Winter Tires

[buda]

Hey guys, looking for recommendation for winter tires. What's a good brand/model?
I am looking to buy tire/wheel combo, which leads me to my next question.
I own an SE that has the 16" alloys. For winter, should i go 16" steelies, or would 15" be fine? (15" seems to be more available)

Thanks in advance.

[kou]

I have used General arctic ultimax in 15'' they worked very well.

[WeeYari]

15s would be preferable to 16s, or even drop down to 14s. At 14, tires become very cheap.

On our winter roads, keep tires skinny, 175-185 for best all round performance. I've had good results with Goodyear Nordics readily available at CTC.

[kimona]

I'd go with 14's and some skinny tyres>

[IllusionX]

3rd gen 15" size is 175/65R15. Id go with that for winter.

[CrankyOldMan]

They don't make the Blizzak X-ice II anymore, but I got a pair in 175/70R14 two winters ago. They still look like new and get great traction. I scored a set of used Protege wheels to go with them for $25 each at a local junk yard.

[BobTheYaris]

I have used Bridgestone Blizaks since I got this car and have never gotten stuck even during last winter here in PA. I use them on my 15 steelies and they are available in the 14 as well last year at least.


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[j-san]

I'm looking to buy a set of winters this year for my 2010 HB. I have the stock 15" steels ready for winter tires. So far, I've narrowed the selection down to the Michelin X-ice XI3, Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2. Seems the Nokians are the best of the bunch, but they are significantly more expensive. If anyone here has experience with them I would appreciate any insight.

In MN, our winters tend to have plenty of snow and ice. The first snow tends to include a layer of ice first in the form of sleet/freezing rain, then the precip turns to snow and layers on top of the ice. Fortunately, our DOT is good about keeping major roads cleared off and salted/sanded so treadwear on dry cold pavement is a consideration.

I plan to have the winters mounted by Thanksgiving and probably will keep them on till late March.

Thanks.

[BobTheYaris]

I used Nokians years ago on a Maxima, they worked great turning the high power front driver into a proverbial tank.


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[screenprinter]

Hello everyone. Do you suggest changing all four tires for Winter or just the two front? Also, do you buy wheels to go with it or just change out the tires?

Not that I'm being cheap. Just don't want to buy all four if I really only need the front. Okay, I'm being cheap. Have a wedding to pay for January 2nd. My daughters getting married.

To tell you the truth, I'll save money once she's off my insurance, etc.

[WeeYari]

Recommendation is to always do all four, not just the driving wheels.

[IllusionX]

They say that if you absolutely need to only change 2, put the winters in the rear. So you have the ability to stop the car.

[Hershey]

What WeeYari states . Should do all 4 , especially if studs are used .

[screenprinter]

Thanks everyone. I'll keep that in mind.

Any suggestions on a good Winter Tire?

[j-san]

I just picked up a set of four Bridgestone Blizzak WS80. They look like they would have some very good grip on snow and especially ice with the aggressive tread and thousands of sipes.

[ptitpiffute]

Hi,

Already got hakka before, but not the R2 and not on the yaris.

This winter the yaya will be wearing new shoes and it's going to be hakka R2. I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers.

[Hershey]

j-san , please keep us informed on how they handle in all weather and if any hit in gas mileage . Best of luck .

[Hershey]

ptit looking forward to your experience .

[fourbangingfun]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/03/956e477d608e814eb428a23604ae49b9.jpg

First snow sighting this past weekend here in Southern New England! Still plan on waiting til after thanksgiving or there about to throw on the 2nd set of steelies with fresh Blizzak ws 70s.


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[buda]

I just got some Michelin x ice something or other. With 15" steelies. They had a rebate, and the garage will mount/dismount for free as long as I own the car.

[j-san]

Had our first decent snowfall of the winter. Got about 5" in my area with a decent layer of ice under the snowpack. I got a chance to drive with my Continental Extreme Contact DWS all-seasons during the storm and found them to be quite good as far as all-season tires go. They hooked up pretty well on the hardpack snow - much better than the OE Bridgestone tires. Traction control would usually activate if I put my foot down a little harder than with a feather's touch when starting from a dead stop, but once moving, the Continentals did well and felt pretty solid in turns, but did understeer predictably. Braking was pretty good and I felt I was able to predict when the ABS would kick in. If I was only looking to run a set of all-seasons, this would be my top choice. I would be curious to see how these tires do as they wear down more.

The Blizzak WS80 tires are a whole different animal. The day after I drove with the Continentals, I drove with the Blizzaks down the same road to work. The snow had compacted more and the plows had come by and removed the majority of the fluffy stuff, but the roads were generally still well covered by hardpack. Starting out from a standstill was impressive. No sign of traction control activating unless I put my foot down firmly, and even then the car moved out noticeably faster. Cornering on the hardpack felt very tight and controlled with much less understeer than the Continentals. Of course, I could induce understeer, but it felt like the car's movements were a lot more predictable in all aspects. Braking was great and I could really haul down to a stop faster than the the all-seasons. I tested it out in the parking lot where I did a stop test from 15mph with the Continentals the day before. My tire tracks were still present so I ran alongside those with the Blizzaks. It wasn't a very scientific test, but it appeared I stopped about a Yaris's length sooner.

