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Thread: Bring on the snow! My winter tire thoughts

  1. #1
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    Default Bring on the snow! My winter tire thoughts

    There aren't many new and exciting winter tires for this season. I guess the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 and Nokian Hakka 8 are two worth mentioning but from what I can see not much else has changed since winter 2013/2014.

    We've already ordered some very unique non-OE sizes for a 2015 BMW M4, M6 Gran Coupe and Audi RS7. We love finding ways to fit oddball stuff with specialty sizes that most never consider using. It looks like the SQ5, F30 / 335, '14+ X5, '14+ IS250 / IS350 and Mercedes-Benz CLA and GL will be some of our most popular vehicles this season.

    For my Audi I needed to buy a set of 255/35R19 winters for this season so the obviously choices were the Bridgestone LM-32, Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4, Dunlop Winter Sport 3D, Pirelli Sottozero Serie II and Nokian Hakka R2. Since I wanted my Quattro to be King of the Road on nasty winter days I opted for the Nokian Hakka R2. They were on my car for 24hrs and approx 18kms before the loud tire road and shocking lack of dry road performance forced me to remove them. We quickly fitted a set of Michelin PA4s and a smile instantly returned to my face. No doubt the Nokians would be better on those slippery -25C days but the Michelins are far better the other 90% of the time.

    Enough rambling for now. Who else has tried something new this season?

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    Wasn't for this season, but I went from Goodyear Nordics to the Hakka R2's in December last year and it made a world of difference for me. Unfortunately I get insane amounts of noise in the Corolla and it was worse with the Nordics on, and yes, the Hakka R2's still make quite a bit of noise compared to my summer tires but it's something that I'm willing to live with for the performance that they provide when the weather does get shitty. I also suggested the Hakka R2's to a co-worker that drives a WRX and he absolutely loves them, said they go perfect with the AWD.

    I'm curious as to how the WS80 fares, from what I read it carries the same 50% Multicell compound construction that the WS70 had, and from online reviews and people that I know that got them, the WS70 seemed to wear quite quickly.

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    PA4s are awesome. That is all I have to say.

    There is a stretch on HWY 1 on the way back to Calgary by the Husky station that cause weird humming with the tires.

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    Man I'd love to drive a GTR with hakk 8's on some twisty snow track
    Ultracrepidarian

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    I agree with the Michelins. They are never the best at -30 or pure ice. But the rest of winter, they are quieter, better handling and smoother. I havent experienced them on a high performance car but I imagine its nice to retain some luxury feel.

    I have regular Alpins and they perform better than the stock junk tires that came with my car.

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    Pre-studded from the factory.

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    I wish those were made in 255/35/19

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    I got a set of hakkapellita R2s ready for my STI. As much as I dread the thought of snow, I'm pretty damn excited as it'll be my first winter in a STI and first winter with Nokians. My previous WRX used Michelins.

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    Originally posted by benyl
    I wish those were made in 255/35/19
    If you are talking about the Hakka 8's FiveFreshFish posted: http://winter-tires.pmctire.com/enw/...19-96h-xl.tire

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    yeah I noticed on Nokian site they have them. When I was checking earlier in the year, they didn't.

    Got to wear out the PA4s first. Unless someone wants to buy them. haha

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    I am going with Continental Wintercontact TS830P SSR's for the winter. Nothing special but should be pretty good. Never tried runflats but want get-home-ability for when my fiance is using the car.

    Last year i had Dunlop winter Maxx on my GTI which were , thought i would throw my uncle a bone since he runs a fountain tire... Now i know to never ever buy a tire that is quoted for a passenger vehicle
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    ...
    Last edited by Sugarphreak; 08-06-2019 at 04:17 PM.

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    Studded Sailuns+welded rear diff and front LSD for me this year, with my almost brand new Hankook W310s on backup.

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    Just use blizzaks on my audi. never had any issues with them.

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    Swapping my winter rides over to studded Kumho KW-22s from General Altimax Arctics. Looking forward to see the improvement as every vehicle with kw-22s I've driven have been great.

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    I am really impressed with the dry handling and comfort on the Hakka 8's. I wish more stores carried them. Kal Tire has been hit and miss for me.
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    I put Hankook i*Pikes (not studded) on my M35 two seasons ago I think it was - amazing winter performance and very little noise on dry roads but good grip in dry as well. A great all around tire I think. Would definitely get again.

    Going with Bridgestone Blizzaks on the SUV this winter since the price was only $50 more than the Hankooks (for the M 2 years ago it was about $200 more compared to i*Pikes)

    From my previous experience with Blizzaks on a RWD car, they are awesome!

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    Got a screw in one of my summer tires, so I swapped on the winters last night. Bring on the winter!

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    Originally posted by BavarianBeast
    Just use blizzaks on my audi. never had any issues with them.
    I love blizzaks, but they are super loud.

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    ^ Yeah, they are a bit loud.. I find my tunes are a little louder during the winter months haha.

    On a unrelated note, does anybody know where I can go buy the tools to remove my Audi stero head unit, or know where I can go to just have it popped out? The car is a 2001 and didn't have aux/ipod plug in, so I was going to wire one to the headunit but you need a special tool to pop it out..

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