WINTER TIRE OPINION NEEDED for MS6

[PlatMS6]

Guys I need to pick between these two Hankook tires and would appreciate your opinion.

OEM TIRE SIZE is: 215/45/18 93Y

Hankook W300* or W409 ($90 cheaper)

Hankook W409 in 215/55/17 94T (190KM/H) (Studdable)
http://www.discounttire.com/product/tires/hanst1.ang.jpg

http://www.discounttire.com/product/tires/hanst1.trd.jpg

HUGE PIC: http://www.discounttire.com/product/tires/hanst1.xl.jpg

Similar to the HAKA 2's from Nokain by design (I know probably not close to performance, but design yes)
http://www.nokiantyres.com/files/nkr/ha_talvi/hkplrsi_tuote_iso.jpg

or

Hankook W300 in 225/50/17 98V (240KM/H)

http://www.discounttire.com/product/tires/hansv1.ang.jpg

http://www.discounttire.com/product/tires/hansv1.trd.jpg

HUGE PIC: http://www.discounttire.com/product/tires/hansv1.xl.jpg


Now the W409 is a brand new tire and there is barely any information on it, but it does look promising. The W300 on the other hand has been around for a while and its strenghts (ICE/DRY) and weaknesses (deep snow) are known, but generally the tire is a good all-around performance winter tire. The W409 will have a softer sidewall partly because of the speed/load rating and that it will be slightly taller then the W300. But then again I don't want a performance dry tire...I am getting Winters, and there are trade-offs.

I had the Kumho KW19 on the old car, which was a fairly meaty tire, I didn't mind the squminess on the dry because in the snow/slush they were great.

Keep in mind that I will have AWD, so stopping/handling in snow are top priority, then accelaration.


***I was going to get the W300's but some commments about Deep Snow or ussually when it has to digg uphill really weren't that possitive. They are greatly recommended in areas where it is regualarly plowed/ice/light snow, so I unnoing heh.

The price difference is also appealing but i really don't want to regret anything.

[Fuman]

http://www.1010tires.ca/tire.asp?tirebrand=Hankook&tiremodel=W409+Winter+i%2APike
I don't see any W409 larger than 16''. tirerack doesn't have any hankook winter tires and tiretrends doesn't carry w409.
I read somewhere on msprotege.com, that 16'' will fit your car (MS6).
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2785763&postcount=23 <-- 16&#039;&#039; on MS3s. (pics)
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2794832 <-- the thread.

edit: nevermind, i just saw supershyguy selling w409 in 17&#039;&#039;.

[majic]

on my 3 i have yet to encounter a winter day where i couldn&#039;t drive through the conditions i was faced with.. 2 winters already, albeit mild they included numerous snowboarding trips to smaller hills in Ontario as well as Tremblant

w300s and dry performance is kick arse :D

[PlatMS6]

on my 3 i have yet to encounter a winter day where i couldn&#039;t drive through the conditions i was faced with.. 2 winters already, albeit mild they included numerous snowboarding trips to smaller hills in Ontario as well as Tremblant

w300s and dry performance is kick arse :D


Mind taking a pic of one of the tires (specifically the tread), and how much you have put on them approx.

...still can&#039;t decide....no way am I putting on 16&#039;s lol, if a MS3 experiences 30-40% loss in handling, theres no saying what the extra weight will do to them :(

I will be going with Mazda6 OEM 17"wheels, don&#039;t look that bad on the Speed6 plus I am getting them used with only slight rash on one wheel for about $300 (less than steelies, less weight also :p) Also I don&#039;t want to spend more than $1000 on the whole combo especially when I will be paying twice as much for this combo than what I paid for the 3.
(I remember the days when tires23 sold the Kumho KW19 15" steel wheel combo for $485 Tax inc. lol those were the days...2004 Oct 30 to be exact ehheeh)

[majic]

Mind taking a pic of one of the tires (specifically the tread), and how much you have put on them approx.

...still can&#039;t decide....no way am I putting on 16&#039;s lol, if a MS3 experiences 30-40% loss in handling, theres no saying what the extra weight will do to them :(



for sure.. i will once i get home.. and i should have a spreadsheet with rough kms so you&#039;ll be able to gauge..

also there was another thread on w409 and w300 and 409&#039;s strength was ICE whereas w300&#039;s forte was snow braking i believe.. let me see if i can dig it up..

http://xsorbit30.com/users5/torontomazda3den/index.php?topic=577.msg9683#msg9683

ah.. so ICE braking vs snow traction.. i still think it&#039;s a no brainer..

