutely love them, it takes serious throttle to break loose in most situations, and they actually corner pretty well in snow.

I just found a good deal on some staggered Blizzaks for the Caddy, probably be using those just in case I have to drive it in the snow this winter.