Snow Tire Shopping?

[slickroger]

Any Suggestions, i will be putting them on the stock rims.

Pictures of the Tires would be excellent?

Thanks in Advance for any help!

[hearse83]

Well, obviously as you know we get a lot of snow and ice in Edmonton, and personally, with an R50, I would save your money. I'm not sure snow tires (unless you were running rims w/ low profile tires) are an investment you need to make if you already have all seasons.

The 4WD and ABS on these things has really never put me in a position where I thought I needed to spend money on snow tires to get through the white stuff. And I have some michelins on my truck, not a very agressive tread.

So my personal opinion (I know this isn't really answering your question - sorry) is to save your money if you already have all seasons on the stock rims.

[Densetsu]

My personal opinion? Nokian Hakkapeliittas. From what I've read around the net, these are the best winter tires on the market.

I'll be putting Hakka 5's on my Pathy this winter. I've survived driving Edmonton winters on all-seasons so far, with the Pathy and FWD sedans before this. And while the Pathy had a *lot* more control than my other vehicles, now that I'm in a financial position to get winter tires, I'm getting them.

Just another degree of security. And there'll be little price difference in the long run anyways... I'll have two sets of tires, but have to replace them half as often.

Also, almost everyone I've spoken to suggest getting them on a separate set of rims. You can swap them at your convenience, and there's less wear on the tires from having a shop squeeze the tires on and off every year.

[hearse83]

I found myself recently in the position to afford snow tires, and instead I bought two guitars.

BTW the tires on my truck are Goodyear Tracker 2 all seasons, not Michelins like I had previously stated.

When they eventually wear out I think I'll be stopping by the tire warehouse and augmenting the appearance of the truck a bit with a nice pair of wheels (nothing too crazy - but something that says tough but classy and functional).

I kind of like these

Whatdaya think?

Anyway to agree with Densetsu, I've heard Nokian's are pretty much the best winter tire for their price. Sorry to get off topic.

[slickroger]

thats a nice rim

personally i would be looking along the same lines for a rim but i want them black with a chrome lip.

back to the topic.

my tires are really low right now and in need of changing snow i think i want to put snow tires on the stock rims for the winter and then come summer ill looks for tires and wheels.

i saw those Nokians your talkin about they look cool.

[Buzzman]

Well, obviously as you know we get a lot of snow and ice in Edmonton, and personally, with an R50, I would save your money. I'm not sure snow tires (unless you were running rims w/ low profile tires) are an investment you need to make if you already have all seasons.

Sorry, but I couldn't disagree more.I ran with my all-seasons for 2 winters, and although I managed to stay out of trouble, they still didn't do a very good job. (One thing you have to realize is that the rubber on all season tires becomes very hard at low temperatures. Tires specifically made for winter will remain soft and pliable in cold weather. That's why you should never run your winter tires in hot weather...they'll melt)In winter #3, I bought 4 used rims and installed 4 winter tires. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference it made. I was walking through knee deep snow like it was bare pavement.With all the snow we had this past winter, I would often take my truck and drive up and down my street, creating tracks for everyone else. The plow was usually 2 days late, and if I didn't make tracks for my neighbours, then no-one would get out. I was the only one on my street that could do that. Take my advice, spend the cash and get snows. Keep an eye on Canadian Tire for early sales. It's not that expensive.When I get a moment, I'll go out to the garden shed and tell you exactly what brand they are. I can't remember at the moment. Later folks.

[slickroger]

yo buzzman

sounds like you know what your talking about, i know your trying to find the current ones your using. but what do you think about the snow tires mentioned in this thread i would like to put these on the stock rims and get rims with rubber when summer comes.

thanks

[Buzzman]

Yea, what can I say. I have a few miles on my odometer (and I'm not talking about my truck. LOL).The tires on my truck are B.F. Goodrich Winter Trac. I mounted them on steel rims, partly to save my aluminum stock rims from being ruined by the salt. As it is, they are still getting pitted and are not looking that good anymore. Oh well.I also run winter tires on steel rims on my other two cars. Again, I can't stress enough how much of a difference it makes. They are Goodyear winter tires from Canadian tire. I bought them early in the season when they had their tire/rim sale. I checked against other tire shops and even my dealer, and it was cheaper by far at CTC. BTW, I'm glad I already have my snows ready to go. Quebec just passed a mandatory snow tire law, so there is going to be a huge demand in the next few months, along with long lineups and pi$$ed off customers. I'm right across the river from Quebec, so I'm real happy I don't have to fight to get my snows. As for Nokian, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that brand, so I can't comment.Good luck.

[hearse83]

Sorry, but I couldn't disagree more.I ran with my all-seasons for 2 winters, and although I managed to stay out of trouble, they still didn't do a very good job. (One thing you have to realize is that the rubber on all season tires becomes very hard at low temperatures. Tires specifically made for winter will remain soft and pliable in cold weather. That's why you should never run your winter tires in hot weather...they'll melt)In winter #3, I bought 4 used rims and installed 4 winter tires. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference it made. I was walking through knee deep snow like it was bare pavement.With all the snow we had this past winter, I would often take my truck and drive up and down my street, creating tracks for everyone else. The plow was usually 2 days late, and if I didn't make tracks for my neighbours, then no-one would get out. I was the only one on my street that could do that. Take my advice, spend the cash and get snows. Keep an eye on Canadian Tire for early sales. It's not that expensive.When I get a moment, I'll go out to the garden shed and tell you exactly what brand they are. I can't remember at the moment. Later folks.

