winter tires

[jonlep]

I live up there in Canada so we need winter tires.
With the size of the mazda2 (185/55r15), there isn't much choice.
Wich ones did you choose and where did you get them ?

 

[Tyler_]

You can try www.canadiantire.ca. I've heard some good things about them.

 

[Gravity]

Toyo is about the only company, but the Snowprox 952s are what come with the Yozora edition and they're a high performance winter tire. I've had them for two winters now and they really do perform well.

 

[jonlep]

it's ok,
I've found used ones (only one winter-5000km), Toyo observe GSi-5 from a Fiat500.

 

[PGTBrow]

195/55/15 Michelin X-ice's

Meaty!

 

[jonlep]

yeah I noticed the X-ice also but they are pricey !
why didn't you buy the right dimension ? they are available in the 185/55
with your 195/55, you're close to be 1/2" bigger in the overall diameter, you're speedo must be off.

 

[Ryno666]

More choices, more contact patch, and more cushion. If your speedo reads 65 your actual speed is 66.22. Thats barely a differance and when driving that fast in Ice and snow stability is more of a concern. Michelin makes the best definately worth it if you can afford it.

 

[genericmoniker]

Hankook W409. 175-65-14, performed great in the brief/mild winter we had last year.

 

[PGTBrow]

yeah I noticed the X-ice also but they are pricey !
why didn't you buy the right dimension ? they are available in the 185/55
with your 195/55, you're close to be 1/2" bigger in the overall diameter, you're speedo must be off.

On Tirerack I got all 4 shipped for $344 and still have a $50 rebate card coming so all 4 for less than $300 technically. Yea and the speed is not that big of concern at only 1mph ish difference.

 

[Gobbracing]

Toyo GO2+ or Yokohama IG20 in 175/65-14.
Same diameter as our OEM tires. Just need to buy some 14 inch steel wheels. Mine are Hondas and fit perfectly.

I have GO2+ and I'm going on my third winter with them and travel a lot in bad road conditions. They never failed me and I used to rally.

 

[PGTBrow]

So yea I tested out the X-Ice's on wet pavement today... as a deer decided to cross the road. 50-0 mph with only one little burp of the ABS and I stopped with plenty of time to spare. Love these tires!

 

[Joker2]

X-ice 2 here. Like them. OEM size. Tire Rack had them stateside.

 

[NOsquid]

From what I can tell, Michelin no longer makes a 185/55-15 Xice. Neither does Continental for their EWC. Grrr...

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...performance=W&width=195/&ratio=55&diameter=15

 

[SRM2]

I'm interested to hear any (and all) feedback from drivers who have either Vredesteins or Nokians on their 2. I have a set of Vredestein Quatrac3 4-season tires on my '03 A4 and they are so much better than any of the Continentals or Pirellis I've used on that car. Even the not-so-good-review P6 tires worked much better on the A4 than the top-of-the-ratings Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires that I was glad wore out quickly. Having just bought a nice, light, new Mazda2, I am considering which dedicated snow tires to buy a spare set of wheels to have for Winter use. Some tires work better on certain cars and not as well on others. If anyone has any input for me, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

 

[genericmoniker]

I had a set of Nokians on my 98 civic, they did fantastic. It might not have been as light as the two, but they were of similar power, and it was a base model.

 

[NOsquid]

Slim pickings re: winter tires for the stock wheels. There are the 195/55-15 linked from the Tire Rack earlier in the thread that aren't too far off in size.

I'd prefer a Performance Winter category tire (versus the Studless Ice/Snow) as I live in the city in New England, mostly drive on plowed roads and the winter is relatively mild. Wet/dry performance on clear roads is more important to me than absolute snow/ice traction. All I've really found is one made by Falken, the HS449. The more popular brands ie Michelin Pilot Alpin, Pirelli SottoZero aren't available.

I think I'll end up with the Xice3 in 195/55-15. I'm hoping that given how light the 2 is they aren't too horribly mushy performance-wise when it's not snowing.

 

[124coupe]

NOsquid you might want to check these out.
http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-8982-nokian-wr-g2-tires.aspx

 

[NOsquid]

Thanks! I hadn't considered those because they come up as all seasons, but looks like they're basically a performance winter.

They're significantly more expensive sadly, like well over $100 with Tire Rack giving $70 back on the Michelins right now.

Decisions decisions...

Edit: apparently, in Europe those Nokians are marketed as Performance Winter tires, I guess that isn't a popular enough segment in the US so they made them All Seasons here.

Per this website, they're rated quite highly as Performance Winters by Consumer Reports and others.

http://www.marathonauto.com/tires/snow-tire-ratings-reviews.html

 

[ElZoom]

Hello, I bought 4 Yokohama IG20's last season and they are quite good..