I am sold on snow tires. I used to run the M+S rated all-terrain truck tires on my old RAV4 and felt those did well enough. Not sure if it was the tires or the AWD that really made the difference, but I could really tell a difference in the Yaris with the Blizzaks. My wife's car is a CRV with Michelin Defenders. I'll probably be looking to get a set of used steels and mount another set of Blizzaks on it before the big storms hit.

[rocketyaris b3]

just out of curiousity, if I were to run on winter tires all winter long and not encounter any snow would I end up wiping out the tires? I drive about 70 miles a day (highway).

im considering getting them, but I live in NJ.
we don't have snow on the ground everyday
and the winters are becoming unpredictable, temps anywhere from 0-60 degrees. :thumbsup:

[refotsirk]

Not being an expert, but I think with low temperatures, your tires will wear still, but not
as much as in summer heat. Even with no snow, but ice perhaps? Or even rain? The rubber compounds are softer at cold temps than the all season M/S types. We are on our 7th winter with our Dunlop Graspic 2's and they still have lots of deep sipe tree on them. I too wondered if the late spring without snow would wear them.
That thought aside, on the news last night up here in N. Wisconsin, a segment about wether or not to get snow tires, and the "expert" tire guy said...."they are so good, I recommend them to be used, even in summer." But..he said they would wear faster. I can't imagine running them in summer, but imagine less hydroplaning than my all seasons. Totally worth buying I would say, even if you miss a winter's snow. The initial cost was still less than our deductible if we spun out in an accident or worse. I would go for it. We are glad we did.
Still cold right? Worth it.

[CoryM]

just out of curiousity, if I were to run on winter tires all winter long and not encounter any snow would I end up wiping out the tires? I drive about 70 miles a day (highway).

im considering getting them, but I live in NJ.
we don't have snow on the ground everyday
and the winters are becoming unpredictable, temps anywhere from 0-60 degrees. :thumbsup:

It depends on the temperature as well. If dry and warm, it will be pretty hard on the tires. If dry and cold, the rubber will be fine. Have you considered "All-weather" tires such as the Nokian WR G3? They may be a good option, and we sell a LOT of them here where snow is less common, but annoying when it is here (super slippery).
Cheers.

[fourbangingfun]

What pressure do you guys run your winter tires at? I'm curious as to what our mpg will be with a nice soft winter tread. I believe that the gripping nature of winter tires is maximized when tire pressure is low. However this should drop mpg, should it not?


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[IllusionX]

I run 33-34psi on my Goodyear Nordic tires...

[refotsirk]

We run 33-34 on our Dunlop Graspic 2's. Doesn't seem to affect gas milage much.
November through April.

[rocketyaris b3]

thanks for the reply guys. :thumbup:

I ended up getting the nitto sn2
a near by tire distributor had them so I saved on shipping.

I guess ill just wait and see how NJ weather treat my tires.
nothing like first hand experience.

the past week temps have gone anywhere from 30-50 degrees.
ive noticed that the tires drive a lot better in the 30 degree range.

they take a while to get use to.
I don't know how people drive all year round on winter tires.
my handling has been severely affected.

[fourbangingfun]

thanks for the reply guys. :thumbup:



I ended up getting the nitto sn2

a near by tire distributor had them so I saved on shipping.



I guess ill just wait and see how NJ weather treat my tires.

nothing like first hand experience.



the past week temps have gone anywhere from 30-50 degrees.

ive noticed that the tires drive a lot better in the 30 degree range.



they take a while to get use to.

I don't know how people drive all year round on winter tires.

my handling has been severely affected.


Yup same here. It's been 15-50 degrees here in the past week in southern New England. In the sub freezing temperature the Blizzaks handle fine. But in the 40+ degree temps they are wicked soft. At highway speeds the car tends to wander a lot too.

But it is what it is. Blizzaks are practically unstoppable in fresh snow and hardpack plowed snow. You can't have your cake and eat it too.


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[robbadobba82]

I'm getting the general ultimax arctic tomorrow. And doing some rallycross saturday. I'll keep you posted!

[IllusionX]

The general altimax are pretty good tires.

[Echo86]

Sailun tires, two winters up front, all seasons in the back.

[Redbat01]

I have two sets of tires and rims for my 2008 Yaris hatchback, one set for summer and one set for winter. My winter tires are Hankook Winter i-Pike RS (W419) tires. They have deep tread and so they are a bit squishy on dry pavement. You would not want to run them in an autocross. But they are wonderful in snow, which is what they are designed for. For snow, they are better than the Michelin X-Ice snow tires that I had before them.