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I'd jump all over those Michelin x-ices.Quote:
Originally Posted by muted
Tirerack recently tested them and they outperformed (albeit slightly) the latest blizzaks
Edit: actually it was x-ice xi2 outperformed blizzak DM-V2 in SUV/CUV test. Last sedan test had x-ice xi3 a tiny bit behind blizzak ws80.
x ice will wear pretty quickly on dry pavement especially on the warm days. I got Conti EWC's (on my BRZ) last year and love them. Great road tires, handle as close to good 3 season tires as a winter specific tire can, they rock in the snow (I never got stuck in a lightweight rwd sports car) and they wear well.
Dang, mudders on a Forester. I like it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuckerman
I'd love to hear where a good tire shop (must have medium to big selection) is in SLC and be able to shoot the shit with them.Quote:
Originally Posted by digitaldeath
Definitely many warm days in SLC when it's snowy in the upper canyons. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover
Off with sumah sneakers, on wit wintah treads.
Just got some Blizzak DM-V2's installed on the new Pilot... Swapped off the Dueller A/S m+s tires that were on it. They were ok, thanks to the Pilot's awesome awd. The blizzaks are like driving around on suction cups. Unbelievable snow traction. I've tried some cheaper tires and they just don't compare. Now have these, the ws-80 on the suzuki, and the w965 on the truck.
Ahh Utah, that's an important detail. You may be better served by a winter tire that's not ice specific, those tend to be rotten or marginal at best in soft snow.Quote:
Originally Posted by muted
Say what?Quote:
Originally Posted by stfu&gbtw
You missed that part? The Tahoe went back. Actually laid over in a CR-V for about 3 hours as well, which proved to have some steering wheel shudder that apparently affects a large percentage of all the CR-Vs built in the '15 model year and for which Honda has no solution. So that went back too. Ended up in 4 different cars in 3 days. Have had the Pilot for about a week now. I just couldn't bring myself to drop $40+k on a used car, which took me out of the G-Wagen market. Leased the Pilot and will just drop the thing off in 35 months, 3 weeks, and get something else.Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
Yeah I missed the conclusion somehow, thanks for the update.
did the exact same swap on the wife's new awd highlander last week, the blizzys are fucking awesome indeedQuote:
Originally Posted by stfu&gbtw
Is there a car that doesn't? Driving through deep slush at 50mph sucks, even in my truck with the plow on and a ton of sand in the back.Quote:
Originally Posted by flowing alpy
Have not had any problems running x-ice year round in northern CA. Sedan, bay area to Sierras, winter skiing and summer backpacking. xi2s had 40k+ and summer tread left, the xi3s look like they'll do the same (30k on them now). 2/3rds of my driving is what passes for winter here - 30-70 degrees.Quote:
Originally Posted by gravitylover
Find an installer you trust. The best tire shop in the world doesn't match what's available on the internet, especially since the tax savings pay for the shipping (if any.)Quote:
Originally Posted by muted
Do your research, buy on the web, ship to installer. Tires arrive, you get a call, and BAM.
^^^Huh? Tire shop's don't have access to the internet? Sometimes you get better pricing on the web, sometimes you don't. Sometimes it's better to pay a little more to the local mechanic so you're on the in. Many times installers charge a higher price on tires you don't purchase from them.
I just went through this myself. The tires I wanted were cheaper purchased from my local mechanic than though the web. But I've probably purchased 10 sets of tires from him. He also knows what works around here. There is value in building relationships.
I dunno man, maybe it's a regional thing. The tire shops I contacted around here would only sell/mount tires they repped. I wanted Nokians and nobody around here sold those. Bought them on the web, had them shipped to my local Exxon, and they mounted them for $100. All in cost was about $400 less than the Continentals the tire shop recommended.
Mounting cost was pretty much what I would have paid in taxes.
^^^nokians for the win. Hakkapaliita
I
Had both Blizzaks and Michelin x-ice. The Michelin are equal to Blizzaks in fresh snow (excellent) but have better dry road handling and longer tread life on my fwd Passat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timberridge
I appreciate your honesty. We get so much confirmation bias around these parts. I think the problem most of us have is that we switch from a worn out pair of Brand-A to a new set of Brand-B's and declare Brand-B to be superior.Quote:
Originally Posted by Timberridge
It's time to replace my Nokian Hakkas this Fall. Am I going to be disappointed with a set of Altimax's? I don't want to take a step backwards, as the Hakkas have been great.