It's fine if you disagree with me, but the necessity for snow tires is circumstantial. True that the salt can eat your aluminum rims, but here we don't actually use that much salt in the spread they put on the roads. And I believe Ottawa gets more snow than we do. As for the compound of all seasons being harder - that's true too, which is why I run my tires at a lower pressure in the winter when there's deep snow. I'm going to stick to my guns here and say they aren't really a necessity for this type of vehicle with all seasons. Sure they'll help but it's up to the buyer whether you think or not they return economies of scale. I'll stick with my all seasons and save the money. Merely a recommendation to slickroger based on my experiences. I imagine his winters are closer to your experiences than mine, so maybe you have the better idea of what he might be facing here.

[Buzzman]

You're right. Circumstances differ in every city.The Ottawa/Montreal corridor is brutal in winters. Lots of snow and freezing rain.The amount of salt use is absolutely criminal as well. We seem to insist on driving on bare pavement year round, so unfortunately, we pay the price to do that.The winter conditions in Edmonton and Brampton (Slickroger), are certainly not the same as Ottawa. The GTA area has much less severe winters than us, so a good set of all-seasons will do better there than here.As for overall costs, yes, there is an initial up front expense if you buy 4 snows, but in the long run, it works out about the same. You can only put 4 tires on your vehicle at any one time, so when your summer tires are in the garden shed for 5 months, then that's an extra 5 months you'll get later. You still end up with the same amount of tire wear. It's just spread out over 8 tires instead of 4. I also swap out my tires myself, so I don't have the expense of paying my local garage to do it twice a year.Hope that makes sense. On an aside note, is it me, or has the summer flown by too quickly? I can't believe it's labour day weekend already. Where did the summer go? I must have blinked and missed it. It sucks knowing 2 months from now I'll be swapping tires again. Sigh.

[MagicM]

Snow tires are all Trash IMO, if you want the best All season that has been winter certified ( only all season tire to do this btw) get the Fortera Triple Tred. If not get Studded Tires, 100 times superior to snow tires, which you can legally use in Edmonton during winter, and Ontario during certain months of the year.

[Buzzman]

Snow tires are all Trash IMO, if you want the best All season that has been winter certified ( only all season tire to do this btw) get the Fortera Triple Tred. If not get Studded Tires, 100 times superior to snow tires, which you can legally use in Edmonton during winter, and Ontario during certain months of the year.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt about GOOD all season radials being almost as safe as snow tires, but it has been proven in independent tests that a good winter tire will outperform any all season radial in snow and ice, bar none.Again, the decision to use snows or not depends a lot on where you live. In Ottawa, I wouldn't think of going year round on just all seasons. Been there, done that. You have to experience the difference to fully appreciate what snow tires can be like.I've also pushed way too many cars that got stuck on my street because people insist on leaving their crappy tires on their cars all year round..As for studs, you almost had your facts straight. Studs are illegal in Ontario except for parts of Northern Ontario. I think prior to 2005, studs were illegal over the entire province. It's too bad, because I ran with 4 studded tires back in the 70's before they became illegal, and they were amazing. I agree with you that studs are the way to go. Ah, only if I could. Those were the days.

[MagicM]

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt about GOOD all season radials being almost as safe as snow tires, but it has been proven in independent tests that a good winter tire will outperform any all season radial in snow and ice, bar none.Again, the decision to use snows or not depends a lot on where you live. In Ottawa, I wouldn't think of going year round on just all seasons. Been there, done that. You have to experience the difference to fully appreciate what snow tires can be like.I've also pushed way too many cars that got stuck on my street because people insist on leaving their crappy tires on their cars all year round..As for studs, you almost had your facts straight. Studs are illegal in Ontario except for parts of Northern Ontario. I think prior to 2005, studs were illegal over the entire province. It's too bad, because I ran with 4 studded tires back in the 70's before they became illegal, and they were amazing. I agree with you that studs are the way to go. Ah, only if I could. Those were the days.

I completely agree with you Snow tires are superior to all seasons on snow/ice, i was just stating that if anybody wanted to stay with All season to get the Fortera Triple Treds because it's the only all season which passes the severe snow service requirements. I actually have 2 sets on both my Land Rovers, and they come almost near a snow tire, not quite, but very close, i've plowed passed many vehicles even with full snow tires. Too bad only Northern Ontario is only allowed to uses studded here in Alberta there is no Law for it, but everybody i speak to keeps thinking they are illegal

[exvin]

OK Ok..I know this is an old thread but I also wanted to comment. I would agree that getting snow/winter tires are the best way to go

I have Good Year fortera's (all season) and I had alot of issues with it this past winter, I slid around, fishtailed even spun out on New Years eve cus we had a storm in Toronto and this is with 4WD engaged.

