Ever get excited about trying out your winter tires?

[tap'n'die]

I just picked up a set of Nokian hakkapeliitta5's with their 3rd gen eco studs. i've had nokian's series of hakka from one through this latest 5. I have not mounted them yet but reading about the features and improvements on nokian's site and seeing these up close i can tell they are going to kick serious but. They go on this weekend, after that; bring it on old man winter... bring it on. (wrc)

Those of you in the snowbelt who have tried any of the hakkapeliitta series understand why i am excited about this new generation... Without studs they tested better than all the brand name top of the line studless tires in snow and ice. Add studs to that and nothing touches these things, not even close. (well... not anything approved for on road use anyway)

 

[autoxes]

man...I wish I lived somewhere with snow so that I could justify getting some of those, they are nice.

 

[tap'n'die]

man...I wish I lived somewhere with snow ...

(boom06)

Don't EVER EVER say anything like that... EVER!!!

Just kidding, but seriously though driving in that stuff can be a lot of fun with the right tires which partially makes up for all the other annoyances...

 

[Redcoat]

I live in the Metrowest Boston area of MA and I recently purchased my 1st P5. I'm used to driving Saturns in the snow with all-seasons & never have had a problem. Am I going to need winter rubber? I currently have Kumho Ecsta ASX performance all-seasons which the PO said were fine last winter.

Oh yeah, living in the snowbelt sucks donkey d#ck...

 

[MTV]

Ohhh yessss!!!

I love my Studded Hankook W409 iPike's. I can't wait for the first snow!!!

I love the sound when you're cruising at low speeds and all you hear are the studs...

Matt

 

[stx195]

Team Oneil Driving School

Redcoat - You should attend a Winter Safety School at Team Oneil... in northern New Hampshire... teamoneil.com

I've done the school 3 times ( I'm a slow learner, ok? (spin) ) 3 times in the past 6 years with folks from the New England Region Impreza group in various Subie's that I've had... let me tell you... it's a BLAST

Snow tires are a must over there!!!

Dave

 

[tap'n'die]

IMO all season tire means "sucks in all seasons"

 

[major error]

IMO all season tire means "sucks in all seasons"

sometimes I think it depends on the vehicle and tire, but in general, yes. (I was able to drive like a bat out of hell on everything but ice in a Ranger wearing Dunlop Qualifier GTs)

I have the studless RSis on my 3 now. Their "warm" driving characteristics sure are interesting...

 

[tap'n'die]

sometimes I think it depends on the vehicle and tire, but in general, yes. (I was able to drive like a bat out of hell on everything but ice in a Ranger wearing Dunlop Qualifier GTs)

I have the studless RSis on my 3 now. Their "warm" driving characteristics sure are interesting...

If that same ranger was fitted with Hakka5's it would have been doing even better plus ice would not have been a problem. Rsi's and all quality winter tires will feel pretty crappy on dry pavement due to their soft sidewall and tread compound. Feels like you are driving on 4 marshmallow's. The payoff is when you change lanes on the highway and roll over the bumps and channels created by cars driving on the snow you won't get de-stabilized as much.

the actual vehicle does play a role, but in the end it all comes down to friction coefficient; car for car better tires win. I was beating awd STI's in snow storms last year with my spec V, first of all because of the type of tire i was using (hakka4's with studs) but also because STI's are stuck with wide 17" wheels year round due to the brake caliper clearance they can't mount anything smaller which puts them at a serious disadvantage in snow. I know a guy who swaps his STI brakes for "normal" WRX brakes in the winter to be able to use more suitable tires.

I know a lot of people who run 4 seasons in the winter because they have AWD; somehow this makes them think that their car will brake and turn better in the snow than a FWD car; nothing could be farther from the truth, in fact they usually get themselves in the most trouble because their acceleration is not compromised as much so they think all is well...

 

[Qcpro5]

I just had my Michelin X-Ice installed and I can't wait for snow!!! I LOVE driving in snowstorms. Going to the hill on a fresh storm morning. What a feeling!!! I just don't like what salty roads do to our cars, oh well there's a downside to everything but I got her treated to oil so should be Ok. Canadian driving FTW!

 

[tap'n'die]

Yeah salt sucks...

Also, aren't you frustrated by how fast they plow the roads? Just when you think you are going to have some fun they go and ruin it by piling all the snow in banks and revealing that ugly, unpredictable winter pavement.

In my dream world they don't plow; they groom roads like ski slopes and blend in a bit of sand and gravel; this becomes your road surface; a crust of packed snow, sand and gravel, when it all melts away in the spring all you gotta do is pass sweepers to pick up the sand/gravel mixture and use it again next year.

But why stop there?

Modern technology winter tires are mandatory and studs are encouraged. LSD's become standard equipment on every car and every model has an AWD version with a standard 6 speed box. speed limits are removed, all car speedometers stop at 70mph but no speed limiters, you can't drive and use a cellphone not even hands free, no email or messaging devices of any kind. No food of any kind (non alcoholic beverages with a spill proof container are permissible) No smoking while you drive. No grooming or applying makeup at the wheel; vanity mirrors are removed. No electric shavers.

