The Winter's Coming Winter Tires Thread

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Is anybody running studded tires? If so, do you like them? I'm thinking about them for our camper van. We are going to use it as home base at the ski hill, which will be every weekend because my son ski races. I'm going to get the Nokian Hakka's, but am wondering if I should just get the studded.

I did them for the first time this season, studded Hakkas too. From my research, it seems you’re right in the zone where they’ll be worth the minimal extra cost. Weekly trips to the mountains, where the weather and the roads can be a little less predictable than in the city, and you’re going to be thankful you have them. I bought them for basically the same reason (and I just wanted to try a set).

The cons I could reliably find involved them being less than ideal on wet pavement if you’re going fast, and providing no real advantage over studless in the unique situation where there is snow but no ice or hard pack.

So, worst case scenario, you have a set of winter tires that perform like winter tires that you paid a little bit more than you had to for.

Best case scenario, there are a few days every year where that extra safety pays off, and you’ll be glad you did it.

[calgarygeologist]

Speaking of studded tires, is it possible to get studs replaced? My mom's studs seem to be at or below the rubber tread depth and likely not very effective. If it is relatively inexpensive and possible I might get her tires re-studded.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah, did my family's on Sunday. Zero sympathy for the people that wait too long - we're in the latter half of October. Time to get on it, slackers.

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I wait as long as possible but a guy near me does it on short notice for $25. I have winter rims and tip generously.

Originally Posted by Sliver

Why wait? Especially if he's charging that ridiculously low price. You need it done anyway...may not hurt to call him and ask when he'd like you in as he might appreciate that. I'd give him $100 for the job for sure.

Five days ago it was too soon to put on your tires. Hopefully your guy can get you in quickly now, though. Some of those roads are a little slick.

[chemgear]

I just don't understand why you would wait to the last moment versus a week or two early. What's the difference, how much winter tire rubber are you really burning off by swapping a week or two earlier?

[Acey]

Just threw my Blizzaks on but I waited for the snow so I could take a rip around the block with my summer wheels and test out the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 - it's the best non-winter tire I've ever driven in the snow. I will always still run a dedicated winter tire but man I'm very impressed with these Michelins.

[you&me]

Today was an excellent reminder of just how ####ing awesome Hakkas are. I passed no less than 4 strugglers on a modestly steep, yet curvy hill within a couple of blocks of home and it made me feel so smugly superior, I could really get used to it. Bring it on, winter.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by you&me

Today was an excellent reminder of just how ####ing awesome Hakkas are. I passed no less than 4 strugglers on a modestly steep, yet curvy hill within a couple of blocks of home and it made me feel so smugly superior, I could really get used to it. Bring it on, winter.

I've had studded Hakkas and switched back to Blizzaks. I honestly think that Blizzaks are the best winter tires that exist for icy roads.

P.S. Also, fwiw, all (or most?) Hakkapelitta tires were made in Russia. Nokian has sold the plant to TatNeft due to the war in Ukraine. They are still being offered by KalTire; but I wonder if they're just selling out the inventories until gone.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I've had studded Hakkas and switched back to Blizzaks. I honestly think that Blizzaks are the best winter tires that exist for icy roads.

P.S. Also, fwiw, all (or most?) Hakkapelitta tires were made in Russia. Nokian has sold the plant to TatNeft due to the war in Ukraine. They are still being offered by KalTire; but I wonder if they're just selling out the inventories until gone.

The Hakkas are definitely better.

They just shifted all of their production to the Finnish and American plants. They’re building a new Romanian one.

[chedder]

I put the winters on the kid's car yesterday and bronco tonight. Bronco with studded winters and auto AWD makes for a pretty surefooted winter chariot. My truck will wait until shop is less busy as no separate rims yet.

[woob]

Anyone try the Winter Edge IIs yet from Canadian Tire. Manufactured by Hankook. The price is insanely good. We ran the original CT Winter Edge on my wife's Hyundai (before the crunched it - no, not in the winter) but her current car doesn't really need new snow tires yet. Might try them next year.

How long do you leep Winter tires for before the compound starts hardening/turning to crap?

