What's the best winter tire for ex35?

[wuitsung]

What's the best winter tire for ex35? I have 17 inch tire.and will the all wheel drive turn on by its own or I have to hit the snow button?

[jmess]

AWD is computer controlled so it is automatic.

Michelin Xi2 really got the job done for me this winter on my 2wd. The latest Consumer's Report mag rates them as the best snow/ice tire they tested.

[AWGD8]

I also have Michelin Xi2 and tested it last winter.

Good breaking in snow and acceleration too.

Still had some moment were I hit an ice during a 10mph left turn and

I just went straight or side way (oversteer) and hit a bunk of snow but, no

damage to my bumper. The reason I bought Xi2 was the treadwear life.

It doesn`t wear out faster than bridgestone snow tires. Xi2 is very quiet

too (seems like drivng an all season tires).

The only thing don`t like about this tire is the tread design. It looks like

an all season treadings (not very aggressive like the Nokian-Hakkapeliitta).

If I`m going to start from the start, I would get any Nokian winter tires.

Although, it is a bit expensive but the tread design makes sense. The pictures says it all. (pic. below is with optional studs)



Below is the Michelin Xi2



The only problem with Nokian are noisy and treadlife...

[BrokenTiller]

My normal wheels are the stock 18" with Dunlop all season tires.Winter wheels are 17" shod with Blizzaks. Worked wonderfully last year. A little noisy, but excellent control.

[techwin]

I have an AWD with the 18" dunlop all seasons. Can anybody comment on the necessity of winter tires? In toronto and surrounding area there are usually a few good snowfalls and the occasional light dusting but I'm thinking of just leaving the car as is with the all seasons through the winter.

[AWGD8]

I don`t live in Toronto but Wisconsin did have a heavy snow fall for the past few winters. There is no doubt that the winter tires handle better, breaks shorter, accelerate quicker than the all season tires. Even with winter tires, I still find it slippery if the snow are fine flakes. Slush\ Crud is better but those tiny snow flakes like a powder ones are slippery even if it`s only 2 or 3 inches. It`s like 2 inches powder snow = 6 inches of Crud/slush snow. I think the benefit of the Michelin Xi2 is it wears out longer and it drives like a normal all season tires. It also has less rolling resistance than the competitors.

[gregbeaton]

I got 17" Dunlop Grantrek winter tires for my EX last year. I live in Calgary and go out to the mountains skiing every weekend.

These tires were amazing with the EX. There was a time I was doing 130km/h in a snow storm going through a hair pin turn that the speed limit was set at 50km/h. I felt the car loose control for a second, then the car kicked in and recovered from an almost 360 on the highway. The winter tires on the EX AWD is an amazing combination.

AWD will only stop you from getting stuck, you need winter tires to ensure you have proper traction in the snow. The winter tires allow you to stop much faster in the snow and ice than your all wheel tires.

[ecosse]

I have an AWD with the 18" dunlop all seasons. Can anybody comment on the necessity of winter tires? In toronto and surrounding area there are usually a few good snowfalls and the occasional light dusting but I'm thinking of just leaving the car as is with the all seasons through the winter.

I'm in the same area and have gone through two winters OK on the 18" Dunlops. Who knows what this year will bring and whether we will be wishing we had winter tires on.

[dmax]

I'm in the niagara area and went through last year with the stock Dunlops and no troubles at all. The AWD kicks in when needed and I only use the snow mode when traffic is slow, stop and go. David

[emcfrdi]

I just put the Pirelli Sottozero 210 tires on my EX with 18" rims and I love them. Quiet ride, excellent handling and very impressive in the snow.

I LOVE THEM!!!

[majorg]

I have 17" Dunlop M3s on my '08 AWD. Good winter tire.

[kullenberg]

I'm having a set of Nokian WR's installed, tomorrow; I'll report on how they perform. I've had them in the past on other vehicles, and they were great, under all conditions.

[Jon_]

Use the Nokian Hakkapellitas driving everyday from Park City down to Salt Lake at up to 80mph. Sweet. A bit noisy, but that's what you get with studs. Super safe. The Finns know snow.

[kullenberg]

Update on the Nokian WR's.; they run about $1000 installed for a EX. The ride is much improved over the Michelin Latitudes, and they are quieter Until we go back to NC in Mar., I won't be able to comment on them in snow. Based on previous experience with WR's, they should do fine.

[EXceptional]

Yikes, a $1000 bucks ?

For just tires only and no Steel Rims to go with them ?

Can you be more specific as to which Latitudes you were talking about ?

There are several different models of Latitudes.
Modified by EXceptional at 11:42 PM 12/26/2009

[kullenberg]

The $1k included freight from somewhere in the NW, CA sales tax of almost 10%, and bal. and intstall. As for the Latitudes, they were the OEM tires. I wasn't aware they came in different models.

