Winter is almost here for some of us, which tires?

[Joker2]

185/60R15 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70

I am leaning towards these. The size is a teeny bit off, however they got better reviews than the Michelin X-Ice and even with the Michelin 70 buck refund, the price is about the same. 400 shipped.

What do you have/plan to get/why?

PS. My M2 is a Sport model with 15" steelies and I already have dedicated summer tires (Yoko Advan AD08s).

 

[XCLR8TN]

I was just looking today... really debating getting what I've had 2 winters in a row because they are just that good, WS-60, $104/ea:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...R5BZWS60&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

(a lil off on size also as a 195/55/15)

I've had the Graspics and they were horrible in the dry and not impressive in the snow. I'm not sure what my sister had but they were studdable and crappy as well. I had a set of Nokian Hakkapelitta's before the Blizzaks and loved those, too. For me the dry traction is what makes the Blizzak the best. I just can't slow down and we don't always have a covering of snow so... I only get one season out of snow tires :/ but they rock in that one season lol!

The control I had with the WS60s on my Neon with a quaife was, in short: unbelieveable. I was out snow drifting every night. If I had friends with me, they were in awe at the control and grip while sliding AND when stopping (no ABS either). I don't think I spun the car the entire winter. I loved the Blizzaks!

( http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae196/XCLR8TN/98 Neon/2011 Winter/IMG_9042-sm.jpg <---shameless snow covered neon pic here haha)

But now you're making me wonder if the newer WS70 is even better.....................

 

[Joker2]

I am not quite sure what the difference is. They are priced almost the same. Is the WS70 just a tiny improvement over the WS60? Or is there more to it than I see?
They both get great reviews. Your post makes me lean towards the WS60 due to it weighing only 14 lbs which is 3 lbs per corner lighter than the WS70. I tried to find the Nokia but they are not available around here and STS told me that they pre-order quantities and what they did order is what they stock now.

Studless Ice and Snow
Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 1 100% 8.9 8.8 8.7 7.7 8.3 7.7 9.5 9.2 9.0 8.7 7.8 8.2 645,758
Michelin X-Ice Xi2 2 100% 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.1 8.6 8.2 8.9 8.4 8.4 8.8 8.4 8.6 2,331,081
Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 3 98% 9.2 8.5 8.5 7.7 8.1 7.7 9.4 9.1 8.8 8.4 7.8 7.8 5,598,643
Continental ExtremeWinterContact 4 98% 8.5 8.5 8.5 7.6 8.1 7.7 9.1 8.6 8.3 8.6 8.5 8.2 782,410
Dunlop Graspic DS-3 5 94% 7.9 8.2 7.9 7.3 8.0 7.5 8.9 8.5 8.2 8.3 7.6 8.1 633,177
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-50 RFT 6 94% 8.8 7.7 7.8 8.0 8.4 8.1 9.0 9.1 8.2 8.0 6.8 7.3 130,695

 

[Joker2]

Hakkapeliitas R in the mail.
185/65-15

 

[genericmoniker]

Really looking at the Gislaved Nordfrost 5's.

Was thinking about the Nokians for awhile since they've lasted quite a bit on my dad's old civic, but I'm a broke college student. (Insurance and car payments take up pretty much all my money haha)

 

[Joker2]

Hakkapeliitas R in the mail.
185/65-15

Not a very good choice!!!
They rub in compression in the rear. The little plastic fender liner by the bumper behind the rear tires has a center rib that the tires rub against. Friday I am taking off from work to install the rally armor mud flaps. Until then, I will push the car really hard to see if anything else rubs. This size tires calculated marginal but with the deeper thread it is above where I hoped they would be.

I will then have to go for the Michelin X-Ice which do come in 185-55-15 and move these 185-65-15s to my GF's car. URRRGH!

I am not very concerned about the plastic liner as I can order new ones, but I don't want any front fender rubbing. I have to find a bumpy place where I can run at full steering lock hard to fully compress the front suspension.

Today's 450 dollar lesson is boys and girls, if in doubt stick with OEM size. This is my first car where 20 mm of extra sidewall resulted in severe rubbing.

