️snow tire recommendations

[MontuckyFried]

and I gotta say - there's nothing better in a snow storm than some nice, fresh snow tires.

It's the BEST!!!

[riser4]

It's the BEST!!!

HOoN!!!

[plugboots]

Installed brand new Michelin X-Ice Snows on the CX-5 a couple days ago, and I gotta say - there's nothing better in a snow storm than some nice, fresh snow tires. Found the slush performance of these newer X-Ice model seems to be quite a bit better than the old ones, too.

BRING ON WINTER!

We’ve been on the X-ice, w/3 cars, for the last few winters, and need new for this season, so I just checked to compare with the newest Hakka’s. All the rating show that they’re essentially equal, yet the Hakka’s are ~$100 more/tire. I agree also that the this newest version of the X-ice is indeed better.

[skaredshtles]

We’ve been on the X-ice, w/3 cars, for the last few winters, and need new for this season, so I just checked to compare with the newest Hakka’s. All the rating show that they’re essentially equal, yet the Hakka’s are ~$100 more/tire. I agree also that the this newest version of the X-ice is indeed better.

Drove Frisco to Copper Mountain this morning - roads were snowpacked/"icy" and man... what a pleasure. [emoji106]

[k2skier112]

We’ve been on the X-ice, w/3 cars, for the last few winters, and need new for this season, so I just checked to compare with the newest Hakka’s. All the rating show that they’re essentially equal, yet the Hakka’s are ~$100 more/tire. I agree also that the this newest version of the X-ice is indeed better.

I've had both X Ice and Hakka's (studded), there's no comparison, Hakka's rule in every condition, except dry roads

[Mustonen]

X-ice snow is a totally different tire than X-ice.

[skaredshtles]

I've had both X Ice and Hakka's (studded), there's no comparison, Hakka's rule in every condition, except dry roads

Are you *actually* comparing a studded tire to studless?

[bigdude2468]

Have loved the X-Ice, sounds like the new X-Ice Snow is even better. We bought a new Toyota Grand Highlander AWD Hybrid last spring and scored a set of OEM wheels on Marketplace for $100 each. Could not find the X-Ice in 255-55-20, nobody had that size. I was hoping that as we got closer to fall they would show up but no dice, everyone including Tire Rack did not have them. I always use Costco for tires but they talked to Michelin and they said it was unlikely that size would be available any time soon. Last month on a whim I was driving past a Discount Tire and stopped. They searched around and found three in Seattle and another in Northern California, YIPEE!. Had to buy new TPMS, by the time I was done it was $1600 but we got what we wanted.

[summit]

I think if I was buying studless, I'd be hard pressed not to pick X-Ice because it is nearly as good, or as good, as anything else while being MUCH longer lived. True snow tire with a treadwear guarantee? Amaze!

[k2skier112]

Are you *actually* comparing a studded tire to studless?

Yes/no

A lot of people say how awesome X-Ice are on the ice (I thought they were just OK), not even comparable to studs. X-Ice also lacked in deep snow, IMO

This new X-Ice Snow has me intrigued. The lack of open side lugs on the X-Ice is what had me recommend Blizzaks to my son

The Blizzaks performed as good as X-Ice on the ice for us

[plugboots]

Are you *actually* comparing a studded tire to studless?

I laughed when I saw it. When I had Hakka studs, there were plenty of times I was so happy to have studs. But when the studs wear, they get kind of rounded and drive kind of weird, and they’re just not at all that great on rain pavement…so everything‘s a compromise.
If I only drove in the great white north where it never got warm. Oh, I’m going studs.

[skaredshtles]

Yes/no

A lot of people say how awesome X-Ice are on the ice (I thought they were just OK), not even comparable to studs. X-Ice also lacked in deep snow, IMO

This new X-Ice Snow has me intrigued. The lack of open side lugs on the X-Ice is what had me recommend Blizzaks to my son

The Blizzaks performed as good as X-Ice on the ice for us

Yeah - on "real" ice I'm still going to drive cautiously even with the X-Ice. With studded I'd probably drive like a moran.

Drove back to Denver last evening from Copper Mountain and had a variety of shitty conditions, including deep slush from Idaho Springs to town, and I have to say, these new Michelins are *very* good in slush, which wasn't so much the case with the previous ones we had.

[weibo]

Mostly due to my local shop's recommendation (and what they carry) I went with a Toyo GSI Observe 6 last winter, not studded I thought they we a great winter option at a fair price. They replace a set of Hakka studded and I felt we made a good decision. Those melted in our wildfire this summer so back to the shop I went, slightly different needs this winter with more ice and snow cover highway travel on a consistent basis (Icefields Parkway) I went GSI 3 Ice studded. So far so good, we shall see what a winter on those is like.

[Dantheman]

…so everything‘s a compromise.

