2018-2019 Winter tire discussion

[The_Rural_Juror]

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How long do the studs last..?

I haven't used a set for more than 30k kms before switching cars, but they seem to last quite long.

I have used 4 sets of factory studded hakkas and a set of tire store studded kumhos. Have never had a stud dislodge in the hakkas but have had several dislodge from the kumhos.

[dj_rice]

Bumping this up as I need tires for my new winter beater.

For my budget of $600ish. These will be going on an SUV

I can get used Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2's with about 75-80% tread, or if new, I can pick up new Federal Himalaya Inverno for $680

What would you choose? I can't find any reviews on this Federal Himalaya Inverno, I am familiar with the Himalaya WS2's. Or keep looking on Kijiji

[Buster]

just got see @tirebob and do waht he says. That's what I do.

[revelations]

Find the cheapest studdable tires you can - its a night and day difference in average winter braking and turning performance going from expensive studless to cheap studded - and this is not even in icy conditions.

Expensive studded tires makes you an Aspen-crowd, winter driving god that can do no wrong.

[ExtraSlow]

I have federal himalya on my wife van and I like them. Differnt version, but I assume quality is the same. Got em through TireBob on his recommendation after a little discussion of useage.

Didn't want studded on the minivan, too noisy on the dry roads, which feels like most of our winters.

[tonytiger55]

I bought Himalayas when I landed in Canada in 2012, I manage to keep them going till now. I was dead broke when I landed in Canada. Bob was great, he understood my plight as a immigrant and helped me out. I didt forget that.

I returned the business and ventured to the dark depths of the NE to see the mighty BOBushka at Expression of the Urbans. I got Federal Himalaya's put on my Zonda a few weeks back. I'd go with the Himalayas. For the price, they are very good.
Have a chat with Bob.

[The_Rural_Juror]

I am testing out unstudded this year after a decade on studs. Go see Bob. The VikingContact7s are supposed to be very good at a good price if you don't want studs.
My recommendation for this year is to not have winter tires. Potholes give you all the traction you need.

[g-m]

hakka 9 but I drive in a lot of blizzards to the ski hill every weekend

[2Legit2Quit]

This was linked in another thread on here - https://www.apa.ca/wintertire_reviews.asp

From what I read across the board, Blizzaks are great for deep snow but noisy and wear down quicker than other brands. Michelin x-ice are good all around, longer life and quiet on dry roads, not the best for deep snow due to tread profile. Hakka 9's are supposed to be the best all around for ice and snow.

Have also read the Viking 7's are supposed to be really good.

I just picked up a used set of Michelin x-ice on steelies for a decent price off Kijiji, fit for our winter driving since we will mainly just be puttering around town and it tends to be dry roads here during winter.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Do Blizzaks still need to be replaced after ~50% wear or is that a thing of the past? I think it had something to do with the sipes or rubber compound only being part of the top half of the tread. Years ago that was a big reason why I went with the Michelins.

Talking to Bob I learned the X-ICE Xi3 is now discontinued and they were replaced with the all new X-ICE SNOW. Not sure if that means they will be better in deep snow or not! That was always my sole complaint with the Xi3, but then again I am not sure any tire is particularly amazing in deep snow.

[ExtraSlow]

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Do Blizzaks still need to be replaced after ~50% wear or is that a thing of the past? I think it had something to do with the sipes or rubber compound only being part of the top half of the tread. Years ago that was a big reason why I went with the Michelins.

Bob has busted the myth recently. That was only true for the first few years that tire came out.

[tirebob]

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Do Blizzaks still need to be replaced after ~50% wear or is that a thing of the past? I think it had something to do with the sipes or rubber compound only being part of the top half of the tread. Years ago that was a big reason why I went with the Michelins.

Talking to Bob I learned the X-ICE Xi3 is now discontinued and they were replaced with the all new X-ICE SNOW. Not sure if that means they will be better in deep snow or not! That was always my sole complaint with the Xi3, but then again I am not sure any tire is particularly amazing in deep snow.

That Blizzak story only involved the very first generation made back in the early 90's and they have not been built with that double compounding since, but there are a ton of shitty dealers out there who will carry the rumour on to move people out of them because they don't sell them or make more money on other goods. It simply is not true.

As for the deep snow traction of the new Michelin, straight up any of the newer generation of winter tires designed for top level ice traction will not be the best in deep snow because they have tight tread patterns with high sipe density to get those abilities where for deep snow you want a much more lug type tire with big gaps to shovel show as the tire is slipping and spinning. Just is what it is. The usual spiel I give always applies... You can't have it all with tires and you have to make a sacrifice in one area to improve another. There are no magic bullets no matter what anyone tries to tell you.

[revelations]

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Didn't want studded on the minivan, too noisy on the dry roads, which feels like most of our winters.

Yes, in a given 6 month winter, I would argue there are probably 25 days where studded tires - especially if you are on a hill - make a difference.

However, I gladly would put up with some noise to have better grip on the days when it matters.

I drove around with studless for a few years and I got tired of the fucking spin fest at any intersection on a hill after a week or so of packed snow/ice. This is in a lowly FWD civic btw. Also, breaking your tires loose on Deerfoot going 60, in 3rd gear in a car with maybe 150hp, was a joke.

I tried expensive studless as well and it wasnt any better.

[The_Rural_Juror]

Go with the Contis over the Michelin. German > French.
Nokians are made by Fins, who are essentially communist anyway.

[ExtraSlow]

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Yes, in a given 6 month winter, I would argue there are probably 25 days where studded tires - especially if you are on a hill - make a difference.

However, I gladly would put up with some noise to have better grip on the days when it matters.

I drove around with studless for a few years and I got tired of the fucking spin fest at any intersection on a hill after a week or so of packed snow/ice. This is in a lowly FWD civic btw. Also, breaking your tires loose on Deerfoot going 60, in 3rd gear in a car with maybe 150hp, was a joke.

I tried expensive studless as well and it wasnt any better.

I feel like you and I have this argument a few times a year. Let's just hug it out bro.

[suntan]

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I drove around with studless for a few years and I got tired of the fucking spin fest at any intersection on a hill after a week or so of packed snow/ice. This is in a lowly FWD civic btw. Also, breaking your tires loose on Deerfoot going 60, in 3rd gear in a car with maybe 150hp, was a joke.

I tried expensive studless as well and it wasnt any better.

WTF? I have shit iPike RW11s on my Fiesta and I never had anything like that ever happen to me.

[tirebob]

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WTF? I have shit iPike RW11s on my Fiesta and I never had anything like that ever happen to me.

Everyone experiences different things for a lot of reasons both within and out of their own control. You just basically hit the nail on the head as to why I always tell people there is no wrong or right. Just different and it is the best reason to think about a tires characteristics versus what the individual is concerned with rather than what someone else likes.

[suntan]

That's why I'm putting slicks onto my truck as winter tires. 100% rubber on road = 100% traction.

[tirebob]

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That's why I'm putting slicks onto my truck as winter tires. 100% rubber on road = 100% traction.

[ExtraSlow]

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That's why I'm putting slicks onto my truck as winter tires. 100% rubber on road = 100% traction.

I swear some people need less traction and they'd drive more carefully and get in fewer accidents. I also think AWD CAUSES accidents in slippery conditions because the driver is unaware of how slippery it really is.