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Snow Tires - opinions from the car-experts

So yea, i really dont want to (and shouldnt) do another winter w/o proper snow tires on my small, light yaris...

hated not having them last year, but budgeting them in simply wasnt possible.

this year, though its not convenient at all, i really feel i need to just incur the expense despite how much i dont need the added little bit debt added to a CC bill.

the tires I was set on getting last year were the Michelin X-Ices. I called, and to have them installed and balanced its ~ $500.

I'm going to try to check maybe Costco soon, and see if I cant get any put on my car for cheaper than that though...


But my question is this:

Need i bother buying top of the line ones or should I just go cheap ones? in your opinions, is that likely going to be a bad choice? im wondering how yall feel on the idea of getting cheaper ones in favour of the more expensive ones...?

also, i recall reading in some thread in the last few weeks, that apparently buying (and getting installed?) snowtires in the US (buffalo i guess then) is much cheaper than here??

can anyone confirm? personal experinces?


thanks for the feedback guys.

Hey Jemmers, just stepping out to pick up my car so no time for detailed response but I gave a lot of info in this thread on COR:

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...2&forumid=16&s=

Let me know if you have any Qs! I try to know this stuff pretty well.

Tank tracks.

quote:

Originally posted by fayraree Hey Jemmers, just stepping out to pick up my car so no time for detailed response but I gave a lot of info in this thread on COR: http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...2&forumid=16&s= Let me know if you have any Qs! I try to know this stuff pretty well.

thx Fufu! ill read it when i get home, and let you know.

Very much appreciated fahad!!

IMO - Winter tires are a must (as are summer tires).

In Ontario - one is best suited with a good set of summer tires and a good set of winter tires.

People will tell you there are not necessary and that you are fine with a good all-season - but those are usually people who have never owned good summer and good winter tires.

The difference (both in summer and winter) is incredible and if you enjoy driving and want to ensure maximum safety having the proper rubber is a very wise investment.

Don't skimp and buy cheap ones either - remember your tires are the only thing connecting you to the road.

Nokian makes the best winter tires - I recommend them above all others. http://www.nokiantyres.com/

Summers - I like BFGoodrich g-Force T/A's. I've had Continental ContiSportContact2 tires are they are great but wear quicker than the BFGs. I've also had Firestone Firehawk SZs and they are good as well but I found the ride to be not as smooth as the BFGs.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. DAS Tank tracks.

tires are one of the most important items on your car. So don't cheap out...and buy a set of four.

people who put on two winter tires and two all-seasons are morons. Having radically different grip and performance characteristics between the front and back tires is generally not a good thing.

perhaps most importantly, I'd factor in the driving conditions you typically encounter before choosing tires.

i.e. do you drive a lot on rural, unplowed roads or mostly on dry or wet highways? do you get a lot of snow and ice or does winter usually mean dry or wet, slushy roads?

in the city of Toronto, much of winter means driving on cold but reltatively dry pavement. Getting a pure ice/snow tire is possibly going to compromise your traction for the majority of the season...so you want more of a performance-oriented winter tire that will grip on cold, dry or wet pavement yet still give you better snow/ice traction than a typical all-season tire.

if you live somewhere outside of the city and deal with heavier snowfalls or drive on unplowed roads, you may want a dedicated snow and ice tire.

bottom line is that no tire provides top notch performance in dry, wet AND snow/ice conditions. you make sacrifices in some areas and need to figure out which type of tire you need based upon your vehicle and what "winter" means for you.

keep in mind the guy at costco probably knows a lot less about tires than a guy at a reputable tire shop

what kind of car do you have? I'd check with dealers, car forums for your make/model and dedicated tire shops for decent info.

any snow tires are better than any normal tires, you don't have to buy the best ones, the moderate ones are good enough you can even go cheaper if you like.

Go see the guys at Kipling Tire - they'll take care of you and store your summers during the winter (and vice versa).

Kipling Tire Co. Ltd.
Phone: (416) 233-5551
Fax: (416) 233-8192
837 Kipling Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M8Z 5G8

Hey Jemmers,

Survey of the top tires right here:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve...jsp?type=W&VT=C

For your Yaris, which is FWD and doesn't have a ton of power on the wheels, I think you can go with the X-Ices from Costco without a problem. DEFINITELY should invest in some, though, regardless of your budget (borrow $$$ from rents if you have to for the safety factor).

You'd only want to go expensive if you want superior dry-weather handling, higher speeds, or run flats. More expensive does not necessarily mean they will last longer.

I would go with choosing steel rims that are 1" smaller than your stock rims with tires that have a smaller width than your stocks. This will improve your performance. You have to make sure the overall diameter of the tire is as close as possible to the stock, though. Tire shops will be able to help in this regard.

Good luck, buddy!

ps. my Dunlops were feeling AWESOME today!!!

We have a set of Toyo Winter tires, and Toyo Summer Tires. Totally recommend them! Smooth ride and great traction. I have never had any issues and have been extremely happy with both.

quote:

Originally posted by Invasionmix any snow tires are better than any normal tires, you don't have to buy the best ones, the moderate ones are good enough you can even go cheaper if you like.

+ 1

I bought mine used $30/tire drove all last winter and summer and have them still on......(good Shape).

