Winter Tires

[TverRus69]

As the ice storm hit the north east i finally started thinking about winter tires. I looked on tire rack and saw a decent selection. My only question is about studdable tires such as these Pirellis http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=2 . Anyone have experience with studs (no homo)? What winter tires are you driving on right now? Those Pirellis are sold out btw, but i found them on Tire Rack's ebay auction (still not quite sure if its real but it seems to be: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-New...QQcmdZViewItem)

[zrowcool]

I used to have studded studded goodyear ultra grips when i lived in syracuse. defintiely helps in the snow/ice but you're gunna have to change them everytime you go to NYC. They are illegal in the cuty and i got ticketed for it my first time. if i were to get them again i'd get unstudded snow tires

[B6JoeS4]

just go with Blizzaks LM-25. I have been more than happy with them and i think they are still on closeout on Tirerack

[dantheman762]

Blizzaks and Michelin X-Ice's are the best... I wouldn't go with the LM series, as these are "high performance" winter tires and are a compromise between high-speed dry handling and snow. These models are designed more for European winters which are mostly rainy and for high-speed driving on the Autobahn, etc. They don't have the "Tube Multicell" compound like the WS-50 (discontinued) and the WS-60 (replacement for the WS-50) and this is their patented technology which "actually sticks to ice". I don't know, if you think you'll only see a few snowfalls during the year AND do a lot of highway driving or are realy hard on your winter tires when it's dry out, then maybe consider the LM series, as they'll last longer, but if you're going to bother getting winter tires, why not get the ones withe best grip? Those LM series are for guys that don't put their Porsches away in the winter... Too much "performance" tire for our cars in the winter. They're only on your car for 3 months, so they'll last 3 seasons easily if you drive average mileage and take care of them in the dry. I'm on my 4th set (on various vehicles) and yes, they're expensive (Michelin even more so), but I've driven Pirelli Sottozero's, Dunlop Graspic's, Yokohama Ice Guard's and Toyo Garrits and there is a noticeable difference to the Blizzaks and X-Ice's. You get what you pay for. The discount brands like Winterforce (Bridgestone's discount winter tire) is even more of a difference, but are GREAT winter performance for the $$$. Hope this helps. No, I don't work for Bridgestone!

[TverRus69]

State laws: look yourself up http://www.flextrax.com/chainlaws.html
...and of course there is nothing for new york state... just got off the phone with NYSDOT Albany office and NYC office. The Albany office said that they can be used between November something till March something. The NYC office didn't know of any further restrictions for the city. Mike what exactly was the ticket for? How much was it?

[zrowcool]

it was for improper use of studded tires... cost me like 200 bucks. Her said the studded tires tear up the pavement which we all know is bullshit since it gets torn up by itself but gave me a ticket none the less.

[Maki]

I use Nokian Hakkapelitta 5 studded, love these tyres! But I don't know if you want studded..
http://www.dackhuset.net/dackhuset/DHWeb.nsf/.PublicView/11F2422AE5D4FDD5C12573290067AA1F/$FILE/HKPL_5.jpg

[TverRus69]

I really want studded. I know all of my friends (along with everyone else) drive on studded and it just seems like there would be nothing better on ice. I've messed up my car twice (the maxima not the a4) because of snow/ice in 2 winters and really don't want the heavier a4 to start sliding around. I'm in NY and PA and i know that there'll be snow on the ground until march. Granted it will be on and off but i don't want to deal with it. How much better will studded be than non-studded? They also happen to be substancially cheaper than the blizzaks ("if you're going to buy something you might as well do it right the first time blah blah blah"). Is the price difference worth paying?

[TighTT]

Simple:

For a performance oriented driver (mostly dry road driving...but can also handle snow storms)....Michelin Pilot Alpin 3's.
For a strait-up snow tire......Michelin X-Ice Xi2's.

I have had them all: Pilot Alpin 1's, 2's, and 3's, Dunlop winter m3's, Blizzaks, Nokians, even green diamonds. My top choices are above. I run the Pilot Alpins on my A4 and the X-Ice's on my S6.

BTW....no studded. You dont live in northern Canada....stick with strait rubber...you'll be fine.

[bassed]

If you want an awesome tire that is studdable the Bridgestone "Winterforce" is incredible. I had them and Blizzak LM-25's for 2 seasons in Tahoe with 600"+ at Lake Level and where I lived we saw closer to 800" two seasons in a row. Nokians are incredible tires, but comprable tires at much more afordable prices are available. I personally ran and would only run 195/65/15 for deep seasonal avgs. I would not run 17" unless I had to clear a BBK.

Personally I woudn't run studded tires, frankly the limited and small isolated early season ice storms in Tahoe I blew threw with ease and on 22% slope roads, while others were slidding down and spinning around and around.