Price (when compared with one deductible on my insurance) isn't a huge issue, but (improved?) treadwear/life on Blizzaks is a non-starter for me - if it still sucks in comparison with Hakkas & X-ices.
So, it's down to the usual suspects around these parts: Altimax's, Blizzaks, X-ices, and another set of Hakkas.
If I had to prioritize one performance criterion, it would be ice & the melt/freeze that occurs when going from the Front Range to 9,000 feet. Somewhere in that altitude range you get that transition, so ice performance would be a priority over deep snow.
Does this point me toward X-ice's, Hakkas & Blizzaks over Altimax's?
... Thom
duno about conditions where you live but I been on haks for 15 yrs so when the last GF asked me to scope snow tires I said "well you can buy these which are cheaper than haks" cuz the Haks were gona cost more than she paid for the 88 toyota corolla she was putting them onQuote:
Originally Posted by galibier_numero_un
and she replied " well what do you buy ... I want the best too"
If something saves you from dying its a bargain
Tire rack and probably most places have the $70 rebate through Sept 18th (6 days left) on Michelin Xi3. Damned good deal. I think you can get $100 back on any snow tire through Sept 26th if you take some of it in Tire Rack store credit. That is like $350 shipped after credit for a set of 4 in some sizes (Subaru size).
Not a "true" snow tire, but more and more AT tires are coming with the severe weather rating. I believe some of the tires are available on car sizes.
No question about that. There are better ways to die. I don't want my urn to read "he was a cheap sunnovafabitch and didn't buy the Hakkapeliitta's " ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
It looks like another pair of Hakkas. I was curious about what's changed in the past 4 years.
... Thom
Got the Blizzak LM32's for the Golf R. Can not fucking wait for snow.
Getting ready to sell the DMV2's I got for the Pilot. If anyone needs a set of 245/60R18 that have about 95% of their life left on them, send me a PM.
I wonder if there's anyone here who could benefit from better winter traction on a Pilot....Quote:
Originally Posted by stfu&gbtw
Probably not for another 6 or 7 weeks....Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chupacabra
I heard that Southern Idaho is slippery all the time.
Goodyear all terrain adventures. Kevlar, quiet, long wear, have the snowflake and work great.
I've got the snow tire thing pretty dialed on the Subarus and van (bfg ko2) but on another note, anyone familiar with the 3+ season tires coming out from Michelin? http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2016/...tire-at-naias/
Went with the BF Goodrich Commercial T/A Traction for the truck for the upcoming winter. If you hear back, they're working well, if not, well, look for me in the ditch.
I had cheap snows in 06-10, then got Hakka 7s and they were unreal, bought Hakka 8s two years ago and they are a slight improvement over the 7s. The Hakkas are like magic. I've driven friend's cars with snows, not sure which exactly, but the diffedence is significant.
Studded Haka 8s FTW.
I already know the answer to this but could use some validation, get a snow for the spare as well, right?
And if I go the tirerack/tire-easy route, what is a reasonable price to get tires mounted/blanced/valve core installed?
Just got a GMC 2500 work rig. Had Dueller AT RHS on it, company claims its fine in snow and the get new tires every 30k to prevent it from ever getting bad. Anyone have experience with these on a 4x4 truck? I live on a steep dirt road and AWD + Snows can be mandatory to get up it in the winter.
I typically have the local big chain tire store match or beat the tirerack price. That way you get their warranty, the tire warranty, the free rotos, etc...Quote:
Originally Posted by ghosthop
doesn't tire rack provide you with a local installer quote? No obligation to go with that place, but it gives a starting point.Quote:
Originally Posted by ghosthop
Personally, I buy stuff at Discount Tire. They have helped me out (for free) too many times when they could easily have charged me. They earned my business.
I've purchased several sets of tires from Discount Tires Direct. Prices are always great and free shipping. They tend to have good rebates including additional rebates if you get their credit card. I've helped my sister and both parents get snow tires through them. We typically get them with wheels in which case they mount and balance them for free. Usually get Altimax. Prices after rebates generally come close to $400. It's like getting the wheels for free. Having them mounted on their own wheels pays off so quickly without having to get them mounted and remounted every spring and fall. Also give me a chance to bust out the air tools and play Nascar.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
I bought my last set of ATs for my Suburban off tire rack with some solid discounts, picked up at the Aurora warehouse and had them balanced installed and free rotations at Wally. Ended up having like $200-300 on the whole deal over Discount Tire.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno