Yes another Winter Tire question

[Scooby Don't]

Looking to get All-Seasons instead of full blown winter tires this
time around. Last year there wasn't enough snow and the snow tires get
eaten alive by bare road. I have performance tires for the summer so
any suggestions for decent all seasons?
The Bridestone RE-92's that came with the car were awful in the snow
and bad on dry pavement.
I need a far better tire than those.

 

[David W]

Must be just me but I never had an issue with the RE-92's in snow or in the
dry. Live in Alberta Canada.... get lots of both...

 

[Scooby Don't]

Must be just me but I never had an issue with the RE-92's in snow or in the
dry. Live in Alberta Canada.... get lots of both...

Had no control at all with the RE-92's Worst tire I have ever run on a
car with the exception of those FireStones that let go on the highway
back in the '70's.
I'm thinking maybe the Kuhmo's might be better.
The RE'92's had no grip and I'd slide right through intersections even
at low speed due to the ABS locking up very quickly. Between the tires
and the ABS it was long scary winter.

 

[WRXtreme]

Had no control at all with the RE-92's Worst tire I have ever run on a
car with the exception of those FireStones that let go on the highway
back in the '70's.
I'm thinking maybe the Kuhmo's might be better.
The RE'92's had no grip and I'd slide right through intersections even
at low speed due to the ABS locking up very quickly. Between the tires
and the ABS it was long scary winter.

I will have to second that, I live in North Dakota and the RE92's were
downright scary, I'm going to try blizzaks this year I think.

 

[Chicken'n Toast]

I have Nokian Hakkaoeliitta Q on my 2.5TS. They are a bit expensive but they
worth it

 

[Scooby Don't]

I will have to second that, I live in North Dakota and the RE92's were
downright scary, I'm going to try blizzaks this year I think.

From my research it looks like the Kuhmo's or the Nokian WR's might be
a good bet. The Kuhmo's are like $53 each and rated pretty well for
the snow almost 4 points abouve the RE-92's which are dogshit and I
mean that literally. It's like the tire is made of it and stops about
as well. The Nokian WR Passenger is supposed to be great on snow but
is mediocre on dry pavement. I know the Kuhmo's are decent in the dry.
This is the Kuhmo HP 716
They are rated 8.7 in the dry and 8.3 in the snow.
The RE-92's are rated 7.2 in the dry and 4.6 in the snow
I'll call Tire Rack and see how good a tire they are in the snow.
Tire Rack guy says the Continetal ContiExtremeContact tires are better
than the Kuhmo's.
I can't see anything being worse than the RE-92's. Tire Rack says
slightly better than the RE-92.
We'll see.
Blizzaks suck big time if you want a full blown winter tire get
Nokian. If you have a lot of snow and ice they make the Hakka Q if you
have moderate snow and Ice they make the WR Passenger.
We don't have enough snow for me to justify a full winter tire as i'm
on dry highways most of the time.
My Blizzaks didn't even last a full season on my last car and that was
a snowy winter. The Nokians lasted 2 full seasons with maybe 2 more
seasons but I blew 2 of the tires out on a curb.

 

[Scooby Don't]

I have Nokian Hakkaoeliitta Q on my 2.5TS. They are a bit expensive but they
worth it

I had Hakka Q's before and they are great in the snow but suck in the
dry. I need something that is more all season than winter as the
winter tires wear fast on dry highways doing 80 mph.
Dedicated winter tires just are too soft a compound when you need an
all season lifespan.

 

[J999w]

Invest in a decent car jack, then you can swap out the tires in 20 minutes and
have the best of both worlds.

jw
milwaukee

 

[Yousuf Khan]

From my research it looks like the Kuhmo's or the Nokian WR's might be
a good bet. The Kuhmo's are like $53 each and rated pretty well for
the snow almost 4 points abouve the RE-92's which are dogshit and I
mean that literally. It's like the tire is made of it and stops about
as well. The Nokian WR Passenger is supposed to be great on snow but
is mediocre on dry pavement. I know the Kuhmo's are decent in the dry.

I have Nokian NRW's (the predecessor to the WR's) on my OBW. I can't say
they are mediocre on the dry pavement, they are the best tires I've ever had
on dry pavement as a matter of fact. They are decent in the snow too, but
still you might be a little bit out of luck if you have to stop quickly in
the snow.

Yousuf Khan

 

[S]

Hi Scooby!

Looking to get All-Seasons instead of full blown winter tires this
time around. Last year there wasn't enough snow and the snow tires get
eaten alive by bare road. I have performance tires for the summer so
any suggestions for decent all seasons?
The Bridestone RE-92's that came with the car were awful in the snow
and bad on dry pavement.
I need a far better tire than those.

No all season tire is going to be very good in bad weather; an all
season is a compromise, and a compromise is just that. Any of the all
season tires that I'm aware of lean more toward dry performance
anyway. Since you have a summer tire already, I'd suggest a set of
dedicated winter tires on inexpensive steel wheels.
I've had very good luck with the Michelin Alpin Pilots as a do-it-all
tire, and can heartily recommend them. The Arctic Alpin is also a very
good choice, and probably leans a bit more toward performance on ice
at the expense of accelerated tire wear. Both work great on dry roads,
offering at least as much grip as the RE92s. Try TireRack for easy
on-line comparison shopping, and awesome pricing as well.

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Scooby Don't]

I have Nokian NRW's (the predecessor to the WR's) on my OBW. I can't say
they are mediocre on the dry pavement, they are the best tires I've ever had
on dry pavement as a matter of fact. They are decent in the snow too, but
still you might be a little bit out of luck if you have to stop quickly in
the snow.