55.00 a Tire Winterforce dealt with this on the daily for 2 years and 1200" of snow, yes that's 100'. If anyone else needs more proof they have issues. Living in and occasionally driving in require different tires and different regions do as well. Ice tires and Snow tires are different. NY is not VT and VT is not CA. I could go into water content of snow etc... these factors a kinda important in deciding on a tire that fits your needs best. Rant and .02 over.


Late Febuary, you get the picture of the amount here. It kept coming all the way till the last storm on fathers day with 6".

[Spykce]

Just had a nice storm today, got around 2 feet of snow. I have Dunlop Wintersport 3D's and I love them. No issues cutting through the snow, no sliding, stopping was great. Nearly every intersection and driveway had stuck cars this morning and I just went on my way. I will be buying a set of these again when they wear out. I even helped pull a few of my neighbors out of their driveways.

[LowSantorin]

I second bassed on the 195/65/15, best size for cutting through big dumps.
My personal favorite is nokians, studded imho is not needed. I have had snow over hood and had my hakka 2s drive right out of it.

[michael66899]

I'd skip on the studded tires, I have some wintersport M3s and absolutely love them, I go skiing 20+ times a year and have never had to put my chains on. I love going up hills next to SUV's and pickups that are stuck, people don't realize how much of a difference tire compound makes. I also had the WS-50s and they were awsome in the snow/ice, a little better than the dunlops, but they sucked in the rain (loved to hydroplane) thats why I went with the Dunlops and will probably stick with them in the future. They are actually a very good dry tire, and wear much better than the blizzaks.

[Squarrl]

+1 on Nokian and I am Canadian so thats like +8 right

[firstars]

I loved my wintersport M3's also... not terrible on dry either. Now I have some vorsteiners they aren't as good as the dunlops IMO although the dunlop was 205/45/R16 and the voersteiners are 225/45/R17

[dantheman762]

I'd skip on the studded tires, I have some wintersport M3s and absolutely love them, I go skiing 20+ times a year and have never had to put my chains on. I love going up hills next to SUV's and pickups that are stuck, people don't realize how much of a difference tire compound makes. I also had the WS-50s and they were awsome in the snow/ice, a little better than the dunlops, but they sucked in the rain (loved to hydroplane) thats why I went with the Dunlops and will probably stick with them in the future. They are actually a very good dry tire, and wear much better than the blizzaks.

Yup, those WS-50's didn't have any circumferential grooves for slush and water and they acqua-planed pretty bad, but this was their only fault and I knew this and went with a 195/55R16 on my OEM rims - about as narrow as you can go on a 7" rim. The new WS-60's have a better tread pattern for H2O evacuation in slush and rain. Now, they're unbeatable. My Dad has them on his A6 and flies (relatively speaking, as he's 62!) through standing water. I had the Nokians on my old Golf and they were awesome too, I must admit. Anyone notice on the Tire Rack website that the brand new Michelin X-Ice Xi2 tire (updated version of the X-Ice) now narrowly surpasses the WS-60 in their tests? I love when companies keep trying to out-do each other, as the consumer ultimately wins.

Anyway, stick with one of these brands, get the "studless ice & snow" model they make (as opposed to the "performance" winter tire version"), run them as narrow as you can find with a tall enough series/profile to keep the overall rolling diameter the same as OEM and you'll be laughing.

It's Quattro weather right now in Toronto, as we just got hit with 10" or so and I'm still getting lake-effect here in Uxbridge. Getting another 6" on Sunday... I actually made up a reason to get in my car today (I work from home) to have some fun... Quattro+Blizzaks+manual tranny=FUN!

Anyway, good luck with the winter tire purchase, cheers.

[King18TQuattro]

Nokian ftw

Even the WR G2 are amazing in the snow.

For all out, H R or 5 are the way to go.

Quattro + Nokian = I love snow

[Borden]

I run Michelin Pilot Alpin 225/45 R17 these tires were on the car when i got it and they do great in the winter.
I spend a lot of the winter up in Manchester VT where they get a decent amount of snow. I drive to Stratton Mt. and have had no problems. Honestly its knowing how to drive in the snow that helps the most. I have even had to go get my friends in the past in their..in what they believe can get through anything 4x4 Doge Ram. Quattro makes it so freaken easy to drive in the winter its not even funny

[Naudi_Mat]

Definitely the Dunlop M3 winter sports. No problems with them what so ever. Get awesome traction with them.

[zionrider]

I run Nokian Hakka 5's and am so happy with them. It's a studded tire but here in Sweden it's needed. At least where I live. A good winter tire makes the world of difference. Happy shopping