I've got a set of Cooper Ice radials on my Subaru. They stick like nothing else. But because they are so sticky, I am curious about how quickly they will wear.

 

Pireli Snow Sports

I'm on my 4th winter with the same set. If I had to, I'd buy another set in a heartbeat. They are quieter than most of my friends and family's snow tires, and cornering and braking control is quite good. They are definitely a step down on dry pavement from my Ultra High Performance summer tires, but the difference on snow and ice is well worth the purchase price.

Again, they are expensive, but they outperform and outlast the Canadian Tire brands.

Adam

(My car is LOW too!!!. I can't even get a jack under the jacking points to raise the car without driving the wheels up onto a 2X4. The Pirelis work well with high spring rates.)

[ December 11, 2004, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: PEI330Ci ]

 

I'd have to say the Coopers as well. I run them on my 4x4 and on my Golf. They really are a great tire, and usually can be found pretty cheap. I've also used the Nordics before, and they are also excellent.

 

You could go with a different tire size, 195/65-15 (0.41% larger), assuming a 15 inch OE wheel clears your car's brake calipers. Save some bucks by going with a set of four 15 inch winter tires and wheels. Depending on the type of driving you do, there are various options in the sub $100 range like the Hankook Ice Bear W440, Kumho KW17, Kumho KW19 (all are T-rated).

Dave

 

I've had the Goodyear Ultragrips for two winters now. They are really quite a good tire. The OPP has also chosen them for their fleet vehicles since they have to operate 24/7 in the winter.

No winter tire is "the best" there are always trade offs to be made. The Ultragrips are a performance oriented snow tire. Meaning they have excellent road feel and are high speed rated. They feel almost exactly like my summer tires when crusing the highway at high speeds. In order to achieve this they give up some grip in the snow compared to a hard core square lugged tire like a Yokohama Guardex, or the Canadian Tire variety of tires. I'd say they have 90% of the grip in deep snow as a regular snow tire.

When you chose a more traditional hardcore snow tire you give up some handling feel, and speed rating. The large square lugs on the treads seem to delay the steering. Meaning you turn the wheel and there is a slight delay in the car's movement, somewhere in the order of about 1/10 of a second. Its not measurable but you can feel it.

So...it all depends on what you want from your snow tires. Chosing the snow tire with the best grip will mean you give up some handling. Chosing the best handling snow tire will mean you give up some grip. It all depends on what you value more.

That being said, I'm currently running on the Goodyear Ultragrip 225/55-17's and I've never had any troubles getting stuck yet. [img]smile.gif[/img] I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.

CM.

ps. Blizzak tires are great, but when they get down to about 1/2 the tread depth they are no better than an all-season tire.

 

I'm still having fun with my "summer" Kuhmo 712s...just got 15cm last night...lol
It's a 3 year tradition...dont swap them until x-mas...even then it's the all-seasons. Have some fun in the snow!(damned stuff!)


Wayne

 

studded work the best