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Snow tires

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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4956 - Karma: 17,723
I'm shopping for my first ever set of winter tires. I have a couple tires I'm leaning towards...mainly because of positive past experiences with Continental and Michelin.

Any recommendations on tires that come in 205/60 r16 would be appreciated.

Also feel free to have a general discussion about snow tires.
Oct 24 2020 1:56AM
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Chris.B
Posts: 466 - Karma: 700
I've heard good things about blizzaks, but I've never driven on them myself.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?gclid=CjwKCAjw_sn8BRBrEiwAnUGJDgl13nWKQ24poyW7-1uxwlBytuvJZztI5gnnS6fzabaWXsJt1rBR_RoCe0cQAvD_BwE&tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS90&partnum=06HR6WS90&GCID=C13674x012-tire&KEYWORD=tires.jsp_Bridgestone_Blizzak+WS90_Tire&code=yes&ef_id=CjwKCAjw_sn8BRBrEiwAnUGJDgl13nWKQ24poyW7-1uxwlBytuvJZztI5gnnS6fzabaWXsJt1rBR_RoCe0cQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3!72322456933!!!g!99872470813!&gclsrc=aw.ds
Oct 24 2020 2:02AM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 6821 - Karma: 72,637
Heard nothing but good things about the nokian hakkapeliitta for a passenger car tire.

I like the blizzaks, but the compound that grips to the ice isn't all the way thru the tire, so once it wears a little bit you lose a good amount of ice traction.
Oct 24 2020 2:41AM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6955 - Karma: 25,214
toyo observs have been pretty awesome for me. seem super soft and I heard they mix nutshells in the rubber
Oct 24 2020 11:55AM
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9434 - Karma: 69,244
Blizzaks were expensive as fuck, so I'm going with the sumitomo Ice edge this year. First year I'll have snow tires, and I'll report back, but reviews are good, and they're like half the price of blizzaks so it was a no brainer for me.
Oct 24 2020 12:38PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11989 - Karma: 12,265
hakkapeliitta is the absolute best best winter tire you can buy. their non-studded tires compare to other companies studded tires that's how good they are.
Oct 24 2020 12:42PM
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Monsieur_Patate
Posts: 1393 - Karma: 4,307
You have a few very good options like the blizzak, the x-ice or the hakkapeliitta. Some people will say they like one or the other better, but beyond personal bias really any one of these would be a very solid choice.

I personally went with the x-ice a few seasons ago and haven't looked back, the performance is as solid as others in its category, and what made me lean towards this one is that on top of the performance, it also has the best fuel efficiency and tire life, so not only do you get top performance, but also great value.
Oct 24 2020 12:58PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6955 - Karma: 25,214
.Dadhakkapeliitta is the absolute best best winter tire you can buy. their non-studded tires compare to other companies studded tires that's how good they are.

most decent snow tires will outperform studded tires. pretty sure they have to use a stiffer rubber in the studs in general
Oct 24 2020 12:59PM
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Nickc88
Posts: 630 - Karma: 2,074
OregonDeadmost decent snow tires will outperform studded tires. pretty sure they have to use a stiffer rubber in the studs in general


studded is only good when on hardpack snow and or a sheet of ice, but the size of the wheel also matters, the narrower the wheel the more grip and bite you get.
Oct 24 2020 1:40PM
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skiindiana
Posts: 741 - Karma: -3,752
Would you guys put winter tires on an Outback? It has pretty much brand-new all-seasons with plenty of tread. AWD obviously doesn't help you stop though...

I70 driving mostly.
Oct 24 2020 4:09PM
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Chris.B
Posts: 466 - Karma: 700
skiindianaWould you guys put winter tires on an Outback? It has pretty much brand-new all-seasons with plenty of tread. AWD obviously doesn't help you stop though...

I70 driving mostly.


I always had all season on my subaru and I never got stuck anywhere. The only times I had trouble in the winter was when I had to come to a full stop while going down a steep hill, which didn't happen very often. If your all seasons are pretty new then I'd use them this winter but in a couple years I'd recommend getting winter tires cause they will slip way less often in cold temps,
Oct 24 2020 4:47PM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 6821 - Karma: 72,637
skiindianaWould you guys put winter tires on an Outback? It has pretty much brand-new all-seasons with plenty of tread. AWD obviously doesn't help you stop though...

I70 driving mostly.

