SNOW TIRES

[PettitWC]

As none of you know I'm moving to Wyoming in August so I'm looking for some snow tires. I searched and couldn't find any specific comparisons.

right now I'm looking at

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50s

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....nSpeedRating=H

and

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2s

http://www.tiresbyweb.com/pc-5171-12...eliitta-2.aspx

there's a huge price difference but I've heard great things about the Nokians so I am keeping in the chase based on that. Does anyone have experience with Nokians or justification to go for the Bridgestones?

thanks a bunch,
Chris

[aceyx]

For Wyoming I would DEFINITELY spend the extra cash on the Hakka's. Or even buy a cheap (~$500) 4WD.

[ATF]

I wish I had an answer for you, but I'll be watching this thread closely because I'm also in the market for a set of snow tires when I'm at school up in Boston, so any information is greatly appreciated!

bump

[PettitWC]

Originally Posted by aceyx

For Wyoming I would DEFINITELY spend the extra cash on the Hakka's. Or even buy a cheap (~$500) 4WD.

yeah, I was looking at getting a cheap beater truck or shipping out my brother's grand cherokee but I decided to get a 996 instead and I don't want 3 cars, plus I don't know how long I'll be there. I really want the nokians but they're just about double the bridgestones which have gotten great reviews on tire rack from other people with rear wheel drive cars, including a z4.

I guess what I'm really waiting to hear (which IO don't think will ever happen) is someone who has had both tires and swears by the nokians. otherwise i don't know if i could justify spending twice as much on a set of tires

[1996 328ti]

My only experience is with the Blizzacks and Vredstein (sp) SnowTracs.
If most of the winter is driving in snow, Blizzacks. If you need snows for an occasional snow, Vredstein is better.

[elfhearse]

Agree'd... Blizzaks can be pretty "squirmy" on dry roads under load. (not that the ti is a huge torque monster)
If you're in mostly snow they are excellent.
Hakka's have a huge cult following, I can't get them easily in PA so have never used them. My dry road, occasional snow tire is the Dunlop M3

[H3_2.1-ti]

Regardless of the tire you choose, I would recommend installing the smallest fitment possible; ie 185/65/15 or 195/60/16. Narrower tires always perform better in winter conditions.

As for which to buy? I 've had good experience with the Bridgestones in the past, but currently run Dunlop Graspic DS2 on the daily driver for winter. I've never hadany problems. They are great in deep snow and in occasional dry winter driving.

As for the Nokians, I have clients that swear by them but I would go with the Blizzaks or Graspics.

Cheers,

[ATF]

So basically what I'm understanding is to pick your winter tire based on the amount of snow driving you do.

With my case in Boston, it will be my daily driver to and from work (most likely highway driving). Snow and winter like conditions are hit and miss but when they hit, they hit hard. I don't exactly have a garage and an easy way to swap my tires on short notice (unless I do it right there in the parking lot) or a place to store them. Is ok for the snow tires to be driven on, even when there isn't snow on the ground? Or is there a better performer/tread wear setup for the higher dry speeds of highway driving and the occasional heavy snow?

Now I'm worried about investing money into a set of snow tires that I might destroy after a season because it didn't snow a lot. Thanks for any help here on my topic, sorry to highjack a little Petti

[PettitWC]

awesome guys, thanks!

the nokian cult might have to wait until i'm making the big bucks.

i know about the narrower the better for snow but would a 195 series tire be fine on the stock ten spokes?

[PettitWC]

Originally Posted by ATF

Thanks for any help here on my topic, sorry to highjack a little Petti

no worries, that's why it's here

[H3_2.1-ti]

Originally Posted by ATF

So basically what I'm understanding is to pick your winter tire based on the amount of snow driving you do.

With my case in Boston, it will be my daily driver to and from work (most likely highway driving). Snow and winter like conditions are hit and miss but when they hit, they hit hard. I don't exactly have a garage and an easy way to swap my tires on short notice (unless I do it right there in the parking lot) or a place to store them. Is ok for the snow tires to be driven on, even when there isn't snow on the ground? Or is there a better performer/tread wear setup for the higher dry speeds of highway driving and the occasional heavy snow?

Now I'm worried about investing money into a set of snow tires that I might destroy after a season because it didn't snow a lot. Thanks for any help here on my topic, sorry to highjack a little Petti

Winter tires are engineered to work under colder conditions;15ºF and colder as they are constructed of softer compounds keeping them flexible. If Boston winters are cold with an average of 15ºF or colder you should run a good set of winters and then swap them out in the spring.

[H3_2.1-ti]

Originally Posted by PettitWC

awesome guys, thanks!

the nokian cult might have to wait until i'm making the big bucks.

i know about the narrower the better for snow but would a 195 series tire be fine on the stock ten spokes?

195/65/15 will work very well on a 15x7 wheel.

[John Firestone]

Originally Posted by H3_2.1-ti

Winter tires are engineered to work under colder conditions;15ºF and colder as they are constructed of softer compounds keeping them flexible.

Perhaps you guys get a different formulation in the U.S., but the crossover point for the winter tires sold in Germany, the temperature at which they start to outperform summer ones, is somewhere between freezing and 7 deg C (45 deg F), depending on road conditions.

[CirrusSR22]

Originally Posted by ATF

Now I'm worried about investing money into a set of snow tires that I might destroy after a season because it didn't snow a lot. Thanks for any help here on my topic, sorry to highjack a little Petti

My Blizzak WS50s have been through 3+ very weak MN winters so they saw LOTS of pavement. I'm quite surprised on how well they have held up. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

[PettitWC]

Originally Posted by H3_2.1-ti

195/65/15 will work very well on a 15x7 wheel.

cool, thanks man