Winter Tire Review

[mcheddadi]

EDIT: this list is a little old, so some tires maybe don't exist anymore, for a more up to date list, check out my second post with the table from ADAC

This is from an excelent post at Mercedes-Benz world, here goes:

High Performance winter tires:These tires are designed to meet the needs of winter driving on Performance vehicles and are available in the low profile sizes used as Original Equipment on cars and light trucks. They trade a little ice and snow traction for enhanced handling and high speed capability. Due to their unique tread compounds and handling capabilities these tires must be used in sets of four.

snow and ice tractionBlizzak LM22Blizzak LM25Dunlop Winter Sport M3Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2Pirelli Sotto ZeroYokohama AVS WinterPirelli W210 Snow SportPirelli W240 Snow SportWinter Contact TS790

dry/wet traction and steering responsePirelli W240 Snow SportPirelli W210 Snow SportMichelin Pilot Alpin PA2Blizzak LM25Pirelli Sotto ZeroDunlop Winter Sport M3Yokohama AVS WinterBlizzak LM22Winter Contact TS790

Best blend of winter traction/dry grip and ride qualityDunlop Winter Sport M3Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2Blizzak LM25Pirelli W240 Snow SportPirelli W210 Snow SportBlizzak LM22Pirelli Sotto ZeroYokohama AVS WinterWinter Contact TS790

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Studless Winter tires:These tires feature the latest in tread design and compound technology to provide winter traction for cars and light trucks without the inconvenience of using metal tire studs. They trade a little handling and high speed capability for excellent ice and snow traction. Due to their unique tread compounds and handling capabilities these tires must be used in sets of four.

snow and ice gripBridgestone Blizzak WS-50Dunlop Graspic DS-2Michelin X-IceGoodyear Ultra Grip Ice

dry and wet tractionGoodyear Ultra Grip IceMichelin X-IceBridgestone Blizzak WS-50Dunlop Graspic DS-2

blend of traction and ride qualityMichelin X-IceGoodyear Ultra Grip IceBridgestone Blizzak WS-50Dunlop Graspic DS-2

with all of that said there are a couple of additional notes

#1.) DO NOT USE THE BLIZZAK WS50 ON A NISSAN VEHICLE WITH TRACTION CONTROL

#2.) same goes for the Dunlop Graspic DS2

I am going to buy 4 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3, since they are better than the astounding PA2 they are replacing which make them the new bests in the "Best blend of winter traction/dry grip and ride quality" category for High Performance winter tires.http://www.michelinman.com/tir...n-pa3/

A survey review from tirerack for the old PA2:http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...urvey

If you need the extra traction in the winter (and who doesn't), but still savour your performance car's sharp reflexes, or if you do a lot of highway driving in the winter, the Pilot Alpins from Michelin strikes a great balance in all winter conditions.

Hope this will help you guys out!

Modified by mcheddadi at 7:04 PM 11/10/2007
Modified by mcheddadi at 7:04 PM 11/10/2007

[mcheddadi]

Here is a MORE RECENT list, its the 2007 german ADAC performance winter tire test.(205/55 16). This is a very extensive and professional test. None can be compared to this test in my view:



First off, the LOWER the number the better.

Some notes:

As most tests have already showed, the Dunlop Wintersport D3 is an extremely good performance winter tire (second place). The news this year is that the Michelin PA3 - a new tire replacing the old Pilot PA2 but in the H rating only in North america - is the new king, mainly because of its extraordinary wear resistance. BUT still, as Consumer report have said and many other tests, the Continental TS 810 is a VERY good choice also; in fact it IS the best in snow and wet.

This test, and many others in Europe I have read about, show once again that the Pirelli Sottozero a comlete flawed design. On Tirerack one of the few owner reported said it was no better than an all season tire... contrary to the the Dunlop and Continental whose owners on this site were mostly amazed.

So, time and time again the story is the same. The big brand names do better. And the Blizzak, as many have said, is VERY good on snow BUT very noisy and overall not very good.

btw, the The H-speed rated Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 is for the 16 inch 2.5S Altimaand the V-speed-rated Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 is for the 17inch 3.5SE Altima, also the Pilot performs better than the Alpin.

H 130 mph - 210 km/hV 149 mph - 240 km/h

PA3 FTW!
Modified by mcheddadi at 7:15 PM 11/10/2007

[MagicM]

No matter how good those winter tires are, I've found winter tires are worthless on ice, but fortunalty here in alberta we can use Studded tires, and even chains in certain locations.

[Miss_Lanaya]

I already put my winters on, kal tire gave me 65$ for each of my continentals. I went with the Nokian hakkalapita RSI's. There not even on the list above??? Nokians are theeee best. I had them on my last car and didnt have any winter driving scares. .....I did see alot of other people though slide into each other...haha they should have bought nokians

[MagicM]

Hi fellow calgarian

[chamade]

what are winter tires?

signed, california residents

[windhaven]

Ditto,

Signed, Texas Residents.....

[bembol]

I'm having trouble selling my 17's 5Zigen GN+ Pro's...so I might wrapped them up with HANKOOK iPike's W409

what are winter tires?

signed, california residents

Ditto,

Signed, Texas Residents.....

Bastards! j/k I'm jealous, I hate Winter.

[mcheddadi]

I just bought the PA3 from http://www.tirerack.com/

cost me 900$ for 4 with shipping, duty, brokerage and taxes so thats the equivalent of 225$ per tire. I saved 100$ to 125$ per tire, since in Canada its ripoff time of the decade

I intend to keep them for a LONG time (5 winters minimum)

[Miss_Lanaya]

Well hello to you too

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Leave it up to the Canadians for a winter tire review

Good info!

[MagicM]

Bastards! j/k I'm jealous, I hate Winter.

Hate winter!!!, Winter is the only Season i look foward to, don't you ever go to a parking lot and do doughnuts all day? and laugh at the people stuck in the ditch ! I drive for winter.

[08Coupe]

I already put my winters on, kal tire gave me 65$ for each of my continentals. I went with the Nokian hakkalapita RSI's. There not even on the list above??? Nokians are theeee best. I had them on my last car and didnt have any winter driving scares. .....I did see alot of other people though slide into each other...haha they should have bought nokians

+1 on the Nokian tires, I run there WR tires on all my cars year round and they handle snow well while providing awesome performance when the roads are dry

[squik]

+2 for that, I have a set on my Toyota Avalon with studs, for the two years I have had there I cannot recall a situation (under normal driving conditions) where I was sliding around. The ride is also pretty good for a studded tire, relatively smooth and much less road noise then other studded tires I have driven with.

[mcheddadi]

Just received my PA3s, tirerack ships fast! took 3 days

[mcheddadi]

Installed today! Man they have soooo much grip it's awesome! I'm lucky since we got freezing rain today, so I was able to test the OEM tires (turanza EL400 17") vs the new one (michelin Alpin PA3).

With the turanzas, I was all over the place, I wasn't able to brake on time and I had to drive way too slow. Even at low speeds, the caf was drifting left and right. The VDC was working real hard to keep me on my path, and the slip light was always flashing with the ABS on almost every stop.

With the PA3 it's like night and day. I can drive at the normal speed limit and brake almost like I would normally brake. The slip light doesn't come on at all anymore and the ABS kicks in only If I brake a little too late, but It is barely needed. The grip is amazing and overall the tires are EXCELLENT!