Toyo tires are good winter tires

IMO middle of the line winter tires are enough for ontario. I always had middle of the line tires when i was living in quebec, and i was the first one out there in snow storms and had no probs..

thinkin of tires, i need to change my tires....low profile tires are no good in rain, let alone snow!!

I'll second the overwhelming response. Regardless of the cost, get the winter tires. IMO, with a very low powered car like yours, you do not need top of the line winter tires as stated by some in this thread.

I am not aware whether Hankook offer a tire in your size range, but their W300 and W409 series of tires are very very good, and offer the best bang for the buck, IMO.

grew up in syracuse, ny. lake effect snow country! i never thought winter tires were required - all seasons would be ok. until i drove a car with winter tires - what a difference it makes! i bought a set the next day.

i have Blizzaks WS60's on my FWD jetta:
(http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...nSpeedRating=H)

they are GREAT in the snow - 6" plus of snow on back roads one winter and not a problem at all. the tire wear is good. going into my 4th winter with the set.

i'm now living in pittsburgh and there isn't nearly as much snow here (a few inches max), but the tires are still doing great in cold, slushy, sometimes icy, sometimes snowy conditions.

bottom line: get a pair of winter tires, it makes a huge difference!!

quote:

Originally posted by Provocative_boi + 1 I bought mine used $30/tire drove all last winter and summer and have them still on......(good Shape).

Dude, thats a reallllly bad idea. Driving in summer with winter tires on? You've worn away the most important portion of the winter tires - as they wear, their effective winter contact patch diminishes. Summer heat destroys winters - the weather compounds for each season are completely different.

I definitely recommend a decent set of winter tires, and will be getting a new set on our car by the end of the month. Remember, all seasons = mediocre performance in all seasons

quote:

Originally posted by devnull Toyo tires are good winter tires thinkin of tires, i need to change my tires....low profile tires are no good in rain, let alone snow!!

I had Toyos for several years before this set. Satisfied.

And you bring up a good point... wider tires have less traction on weathered surfaces as they distribute the weight of the car too much.

... and a note on ABS brakes... They don't necessarily make you stop faster, but what they do is allow you to steer while slowing down. In SNOW, ABS equipped cars need a LONGER distance to stop, than regular brakes. So if you have ABS breakes, keep a bigger distance in snow. Regular braked cars use a snow plow effect to slow them down faster.

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie In SNOW, ABS equipped cars need a LONGER distance to stop, than regular brakes.

Agree, totally.

If you just pump the breaks like you should do in a non-ABS car (to prevent locking), I find I can usually stop shorter/quicker, than if I just pound hard on the breaks and cause the ABS to kick in...

ALLRIGHT, now...

So, im getting snow tires for Xmas, and after all the talk above and with others, I pretty much think (at this point) its between 4 diff kinds:

1. Michelin X-Ice

2. Bridgestone Blizzaks (WS-50? WS-60?)

3. Nokians? ... the kind RJ recommended in the above (though I hear on dry pavement (ie. usually the 400 and 401 as its usually clear most the winter I find) that the treads wear really fast on them...)

4. Yokohama... the guy at the dealership really was recommending these, but i confess i know naught all about them.



As well, what Fufu said above, is it true the smaller the rim the better for winters?? IE. I should be getting them on 14"s then, not 15"s? Can anyone comment further to this?

And this brings up the next question... should I get new steelies or not. They'll run around 250$ I think maybe... but if i wanted to save that money, how much damage/wear am I doing to my current all seasons and the the new winters if im always having to have them peeled off and on. how bad does this kill their life?


RJ, re: the nokians, ive read then tend to be nosier (thuogh all winters are of course nosier than summer or all-seaons) and you hear alot of road noise. Im especially curious as my Yaris transmits a great deal of such noise...


thanks encore.

quote:

Originally posted by Jem_hadar ALLRIGHT, now... As well, what Fufu said above, is it true the smaller the rim the better for winters?? IE. I should be getting them on 14"s then, not 15"s? Can anyone comment further to this?

IT'S SCIENCE!




You're distributing your car's weight on smaller points of contact to the road, thus exerting more pressure on the surface per square inch. Think of the opposite, a tobboggan... weight is dispersed over a large surface to make it slide.

no expert, but had the x-ice for 4 winters now, they're perfect.

The rest of the year i put 4 seasons tires, don't want to be caught with summer tires in a snow storm.

quote:

Originally posted by Jem_hadar Agree, totally. If you just pump the breaks like you should do in a non-ABS car (to prevent locking), I find I can usually stop shorter/quicker, than if I just pound hard on the breaks and cause the ABS to kick in...

don't pump the peddle. there is no point let the abs do its work. you're going to stop a farther distance if you pump the peddle on an abs equiped car. just give yourself some space and brake lightly.

you're in luck cause you're car has very thin tires. i put snow on the front of my vw only just because of cost reasons and im not you're average driver. i know how to handle all of my cars/trucks.


michlen x-ice are probably one of the best tires you can buy. they are our number one seller among cadillac customers as well as light truck and suv. i have nordics on my vw they work fine for me.

Go for the X-Ice. Good traction AND they last. Haven't personally seen a better snow tire, and I've recommended them to lots of other people, none of whom have ever had a complained.

X-Ice are the best winter tires u can buy IMO

Nokian are the best snow tyres available. They may not be marketed as heavily as some of the other brands but autophiles "know"... They are the snow tyre of choice for BMW, Mercedes, Bentley, etc.

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