[chemgear]

A City of Calgary bus had summer tires on. Left abandoned in the middle of Crowchild blocking two lanes right now lol.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by woob

Anyone try the Winter Edge IIs yet from Canadian Tire. Manufactured by Hankook. The price is insanely good. We ran the original CT Winter Edge on my wife's Hyundai (before the crunched it - no, not in the winter) but her current car doesn't really need new snow tires yet. Might try them next year.

How long do you leep Winter tires for before the compound starts hardening/turning to crap?

3-5 ish years of regular use?

I was weaving around strugglers all morning and night. Feels good.

Some cars were just straight up screwed. light incline and their tires were just creating and buffing ice.

[timun]

Originally Posted by chemgear

A City of Calgary bus had summer tires on. Left abandoned in the middle of Crowchild blocking two lanes right now lol.

FYI transit buses run all-weather tires, and they don't have dedicated winter tires for them.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Is anybody running studded tires? If so, do you like them? I'm thinking about them for our camper van. We are going to use it as home base at the ski hill, which will be every weekend because my son ski races. I'm going to get the Nokian Hakka's, but am wondering if I should just get the studded.

That's what we do (studded winter camper van for ski hill home base) and the studs are great.

You don't hear the studs on the highway like you do in the city and you're more likely to encounter ice on the highway where studs excel vs. the packed snow residential roads where studdless are better. Our van is 2wd so the studs also come in handy at some of the smaller hill access roads that can be pretty icey and often need chains.

Only pain is the swap but those tires are heavy regardless of the studs.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by kevman

That's what we do (studded winter camper van for ski hill home base) and the studs are great.

You don't hear the studs on the highway like you do in the city and you're more likely to encounter ice on the highway where studs excel vs. the packed snow residential roads where studdless are better. Our van is 2wd so the studs also come in handy at some of the smaller hill access roads that can be pretty icey and often need chains.

Only pain is the swap but those tires are heavy regardless of the studs.

Money no object, I'd love to get more tools to make the job easier. I pulled two sets of R18/R19 from storage, then swapped two cars, then rolled all of swapped out tires back to the back yard for storage.

Not specifically this one, but sooner or later, having this thing to position the tire before getting it secured vs manually lifting and tilting to get the tire on the car would be really nice.

https://jackandjillofalltires.com

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Money no object, I'd love to get more tools to make the job easier. I pulled two sets of R18/R19 from storage, then swapped two cars, then rolled all of swapped out tires back to the back yard for storage.

Not specifically this one, but sooner or later, having this thing to position the tire before getting it secured vs manually lifting and tilting to get the tire on the car would be really nice.

https://jackandjillofalltires.com

Wow, they really make stuff for everything...


Can't say I've ever struggled with this using a floor jack, though. Jack the car until the tire is just off the ground, and you don't really have to lift it.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by timun

FYI transit buses run all-weather tires, and they don't have dedicated winter tires for them.

My joking reaction to all-weather tires is that they might as well be basically summer tires in situations like this. Given how hilarious the vehicle was just abandoned blocking so much traffic, maybe it's valid.

The amount of snow isn't even that bad. First snowfall for just one night and such a gongshow already.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by chemgear

My joking reaction to all-weather tires is that they might as well be basically summer tires in situations like this. Given how hilarious the vehicle was just abandoned blocking so much traffic, maybe it's valid.

The amount of snow isn't even that bad. First snowfall for just one night and such a gongshow already.

Wasn't the amount of snow, it was the rain that turned to ice underneath. Plus the ass clowns who hadn't put their winters on yet.

[mrkajz44]

I'd argue this is probably going to be in the top 5 for snowiest events this winter in Calgary. We had close to 10cm yesterday officially and we got more today. In terms of 24 hours of snow, this will be up there when winter comes to a close.

For longevity most manufacturers say 6 years but Transport Canada says 10 years. I think I'm at year 8 on one set and this will probably be their last season - they've seemed fine so far as they still have tread.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by chemgear

A City of Calgary bus had summer tires on. Left abandoned in the middle of Crowchild blocking two lanes right now lol.

Originally Posted by timun

FYI transit buses run all-weather tires, and they don't have dedicated winter tires for them.

CT apparently trialled winter tires about 10-15 years ago and found there was not enough of a improvement to justify the cost (and time) of running summers and winters on busses. The relatively few days per year where they might make enough of a difference on some routes was not worth the expense.