Snow tires.

"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
10/11/2016 at 21:24 • Filed to: None

The time has come. The good roads turn to crap, fuel economy take a nose dive, people forget how to drive, and snowy parking lots are filled with skid marks. Winter, coming soon to a northern region near you.

So I need snow tires. Here is what I found so far:

- Nissan has a promotion for Yokohamas if you buy 3 your get the 4th tire for $1. So I stopped by the dealer after work for a quote. Here is what I got. For Yokohama’s Ice Guard IG52C’s they want $182.75/tire installed ($152 retail), and $110 for one 16" steel wheel. The HST on the tires be $75.28, and on the wheels it be $57.20. All in it be $1,152.61.

- My dad keeps sending links for used tires below $500. Every link is for Good shityear Ultra Grip Ice’s. Yes I like saving money, but not on tires. Especially snow winter tires. I hate buying used tires, I don’t know how they where driven on, and how well they where taken care of.

I’ve already woken up to frost 3 days in a row now, and want some on within a week.

DISCUSSION (13)

facw > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 21:34

Honestly I think I liked the ride on my snow tires (Michelin Alpin PA2s) more than I like my current all season tires (Michelin Pilot Exalto AS). Regardless snow tires are good to have. From my experience I’d recommend putting them on before Thanksgiving, unless you want to slide into a curb like an idiot.

PowderHound > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 21:41

I have blizzak ws80's on the subie. I love them. They are my first actual snow tires though so I have nothing to compare hem to

hellriaser > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 21:43

You can get some good deals used mostly on wheels & tires. My tip, go high end. Enthusiasts / rich people tend have nice, well cared for stuff. I got some nice tsw’s & nokian r2with 10k km / one year on them for 900$ Off a c63 & a set of oem s4 wheels w/ one season 16km x-ice 2's for 1100$ off a rs4. When you figure in that you can sell the wheels down the road, the cost is very low

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 21:45

I have had Blizzaks on all my cars (well except the 2006 Corolla, but I like to pretend that car didn’t happen) and love them. Never even threatened to get me stuck, even in New England winters.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > facw
10/11/2016 at 21:49

but thanksgiving just happen.

facw > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 21:51

Well then that’s probably bad! The need for snow tires increases as Thanksgiving gets earlier!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > PowderHound
10/11/2016 at 21:55

I’ve only ever had Michlen X-ice series tires. I’ve put them on my previous 3 cars and have been great tires.

deekster_caddy > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 22:10

Pretty much any snow tire will be better than any all season tire. Would you say you are more worried about ice or snow?

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 22:14

I use Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 on the ZHP and I have been very impressed by them thus far. They hold up pretty well on non-crappy days to spirited driving, but still have tons of grip on snow-covered roads. They were on my car when I witnessed a Land Rover do a 720 in my rear view mirror while attempting to do the same lane change I had just completed with zero drama.

Only real complaint is that they are louder than my summer tires, but I’ve found that to be pretty normal for winter tires.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/11/2016 at 22:17

Even the best snow tires won’t turn you into a driving God. Anything with the snow-peak on it has been tested and will do pretty well. I’ve run around in a city that never plows on bald no-seasons without any issues. Not that it’s a good idea or anything.

I personally just run Grabber AT2's year-round. Winter rated, and durable enough to withstand gravel roads. $800 mounted balanced and installed on both the MJ and Niva. Throw in a set of junkyard wheels and you’re looking at what you’re looking at for the Yokohamas. Of course your needs are likely different from mine.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
10/11/2016 at 22:28

I know that good tires don’t make a rally god, but if I need to react quick I need a quick responding tire.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/12/2016 at 09:05

Do they make a GT Altimax Arctic in your size? Those have worked quite well on my Miata and they do offer a studded version if that is your preference. I don’t get to use them on actual snow too often (usually just cold) but the times I have gone skiing, they handle great during those drives.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
10/12/2016 at 09:06

If you can get Firestone Winterforce tires in your size they tend to be cheap and are damn good tires in deep snow. A lot of people in my area run those and we get a lot of snow every winter (200"+ or more than 5 metres in Kanuck units).

Blizzaks are also excellent tires. Can’t remember what model we ran on my wife’s Escape, but they made it just about unstoppable. Except the one time she called asking how to put it in four wheel drive (it’s AWD, so no need to shift into 4x4) because she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get back from the end of the driveway. She had made an attempt to leave the house but decided against it once she got to the road and the neighbor pointed out to her that it would be better to stay home.

On my STi I run Dunlop Winter Sport 3D’s. Those have been excellent for me, but it’s time to replace them. I don’t drive it much, but the last few winters I’ve been saying “one more winter” for the Dunlops. Not sure what to put on that, but I should probably start doing research.