Snow Tires

ABV · 12-01-2003

I'm going to be buying a set of snow tires in the next week or so, and was wondering what people here have used. Here are the one's I'm looking at right now.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 $80 each

Dunlop Graspic DS-1 $57 each

Michelin Arctic-Alpine $75 each

Winterforce M+S $47 each

I also heard that Nokian Hakkapalita's (sp?) are pretty good, but I can't seem to find them anywhere. I don't want to spend a whole lot of money, but my tires now are almost bald, so I need to get some new ones, and I figured, why not just get winter tires.

Are there any other's that I should be looking at?

curt_gendron · 12-01-2003

I just purchased Dunlop Winter Sport M3s before the last snow storm. I love them. They are V rated and handle very well on dry pavement and dig through the snow for great snow traction. I've also used the Dunlop Winter Sport M2s and were very happy with those.

I think all of the tires you listed will be great in the snow. Some of them will make a bigger comprimise for dry traction though. So you'll have to decide how big of a deal that is too you. The Tirerack reviews are priceless, so read through those.

Look through www.tires.com too. Discount Tire has some snow tires that Tirerack doesn't.

Have fun!
Curt
http://www.mn3s.org

**Kracka** · 12-01-2003

This is my 2nd Duluth winter on WinterKings (I believe both tires.com and tirerack.com sell them) and they have been working out VERY well for me. I will probably give the WinterForces a try next time around just to try something different. I have seen them in person at Firestone and they look pretty decent, they have an agressive tread that is unidirectional I believe.

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 12-01-2003

We got some Dunlop Winter Sport M3s for Mara's RWD SC300. They seem very good so far. We need some deep snow and unplowed interstection buildup to test them out more though. They are mounted on her old stock Talon wheels, looks pretty ghetto on the SC300.

CVD · 12-01-2003

The Miata came with Nokian happakawhateverthefucks. I stored the car, but the guy said he drove 3 winters on them and they were great.

Still in quite good shape after 3 winters as well.

**Kracka** · 12-01-2003

Those whateverthefucks of CVD's look brand new after 3 winters. They have a fairly aggressive tread pattern, but the compound is very hard, possibly just due to age.

520Talon · 12-01-2003

I'm on my second winter on my Graspics. I like them, but the edges where kind of fast, if you drive them sideway everywhere.

12-01-2003

i've got the michelin arctic alpines on my civic and my wife has blizzak ws-50's on her jetta.

the michelins ride like an all season, aren't too soft, and are noticably better in the snow than an all season.

the blizzaks seem equal to the michelins when it's dry, but when there is snow on the ground, these things grip hard. definetly a better snow tire than the alpine.

i've heard good things about the hakka q's, but where do you get them and how much are they?

i'd get the blizzaks. it's the snow tire that all the others are measured against for a reason.

**JET** · 12-01-2003

I also have the Winterkings from Discount tire, they are great for the price! Some of these rally guy's have to know where to get the Hakka's, if not my boss is really into rally and he knows where to get them.

ABV · 12-02-2003

I just ordered a set of these: Hankook W404. Mounted and balanced, with free road hazard protection and tire rotation, it came to just over $300. Not too bad for a new set of tires. I'll let you guys know how they work out. They had to order them from the warehouse, but they should be there so I can get them put on by this weekend. It looks like there's snow in the forcast too.

520Talon · 12-02-2003

good that means you can come out and play. Did those tyres come on steelies or do you need to get them mounted?

ABV · 12-02-2003

I'm going to put those on my alloys. Then this spring I'm going to get some 19's with spinners, and pimp out the outback.

SlimStyleDSM · 12-02-2003

i have blizzaks on my eclipse...it goes from not being able 2 do a damn thing 2 driving like a truck, they are amazing...i love them

ABV · 12-04-2003

Well, I get them put on tomorrow. Just in time too (if not a little late). I just slid 15 feet past my driveway going like 10 mph.

It'll be all good tomorow though.

Jana · 12-04-2003

Looks like a sweet deal! Yeah, I can't believe how fast the snow came down tonight. The roads were already covered when I left work (but that was 7:45ish)....

ABV · 12-08-2003

Finally some snow to test these out. Were supposed to get up to 6" by tomorrow. I tried to find some roads last Friday after I got them, but most of the snow was melted by the afternoon.

A//// Guy · 12-08-2003

Watch maybe 2 inches come down... thats how I think it going to go... bastard weathermen.

ACRucrazy · 12-09-2003

Im looking at the Winterforces mounted, balanced and shipped from the tirerack for about 380$ for my Dakota.

ABV · 12-09-2003

That's not a bad deal at all. When I was looking at Tire Rack thier steel rims were around $30 a piece if I believe, and Discount Tire was around $40 each. So $380 for tires and rims at your door sounds like a great deal. I ended up skipping on the steelies though. I figured instead of spending an extra $170 (or whatever it was) for steel rims, I could just spend a little more and pick up some stock WRX rims or something off ebay for my summer tires this spring.

Oh, and after driving to work this morning, I am 100% sold on the idea of dedicated winter and summer tires. The traction is just awesome. Even for the bottom of the barrel cheap snow tires, I was really suprised. I can't imagine what the Hakka's would feel like.

AJ · 12-09-2003

My Trip this morning in the truck will just fucking blow. I can't wait to drive all the way there in 4 wheel drive.