Snow tires and campers are both a metaphor for life; there are no solutions, only tradeoffs.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Snow tires and campers are both a metaphor for life; there are no solutions, only tradeoffs.

But why not just rage that the world doesn't bend to you?

[Mustonen]

Just a nod to aesthetics…because shut up that you don’t care. Michelin look great as car tires. Clean corners and sidewalls. Blizzaks look great as truck/suv tires with blocky corners and busy sidewalls. The inverse looks weird.

/musings after installing new Blizzaks on my wife’s Atlas.

[plugboots]

That’s funny. It’s kind of true. I’m pretty sure there’s a bunch of BMW folks who get those Perelli high-performance snow tires cause they look good.
This is from a couple years ago. he might’ve done a newer review, but this is just fun background info while I watch football.

https://youtu.be/YNjVsdbD998

[J. Barron DeJong]

Test showing Conti>Nokian>Michelin:

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Article...s-for-2024.htm

But what it really shows is that we’re missing out by not getting the newest Viking 8 in North America.

Also nice that this test directly compares studded and non-studded tires.

[Ted Striker]

Tire review guy

Jonathan does lots of performance, track day, etc, tire reviews as well, and the BMW forums eat it up. He definitely has skills, and knows what he's talking about (and definitely has his biases), but my one gripe is that he's always drifting. And tires that drift well aren't necessarily the best for everything else.

[summit]

Test showing Conti>Nokian>Michelin:

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Article...s-for-2024.htm

But what it really shows is that we’re missing out by not getting the newest Viking 8 in North America.

Also nice that this test directly compares studded and non-studded tires.

I really really enjoy his work and have watched most of his vids over the years.

But I disagree with your conclusion. You weight how you want, but what the test shows is:

Hakka 10 is the best WINTER tire in existence beating Conti while have 10% better resistance to aquaplaning than the studless Conti Viking 8. I find this accurate and have driven the Viking 8 back to back with the Hakka 10 both on Outbacks. That said, the Viking 8 is sweet.

[J. Barron DeJong]

I really really enjoy his work and have watched most of his vids over the years.

But I disagree with your conclusion. You weight how you want, but what the test shows is:

Hakka 10 is the best WINTER tire in existence beating Conti while have 10% better resistance to aquaplaning than the studless Conti Viking 8. I find this accurate and have driven the Viking 8 back to back with the Hakka 10 both on Outbacks. That said, the Viking 8 is sweet.

That one wasn’t his, he was just providing the results of a Swedish test.

I knew I wasn’t being clear enough. Was just referring to the non-studded tire order.

Also, are you sure you were on Viking 8 not 7? As far as I can tell they’re not available in the US, and just became available in Canada (correction from my previous post that said not available in NA).

[Stikki]

Those VikingContact 8s looks a bit better than the 7s, hopefully they fixed the issues I had with the 7s I picked up last winter. I found the Viking7s have horrible traction on snow and ice when the tires aren't parallel the direction of travel. They are great when going straight then get super loose until they are turned 45 degrees. It makes sense looking at the tread design, there are no blocks, edges or sipes parallel to the sidewall. Eventually I learned to rely on countersteer and trust that if the tires slide laterally they will bite again at a certain angle. First snow/winter tire I've regretted buying (I've had Blizzak WS90s, X-Ices, Toyo Observes).

[XXX-er]

Snow tires and campers are both a metaphor for life; there are no solutions, only tradeoffs.

If you want to whine about the tradeoffs of Campers and snowtires just man up ... its nothing compared to Marriage

re: the swedish test, none of you are swedish

if you don't like the grip on studs when it isnt snowing, wait for it




slow down

[J. Barron DeJong]

Those VikingContact 8s looks a bit better than the 7s, hopefully they fixed the issues I had with the 7s I picked up last winter. I found the Viking7s have horrible traction on snow and ice when the tires aren't parallel the direction of travel. They are great when going straight then get super loose until they are turned 45 degrees. It makes sense looking at the tread design, there are no blocks, edges or sipes parallel to the sidewall. Eventually I learned to rely on countersteer and trust that if the tires slide laterally they will bite again at a certain angle. First snow/winter tire I've regretted buying (I've had Blizzak WS90s, X-Ices, Toyo Observes).

We have VikingContact 7s on a CX-3 and Sienna right now, and I haven’t had any complaints about handling like that. (Previously had Hakka R3 on the CX-3 and X-Ice XI3 on the Sienna, and the Contis were an upgrade on both.)

[summit]

That one wasn’t his, he was just providing the results of a Swedish test.

I knew I wasn’t being clear enough. Was just referring to the non-studded tire order.

Also, are you sure you were on Viking 8 not 7? As far as I can tell they’re not available in the US, and just became available in Canada (correction from my previous post that said not available in NA).

Ah yes they are 7s, had to go out and check.