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broadbandito
Since 26 Apr 2005
342 Posts
CSO headwaters
WheatHead
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 Mon Nov 23, 09 7:11 pm |
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| I've had Toyo and Hankooks. Toyos were great, but the Hankook were borderline useless. My all seasons were better in the snow.
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Kodiak
Since 01 Aug 2005
1114 Posts
Slidey
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| Mon Nov 23, 09 11:25 pm |
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| Well I am thinking about driving out to Idaho for the snow kiting and driving up to hood a few times this year for skiing, so I should have plenty of opportunity to test them out.
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Hein
Since 08 Mar 2005
1314 Posts
Possessed
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| Tue Nov 24, 09 6:48 am |
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I went with a set of Michelin X-ICE for my POS car and Blizzaks for my wife's SUV.
Discount/Americas Tire in Gresham is offering a $70 mail in rebate on the Michelin tires plus $50 discount on a set of 4 tires. (black Friday promo I got early) =$347 for the set but I brought in bare wheels so no tire disposal fee.
I got a generous allowance on my old Bridgestone Turanzas due to UV cracking on the sidewall so scored a great deal on the Blizzaks too.
Discount/Americas Tire FTW
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winter_tires.jpg |
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Moto
Since 03 Sep 2006
2698 Posts
Still a gojo pimp!
Moto Mouth
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| Sat Jan 02, 10 9:05 pm |
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| Moto wrote: | | Rode blizzaks for two seasons in my 95 geo prizm - Loved them - never had a problem getting to and from the mountain. This year I am going with the hancook ipikes. I'll let you know the difference after I try them out for a while. |
So I have had a lot of opportunities to try out my hancook ipikes - enough to make a valid comparrison between the blizzaks and the ipikes.
I feel the Blizzaks are a softer tire and wear faster, but they handle a little better than the ipikes when you are driving on a snow and ice mix.
The ipikes are a studable tire. I decided not to put studs in the tire (I didn't want to add to the wear on the roads due to the studs) - I have been going up to T-line and I drove home on the freeways the other day after the blizard storm that laid down a whopping 1.5 inches on our roads  the tires work fine - good enough for this area. But if you are really concerned about ice - i would recommend getting studs. I did have to get a push up a hill - just to get started - because my car was slipping (a lot of cars were slipping).
all in all - the ipikes are about 25% cheaper than the blizzaks and work good for an economy snow tire even without the studs.
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Still rockin gojos, *ssless chaps, and ankle weights! |
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gorgebob
Since 25 Jun 2007
259 Posts
Portland, OR
Shop Owner
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| Sat Jan 02, 10 11:08 pm |
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Observes for the Forester. Too much fun in the snow or mud.
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Gorge Performance
http://www.gorgeperformance.com/
Surf, Snow, Kite, Sail, Skate – Since 1983
Portland
503-246-6646 |
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Tony
Since 28 Aug 2006
940 Posts
Portland
Opinionated
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| Sun Jan 03, 10 1:08 pm |
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My 2 cents, I don't care how fancy, how expensive and what kind of tires you got going.
The bottom line, rubber and ice don't mix...Thats not rocket science.
Most people can get away with it by driving slow. All wheel drive and 4x4 does help.
But if your gonna spend more time in the winter conditions (like making frequent trips to the mountain), the smartest thing to do is get a set of studded tires with wheels. After purchasing the studded tires (w/ wheels) Most tires stores will throw them on your car for free. You only need these things on for about 3 months a year. We got 'em on our subaru.
When not in use, we just toss em in the back of the shed...
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Tony
Since 28 Aug 2006
940 Posts
Portland
Opinionated
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42qn30
Since 22 Jul 2009
41 Posts
Michigan City, IN
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| Sun Jan 03, 10 1:50 pm |
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NW Indiana has been getting dumped on this past weekend 1'+ and is not slowing down (Lake Michigan is great for a snow machine). I just put the new Blizzaks on a few days ago and compared to the older Blizzaks (approx. 2005) these are not that great at all. Well, in dry snow they're great and so is braking. If you get them on some slush more than 1" your're SOL. I older Blizzaks tread was so deep I was able to go through 2' of snow without hesitating. I used to drive 70mph in 1' deep snow and felt totally in control. These are a little on the scary side just going 45mph.
