Snow Shoes Ordered.

"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
11/27/2019 at 16:27 • Filed to: None

Northern Wi is getting its first real snow storm of the season right now. I’d say my town has received at lest 6-8 inches so far with more coming down. Today I drove around a bit running errands and going to work. I realized this morning that when we moved this summer some how our snow shovels got left behind. In the Parking of L&M Fleet I understeered and nearly slid into a parked truck. That truck was 2 spots down from the spot I was trying to turn into. So it became abundantly clear that the all seasons in my car are completely useless in snow. Also I tried to hoon a bit in an empty lot and I just couldn’t. All sliding no for grip. Besides the safety concerns I cant have an unfun car all winter.

So I went an ordered snows today, after procrastinating on it for over a month. I ended up going with Continental Viking Contact 7s. They had a 70 dollar rebate that made them the cheapest choose next to Uniroyals. And I’ve never heard a bad word about Continentals.

I also ordered them in a slightly skinnier and taller size than stock. 215/55/17. Should result in better steering NV response in snow, and about half an inch of ground clearance. Looking around the wheel wells I should have plenty of room for them. It’ll be a big improvement from the 205/50/17s I ran last year which were actually too small.

DISCUSSION (16)

bob and john > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/27/2019 at 16:41

conti car tires are decent, thgouht I dont like their winters.

conti motorcycle tires are...not good.

IdleInCA > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/27/2019 at 17:44

They’re supposed to be the best studless winter tires. http://www.skstuds.ca/2019/02/14/2018s-best-the-latest-and-greatest-winter-tires-tested-by-the-naf/

Nom De Plume > bob and john
11/27/2019 at 18:03

Winter tire performance is extremely dependent on road composition. Backwoods WI + lake effect snow + highs below zero means you may not actually touch asphalt much. A tire staying pliable and creating heat through pressure to avoid spinning in those conditions would probably be awful in what many other places call Winter.

Will be interesting to see how they do.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > IdleInCA
11/27/2019 at 18:09

Good to hear. With a name like Viking Contact they better be good. Lol.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > IdleInCA
11/27/2019 at 18:19

I just bought some Blizzaks for my GTI. I’m sure they will be better than the all-season crap that was previously on those wheels. But I am disappointed they aren’t further up the list. Though, what we get as ‘winter’ weather is hardly close to what they are testing for on that site. So I should be fine.

bob and john > Nom De Plume
11/27/2019 at 18:38

I live in canada, trust me, i’m very well aware of what makes or breaks a snow tire.

where i am, blizzaks, xice, and noikians are the go to. followed by sumitomo and general tire. everything else is just...there.

Nom De Plume > bob and john
11/27/2019 at 19:12

Ah, if we can even get most of those they are highly expensive. Didn’t know you were locked in the great white North.

The Snowman > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/27/2019 at 19:49

Do you have to give them a viking funeral when you wear them out?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > bob and john
11/27/2019 at 19:51

Love my Nokians. Overkill since I live in Socal and just use them to get to the ski mountain, but they are great tires. Would 100% pick Nokian for all winter tires in the future. Mine are technically all seasons (WRG4) but they are damn good in the snow on my Subaru.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/27/2019 at 20:12

The MINI actually needs a new set of snows, the Michelins I bought in 2013 are about done. Unfortunately no spare so I’d prefer run flats (which the Michelins are) but those are more expensive than I remembered and even Tire Rack has exactly one choice nowadays.

I guess I could keep one of my summer all-seasons in the back for a spare if needed.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MiniGTI - now with XJ6
11/27/2019 at 21:26

I also don’t have a spare, but I refuse to run heavy ass run flats.

facw > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/27/2019 at 23:36

I’ve decided I’ll go another year without. Due to surgery I’m not going to be able to ski after the new year, so I’ll take my chances with all seasons for a month. I work remotely so I never really have to go out if the roads are a mess, though obviously it’s desirable if I’m going to the slopes. Maybe next year.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/27/2019 at 23:55

Meh, I don’t mind running run flats, they have saved me more than once. But hella expensive- at least $50 more per.

someoneatacura > bob and john
11/29/2019 at 18:01

You should read the APA report for this season. The Viking Contact 7 and the Winter Contact Si were both really good winter tires, especially for what they cost compared to Michelin tires. The Latitude X-Ice Xi2 is about to be replaced next year, so it will be interesting to see how that fares (Michelin has an internal standard, that the tires they replace must be beaten by 17% or more, otherwise they don’t release it - which is why the X- ice Xi3 was not replaced more recently).

Also, General is owned by Continental.

bob and john > someoneatacura
11/29/2019 at 18:05

from what I’ve OWNED on tires, I’ll tell you what I need to know.

also, the contis are like 1.3 x the price of michilens up here. so they are a none starter for winter s

(x-ice 3 for my lex are $200 each, the conti were $330. nope.)

someoneatacura > bob and john
11/29/2019 at 18:19

Sorry, I must have been misinformed while I was running a dealership’ s tire department for the last 8 years. I also live in Canada, and know where you’re buying Conti makes a difference (Canadian Tire has the best prices for Conti - exclusive purchasing contracts). I’ve run Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, General, and BFGoodrich on my vehicles. The Conti is as good as the Bridgestone and Michelin on black ice, and as quiet and smooth as an X-Ice Xi3. the Bridgestone has better deep snow traction than both, but they wear out looking at them. General and BFG are the best bang for the buck, Al ti max Arctic 12 and Winter T/A KSI are what I recommend to friends that don’t care about winter tire noise or handling (assuming the size is available).