Winter Tires

[Claeren]

Did anyone call around to get pricing on the Nokians?


I have run winter tires for years and have had varying degrees of success with Yokohama's, Pirelli's, Dunlop's and Bridgestone's and a few others i have since forgotten.

The main thing i think is that some winter tires are more for snow and some are more ice. In Calgary i think we need more of an ice biased tire because of our freeze and thaw cycles where-as in the East they need more of a deep snow tire. So i find the European tires are better here because they are more for ice while North American tires are made for our largest market, which is the east coast and their heavy snowfalls.

Once you identify the ice tires i think you are set with any of them.


They are 100% worth the money though. The small premium one might have to deal with is worth the 10%-30% in driving advantage over all season that could save you thousands of dollars (and lives). They only have to work once inyour favour to have been worth it over your life...



I always have bought online from www.tiretrends.com with great success but with the dollar where it is www.tirerack.com may be the better choice.



Claeren.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Tires are the last thing you want to save on, since they are the only thing that connects your car to the road. Just buy Nokian, and pick up a Nokia phone also while you are at it. We need every tax dollar that those companies produce so we can keep on sending more goaltenders there. Those 2 companies are our only tax incomes + Kipper, now that he is making big bucks with your oil sand money. I need my monthly studymoney from state so I can by new nails for my donkey-carriadge, since the winter is coming here also.

Its amazing how much you can research a simple thing like tyre, my mate is over at Nokian making his masters thesis and their Finite element analysis and testing procedures are just crazy.

To sum it up: My english has gotten worse since the last year when this topic came up also, and i'm drunk. And we will win Portugal. Viva la Litmanen.

hahahhahahaha

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Tires are the last thing you want to save on, since they are the only thing that connects your car to the road. Just buy Nokian, and pick up a Nokia phone also while you are at it. We need every tax dollar that those companies produce so we can keep on sending more goaltenders there. Those 2 companies are our only tax incomes + Kipper, now that he is making big bucks with your oil sand money. I need my monthly studymoney from state so I can by new nails for my donkey-carriadge, since the winter is coming here also.

Its amazing how much you can research a simple thing like tyre, my mate is over at Nokian making his masters thesis and their Finite element analysis and testing procedures are just crazy.

To sum it up: My english has gotten worse since the last year when this topic came up also, and i'm drunk. And we will win Portugal. Viva la Litmanen.

Well, maybe so, but it's such a small market. Why would we invest there?

Also, here's last year's thread started only 12 days earlier than this year's: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=32977

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Tires are the last thing you want to save on, since they are the only thing that connects your car to the road. Just buy Nokian, and pick up a Nokia phone also while you are at it. We need every tax dollar that those companies produce so we can keep on sending more goaltenders there. Those 2 companies are our only tax incomes + Kipper, now that he is making big bucks with your oil sand money. I need my monthly studymoney from state so I can by new nails for my donkey-carriadge, since the winter is coming here also.

Its amazing how much you can research a simple thing like tyre, my mate is over at Nokian making his masters thesis and their Finite element analysis and testing procedures are just crazy.

To sum it up: My english has gotten worse since the last year when this topic came up also, and i'm drunk. And we will win Portugal. Viva la Litmanen.

I vote for skill!

[Claeren]

I called Kal Tire.

Their Nokian RSI is ~$180/tire for a 205/60/16

Likewise, their Yokohama Iceguard, which i have had a lot of luck with, is about the same price for the same size.


Expensive compared to online, that is for sure.


4 Nokians, installed without an alignment, are ~$880.

Crazy...



Claeren.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Totally disagree, good winter tires are a major safety feature IMO, all-seasons are not designed for severe winter driving...

Canadian Tire has their Motormaster brand which is reasonably priced

How often do we get large amounts of snow that truely require snow tires?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Kipru

Tires are the last thing you want to save on, since they are the only thing that connects your car to the road. Just buy Nokian, and pick up a Nokia phone also while you are at it. We need every tax dollar that those companies produce so we can keep on sending more goaltenders there. Those 2 companies are our only tax incomes + Kipper, now that he is making big bucks with your oil sand money. I need my monthly studymoney from state so I can by new nails for my donkey-carriadge, since the winter is coming here also.

Its amazing how much you can research a simple thing like tyre, my mate is over at Nokian making his masters thesis and their Finite element analysis and testing procedures are just crazy.

To sum it up: My english has gotten worse since the last year when this topic came up also, and i'm drunk. And we will win Portugal. Viva la Litmanen.

Fantastic post, I love it....

BTW: A draw's not bad....

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Claeren

4 Nokians, installed without an alignment, are ~$880.

Crazy...

You don't need an alignment when getting new / winter tires. If that is what the shop is telling you, run away. Fast.

And $880 is quite reasonable considering what you get...

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

You don't need an alignment when getting new / winter tires. If that is what the shop is telling you, run away. Fast.

And $880 is quite reasonable considering what you get...

You don't even need their snow tires. Just the WRs are good enough to get you through any severe winter storm in calgary. I think they are bit cheaper.

