Snow tires!!! X-Ice's, Blizzaks, SJ6's, and...?

#61

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10/31/07 at 8:56pm

cutter
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Joined: October 2007
Post Count: 27

Cooper Discoverer M&S studded. Made in the USA by union labor and excellent tires.

#62

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10/31/07 at 9:57pm

SoftSnowGuy
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Joined: December 2003
Location: Washington St.
Post Count: 1,195

The guy at the local Discount Tire store told me that Cooper under-produced their car sized snow tires, and there were none to be had. He did have pickup & SUV sizes available in the Coopers.

I've got some Hankook W409 studded tires reserved. I'd have chosen Pirelli Winter Carving Edge, but the price on the Hankooks was much better, and they should work fine. Four 195/65R15 for $360 out-the-door. Discount's list price is $75 each plus everything...ask for the lowest price they can sell them to you. TireFactory offered the same tires at $375.

#63

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10/31/07 at 10:05pm

Garrett
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Joined: September 2004
Location: An innocent prisoner will become more angry by the hour due to...
Post Count: 7,435

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoftSnowGuy

I've got some Hankook W409 studded tires reserved. I'd have chosen Pirelli Winter Carving Edge, but the price on the Hankooks was much better, and they should work fine. Four 195/65R15 for $360 out-the-door. Discount's list price is $75 each plus everything...ask for the lowest price they can sell them to you. TireFactory offered the same tires at $375.

I got some of those last weekend. No snow so far. Was able to swing the 195/75/14 with studs installed for 210 out the door. Could not pass them up at that price. Only feel like a slightly bigger jerk than usual driving around Albuquerque in 70 degree weather with studded tires.

#64

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10/31/07 at 10:05pm

sibhusky
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Joined: July 2005
Location: Northern Rockies
Post Count: 2,681

The previous pair of tires I had were studded Coopers. I don't know what model. For whatever reason, I had less issues getting around and up and down our steep hill with the Hakkapeliita's. We live up a hill that other neighbors like to use as a sledding hill, buffing it to a nice gloss. The fact that I need to get down the hill in one piece while they are doing this and may take out their damn barbecue grills one of these days seems to not be an issue for them....

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad equipment.

#65

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10/31/07 at 11:41pm

MTT
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Joined: April 2005
Location: Verdi NV
Post Count: 1,680

For your SUV You drive, pavement, snow, rain And OFF ROAD

I like to replace mine at round 30K miles (Just cuz)

But I have been very happy X2 sets of Dueler APT III Cheap and only from Sears

#66

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11/1/07 at 2:47pm

Toadman
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Joined: January 2004
Location: Newcastle
Post Count: 648

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutter

Cooper Discoverer M&S studded. Made in the USA by union labor and excellent tires.

I had a pair of the Nokian Vatiiva's on my Tacoma 4x4. The local tire dealer said that the Vatiiva was essentially the Cooper Discoverer, and in fact the Vatiiva is made by Cooper in the U.S. Same tread pattern and similar Haka siping. Prices are about the same.

#67

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11/2/07 at 7:47pm

//V
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Joined: October 2006
Location: Boston, MA
Post Count: 136

another vote here for Nokian all the way. I had Nokian WRs on my Audi for two years, 40,000 miles. the WRs are the all seasons and they were still awesome. drove them in everything from white outs in the rockies to storms in the northeast. i never once had any trouble in the utah canyons, mountain passes in wyoming, island park in idaho, gallatin canyon...i drove pretty much all over northeast utah, western wyoming, and southwest montana. then i took them east and drove them in the ice and slush of vermont. would definitely get them again if i was shopping for winter tires.

#68

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11/3/07 at 6:46am

SoftSnowGuy
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Joined: December 2003
Location: Washington St.
Post Count: 1,195

Quote:

The local tire dealer said that the Vatiiva was essentially the Cooper Discoverer, and in fact the Vatiiva is made by Cooper in the U.S.

