Winter tire recommendations on 240SX

Forum for Nissan wheel fitment, tire selection, suspension setup and brake discussions.
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aleph1
Posts: 907
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 10:08 pm
Car: 1990 240SX hatch MODS: class.
Location: Fort Collins CO

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Like the topic says, I need to get some winter tires (205/60-15)for this season is Denver, CO...my mom is making me =) Also, I would prefer to just get the rear pair, to keep costs down, but I am aware that many recommend getting all 4.

I hear the Bridgestone Blizzaks WS-50 are nice....


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SmithSR
Posts: 5021
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 3:16 pm
Car: 240sx

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check out nokiantyres.com for winter tires and dealer locator. The old style "Hakkapeliitta 1" and the newer "Hakkapeliitta 2" are world class ice traction winter tires. Europeans have used Nokian traction tires for decades. The HK2 uses basically the same technology found in the Blizzak(studless winter traction, through friction compound), and also uses studs. Best winter traction money can buy, if your car sees both packed snow conditions AND ice conditions.

Since people are always asking which tire will work best in which condition, here' some basic info for the layman from Nokiantyres.com........

Snowy or icy roads?If you drive more on icy roads than on snowy ones in winter, studded tyres are the choice for you. Studded tyres are especially suitable if you live near the coast, where roads tend to be icy during the winter. Friction tyres are a good choice for snowy roads.

Wet ice and packed snowIf you have friction tyres, you need to be particularly careful at crossroads etc. where there may be wet ice or hard-packed snow. Studded tyres are superior to friction tyres on wet ice and hard-packed snow.

Quiet tyresIf you appreciate tyres that are quiet on bare roads, friction tyres are the right choice for you.

Unpredictable autumn conditionsFriction tyres can be mounted earlier in the autumn than studded tyres. Once you have mounted friction tyres, you don't need to worry about rapidly changing road conditions in autumn. Friction tyres are also a good choice in spring, when temperature changes can be surprisingly rapid.

Friction tyres all-year round?Coarse spring roads can be particularly wearing on all tyres and friction tyres are primarily designed and intended for winter use. Friction tyres that have been unevenly worn by coarse spring roads are no match for good summer tyres. Therefore we do not recommend the use of friction tyres as all-season tyres. Summer tyres are the safest and most economic choice for summer driving.

cwc2k1
Posts: 315
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2003 9:59 pm
Car: Stock Kouki in mint cond. RIP....now Zenki ridin...

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Well I work for a local bridgestone/firestone here in Bloomington, IN and let me tell you if my boss lies about how great the blizzaks are then he goes through an awful lot of trouble to keep you from knowing so. He runs these things on EVERYONE in his family. Had a lexus suv in the other day for an oil change and he told me that during the winter this lady was having alot of trouble getting up and down her steep driveway in the middle of no where even with the 4x4, he told her to put some blizzaks on it and she did and said it was great, no more problems.....

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Grant@tirerack
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Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2003 9:17 am
Car: Auto racing (AMLS, Cart,F1,IRL in that order), old show rods, classic monster and bad sci-fi movies,
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The best for snow and ice traction I have driven on is the Blizzak WS-50. That is what my family drives on. Granted, they are very soft handling on dry pavement but here in the U.S. they do fine. We do not drive at the same speeds or on roads that are as well maintained as they have in most of Europe in the Winter. If you are willing to give up snow and ice traction to get better handling, the H rated European type of tire is a good choice in areas where they keep things cleaned up well. It all depends on where you live. On the topic of running two on the back only:

Don't Do It!

All of your steering is done with the front tires as is the vast majority of your braking. Putting two snow tires on the rear will push you right into icy intersections or into the back of the truck stopping in front of you! You'll have plenty of push moving the car foreward and less ability to stop or steer it! The front tires are going to lock up and slide. You'd be safer running four matching all season tires.


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