[EXceptional]

Street/Sport Truck Summer* Latitude Diamaris* Latitude Sport

Street/Sport Truck All-Season* Latitude Tour HP* Latitude Tour HP ZP

Highway All-Season* Latitude Tour

Light Truck/SUV Studless Ice and Snow* Latitude X-Ice

Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter* Latitude Alpin* Latitude Alpin HP* Latitude Alpin HP ZP

Now I need to locate your size in Tirerack... and narrow down the choices.

[kullenberg]

I looked it up; it was Street/Sport Truck All-Season, * Latitude Tour HP. They were pretty good tires, until about 4/32 remaining. They were getting harsh riding and noisy. They had 24k miles, when replaced. There was no mileage warranty on them. As I have related in other posts, I've had Nokians before and been very satisfied with the all weather performance. That being said, I can't attest to their longevity, as we didn't keep the vehicle much beyond 25k miles.

[hrosenberg33]

Sorry to revive this older thread but since winter is coming up (there was frost on the car this weekend!!) I need to look for some winter tires for the wife's car.

Besides the Michelin Xi2's any other suggestions? I am looking for a set that would hopefully last me 4 winters and will be mounting them on a set of steel/alloy wheels. Not looking for cheap bottom of the barrel tires but also don't need the most expensive ones out there.
Due steelies fit the EX or do I need alloys?
For those who might know any suggestions for an tire shop in the Ottawa/Toronto area (I travel there about once a month)?

Thanks for the help in advance.

HR

[Obsidian EX]

You might want to check out one of the local Infiniti dealers. I picked up a set of Toyo's (can't remember the exact model right now, but could check later, if you are interested) plus a winter set of alloys from TG Infiniti for under $2k. I've had them for 2 years now, and the wear is very good, with lots of tread left. They also handle very well under winter conditions.

Cheers.

[Rosano]

Looking at a set of Yokohoma Ice Guards....with rims....18 inchers....1200 bucks installed

[ex35tdt]

I am on stock Michelin (come with 2010 AWD 17inch) and it is very quiet and good on snow. Is Michelin Xi2 definitely an upgrade or just so so compare to stock Michelin?

[hrosenberg33]

Looking at a set of Yokohoma Ice Guards....with rims....18 inchers....1200 bucks installed

Wow, great price! Where did you get them?

You might want to check out one of the local Infiniti dealers. I picked up a set of Toyo's (can't remember the exact model right now, but could check later, if you are interested) plus a winter set of alloys from TG Infiniti for under $2k. I've had them for 2 years now, and the wear is very good, with lots of tread left. They also handle very well under winter conditions.

Cheers.

Yeah, I'm going to send an email to them now. Definitely looking to come under 2000 dollars for whatever we do get.

Thanks for the help.

HR

[gkdyeung]

for those of you with 18', do you just get winter tires for the rims or do you get winter wheels as well (which would set you back a bit)...

[kamiguy]

Yeah, I got wheels for my 18" snows. It keeps the stock wheels a lot nicer looking!

[EXceptional]

Here's an eBay Link for Infiniti Rims >>> http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Infini ... m270.l1313

http://www.tirerack.com/about/canadian-faqs.jsp ships to Canada, also. You can save a lot of Money this way.

[Jarob]

My 2010 EX AWD came with the 18" wheel setup. I just opted for the 17" Michelin Xi2. Bought them with a pretty slick set of wheels for $1100 mounted , balanced and deleivered from the Tire Rack.,. Now when the snow flies I can just throw them on and I will be in business.
Every source I checked said these were the tires to go with for the best of all worlds!

[hrosenberg33]

These are the option that the dealer is offering:

1) Steel Wheels 17", Toyo g-02 Winter Tires, stems, balanced, installed --> 1385 including HST
2) Alloy Wheels 17", non OEM but with Infiniti centrecaps, Toyo g-02 Winter Tires, stems, balanced, installed --> 1837 HST included

That seems like a lot of money, the reviews do look pretty decent on the Toyo's but they are not the best tire out there either. I'm probably going to keep looking for something with alloys at the price of the Steel Wheels.

HR

[AWGD8]

Why settle for steel rims? I got my winter rims for $440 (4 rims) at Discounttires.com

Actually, my stock rims is the one I use for winter, since it has a TPMS sensor. You need TPMS sensor to keep you safe from changing flat tires in a freezing weather.

Fancy rims for summer without TPMS. I`m cool with that since I can be stranded with flat tires without getting frozebite!


http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direc ... vid=014094

[EXceptional]

What a great Link... and lots of choices, too.