[RedRaptor]

(I remember the days when tires23 sold the Kumho KW19 15" steel wheel combo for $485 Tax inc. lol those were the days...2004 Oct 30 to be exact ehheeh)


Or a set of Kumho KW17s mounted on 16" steelies for $650 tax in. Oct 2004. ;D

[majic]

(I remember the days when tires23 sold the Kumho KW19 15" steel wheel combo for $485 Tax inc. lol those were the days...2004 Oct 30 to be exact ehheeh)


Or a set of Kumho KW17s mounted on 16" steelies for $650 tax in. Oct 2004. ;D


or same price and same time for the w300s :D

[Flagrum_3]

The 409s remind me of my old Hakkapalittas which were awesome in heavy snow but rode like truck tires on dry pavement.As for which to get it depends on where your going to drive...if your basically around TO just go for the W300s they will most likely be more than enough probably last a season or two longer too.


_3


.

[Wild Weasel]

Since studs are illegal here, there&#039;s no value in getting studdable tires. Can they be had in a studless version for cheaper?

[RedRaptor]

Since studs are illegal here

Thanks Captain Obvious. :o



Can they be had in a studless version for cheaper?


Most studable tires are pure snow tires. They usually make a city slush/snow tire to complement it so 9/10 times, there is no "studless" version of most pure snow tires.

[PlatMS6]

heh need to make the decision soon!

STEP1
Get 17" wheels, so MS6 still looks "sekkksi time" ~~DONE~~

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c57/mazda6smtx/HPIM0376.jpg
These are exactly 2 yrs old, got them tonight all Cleaned/Waxed up real nice (not by me / nevertheless probably cleaner then when new / look behind the spokes...shhiiihhhnneey...too bad they are gonna see SALT/SAND/GRIME). BTW don&#039;t worry about the tires getting messy, they are dumpster food anyways.


STEP2
Get winter tires* ~patiently waiting for Majic to provide the extra boost in confidence towards the W300&#039;s~ BUT still open to opinions either way.

[Wild Weasel]

heh. Gotta rock the winter bling. :D

Here&#039;s my ride in winter mode from last year. Winter rubber will be going back on this weekend...

http://www.wildweasel.ca/images/cars/wm3/11132005/p_side.jpg

[majic]

STEP2
Get winter tires ~patiently waiting for Majic to provide the extra boost in confidence towards the W300&#039;s~ BUT still open to opinions either way.


LOL.. i even took pix last nite while the gf was waiting for me in bed so u owe me :P - ok i just re-read it.. NOT IN THAT WAY!

postin up in a few..

[Caz]

Where is the spoiler abuse thread?

[CoolColombian]

^^ lol

[PlatMS6]

STEP2
Get winter tires* ~patiently waiting for Majic to provide the extra boost in confidence towards the W300&#039;s~ BUT still open to opinions either way.


LOL.. i even took pix last nite while the gf was waiting for me in bed so u owe me :P - ok i just re-read it.. NOT IN THAT WAY!

postin up in a few..


Next time pick the warm bed instead man...heh
Lol I have been checking this thread every couple of hours. Time is of the essance man, jokes, I guess u got busy...and ROFL on the attempted "Seksi Time"
BTW I heard from that Jagshemash (from Borat) is "how are you" in Polish...Borat is not at all authentic with the words he uses lol, just picks the ones that sound "foreign"...is that true?

[majic]

lol.. it was jokes.. :P

anyway.. pix coming up in 2 min.. i did get UBER busy at work.. sorry.. and yes borat is a POSEUR "jak sie masz" is indeed "how are you" in poliish.. ok gettingmy camera.. lemme know if you need other angles :P

http://xs308.xs.to/xs308/06456/IMG_5433.jpg

http://xs308.xs.to/xs308/06456/IMG_5435.jpg

http://xs308.xs.to/xs308/06456/IMG_5438.jpg

http://xs308.xs.to/xs308/06456/IMG_5441.jpg


i thought i had more details on the mileage but i guess i got lazy.. :P assuming mid nov to mid april driving, first winter ~11000km second winter ~14000km

[b]

When I pick mine up I think I am going for the w300... I was talking to ssg about them at a meet a while back.

[PlatMS6]

Went with Majic's opionion and got the.... (thnx Majic!)

Hankook W300 225/50/17 XL 98V, mounted on Mazda6 17" alloys (couldn't get myself to stick steelies on the MS6), the fit was pretty close (not even winger width :p)on the inside but it fit fine just like Tires23 said. The transaction with Tires23 was great as well, just like always (2nd set of winters from them!).

So far they are great on the dry, the road feel is supa smooothh (with the 18's I felt alot more road than with the 17's..thats for sure), and the steering feels a lot lighter for some reason too, which others have noted as well, so not bad. Tires are quiet too!

[majic]

nice!!!

now wait for some snow and review them after that :D