I read a review that was a Canadian review on the Nokian WR's and it
said dry performance was down considerable for summer driving.
I'm still undecided but I have 2 weeks to decide what I want to buy.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I read a review that was a Canadian review on the Nokian WR's and it
said dry performance was down considerable for summer driving.
I'm still undecided but I have 2 weeks to decide what I want to buy.

I can't see that being the case for me. I do of course have the 225-series
tires that are required for the Outback, so it's a little wider than a
typical summer tire, so maybe that's why I'm not finding a reduction of
summer grip.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Dave Null Sr.]

Must be just me but I never had an issue with the RE-92's in snow or in the
dry. Live in Alberta Canada.... get lots of both...

The toughest conditions for winter tires is snow (or ice)
at or around freezing. I doubt you get many days in
Alberta with those conditions (except Calgary's chinooks).
Nearly all winter and all season tires have very little
traction around freezing. Add some salt to the mix
and it's even worse.

Well below freezing with little snow depth, an all season
works fairly well. Even a non-performance 'summer' tire
will work well without or with a little snow. With AWD,
you can get away with less traction in many conditions
except when it comes to stopping.

For people who get winter with many days at 0°C or 32°F
and a fair amount of snow should consider some good snow tires.
It isn't just safer, it's alot more fun.

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
I am in Alberta as well. worst in winter driving is over the black ice
in drifting snow. Slippery with poor visibility. Both of my kids'
Impreza is running on Michelin Arctic Alpin on steel rims. It gives
extra safety margin for sure. All 4 vehicles in my family are AWD type.
Winter tires in winter is better for safer driving. When it is real
slippery even tanks lose traction. Common sense prevails. Adjust your
speed to the road condition whether road is dry or treacherous. This is
no brainer.
Tony

 

[Ed Rachner]

Go with the Hakki's. http://www.nokiantires.com/newsite/index.html. I'm
quite pleased with the Nokian WRs.

 

[Scooby Don't]

No all season tire is going to be very good in bad weather; an all
season is a compromise, and a compromise is just that. Any of the all
season tires that I'm aware of lean more toward dry performance
anyway. Since you have a summer tire already, I'd suggest a set of
dedicated winter tires on inexpensive steel wheels.
I've had very good luck with the Michelin Alpin Pilots as a do-it-all
tire, and can heartily recommend them. The Arctic Alpin is also a very
good choice, and probably leans a bit more toward performance on ice
at the expense of accelerated tire wear. Both work great on dry roads,
offering at least as much grip as the RE92s. Try TireRack for easy
on-line comparison shopping, and awesome pricing as well.

Right, but the problem is the damn winter tires wear out very quickly.
I do a significant amount of highway driving and the winter tires
can't hold up. After a good salting the roads are clear in a couple of
days. This is why I'm steering away from winter tires this year.
RE-92's are so awful that I nearly got killed several times combined
with the hyperactive ABS.
Ah decisions, decisions.

 

[Scooby Don't]

I can't see that being the case for me. I do of course have the 225-series
tires that are required for the Outback, so it's a little wider than a
typical summer tire, so maybe that's why I'm not finding a reduction of
summer grip.

Well that was what one article said regarding the Nokian tires in the
summer. Of course it depends on what you run in the summer. I've been
running S03 Pole Positions. They grip like glue.
The only thing most people agree on is All-Seasons, aren't.

 

[Tony Hwang]

Right, but the problem is the damn winter tires wear out very quickly.
I do a significant amount of highway driving and the winter tires
can't hold up. After a good salting the roads are clear in a couple of
days. This is why I'm steering away from winter tires this year.
RE-92's are so awful that I nearly got killed several times combined
with the hyperactive ABS.
Ah decisions, decisions.

Hi,
I am afraid then you're speeding for the road condition.
It's not hyperactive ABS which was doing it's job. The road was slippery
and tire was not helping either in your case. Considerable amount of
highway driving, nealy got killed, winter tires wear out very quickly,
sounds like contradiction to me. I'd choose good tires for my life.
I don't care how fast it wears.
Tony

 

[Scooby Don't]

Hi,
I am afraid then you're speeding for the road condition.
It's not hyperactive ABS which was doing it's job. The road was slippery
and tire was not helping either in your case. Considerable amount of
highway driving, nealy got killed, winter tires wear out very quickly,
sounds like contradiction to me. I'd choose good tires for my life.
I don't care how fast it wears.
Tony

Nope it sure wasn't speed. granted on dry highway I sure keep up with
traffic but I slid through intersections at like 2mph car would be all
but stopped and the damn ABS would go off and the car would slide. If
you live in a city with a lot of hills you don't drive fast. But that
Damn ABS goes off over nothing at all even in the dry. I've hit a few
bumps and it's gone off while slowing down and ended up going past
stop signs. The ABS in the WRX is the worst I have ever seen in any
vehicle I've owned. Dealer says it's normal. Well I really like the
WRX it's powerful enough and big enough taht I'm covered but the damn
ABS is so awful that I probably won't buy another one unless they
reduce it's oversensitivity.
On the highway I rarely speed in the bad stuff I just get out there
and keep up with everyone else who's going 20mph. I'm hoping better
tires will help. The biggest problem is just before i stop on snow the
ABS kicks in at the last second and it doesn't shut off real quick
either. Sometimes it stays on even after I'm back and accelerating
again.

 

[Diva]

Man! Where do YOU live where you can get on the highway in the snow and
people are driving 20 mph???? Around here you could die in the snow from the
jackasses that don't know you shouldn't go 70 mph on it. I often see them
off the road further down the pike after they've passed me because I'm
driving a safe speed and they aren't. I think I'm going to check into the
Hakka Q's. What is the difference between the Q's and WS tires from Nokian?

June