This shouldn't even be a question, you're new to CO aren't you
Oct 24 2020 5:02PM
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skiindiana
Posts: 741 - Karma: -3,752
BiffbarfThis shouldn't even be a question, you're new to CO aren't you

idk man I see tons of cars with 'naive' stickers on them without snow tires...
Oct 24 2020 8:15PM
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X_MEMESWERVE_XX
Posts: 3699 - Karma: 30,721
I just put some Yokohama Geolandar AT tires on my van and they're fuckin bomber, got our first little snowstorm this week and I felt like I could blast through anything, they are a 205/70 r16 so if you have enough room in your wheelwells they'll work for you
Oct 24 2020 8:56PM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4956 - Karma: 17,723
Monsieur_PatateYou have a few very good options like the blizzak, the x-ice or the hakkapeliitta. Some people will say they like one or the other better, but beyond personal bias really any one of these would be a very solid choice.

I personally went with the x-ice a few seasons ago and haven't looked back, the performance is as solid as others in its category, and what made me lean towards this one is that on top of the performance, it also has the best fuel efficiency and tire life, so not only do you get top performance, but also great value.


The X-Ice is definitely on my list. I'm also looking at the WinterContact and VikingContact from continental. I rock the Conti ExtremeContact dws regularly on a VW AllTrack. I guess I'm looking for something in the ultra-high performance winter tire category, not super concerned with tread life of fuel efficiency as I won't be putting too many miles on them.
Oct 24 2020 9:26PM
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JAHBRADOR
Posts: 3072 - Karma: 17,572
I just wrap my skins around my tires on the way up to the hill. Winter tires are the cornerstone of conforming capitalist society.
Oct 25 2020 5:06PM
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Poikenz
Posts: 1495 - Karma: 3,882
JAHBRADORI just wrap my skins around my tires on the way up to the hill. Winter tires are the cornerstone of conforming capitalist society.


I do it the opposite way, wrap my snow chains around my skis. They are cheaper and last longer.
Oct 25 2020 8:25PM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4956 - Karma: 17,723
BiffbarfHeard nothing but good things about the nokian hakkapeliitta for a passenger car tire.

I like the blizzaks, but the compound that grips to the ice isn't all the way thru the tire, so once it wears a little bit you lose a good amount of ice traction.


.Dadhakkapeliitta is the absolute best best winter tire you can buy. their non-studded tires compare to other companies studded tires that's how good they are.


Monsieur_PatateYou have a few very good options like the blizzak, the x-ice or the hakkapeliitta. Some people will say they like one or the other better, but beyond personal bias really any one of these would be a very solid choice.

I personally went with the x-ice a few seasons ago and haven't looked back, the performance is as solid as others in its category, and what made me lean towards this one is that on top of the performance, it also has the best fuel efficiency and tire life, so not only do you get top performance, but also great value.


Looks like we're getting the Nokian Hakkapelliitta R3 mounted up on Friday. 205/60r16 on some steelies. Tire guy at the shop was pretty big on them, there's a rebate so they're not any more than the Michelin X-Ice and only a little more than the Contis.

I'm pretty excited.
Oct 26 2020 10:35PM
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,603
The R3's blows all the other mentioned tires in the thread away on snow/ice.

But you cant go insane speeds on wet/rain.
Dec 4 2020 2:14PM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4956 - Karma: 17,723
anders_aThe R3's blows all the other mentioned tires in the thread away on snow/ice.

But you cant go insane speeds on wet/rain.


I'm really happy with the slush performance so far, no ice yet. They're ok on dry and wet pavement and are a fair bit louder than my summer/all-season tires. 10/10 would recommend and will update performance in different conditions when I'm able.
Dec 4 2020 3:23PM
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Monsieur_Patate
Posts: 1393 - Karma: 4,307
Michelin has a new tire this year I wasn't aware of, x-snow or something, I saw an article about it a little while ago, someone did some testing and it performed better than the usual contenders (blizzak, R3, etc.) in pretty much every test except braking on ice where one model beat it I think.
Might consider next time I'm in the market for some.
Dec 4 2020 5:13PM
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iRide1080s
Posts: 660 - Karma: 411
Monsieur_PatateMichelin has a new tire this year I wasn't aware of, x-snow or something, I saw an article about it a little while ago, someone did some testing and it performed better than the usual contenders (blizzak, R3, etc.) in pretty much every test except braking on ice where one model beat it I think.
Might consider next time I'm in the market for some.

Thanks to this new tire I was able to get a set of x-ice on closeout about a week ago.
I decided to get a cheap pair of alloys in lieu of steelies so unfortunately I have to wait until January.
Your earlier post in this thread has made me feel like I made a solid choice.
Dec 5 2020 12:27PM
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,603
new x-ice is supposed to be good as well, Im looking forward to testing

R3 and VC7 has been class leading so far, and untouchable pretty much on actual winter conditions
Dec 5 2020 6:04PM
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