Info On Federal Himalaya WS1 "Winter Tires"

[RedRaptor]

I was doing some research for my brother yesterday on which budget winter tire he should get for his Corolla this year. I've heard about the new Himalayas from Federal and decided to do a google search on them. I couldn't find much info due to the fact that its a very new tire and not many people have them yet. However I did stumble upon this...

http://www.ityre.com/en/tyres/catalog/federal/model/5197/

Himalaya WS1, a premium all-season tire, is designed to serve every road condition. Its special tread design with Federal state-of-the-art technology provides superior winter road traction. SBR rubber with silica compound, which is an essential element especially for the ice/snow/wet traction, greatly prolongs the tire?s life. Himalaya WS1 is designed for comfort and safety, which is offered in H-speed and now is available from 14?~16?.

It says the WS1s are not a real winter tire. They are a premium all season tire like the Nokians WR. I don't believe they have the "Mountain & Snowflake" logo on them either.

So I know these are going for a good price but here is a heads up. As for my brother, I'm going to recommend the Vikings Snowtech to him.

[sauga_kid]

Thanks for the info Rob, I was tossing back and forth between these and the snowtechs for the wifey's matrix and was leaning to the snowtechs as well.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

i bought the Himalaya WS1 last year as a "just in case", since my Kumho KW17s were getting close to the wear bar after 3 winters, but didn't end up using them until this year.

i got them through Joe/Flipspeed for a damn good price despite there being minimal to no reviews last year aside from what was on Federal's website. needless to say, after reading the linked review, i was a bit weary of the WS1 purchase.

however, after the snow storm this weekend, i must say that i'm quite pleased with the WS1. despite not being a RAC-certified snow tire, they performed exceptionally well in the ice, snow, slush, etc - especially in the DEEP snow on my unplowed street. i was moving off the line, with no discernible slip, at a green light quicker than the AWD SUVs beside me (most of which were on all seasons and driving way too fast once they were up to speed). i was also stopping without ABS engaging in deep snow, ice, and slush conditions.

i've had Nokian Hakka NRW and WR on previous cars (Nokian's All-Weather tires that are RAC-certified) and, IMO, the Himalaya WS1 are close to, if not in, the same league as far as a winter tire is concerned.

in summary, i'm very happy with the purchase of the WS1 and their performance for the price. let's hope they last as long and as well as my other previous dark horse winter tire purchase (the KW17).

[wantboost]

yes i know this is an old thread. I was going to buy some of these winter tires. How come on there website it shoes they at m+s symbol?

[MajesticBlueNTO]

yes i know this is an old thread. I was going to buy some of these winter tires. How come on there website it shoes they at m+s symbol?

the M+S (Mud and Snow) letters on a tire isn't regulated by any sanctioning body. a tire manufacturer can slap that on based on the design of the tread pattern.

the "Mountain and Snowflake" symbol is assigned by the Rubber Manufacturers Associateion (USA) and the Rubber Association of Canada after they've tested the tire.
http://www.tirerack.com/images/winter/photos/tech/severe_snowflake.gif

the Federal Himalaya WS1 tires I have were not RAC certified with the Mountain and Snowflake. Instead, it has a stylized Mountain and Snowflake that appears the same as the proper one.

On Federal Tire's english page, it now lists the WS1 as a RAC-certified tire (http://www.federaltire.com/en/html/pdetail.php?DB=winter&pdline=3&ID=24), but it isn't listed on RACs list from Sept 09 (http://www.rubberassociation.ca/wintertires.html).

However, that's not to say the WS1 won't get you through deep snow and ice. It has performed very well for me the past 3 winters and look to be able to go another 2 easily.

[wantboost]

http://www.federaltire.com/en/html/pdetail.php?DB=winter&pdline=3&ID=35
so these want have it? maybe they got approved now?

[MajesticBlueNTO]

http://www.federaltire.com/en/html/pdetail.php?DB=winter&pdline=3&ID=35
so these want have it? maybe they got approved now?

The WS2 has always advertised being RAC-certified since it came out (late 2007?!)

The WS1 didn't have it when i bought it in 2006 (and it was reflected on their site that it didn't have the Mountain and Snowflake) but since they're displaying it on the WS1 page, it has probably been approved since then.