Snow Tires

General Discussion
#1

So I know it’s just starting to feel like summer up North, but I’m a planner and I’m already thinking about good winter tire options for the upcoming snow season, which of course I haven’t experienced in over a decade. We hopefully won’t see snow in the Philly area like they did this past season, but if we do I’d like to be prepared. We also will be traveling during the holidays to Western PA and more than likely Rochester, NY to see family and in the past I’ve just counted on luck to not get stuck in a storm with my NC summer tires on, but that isn’t an option anymore.

Give me some good input/experience with the tire of your choice, I know my Canadian brethren have to have some experience with this.

I always see people raving about the Blizzaks, but are there other comparable choises out there. ANy input on the Scorpion snow/ice?

#2

I was a huge fan of the Dunlop Wintersports when I lived in Chicago. Great sub-zero F winter tire, with very sporty capability, but not the best deep snow tire. Consider it a “city” winter tire, not a “country” winter tire.

#3

Depends on the car for sizing but hands down the best are NOKIAN

They sell out early very winter when I go looking for them so planning ahead is a great idea.

#4

I’m probably going to pickup some 18" wheels for the Q5 so I think like a 235/60R18. Not sure about the truck yet, I’m looking at picking up some 17" Raptor take-offs.

#5

Get nokians 100%

#6

Saki, any input on the model of tire? I’m obviously not looking to go studded.

Never heard of these though, thanks. I’m probably going to pick up a set early so I don’t have to fight for them or wathc the price inflate 25%.

#7

Nokians are indeed the best winters out there but they’re not cheap (anymore) people started noticing how good they were back in 2003/2004 and they since jacked their prices up.

Nokian is the original rubber company that spun off Nokia I believe. They’ve been around for over 100 years I think (wiki verify for actual real facts, I’m only basing that on memory).

Anyway, they have regular city winters and deep snow winters so in your case, I’d suggest the regular city ones. You won’t be in snow all winter long and even the regular city ones are great in snow. They change their city line up name every few years so I don’t remember what they call them now.

The regular deep snow ones have been called Hakkapalitas (sp?) for a while now. I’m too lazy to go on their site this very minute lol

#8

hakka 7 or something now

they’re pretty reasonably priced actually. When I was looking for some for my Rs4 last year, they were around $300 a tire. That’s quite good for a 19" tire. I paid $350 for Michelin PilotAlpin somethings.

#9

I guess it’s all relative. Aren’t Michelins the most expensive tires? :slight_smile:

#10

Certainly expensive compared to something cheap from Asia, but overall they’re not the most expensive by any means… PSS are actually very competitive for example.

#11

The pricing actually isn’t bad IMO either to other brands

#12

I got used Bridgestone Blizzaks for the RS4 (from 2000S4). They are excellent although a bit noisy. Stopping and cornering is good.

At the budget end of things, the Touareg has Arctic Claw (some cheapo Chinese things) winter tyres. About $700 for a set all in.

Both of the above have been tested in horrific blizzards, snow storms, ice storm, hails, on ice, on deep powder, on crud. Can’t say much about the longevity of the Arctic Claws but I could bring the 5000lb Touareg to a halt pretty sharpish.

http://imageshack.com/a/img841/4131/mir7.png

#13

Others I’ve tried in the past:

  • Hankook iPike W419 or something. Cheap and good. Wore out after 3 years though (approx 15000km) so wasn’t impressive at their life. Although I did use them in the Summer at the dragstrip lol
  • Gislaved Nordfrost 5 - got these on the GTI. Also very good and have stood up to the test of time (15000km) better than the Hankooks. Should get another couple of seasons out of them. However, I don’t think they’re available for the big trucks
#14

I always get flamed for this because les Schwab. But I have ran the Toyo studdless snow tire on my last two Audis and have nothing but good things to say about them. Worked at a ski resort for a couple seasons right out of high school, never once had trouble in deep snow, ice , slush etc.

I personally feel they are on par with blizzaks but that is just my opinion.

#15

Thanks for all the info and options fellas, I’d knew you’d come through. I’ll be making some decisions soon.

#16

I would look at blizzaks. I sold my blizzaks this year to get nokians and I am quite disappointed.

The Bridgestone Blizzak just makes you feel like you are driving on dry pavement, always. I used to cruise 2 hours to work on the interstate and I would just be zooming by past everyone doing 45-50, they felt soooooo secure.

But I sold those and picked up some nokians because they were supposed to be the king of the winter tire. I bought a Hakka R, and I have to say they are third on my list in good winter tires after the Michelin x-ice. These tires are not Blizzaks…not even a little, they are much stiffer than my blizzaks, the tread is hard as a rock, where as my blizzaks are super soft, you can even move the tread notches with your thumb if you press hard. They are a joke on ice, in snow they are decent. I won’t say they are a bad snow tire, but they are not my first choice, I’m definitely going back to Blizzaks once this tread runs out.