Snow tires, your favorites?

[noski]

Several years ago I asked the local sheriff what he was running on the cruiser. He told me Blizzak- so that is what I got. I really liked them- I don't typically drive far in the winter and my commute to work is mostly gravel road. There is definite road noise on the interstate, though.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I have been using Cooper Weathermaster S/T's on every vehicle. Great tires!

 

[tirolerpeter]

Winter Rubber

Front wheel drive Honda Accord. Was thinking of going trying only snows in the front with all seasons in the back. What do you think? Four snow tires or is two snow tires ok?

BTW I like Nokian snow tires.

NO! That is looking for trouble. The Accord is OK with four dedicated "snow" tires. With snows only up front, you are definitely looking for the tail to come around unpredictably. I have been driving/owning cars, vans, and trucks in snowy environments for over 44 years and have played with various combinations on both rear drivers and front drivers. Your suggestion is the most unstable configuration on a front driver.

 

[Big Game]

Marc is finally right about something - the WS-50 is not a great dry, wet tire. The tread squirm is pretty bad when new but gets better as they wear. Unfortunately, the opposite effect takes place for the snow traction of the tire. So as you start to like them more in the dry/wet, the snow traction starts to get worse. There is also hum on the road and a whine in rain at around 50mph.

Serious? I've had WS-50 both on a mini and now on my Suby. Never heard it. Now I have heard the wet whine with the Michelin Alpin's. Real obnoxious --- I would never buy a set of those.

WS-50 does handle kind of gloppy with the high blocks. But on the plus side, it does make the ride a little more cushy.

I got a buddy who swears by studded tires. Cheaper than snows. He's kind of a strange engineer type.

 

[koreshot]

I got a buddy who swears by studded tires. Cheaper than snows. He's kind of a strange engineer type.

I don't know much about studded tires, but a friend was telling me they are illegal on public roads, at least in NJ. I am not sure the reason, but probably the damage to the roads from the studs and sketchy dry performance.

 

[nelsapbm]

Some states/provinces do have studded tire laws....here in Vermont you can have them. Quebec you can't. I believe in Massachusetts you can have them on between certain dates.

 

[bvibert]

Some states/provinces do have studded tire laws....here in Vermont you can have them. Quebec you can't. I believe in Massachusetts you can have them on between certain dates.

In CT studded tires are allowed only from November 15th to March 30th.

I had studded snow tires on the front of a VW Golf one winter when I was younger, that thing was unstoppable in the snow!

 

[bobbutts]

In CT studded tires are allowed only from November 15th to March 30th.

I had studded snow tires on the front of a VW Golf one winter when I was younger, that thing was unstoppable in the snow!

Yes, studs rule, I used to get a ride from a guy with 85 toyota tercel wagon 4wd with studs all around and it felt unbelievably stable on snow and crappy on dry roads. Great braking performance, acceleration didn't spin them but the tercel is dead slow no matter what.

 

[bvibert]

My golf had way too easy of a time spinning the studded snows, on dry concrete, at night, when you could see the sparks flying.

 

[skibum9995]

I use Michelin X-Ice. They offer great performance, for a snow tire, on dry roads and give me all the traction I have ever needed.

 

[Trekchick]

I have Cooper Discoverer ATR's on my Jeep. Love 'em!
Not a snow tire, but a great mud/snow tire.
My husband has them on all his plow trucks, too.

 

[Phildozer]

I'm running a set of Blizzak LM-25 on my 2002 BMW 325. Had some OEM wheels custom powder coated by Rimpro in Tewksbury gunmetal gray so they look like steel wheels.

My wife hates 'em. I love 'em!

Summer wheels are 255-40s all around. Plenty of rubber for the corners. : )

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

If i lived further north, I'd have dedicated snows, but here on LI with weekend trips north, its never been an issue not having them

Audi Continental Extremes
Armada BFG All Terrains

Both excellent in snow

 

[skibumnh]

A thread on snow tires and no mention of nokian yet?

http://www.nokiantires.com/en/winter.aspx

The WRs are some amazing winter tires that outperform most all seasons on dry pavement. For something more hardcore, the Hakkapeliitta is legendary and has been a staple in europe for decades in some capacity.

 

[skijay]

I am on my third season with Cooper Discoverer M+S snow tires mounted on black steel wheels for my Saturn. They do a great job but are loud on dry pavement. They perform really well in muddy ski parking lots, you know how in the morning the ground is frozen and by the time you leave it has defrosted and you are walking and sinking in the mud while going to your vehicle.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Yes, studs rule, I used to get a ride from a guy with 85 toyota tercel wagon 4wd with studs all around and it felt unbelievably stable on snow and crappy on dry roads. Great braking performance, acceleration didn't spin them but the tercel is dead slow no matter what.

OMG, I had a 84 (I think) Tercel Wagon. Great for traction, visiously underpowered. (You lost 4mph top end when the ski rack (Yakima) had the racks rotated up, instead of in-line! Got me to a lot of great days skiing, though.

 

[Marc]

I have experience with the WS-50, the M2, the M3 and a few others I can't remember anymore.

Marc is finally right about something - the WS-50 is not a great dry, wet tire. The tread squirm is pretty bad when new but gets better as they wear. Unfortunately, the opposite effect takes place for the snow traction of the tire. So as you start to like them more in the dry/wet, the snow traction starts to get worse. There is also hum on the road and a whine in rain at around 50mph.

That said, these tires are fantastic in the snow and leave the other more all-around winter tires in the dust. You immediately fall in love with those annoying squirmy deep tread blocks. My piece of crap awd Matrix can get through snow that will stop an SUV on regular all terrain tires. Acceleration in the snow is virtually as fast as in the dry, partly cause the traction is so amazing and partly cause my car is a dog in the dry anyway.

The other winter tires are better compromise tires for cars that will run winter tires year round, but since I have 6 sets of wheels sitting around my house for 2 cars, I have the luxury of picking the best tire for the job. Its kinda scary how much I love tires...

Pfft. I'm always right about everything.

The WS-50 was the one I was thinking of too.

And you're spot on with your description of how it wears. A lot of snow tires have two wear marks on them. After you pass the first wear mark, the tire is intended to be used as an all season tire until it hits the second wear mark (which is the end of its tread life).

 

[Greg]

Getting some new Dueller A/Ts mounted up on the Jeep as we speak. I got close to 60,000 miles out of the last set.

 

[skijay]

I started to drive in the snow we had and I had horrible traction. It felt like I was driving on slick tires. I have about 40k on my Cooper tires. I checked the tire pressure before I went home today and I was at 30 PSI cold. I was hoping they were overinflated and that was the cause of the loss of traction.

I stopped by Firestone and drove home with 4 new Blizzak DMZ3 tires. The tires had "aged".