I am also looking for some winter tires hopefully on a seperate set of rims, can anybody tell we what the total cost was for the tires and extra rims or just tires...

[exvin]

Also, when mouting them, did you need anything extra..just asking..

THANKS!

[Densetsu]

I picked up a set of Nokian Hakkas for $600, and a set of QX4 rims with near-new tires on them off the classifieds for another $600. Ended up using my current Pathfinder rims to mount the Hakkas on, and I'm using the QX4 rims and rubber as my new summer tires.

Simple enough... took the Hakkas and my Pathy rims down to a garage, had the Hakkas mounted and balanced. If you buy either the tires or rims (or both!) from a garage, they'll probably do the labour for free, or at least give you a good discount. Came back the next day and picked them up, and I'll leave them sitting in the garage until the first major snowfall.

Didn't need anything extra for the changeover... took off the Pathy rims, popped on the QX4 rims. Used the same lugs, and when I bought the rims I made sure the guy had the center caps lying around too.

[exvin]

Sounds Easy enough....

Are there any consequences in going with smaller/thinner snow tires than the 255/65/16 size?

When I say smaller, I mean steelies and tires in one, not that I would put thinner smaller on my stock rims cus that would be just plain brainless lol

So for example, would there be a problem if I used say 15 inch steelies and tires on the pathy?

Thanks

[Densetsu]

I did some research on this and found that other Pathy owners have had trouble with 15" rims. Some 15" rims rub against the calipers, others don't, it's a shot in the dark.

But going with narrower, 16" tires shouldn't be a problem, and will actually cut through the snow better and have more traction (same vehicle weight, less surface area making contact = more pressure = more friction). 245/70R16 or even 235/70R16 would make for a good winter tire.

[Densetsu]

I'm not affiliated with this eBay store, but I did buy my Nokians from them at a huge discount. Got my weekly email from eBay and saw these at the top of the list... 255/65R16's Hakkas (studded): http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...02991

Might want to check the legality of studded tires. Not sure of the specifics in Ontario. They also ship UPS, so a simple workaround for the brokerage fees is to have them shipped to a UPS warehouse just across the border, then go for a little road trip.

[slickroger]

hey i think im going with goodyear winter tires looking for a nice looking rim kind of like what fueler has on his truck more of an offroad look.

im getting goodyears simply because i can get a lot of airmiles so y not.

and im gonna get a thinner tire with a bigger wall like the 235/70r16's mentioned.

does anyone in ontario here no where to find a good shop for rims or some one you know.

[exvin]

hey i think im going with goodyear winter tires looking for a nice looking rim kind of like what fueler has on his truck more of an offroad look.

im getting goodyears simply because i can get a lot of airmiles so y not.

and im gonna get a thinner tire with a bigger wall like the 235/70r16's mentioned.

does anyone in ontario here no where to find a good shop for rims or some one you know.

Where are you going to pick them up at, a good year dealer or another place? Do you know how much you are getting them for, we should set up a GTA Group buy

[exvin]

Hey Guys,

Here is a link (is this allowed here) in Toronto that I thought had some good prices for guys like me who are on a budget: http://www.tirestoronto.ca/pro...d=236

Do you guys think that this tire size would be a bad choice for a pathfinder in terms of winter tires: 225/75/16
Modified by exvin at 11:45 AM 10/15/2008

[Buzzman]

I bought a used set of B.F Goodrich Winter trac snows 2 years ago. They had been used one winter. They were like new. Still are. I mounted them on a set of second hand rims that I picked up at a salvage dealer. They are actually rims from a Suzuki (so I've been told), and they have the same bolt pattern as our Pathy's. Paid less than $50.00 for the rims, and $400.00 for 5 tires. Why 5, I'm not sure. That's how many they had, so they threw in the 5th for nothing.Well worth it around here.

[exvin]

From where did you pick up the tires from? One of my friends also told me to head to a junkyard and see if they have any used steelies

[Buzzman]

There's a place here in Ottawa called Dave's Part Mart.They are a storefront for salvaged parts from junkyards. All the common goodies available, like radios, headlamps, bumpers and the like.They always have stacks of used tires and rims from lots of different makes. I walked in there to see what they had, and that's when I saw my snows. If they don't have what you need on hand, then they just go and pull it from a junker somewhere, and get it for you. That's how I got my rims. What's nice too is that the prices are negotiable, to a small extent. [IMG][/IMG]
Modified by Buzzman at 10:09 AM 10/20/2008

[exvin]

There's a place here in Ottawa called Dave's Part Mart.They are a storefront for salvaged parts from junkyards. All the common goodies available, like radios, headlamps, bumpers and the like.They always have stacks of used tires and rims from lots of different makes. I walked in there to see what they had, and that's when I saw my snows. If they don't have what you need on hand, then they just go and pull it from a junker somewhere, and get it for you. That's how I got my rims. What's nice too is that the prices are negotiable, to a small extent. [IMG][/IMG]

Modified by Buzzman at 10:09 AM 10/20/2008

hey Buzzman, what size tires are thos in the pic?

[Buzzman]

They're 245/75/R16's.