Best winter tire bang for the buck available now?

[rsquared]

Hi All,

Having recently bought my Mazda3, I didn\'t get a chance to buy Viking Snowtechs and steelies. Seems that the tires are sold out everywhere. Anyone know of a place that still carries them?

I\'ve started looking at alternatives, something around the same price as the Vikings. I see that Canadian Tire has a special on Nordic Ice Tracs:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6669667&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bm UID=1137261616250&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442945 139&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

Do you think they\'re worth it?

[VascoF1]

Originally posted by rsquared


Hi All,

Having recently bought my Mazda3, I didn\'t get a chance to buy Viking Snowtechs and steelies. Seems that the tires are sold out everywhere. Anyone know of a place that still carries them?

I\'ve started looking at alternatives, something around the same price as the Vikings. I see that Canadian Tire has a special on Nordic Ice Tracs:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6669667&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bm UID=1137261616250&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442945 139&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

Do you think they\'re worth it?


I\'m in the same position. Can anyone confirm that the 16inch steelies at Canadian Tire are hubcentric?

[Parliament]

I went into Canadian Tire today to get one of their winter tires and rims packages. They asked for the make and model of my car, searched the computer, then told me it was too new and they had nothing for me. He didn\'t ask about the size of tires I have on the car now. Was he clueless or am I?

[Cardinal Fang]

He was clueless.

[rsquared]

What I coincidence, I just came back from the Canadian Tire at Centrepoint Mall and here\'s what they quoted me (gave them make, model, year and size preference) :

Nordic Ice Trac P205/55R16 89S: $67.49 per tire (regularly $112.49, but they have a 40% off promo)
Winter Wheel Rim, X42655: $69.99 per tire
Labour/Balance/Warranty: $21 per tire

So $158.48 per tire x 4 = $633.92
$633.92 + 15% taxes = $729

Seems a bit high to me? Can I get steelies anywhere else for cheaper?

[rsquared]

Weird, after reading someone\'s post about CT\'s Winter tire and rim package, I called them up and was quoted $152 per tire/rim plus taxes, so abou $700 in total for four tires.

[SABIO]

Did you call Tires23 and ask what they have left??

[Junior]

IMO, cheaping out on winter rims/tires is NOT the way to go. it\'s what keep your car planted in the snow/ice, and what will keep you safe and keep the car from getting into fender benders.

would you compromise your safety to save a couple of dollars? buy something good and don\'t go for the bargain basement price. a lil research, never hurt anyone, don\'t just go with what other people tell you.

BTW, it\'s common for people to spend $600-$800 on a GOOD, SAFE pair of winter steelies/rubber.

It\'s just common sense... at least that\'s what I think.

[KenYork]

try finding tires on the accord/tsx forum.. they may have something in their buy&sell

[rsquared]

I\'m not trying to \"cheap out\" on winter tires, I\'m merely trying to get the best value I can for my needs. I live in Toronto, and snow/winter driving isn\'t as harsh as others Canadian cities. Doing research, Vikings seem to be given great reviews, so that\'s why I was hoping to snag a set. With all the great reviews, it seems they\'re all gone.

I did get in touch with Tires23, and they confirmed they\'re sold out on Vikings. They did give me the following quotes which include steelies, installation and tax:

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 $990
Gislaved Nordfrost 3 $860
King Star W411 (Hankook) $710

Now my choice seems to be between the King Stars and the Nordic Ice Tracs as they\'re about the same price. Will start doing some research now
:D

[majic]

Originally posted by Junior


IMO, cheaping out on winter rims/tires is NOT the way to go. it\'s what keep your car planted in the snow/ice, and what will keep you safe and keep the car from getting into fender benders.

would you compromise your safety to save a couple of dollars? buy something good and don\'t go for the bargain basement price. a lil research, never hurt anyone, don\'t just go with what other people tell you.

BTW, it\'s common for people to spend $600-$800 on a GOOD, SAFE pair of winter steelies/rubber.

It\'s just common sense... at least that\'s what I think.

ANY winter tire will outperform an ALL (no) season one.. even the crappy ones from CT or walmart or wherever.. i would have bought from them but 1) their selection sux 2) i got a waaayy better deal on my hankook w300 from e-spec (last year)

in the end.. adjust your driving style to the weather conditions.. just because you have \'high performance\' winter tires, it doesn\'t mean you need to use the roads as if you were winter rally car driver :sarc

[Whos ur dadd]

Originally posted by rsquared

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 $990


If you were doing any amount of highway driving, these things rock.

If I were ever to drive, say, 150km on the 404, I would be, ahem, confident that these things would be quiet and stable. Lane transitions between school buses and minivans full of kids and the elderly at such speeds would also be quite good too I would think.

[Rollout-G]

Originally posted by rsquared


I\'m not trying to \"cheap out\" on winter tires, I\'m merely trying to get the best value I can for my needs. I live in Toronto, and snow/winter driving isn\'t as harsh as others Canadian cities. Doing research, Vikings seem to be given great reviews, so that\'s why I was hoping to snag a set. With all the great reviews, it seems they\'re all gone.

