winter tires - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

go iggy · 06-04-2006, 06:17 PM

I know it's far from winter tires weather but I was wondering about buying some on sale now while there a little cheaper. My question is I've never had winter tires so are they that much better than all season or should I stick to buying new all seasons?

CaramonLS · 06-04-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go iggy

I know it's far from winter tires weather but I was wondering about buying some on sale now while there a little cheaper. My question is I've never had winter tires so are they that much better than all season or should I stick to buying new all seasons?

I'm not sure where you can find the best deals (I haven't really checked around), but I found that winter tires make a huge difference.

I have these nice Toyos I bought 3 years ago and you can really notice the difference between winter/summer tires for handling on ice.

BlackArcher101 · 06-04-2006, 06:27 PM

Buy a good winter tire from Nokian and you'll never go back.

I recommend the Hakkapeliitta.

snappyk · 06-04-2006, 07:06 PM

I've personally never used them but friends that have swear by them, they say that they make that big of a difference.

Ironhorse · 06-04-2006, 07:45 PM

Wintertires make a big difference. I personally have Dunlop Wintersport M3 DSST's (runflats), but the Nokians seem to be a good match to the kind of winters we get here - some snow, lots of dry pavement. Whichever you choose for a brand, budget some money for separate winter rims too - its hard on the tires to get remounted over and over, and you'll also save the mounting fees.

Shazam · 06-04-2006, 08:06 PM

Check out tirerack.com to get brands for your tire size.

I have Nokians right now on my Accord and they're quite good. They're all-season but are geared more towards winter driving rather than summer driving. I've had Michelin Arctic Alpins before and they were great but they severly limited my cornering abilities. They were also quite loud.

My wife has Kumhos and they are the best winter tires I have ever used. They were also quite inexpensive.

Shazam · 06-04-2006, 08:10 PM

Oh, and to be honest, most all-seasons for their first two winters are usually fine. I wouldn't bother getting winter tires until then.

Vulcan · 06-04-2006, 08:25 PM

Seperate rims are a good idea. If you can find the right ones at an autowrecker, it'll be a lot cheaper and you can change them out when you want.

go iggy · 06-04-2006, 10:15 PM

I have a 2003 civic si. The tires in the front are 1 year old and the ones in the back are 3. It sounds like a good idea to get the winter tires. I do a lot of driving on deerfoot trail in calgary and the slippery conditions during the winter can be heart pounding.

thanks

ken0042 · 06-04-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Seperate rims are a good idea.

This is one of the reasons I've stayed away from winter tires. I know mounting and unmounting a tire over and over is bad for it, but I just don't like to see my car almost 1/2 the time (5 out of 12 months) with ugly rims on it. Yes, the factory ones aren't super awesome, but they are nice- way better than black rims.

Bill Bumface · 06-04-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

Oh, and to be honest, most all-seasons for their first two winters are usually fine. I wouldn't bother getting winter tires until then.

Not true at all. HUGE HUGE difference. Maybe not as noticable in a truck or something, but in a light car like a civic you'll notice for sure. I have Blizzaks, but they are my first set so I have nothing to compare to.

Bill Bumface · 06-04-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

This is one of the reasons I've stayed away from winter tires. I know mounting and unmounting a tire over and over is bad for it, but I just don't like to see my car almost 1/2 the time (5 out of 12 months) with ugly rims on it. Yes, the factory ones aren't super awesome, but they are nice- way better than black rims.

If you get them off of tirerack or somewhere like that you can usually get decent looking alloy rims for about $10 more per wheel than steelies

I-Hate-Hulse · 06-05-2006, 07:43 AM

Driving on winters vs. all seasons is like night and day. Seriously.

I had Micheline Arctic Alpins for the 1st 7 years I had my car - were great, if a little noisy in the wet. I went to their new X-Ice tires that have a much more aggressive tread for deep snow, much quieter too I'd add.

For this latest set I sent and got some new 17" Tenzo rims with summer tires f0r $850 (yep, wheels AND tires) from Contemporary. Slapped the X-ICe on the old stock rims. Remounting is a pain and not so good for the sidewalls.

Shazam · 06-05-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Not true at all. HUGE HUGE difference. Maybe not as noticable in a truck or something, but in a light car like a civic you'll notice for sure. I have Blizzaks, but they are my first set so I have nothing to compare to.

My light Saturn was just fine with the Firestone FR680s and then the Michelin X-Ones for the first couple of years. There was a major dropoff in winter traction in their third years. Again, YMMV.

Claeren · 06-05-2006, 09:15 AM

I too swear by winter tires, they have saved my life.

On the other hand i do a lot of driving and often without much choice. If you can chose not to drive in the icier weather good all seasons may be just fine?

If you are getting tires www.tiretrends.com is a great place too. Just like tirerack but they are Canadian. I have used them many many times and they offer grerat service (if you call and ask their opinion) and good prices on hard to find tires. The prices used to be much better then Tireracks but tiwht our dollar run-up it is closer now...

Claeren.