Winter Tires

[HitterD]

I use the Michelin Pilot Alpin's. Great all round winter tire.

I do ALOT of highway driving in the winter...therefor, I needed a tire that handles great on snow and ice, but doesn't suffer in performance when traveling at high speed on a usually dry highway in the winter.

check out the review. For anyone who is in the same type of situation as i am, i highly recommend these as they will provide much more dry road stability at high speed on a highway than the less expensive MIchelin X-ice/ Blizzacks etc...

http://www.canadiandriver.com/winter/tires/alpin.htm

Typically excellent winter traction comes at the expense of dry and wet weather handling, because the more flexible and blocky the tread pattern, the more the tires will squirm around on dry pavement. That's where the Pilots show their balance. While they're not mountain-goat aggressive on the slick stuff, they still maintain their composure the rest of the time when they are not on snow duty.

A quick day trip from Winnipeg to Brandon in wet weather showed their strength: these winter tires track straight and provide a smooth, quiet ride on the highway. On top of that, they still allow my 6 to turn in aggressively without requiring correction. That they still provide this level of performance given their competence on snow and ice is where the Pilot Alpins shine against the competition.

The verdict? If you need the extra traction in the winter (and who doesn't), but still savour your performance car's sharp reflexes, or if you do a lot of highway driving in the winter, the Pilot Alpins from Michelin strike a great balance in all winter conditions.

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by fredr123

I would highly recommend you talk to the tire guy formerly known as CMS Bob. He's easily the most knowledgeable guy I've ever encountered when it comes to tires. He started his own shop a few months ago and is super busy but I'm sure he'll do his best to fit you in.

Bob Blakeborough
Urban Expressions Wheel & Tire
3823 12th ST NE
Calgary AB, T2E6M5
888.769.1772 Toll Free
403.769.1771 tel

Talked to this guy today, seems nice, knowledgable, tells you what you want to hear without it sounding like he's trying to sell you something.

[metallicat]

I bought a set of four winter tires off of a guy from work, because Nissan wanted to charge me 1400 dollars for new stuff from them. Now I can't find rims. My car has a four bolt pattern that must be rare, because nobody sells them. Now I don't know what to do, Nissan will sell me old rims for 87 bucks a piece, but that just seems abnormally expensive.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I bought a set of four winter tires off of a guy from work, because Nissan wanted to charge me 1400 dollars for new stuff from them. Now I can't find rims. My car has a four bolt pattern that must be rare, because nobody sells them. Now I don't know what to do, Nissan will sell me old rims for 87 bucks a piece, but that just seems abnormally expensive.

www.tirerack.com

With our dollar right now, and the fact you finally don't get UPS brokerage fees with them, they are really really hard to beat. They have everything.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

www.tirerack.com

With our dollar right now, and the fact you finally don't get UPS brokerage fees with them, they are really really hard to beat. They have everything.

Thanks for the link. Just looking though, do they sell just steel rims for winter tires? I can't find it right now.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Thanks for the link. Just looking though, do they sell just steel rims for winter tires? I can't find it right now.

Try www.tiretrends.com

They are a canadian site and are located in maple ridge.. I order tires off them alot and they are fast and knowledgable..

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Thanks for the link. Just looking though, do they sell just steel rims for winter tires? I can't find it right now.

Yes they do, what kind of Nissan is it? I'll have a look.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

www.tirerack.com

With our dollar right now, and the fact you finally don't get UPS brokerage fees with them, they are really really hard to beat. They have everything.

Ouch, the shipping is pretty brutal.

I priced out some Michelin X-Ice with steel wheels and it totaled $883.72 USD shipped.

On tiretrends I priced out some BFGoodrich Winter Slalom with steel wheels and it totaled $886.50 CDN shipped.

Might as well go with the better tires from tirerack for the same price I guess.

[Wookie]

Well I've been driving for 12 years and had never had a winter accident. Always have been on all season tires. Most of those 12 years in an old beater rear wheel drive boat. I could do anything in that car. Now a 4x4 Nissan Pathfinder.

I got in my first winter accident the other day - anything to do with tires? Nope, I was out to lunch and probably was asking to be killed or kill someone. Luckily that never happened and now I'm going to get winter tires.

Why? The same reason I have a 4x4 now - complete laziness.

I don't need it, but if it makes my life easier and I get away that time I'm not on the ball because of it it'll be worth it.

It'd be nice if I never sped, was always 100% paying attention and gave my undivided attention to the road. Unfortunately that's not the case but I guess if I put winter tires on that's an improvement.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Ouch, the shipping is pretty brutal.

It used to be worse. Shipping was low, but when they hit your door you needed to give them over $100 in brokerage, and they couldn't drop anything off until you paid which really sucks if you work during the day like most people.

[Pagal4321]

Just a heads up, called Kal Tire and was told the Nokain WR are on heavy backorder (to the tune of 180 orders) and the price was about 775 for 4 195 65 R15 tires.

Is there any way to get Nokians anywhere else?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

It's no longer an option in Quebec...

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/200...snowtires.html

[Bill Bumface]

"There's about 10 per cent of the people right now that don't have winter tires on and they're involved in 38 per cent of the accidents on the road in the winter," he said.

But they're good drivers...

[You Need a Thneed]

People drive so slow in this City with the tiniest little bit of precipitation that has a miniscule chance of making the roads slippery, that I never get to drive at a speed where winter tires would be required. How many days out of the whole year are the main roads too slippery to drive the speed limit? At the very most 5-10. On non-major roads that are slippery, I drive much slower, and slow down even more at critical points.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

But they're good drivers...

Yeah, yeah... You and the winter tires. For the amount of snow we get out here, they're just a waste of time and money. But whatever makes you feel safe.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Yeah, yeah... You and the winter tires. For the amount of snow we get out here, they're just a waste of time and money. But whatever makes you feel safe.

Exactly! Chinnok after chinook takes care of what little snow we get here.

[ken0042]

The "10% of drivers are responsible for 38% of the accidents" is an interesting stat. However as people have said, Quebec is a very different climate than Calgary. I would be interested in seeing what the numbers are like here.

I would also like to see how many of those who get into those accidents with all seasons are the type who can't afford to switch tires every six months; and perhaps are also running on tires that have 100,000 km on them as well. Because the type of people who can easily afford winter tires are also the type who would replace their year round tires before they got too worn.

The other thing that strikes me about that stat- why hasn't the insurance companies jumped all over that? Discount for having winter tires, or a premium for not having them. They charge other high risk groups (smokers for life insurance; 16 year olds for car.)

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Dion

Exactly! Chinnok after chinook takes care of what little snow we get here.

Winter Tires >>> Snow Tires.

Big difference here people.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by ken0042

The other thing that strikes me about that stat- why hasn't the insurance companies jumped all over that? Discount for having winter tires, or a premium for not having them. They charge other high risk groups (smokers for life insurance; 16 year olds for car.)

A great point. You'd think they'd offer some kind of discount. Of course, then there is a grey area surrounding things like spare tire and whatnot.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Winter Tires >>> Snow Tires.

Big difference here people.

With the amonut of snow we get here both are a waste of money.