Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

[cdnalpina]

Hey Guys,

Seeing as the snow is going to fly soon, I thought I would pose the question of what you guys would suggest, and what you run, for winter tires. I was thinking of going with a studded tire.

Cheers,

Rob

[Remedys]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

I only stud rear tires, as 80% of the braking is done in the front and studs tend to hurt braking on dry and wet roads, only good on ice. However since most of the winter we are driving in wet roads I would never stud the fronts, however the studded rears will help prevent spinning on ice. I didn't have studded tires at all last year and had no problems at all with the GLI, I was using Dunlop Graspics. Just look for a winter tire with excellent ice grip and you will be fine.

[canuck699]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

I use Toyo Garit KX series in the winter. Love them, great traction. Digs well through the thick snow, and great traction in the ice and slush.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

i rock kuhmos and they worked awesome

wife has toyos that work well and brother has pirellis

i wouldn't use studs here you chew the **** out of the roads! plus our weather is so wacky its dry/wet most of the time but when those big storms hit and your driving to work you thank yourself for spending the money

i'd call bob at urbanexpressions up and ask him.. he can recommend a ton of tires for you

or go on tireracks site.. select your car/size and then read reviews from there

[cdnalpina]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

Awesome - thanks so much guys!

[GeraldK]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

i rock kuhmos and they worked awesome

I've had Kumhos in the past and the have been great. I'm on Dunlop Wintersports 3Ds and they are great as well.

[GINCH]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

I have Nokian Hakkapelitta RSI's. They were awesome last year on the GLI. Can't wait to try them this year on the .:R!!!!

[cdnalpina]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

I've had Kumhos in the past and the have been great. I'm on Dunlop Wintersports 3Ds and they are great as well.

I ran those last year on my BMW 540iT and they were super great tires. Just didn't know how they would be on a lighter car. Good to hear they are ok!

[stefan]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

kumhos on both cars. I've been happy so far.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

haha derek all baller with his hakkas! i'd buy those handsdown if you could get them from other than kaltire or fountain whichever only carries them

FWIW.. mr burns on here is selling 16" winters/tires off his mk5 GTI if those may work?? well tires not wheels will

[Red90]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

Nokian RSIs are probably the best choice.

If you do want studded, get the Nokian Hakka 5s. Despite what is said above, they do NOT damage the roads at all. Modern studded tire have strict regulation to prevent road damage. The biggest downside to stud (IMO) is they are noisy. They help a little on pure ice, but on snow they are no different than the RSIs.

In Norway, a magazine does a proper annual comparison, which is very thorough and unbiased. These are the best ones available here.

[Guysmiley]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

I have Kuhmo KW17 on my 4th winter. Can barley even tell that there is any wear. Plus they are awsome in snow and ice.

Last year when it dumped really hard during the day, (10+cm) I made the mistake of going south on 14st up that huge hill. Traffic was backed up forever because nobody without 4WD could make it up the hill. Once I got there I drove up like it was nothing.

[longsock]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

Kumho KW17 and you're set, like he said ^^

[Benjamin]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

Hakka's 5's would be my choice if I was getting new tires this year. My younger brother is getting some for his car, non studded of course. Last year when I was getting some tires installed at Kal Tire for my truck I asked about the Hakka's for prices. I got $170 a tire for the VW 195/65/R15 size, but this was last year of course.
Lets put it this way, snow tires are better then 3 season tires hands down any way you look at it.

Ben

[Red90]

Re: Winter tires - what's your suggestion?

Hakka's 5's would be my choice if I was getting new tires this year. My younger brother is getting some for his car, non studded of course. Last year when I was getting some tires installed at Kal Tire for my truck I asked about the Hakka's for prices. I got $170 a tire for the VW 195/65/R15 size, but this was last year of course.
Lets put it this way, snow tires are better then 3 season tires hands down any way you look at it.

Ben

I don't think you can get Hakka 5s unstudded. It would be dumb as the compounding is not correct to be used without studs. If you want unstudded, get the RSIs.

I should add that Kumho was always near the bottom (worst) in the Norwegian winter tire tests. They were so bad, that they stopped including them in the testing.

Last year's test for studdless tires:
Continental Conti Viking Contact 5 - 7.8 points
Michelin X-ice Xi2 - 7.7 points
Nokian RSI - 7.7 points
Bridgestone Blizzak Nordic WN-01 - 7.6 points
Gislaved Soft Frost 3 - 7.6 points
and a bunch of lower rated ones...

Studded:
Nokian Hakkapeliita 5 8.7
Michelin X-Ice North 8.4
Vredestein Arctrac 8.4
Continental Conti Winter Viking 2 8.3
Goodyear Ultra Grip Extreme 8.3
Pirelli Winter Carving Edge 8.2
Gislaved Nord Frost 5 7.9
Bridgestone Noranza 7.9
Barum Norpolaris 7.4
King Star W411 6.3