[Fobby]

Originally Posted by Dion

How often do we get large amounts of snow that truely require snow tires?

Did you not read any of the post here?

Winter tires != Snow tires.

[Bill Bumface]

Nokian Hakkapaleta's are the ultimate winter tire for the record, but WR's are a nice substitute if you really hate changing wheels twice a year. Of course you'll be buying new tires twice as much, which can be a hassle.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Fobby

Did you not read any of the post here?

Winter tires != Snow tires.

You obviously missed the point of my arguement.

We don't normally get a lot of snow in Calgary! I've always used all seasons and have never had problems. Maybe people need to learn how to drive for the conditions.

If we lived in a snow belt where a lot of snow fell each winter, i'd be out buying some for my vehicle. For the amonut of money snow tires would cost, and what little snow e get, I think it's a waste of money.

[Fobby]

You obviously missed the point of winter tires.

The rubber compound determines if they are winter tires or not. Rubber compound determines how hard the rubber gets when the temperature drops. It doesn't matter if there's snow or ice or anything on the ground, your summer tires are going to become hockey pucks in the winter.

You don't need to live in an area where there's A LOT of snow in order to feel effect of the winter tires.

They are WINTER tires.. NOT snow tires.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Fobby

You obviously missed the point of winter tires.

The rubber compound determines if they are winter tires or not. Rubber compound determines how hard the rubber gets when the temperature drops. It doesn't matter if there's snow or ice or anything on the ground, your summer tires are going to become hockey pucks in the winter.

You don't need to live in an area where there's A LOT of snow in order to feel effect of the winter tires.

Nobody drives summer tires anymore.

No, I didn't miss the point on winter tires.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Dion

Nobody drives summer tires anymore.

Please speak for yourself.

I'm sure there is a good percentage of people who will disagree with you, including myself.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Dion

Nobody drives summer tires anymore.

No, I didn't miss the point on winter tires.

most all-season tires ARE summer tires for all intents and purposes. they aren't designed to handle sub zero temperatures, and especially not the icy conditions that we get in Calgary

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Dion

No, I didn't miss the point on winter tires.

Have fun on those -15 / -20°C mornings we tend to get. You don't realize the extra traction that you're missing until you need it...

MYTH: I don't need winter tires. I've got a good set of all-seasons and they'll get me through the winter.
FACT: All-season tires should be more accurately called three-season tires. While they have improved abilities in wet weather over 'summer' tires, they fall prey to winter's first line of attack on wheel traction -- cold temperatures. Richard reminds us that at 7 degrees C, the rubber compound in all-season tires becomes stiff enough to compromise traction in emergency manoeuvres or panic braking, especially if the road surface is wet or frosted. And of course all-season tires don't have the tread design engineered to provide improved traction with winter's second, third and fourth battle lines -- snow, ice, and slush.

http://autos.canada.com/story.html?i...5249be&k=69585

All-season tires can begin to lose their grip when the temperature drops below -10° C. Winter tires are made for cold and snowy conditions. They remain more flexible than all-season tires in colder temperatures

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/saf...intertires.htm

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Dion

Nobody drives summer tires anymore.

No, I didn't miss the point on winter tires.

Normally, I'd point out a few studies that show the huge difference a proper ice tire makes. Tires very suited to the snow, melt in a chinook, refreeze weather patterns here. But I don't think it would change your mind.

Something tells me you haven't actually driven on the new generation of ice tires during a January dump in Calgary, have you?

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

You don't need an alignment when getting new / winter tires. If that is what the shop is telling you, run away. Fast.

And $880 is quite reasonable considering what you get...

That was my point. I said NOT including an alignment.

I mentioned it because (1) they will always ASK if you want an alignment (upselling) and (2) the price is so high that i thought it was important that people knew it was not included.


I usually get 4 comparable tires to that, including shipping, for $380-$480 and then pay ~$50 to have them installed. That is a pretty big spread and all i have to do is wait an extra 2-5 days until they are delivered.





As for the guy that says he has been fine without snow tires:

1) They are WINTER tires not SNOW tires. There are plenty of WINTER tires geared towards ICE, of which Calgary and area (and to the mountains) roads have plenty.

2) I am sure all of us here know how to drive well enough that we would have been fine with all seasons too. The 10%-30% that WINTER tires are scientifically PROVEN to give you over all-seasons in ice and/or snow can be the 10% that save your life and/or your car. We only need to draw on that 10% ONCE in our lives of driving for it to have made more sense economically to have invested in winter tires. ONCE.

I wonder if a family memeber dies on icy roads you will wonder what could have been if you had spent an extra $50 to mount WINTER tires? I know what my answer is: I don't want to ever have to ask that question...




Claeren.

[OzSome]

Calgary roads on winter, i suggest to invest on winter tires. I never go to wintr tires before until 5 years ago. Trust me I noticed the big difference. Some all season tires are good enough for winter but having a good winter tires makes you feel safer because of the melting snow,freezing up road and city's road snow maintenance. You can probably use the winter tires for 4-5 years depending on how far you drive and if you don't wait until summer before you remove it.