I did get in touch with Tires23, and they confirmed they\'re sold out on Vikings. They did give me the following quotes which include steelies, installation and tax:

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 $990
Gislaved Nordfrost 3 $860
King Star W411 (Hankook) $710

Now my choice seems to be between the King Stars and the Nordic Ice Tracs as they\'re about the same price. Will start doing some research now
:D

I had the Gislaved Nordfrost 3\'s installed (tires + rims) by Tires23 for FAR less than what they quoted you - by \'far less\', i mean over 200 bucks less. They might have raised the prices because we are well into the winter season, but still - that\'s quite the markup.

Regarding the Gislaveds, they kick ARSE. Completely stable in dry and wet conditions and excellent handling in snow and slush; with ice, I can\'t say for sure as I don\'t actively seek out black ice to test the tires. That being said, those Swedes sure know winter. Highly recommended.

Cheers,
RG

[rsquared]

RG, that is quote the difference. I pmed you with some questions. I\'m hoping I can snag the same deal as you.

[RedRaptor]

Originally posted by rsquared
RG, that is quote the difference. I pmed you with some questions. I\'m hoping I can snag the same deal as you.

We go through this every year and there are people in Jan/Feb trying to get the pre-winter sale price, a price that is only valid Oct/Nov of the previous year.

I highly doubt Tires23 will give you $200 off the tires just because of the timing. And from a business stand point, I don\'t think you should expect them to.

I can help you with a review of the Hankook Kingstars. My friend with a Cobalt bought the Kingstars back in December from Tires23 and took a trip to Tremblant with them during the \"not so big\" snowstorm that hit the GTA back in Dec. Well as you all know, that weather system went up east to Quebec, after hitting the GTA so he was driving through that system on this way up there. He said they were very impressive in terms of traction and handling even in the harsh conditions where visibility was close to zero. He saw at least 5 cars in ditches on the way up there.

Hope this helps.

[rsquared]

Thanks for that tidbit of info RedRaptor. So the best time to get winter tires would be way before winter? Unfortunately I didn\'t have that luxury as I got my car on December 30th.

Are there ever any mid-winter sales? I would think there should/would be, as sellers would be looking to get rid of their stock?

[SGT06]

I noticed Walmart sells the Kingmark tires..not sure about the price but I think it made it to the top 10 list by consumer reports. You could possibly hold off for a sale if all your driving is on cleared Toronto road.

[rsquared]

Hi all,

First of all, thanks to everyone for their input and comments. Based on my budget, I narrowed down my choices to Nordic Ice Trac, the Kingstars and the Semperit Ice Grip II. They\'d both come out to about $700 or so with black steel wheels, installation and tax included.

Based on reviews I\'ve read, I\'ve decided to go with the Semperits.

Much thanks to Tires23 for giving me several different options. :D

[dredd2099]

semperits
good choice

[Tires23]

Hello guys,

Just to clarify, we haven\'t change any of our winter tire / package pricing yet. The 16\" Gislaved were always $860 with hubcentric rims.

Only the Viking were priced $640 with rims.

RG, you must have gotten the 15\" Gislaved package (195/65/15) or you got 16\" Viking package if you paid far less than $860. :)


Semperit is a brother of Viking (both made by Continental) which focuses more on snow/ice traction rather than dry/wet performance.

Thanks!!

[rsquared]

Finally went to Tires23 today to get my Semperit Ice Grip 2s installed, two thumbs up for Martin and the gang :D

Took some pics: http://torontomazda3.com/forum/read.php?TID=4876

[apostille]

hi,
Having recently bought my Mazda3, I didn\'t get a chance to buy Viking Snowtechs and steelies. Seems that the tires are sold out everywhere. Anyone know of a place that still carries them?

I\'ve started looking at alternatives, something around the same price as the Vikings. I see that Canadian Tire has a special on Nordic Ice Tracs:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6669667&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bm UID=1137261616250&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442945 139&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true.

[Fuman]

winter season is pretty much over, why not get it next year? that way your tire can last a year longer (assuming your tread doesn't run out first)

[kingpin748]

Jeez, this threads three years old! Check kijiji.com in your area for winter tires. People always sell them in the spring.

http://www.deuterio.net/photoplog/images/1/large/1_resurrection.jpg

[criminallawyer]

hi,
Having recently bought my Mazda3, I didn\'t get a chance to buy Viking Snowtechs and steelies. Seems that the tires are sold out everywhere. Anyone know of a place that still carries them?

I\'ve started looking at alternatives, something around the same price as the Vikings. I see that Canadian Tire has a special on Nordic Ice Tracs:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6669667&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bm UID=1137261616250&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442945 139&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true
Do you think they\'re worth it?

[S.F.W.]

at this point in the season you are fine with all seasons. Wait until next season for winters.

[SonicBoy]

I think we have a bot that's made it's way to our forum