(protest)

 

[Jaysanooch]

Ha ha, I know how you feel. I don't drive my car in the snow much so last year I figured I'd get rid of my steelie/winters and just ride in style all year round. I decided to get some high performance winters for my 17" racingharts. I went with dunlop's sport m3's and like you, I was very anxious to try them out.

The tires are awesome...to my amazement they grip much much better in snow/ice then my previous set up and on dry days I can twist around corners with confidence! Best money I ever spent.

Have fun with your nokian's...and with studs also, dude your laughing!

 

[SNike05]

Very good choice. Hakkapaliitas are the BEST winter tire you can get period.

The hankook ipikes are just a copy of the nokian with different compound. Go figure they are made in Korea. No, korea never steels other manufacturers design, thats never happend before.

 

[tap'n'die]

...

Have fun with your nokian's...and with studs also, dude your laughing!

Thanks dude, and yeah, more of an evil laugh really, they are going on tomorrow

(laugh) MOUAHAHAHAHA


To think, while i was shopping for a P5 i saw an add in craiglist of a dude selling a 35000KM msp tranny with it's lsd welded to beef it up for a big boost project he gave up on. asking price 800$ Sure enough, i drive my P5 home and look up the add. SOLD (bang)

 

[Rivman]

. . . probably great for off road hill climbs too ! (drive)

 

[tap'n'die]

. . . probably great for off road hill climbs too ! (drive)

That, and going 321Km/h on ice (almost 200mph)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oBFKpnKXrY

These are my tires (yippy)

 

[vern]

I just picked up a set of Nokian hakkapeliitta5's with their 3rd gen eco studs. i've had nokian's series of hakka from one through this latest 5. I have not mounted them yet but reading about the features and improvements on nokian's site and seeing these up close i can tell they are going to kick serious but. They go on this weekend, after that; bring it on old man winter... bring it on. (wrc)

Those of you in the snowbelt who have tried any of the hakkapeliitta series understand why i am excited about this new generation... Without studs they tested better than all the brand name top of the line studless tires in snow and ice. Add studs to that and nothing touches these things, not even close. (well... not anything approved for on road use anyway)

how much are those? i live in utah and need some good snow tires because i live right by the mountains and it snows alot

 

[tap'n'die]

cost me just under $650 for 14 inchers. You will get a lot of wear out of them too. I don't rotate them; i kill the fronts, then put the rears in front and buy 2 new for the rear. This way you only buy 2 tires every 2 years (after the initial purchase of 4) Also, you always have the best tread in the rear which pushes the tendancy to understeer; not a bad thing in the winter when oversteer is always just a weight transfer away (or a bit of handbrake if she really won't turn)

We got about 20" of snow during the last week and it hasn't slowed me down one bit, these tires are truly incredible! Nokian claims it's a 10% increase in traction on snow and ice; i easily believe it now. 10% feels HUGE, it's like my car's been fitted with a polar bear's feet and deep snow is just business as usual, except for those damned other drivers who keep slowing me down! These tires should be mandatory anywhere it snows.

 

[Rivman]

That, and going 321Km/h on ice (almost 200mph)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oBFKpnKXrY

These are my tires (yippy)

Studded tires are not legal in Ontario - and haven't been available for some time now.
Too bad, cause IMHO, they were the greatest thing for winter driving since sliced bread !
I ran them in the mid '60s on some of my 'winter beaters', and nothing could stop you from going anywhere !(drinks)

 

[tap'n'die]

Studded tires are not legal in Ontario ... they were the greatest thing for winter driving since sliced bread ! ... and nothing could stop you from going anywhere !(drinks)

(mswerd)

You are absoultely right, but... Since my car is registered in Quebec i can drive my studs right down the trans canada highway from cost to coast and their ain't a damn thing the OPP or any other authority can do about it, especially if the road conditions are really nasty that day, BYE BYE (drive2)

In fact, i'm pretty sure it wouldn't be illegal for me to drive them down to florida and back, but it would however be very stupid. (crazy)

These are not the good old studs you remember though, these things are ridiculous; the base of the stud is made of titanium, it has a rather large square flat head at the bottom to ensure firm grip and prevent them from coming out, under this flat base is a "cushion" of rubber and air pockets to apply some pressure on the tip of the stud but not "impact" the road as hard.

In the middle of this titanium base is a carbide rod, square shaped in order to maintain a diamond shape that presents 4 points to the road, one in each direction; left right front and back. The tread around the stud has a small protrusion behind the stud called "bear claw" to guarantee that the stud remains positioned optimally throughout it's moment of contact with the ground.

The compound is made with canola oil! Go figure...(screwy) Ok, they are Finns; look at the way they spell; I rest my case... but it seems to be working!