The very small print on the sidewall of the tire will show the country of origin. Let us know if that guy was telling you the truth.

The first two numbers or letter in the DOT code impressed into the sidewall of every tire will I.D. the plant that made the tire:
http://www.harriger.com/tires.htm

By the way, the last four digits of the DOT code gives the week and year of manufacture of the tire.

#69

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11/3/07 at 6:53am

Ghost
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Joined: October 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Post Count: 10,664

For any Ontario Bears, when was the last time you got stopped by the man and were in a situation where you might get caught with studs on your tires? Just asking; my current tires are good for at least one more winter.

#70

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9/13/09 at 11:21am

Ghost
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Joined: October 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Post Count: 10,664

Time to buy new tires,
Here's the latest
http://www.consumersearch.com/snow-tires/review
Costco sells the X-ice II, but no studded tires

.
http://www.mhf.se/motorforaren/files/mf6024_31.pdf

#71

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9/13/09 at 12:16pm

ILOJ
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Joined: June 2009
Location: Mill Creek, WA
Post Count: 46

Blizzacks ! I had them last season on my 2wd Chevy Impala (all 4 tires - don't do just 2 on a 2wd) and they worked great in all conditions - powder, compact snow & ice, slush, refrozen slush. Highly recommend these. Never once got stuck or slid around, actually performed much much better than my Durango 4WD with M+S tires.

#72

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9/13/09 at 1:20pm

slider
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Joined: June 2001
Post Count: 4,520

Studded tires damage road surfaces when run on bare pavement. Yes,heavy trucks also damage the road. However, trucks pay PUC too. Next time you see ruts in the highway take a notice how wide they are. Does your auto fit in the ruts or are they wider. That's the way to tell if it's stud damage or those evil,overloaded,speeding truckers. PS-I drive off-road lowboy,so I am not subjected to an unsafe work enviorment know as a public highway.

#73

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9/13/09 at 1:28pm

Ghost
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Joined: October 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Post Count: 10,664

Modern studs do way less damage than the older ones did. Let's talk about reducing damage to human life and property by using better tires. (see the links above). With all the fuel taxes I've paid over the years, I'm entitled to damage some pavement! (our government doesn't spend the fuel tax on road upkeep!).

PS Anybody got a link to a good on-line Swedish - English translator?

#74

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9/13/09 at 5:09pm

ILOJ
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Joined: June 2009
Location: Mill Creek, WA
Post Count: 46

Some of the better quality snow tires have BETTER traction performance WITHOUT studs. Check out Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 and Nokian Hakkapellitta.

#75

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9/13/09 at 5:32pm

Ghost
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Joined: October 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Post Count: 10,664

That was then; this is now. Studded tires currently beat non-studded tires for ice and snow traction. The old Bridgestone test you are thinking of used an el-cheapo winter-force studded tire for comparison.

#76

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9/13/09 at 6:41pm

newfydog
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Joined: March 2003
Location: Bend, Oregon
Post Count: 3,939

Michelin X -Ice: Best tire to run all summer,

I figured they didn't have enough tread for my next winter, so I just left them on. They held up great, through some really hot weather highway trips. They don't look too bad. but they'll be swapped out for sure this fall.

#77

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9/13/09 at 7:11pm

Ghost
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Joined: October 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Post Count: 10,664

Quote:

Originally Posted by newfydog

Michelin X -Ice: Best tire to run all summer,

I figured they didn't have enough tread for my next winter, so I just left them on. They held up great, through some really hot weather highway trips. They don't look too bad. but they'll be swapped out for sure this fall.

That was my plan too, but a flat put an end to that idea. The offending object was rolling around inside the tire or I would have plugged it myself. There wasn't enough tread left to get the free repair from costco, and since the other tires were bald too, I shelled out for 4 new tires. I seem to recall taking a few wet corners a little hot, so maybe it was a good thing I replaced the baldies. A month later I bought a new car.