The x-ice tires I had on last year did much better and they were just ok. The new x-ice 2's are getting the best reviews and I believe they are cheaper too.
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genek
Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB
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| Sun Jan 03, 10 2:59 pm |
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Do you mean you were going 70mph in 1 inch of snow? I have a hard time imagining anyone going 70 in 1 foot of snow, but it sounds pretty damn exciting.
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42qn30
Since 22 Jul 2009
41 Posts
Michigan City, IN
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| Sun Jan 03, 10 3:06 pm |
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| One foot at 70mph. It was awesome. I always have to wonder what the people in the other cars are thinking when I go zooming by. Damn snow tires can be dangerous. I am a little crazy.
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jackZ
Since 13 Apr 2008
355 Posts
Devon Alberta ca.
Obsessed
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| Sun Jan 03, 10 5:21 pm tires |
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Hi All
2ct opinion
I live in Canada so drive on snow and ice for about 6 months of the year . I have never used studded tires , they are even banned in some places . I dont even see anyone using them around here .
It's only been like two seasons now that I've been hearing the tire sellers saying to use winter tires over all season . Twenty years ago or more we used to have an extra set mounted so we would change from summer to winter tires easily , then along came the all season .
I have been using all season Michelon tires on the last several cars and trucks with good luck . Now I have a 2005 Grand prix and when I bought it ( appr. 6 mnths ago ) it has Hercules MX .. blah blah ( never heard of them ) and I have not had any problems going up the mountain at Jaspers Marmot basin Ski Resort or Sunshine Village Ski Resort or around here where I live .
I am a Caterpillar mechanic by trade , so what ! thats got nothing to do with tire choices .
I guess my point is , there are lots of tires to choose from and a lot of them will work just fine . they should not get a flat spot in the cold after being parked overnight . They should be not too hard or too soft ( rubber ) , the load rating should help determine this .
I would never use studded tires driving regular roadways and off road I would use chains . So studs are out all together .
just anothers point of view .
So , how long are you keeping the vehicle ? How much do you want to invest ? Choices , choices .
Good luck
Jack
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genek
Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB
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| Sun Jan 03, 10 9:58 pm |
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| 42qn30 wrote: | | One foot at 70mph. It was awesome. I always have to wonder what the people in the other cars are thinking when I go zooming by. Damn snow tires can be dangerous. I am a little crazy. |
Must not be the kind of snow we get around here. You're lucky to have such dry snow.
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craz z
Since 01 Dec 2008
130 Posts
Montana
Stoked
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| Mon Jan 04, 10 9:48 am |
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FOR all Suby owners.
Just got hooked up with some nice tires for a good price.
Subaru has the dumbest tires available in our size nothing handles very well and are priced fairly high.
Just got some off road tires put on mine. No LIFT involved.
GENERAL tire. Grabbers AT2 215 65 r16
Stock subys are 215 60 r16 for some models So the generals are slightly taller in diameter but they FIT and they look bad to the bone. THey are about 90-130$ installed.
I drive alot of snow and ice. I feel like riding on rails with these. Previous snowtires through me all over the place the generals have a tread pattern similar to the BF all terrain.
Sweet tire.
Sorry for the General pump just excited in my tire decision. The yoko's geolander was up there but with this aggresive tread pattern i couldn't pass up the General.
Ice sucks slow down and get studs if this is what you're after. I'm up in the mountains and do alot of gravel driving and snow driving.
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Kodiak
Since 01 Aug 2005
1114 Posts
Slidey
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| Mon Jan 04, 10 10:26 am |
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| Tony wrote: |
But if your gonna spend more time in the winter conditions (like making frequent trips to the mountain), the smartest thing to do is get a set of studded tires with wheels. |
I decided not to get studded, but it had nothing to do with how they affect the road. I looked at a couple of tests between studded and the new snow tires, and they actually showed the snow tiers stopping better. Non-studded tires also handle much better on rain/dry pavement.
My toyo observes handled great last weekend up at Bachelor.
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