It's all good. Just getting ready for the winter.

 

[genericmoniker]

Going with a set of Hankook W409 in 175/65/14. Here's to hoping it's not too small.

 

[M2NO]

I have some Continental. I think they are great for Norwegian winter roads. 185/55-15.

My car has 16" as standard (195/45) and it is normal to have on ince lower on the winter than the summer wheels. I can recomend Continental (I think they are called ExtremeWinterContact may be).

 

[XCLR8TN]

20mm is a lot joker! Are you on stock springs still?

 

[Joker2]

Thanks for recos and feedback all.
Here is my new direction (hold on to your seats boys and girls): I called the Tire Rack and ordered a set of the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 in 185-55-15. Then I called Discount Tire (the Nokian suppliers) and they offered free return shipping and full credit if I get other tires from them so I pulled the trigger on Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S as an exchange for the Hakas in 195-55-15. Well, you gotta ask yourselves: is this guy nuts? Don't answer that!

My DGF is rolling in a 1989 Civic Si with Rota 15x6.5s. Aha! And she needs shoes! So, I am thinking that the Pilots would be a perfect fit on hers and the X-Ice on mine, or vice versa!

See, there is a method behind the madness. My lesson will be a 40 dollar expense.

Now hang on tight! Both sets should arrive on Monday, so Monday night will be exciting but nothing comparing to Tuesday when I have to ship back the Hakas and at night install hers.

 

[Joker2]

I have some Continental. I think they are great for Norwegian winter roads. 185/55-15.

My car has 16" as standard (195/45) and it is normal to have on ince lower on the winter than the summer wheels. I can recomend Continental (I think they are called ExtremeWinterContact may be).

Thanks for tip, but they are not available at my usual sources. I'll post feedback on mine once Old Man Winter blankets us with snow.

 

[Joker2]

20mm is a lot joker! Are you on stock springs still?

Yes, stock springs, for now. DD.
(drinks)

 

[XCLR8TN]

Yes, stock springs, for now. DD.
(drinks)

Good to know, thanks for the trial and error in here lol!

 

[Joker2]

Good to know, thanks for the trial and error in here lol!

 

[JOE MAMA]

I just had a set of Michelin X-Ice Xi2 installed today (185 55 R15). There were some severe complications with finding a steel rim that would fit though. The tire shop tried two different steel rims which were listed as fitting the Mazda 2, but neither one came even close to clearing the caliper. As a result, I ended up getting a set of aluminum rims which fit no problem and I think they look good. I really would have preferred a steel wheel, but I wasn't paying what the dealer was charging.

I'm a little leery about the Michelin's. Even though they're a top rated winter tire, reviews I've seen are very mixed and really dog the tire's abilities in the snow, which is the primary purpose of getting winter tires IMHO! People seem to either love them or hate them. I guess I'll have an opinion soon enough once the snow flies. There weren't any other winter tire options without deviating from the stock tire size, which I considered.

We have the Firestone Winterforce on our Grand Caravan and have used the Hankook Winter iPike on a few vehicles in the past. Both tires perform extremely well, so it'll be interesting to see how the X-Ice stacks up. Total cost out the the door was $730.00 for the complete set.

 

[Joker2]

Only one snow event. Pretty decent in dry and in wet and in light snow. Performance in real ice and snow TBD!
Will update this thread throughout this winter.

 

[rhe]

I have the oem steelies (15"x6") and Toyo Snowprox S592 185/55R15 that came with the car as part of the Yozora edition package.

 

[joshb003]

Meh, I don't think I'm going to buy snow tires. I've lived in Minnesota my whole life and never really needed them. Do they really make that big of a difference?

 

[Racebrewer]

Good ones do. Blizzaks, etc, are astounding. You can go speeding by 4-wheel drives. P*sses them off like mad. Much more control. Better braking.

Long run you break even since you aren't wearing out the summer tires.

Worst situation is summer high performance tires in winter. Below freezing they DO NOT work.

I'm putting snows on the OEM wheels and come spring new high performance tires and light wheels.

John

 

[ElZoom]

Im going with the studded General Artimax Artic