Tire Racks latest studless test...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=111

For a peak at the best studless tire in the latest test versus the studded tires, check the graph on page 5, even if you don't read Swedish, you will get the picture..
http://www.mhf.se/motorforaren/files/mf6024_31.pdf

#78

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9/13/09 at 7:23pm

MattL
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Joined: November 2005
Location: Central PA
Post Count: 1,603

I'm running Dunlop Graspic DS2 for winter. Great value and works awesome with AWD.

Harrisburg PA Web Design & Internet Marketing

#79

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9/14/09 at 4:55am

Virtus_Probi
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Joined: December 2008
Location: Somewhere between manic and depressed
Post Count: 452

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattL

I'm running Dunlop Graspic DS2 for winter. Great value and works awesome with AWD.

I bought these for my Outback when I needed snows for just one season before I got rid of the car in the spring, so I didn't want to spend too much on them. I was very happy with them as winter tires for the money, but they were just awful on dry pavement...an old school winter tire. I'm running Blizzaks on my new vehicle.

#80

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9/14/09 at 7:29am

MattL
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Joined: November 2005
Location: Central PA
Post Count: 1,603

Yea, pretty soft sidewalls but I can deal with it. They would be better in mountain towns with lower temps and snow covered roads all season. I am going to wait longer to put mine on this season and only run them for a couple months or put them on in the event of a big storm or road trip to VT. That is why I run all seasons as my 'summer' tire. I really don't NEED them since we don't even get much snow around here these days, but at least I know I am covered and can get to the slopes in full snow storms if needed. Nothing worse than not being able to go skiing when it is snowing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Virtus_Probi

I bought these for my Outback when I needed snows for just one season before I got rid of the car in the spring, so I didn't want to spend too much on them. I was very happy with them as winter tires for the money, but they were just awful on dry pavement...an old school winter tire. I'm running Blizzaks on my new vehicle.

Harrisburg PA Web Design & Internet Marketing

#81

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9/24/09 at 2:43pm

CanehdianJ
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Joined: May 2009
Post Count: 36

subaru WRX STI with Hakka 2 ICE STUDS :D

i eat snow.

#82

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9/25/09 at 5:50am

ZeroGravity
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Joined: January 2008
Post Count: 175

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost

Modern studs do way less damage than the older ones did. Let's talk about reducing damage to human life and property by using better tires. (see the links above). With all the fuel taxes I've paid over the years, I'm entitled to damage some pavement! (our government doesn't spend the fuel tax on road upkeep!).

PS Anybody got a link to a good on-line Swedish - English translator?

The Ontario laws are based on reports and studies done in the 1960's. Tire, stud, and road technology have come a long way, but the politicians have their head stuck you know where.

That being said, for my driving, studs are a bit overkill anyways and there are many tires that are very good anyways. My experience has been:

Goodyear Alpins (Honda Civic) - Junk, poor traction, insane whistling in wet weather
Goodyear Artic Alpins (Honda Civic, Chrysler Intrepid) - same as the old Alpins
Goodyear Triple Tred (Honda Civic) - all season crap, absolutely useless in winter
Toyo Garit HT (Subaru Impreza, and WRX) - awesome tires, fantastic grip, low noise, good wear
Nokian RSi (Subaru Legacy) - awesome tires, fantastic grip, low noise, good wear, big $$
Hankook w300 (Subaru Legacy) - replaced the RSi's after pothole incident at end of season so ??

This year my wife traded the Civic for an Audi A4 and I will likely put a set of Hankook iPike 409's on it. They look identical to the Nokian RSi's but at half the cost.

#83

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10/4/09 at 8:31am

Ghost
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Joined: October 2004
Location: Ontario, Canada
Post Count: 10,664

Startrek fans,
I thought you might enjoy this little test video (if you can speak french).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uahc8eetat8

It looks like I'm going to get Xi2s. Overall, studded Nordfrost 5 and studded Hakapallita 5 might be a little better, but not $200 better (especially considering the amount of salty wet roads I'll see).

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