Higher performance winter tire suggestions/thoughts

[S.F.W.]

I am planning to purchase 17" winters for this season, and put them on my 17" OEM Rims that are Powder Coated gold(see old member ride pics).
In trying to decide which winter tire to use this season, I am in a quandary. Ideally, I am considering a performance winter tire, such as the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D. Or Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3. Have also considered the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R.
I know all these tires are going to be in the $850-$1000 range for a set, and have already budgeted, so price is not my deciding factor.
I do a mix of about a 65/35 highway/city driving split, and will likely put 15,000KM this winter on the tires.
I do also venture up to Blue Mountain fairly frequently, and want a tire that is not going to have significant issues in packed snow, ice, and some fresh snow.

The winter tires I have driven on previously, Kuhmo Kw17's(mediocre tire), and Gislaved Nordfrost 5(awesome winter tire), were a little soft for my driving style.

All that said, I'm looking for input.

[gotak]

The winter sports get some pretty good reviews. However, compared to the all out winter tires like the Gislaved they are going to do worse when the conditions get rough.

I think the X-ice 2 are suppose to be pretty good while not being a performance tire they aren't super soft either. Maybe you can look into those.

[aris]

Hankook ipikes 409 hands down IMO

[PearlM3]

Michelin x ice 2 outperform all others. they are freaking amazing!!

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Ami,

The more performance based the winter tire and harder the compound, the less deep snow and ice grip you will have. The Hankook W300 Icebear is a great performance based winter tire that rides like an all-season, but it has nowhere near the traction in deep snow and ice that your Nordfrosts did.

The iPike 409's are harder in the sidewall and are a nicer ride than the Nordfrosts while having equal grip levels, but you'll probably still find them soft. I'd say if money is no object, get the Hakk's. If you're not going through too much deep snow and ice, then take a good look at the W300's.

[S.F.W.]

Hankook ipikes 409 hands down IMO

Those are a good overall choice, but not really what I am looking for.

[S.F.W.]

Should also add, based on Allen @ Simply Tire's description's, I'm also considering the Toyo Garrit KX .

[Unoriginalusername]

The winter sports get some pretty good reviews. However, compared to the all out winter tires like the Gislaved they are going to do worse when the conditions get rough.

I think the X-ice 2 are suppose to be pretty good while not being a performance tire they aren't super soft either. Maybe you can look into those.

had these on my matrix xrs, best day I had with them was the day they wore out. waste of money, I would go with the dunlops or Allen's recommendation but i haven't owned either personally before so not sure which would be better

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Michelin x ice 2 outperform all others. they are freaking amazing!!

Unless you've actually driven on the other winter tires, it is a rather biased opinion. The Xi2 is a very good winter tire. However, there are many other winter tires that will perform the same and even better depending on the conditions, for several hundred dollars less. The Michelin's are way over-priced.

Ami,

I've never driven or owned the Toyo's, so unlike all of the other tires mentioned so far, I can't help you there.

[midnightfxgt]

Ami - You know my pick ;)

Stay away from the Toyo Garit KX! It is a fantastic winter tire, one of my favourites... but it is not stiff like you are looking for. Its more comparable to the X-Ice, etc.

-John

[S.F.W.]

Ami - You know my pick ;)

Stay away from the Toyo Garit KX! It is a fantastic winter tire, one of my favourites... but it is not stiff like you are looking for. Its more comparable to the X-Ice, etc.

-John

ah, good info, thanks!

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Yokohama W.Drive (http://www.wheels.ca/article/254328) is an option

[S.F.W.]

Yokohama W.Drive (http://www.wheels.ca/article/254328) is an option
hmm, these definitely look like a contender

[midnightfxgt]

W-Drive is awesome... those or the Wintersport, and you will be happy :)

[shu5892001]

I will be getting Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 next thursday

[midnightfxgt]

I will be getting Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 next thursday

Good choice Shu! The three top Performance Winter tires in my mind are: Michelin Alpin PA3, Dunlop Wintersport 3D and the Yokohama WDrive. The Pirelli Sottozero is also in there, but a little overpriced in most sizes.

In my opinion, I like the Wintersport and W-Drive just a touch more (and they are cheaper!)... but you cant go wrong with any of them. Plus, they all have Mail-in Rebates! :)

-John

[Takumi616]

This will be my 4th winter season with these tires, overall no complaints. The Toyo Garrit runs great for me during the winter never been stuck :chuckle... But i'm on 16" steelies though...


Should also add, based on Allen @ Simply Tire's description's, I'm also considering the Toyo Garrit KX .

[S.F.W.]

At this point, I am leaning heavily towards the W-Drives.

[xxSlidewaysxx]

Go with the Haks, had a set on a Grand Am and it would not fish tail, ever.

[kala]

At this point, I am leaning heavily towards the W-Drives.

S.F.W, can you please explain why you are leaning towards these? I'm in the exact same dilemma as you and am having a difficult time choosing!

[mazdilla]

You might want to look into the Semperit Speed Grip, an alpine tesed tire that is manufactured by Continental in France.

http://www.semperit.com/generator/www/de/en/semperit/tires/themes/winter-tires/speed-grip/speed-grip-en.html

I used a set last year and they were by far the best winter tire I have ran on. They have super traction on packed snow and ice, and are extremely quiet as well.

[kckev99]

Have you considered Toyo KX or Pirelli 210 or 240. I believe KX is the softer of the two. Toyo makes great winter tires but I find a bit lacking on the performance side when it comes to Winter tires.

I've used Toyo GO-2, GO-2 Plus and HT Garrit. All of which were very good winter tires. Most satisfied with GO-2 Plus for traction. As for a performance Winter HT was a bit dissapointing however I have been told the KX address the performance issue.

I've tried the 210 and they are a solid performer on cold dry pavement at high speeds. however not the greatest in the Snow but it will do the job.

In all honesty I doubt you can get the best of both worlds in terms of performance and winter traction. You will have to compromise something.

[kckev99]

Also wanted to make a note: I was on my Toyo H/T Garrit 3 yrs ago and driving my car for the first time in Winter in the back roads of Collingwood. I was a bit worried as my car has low ground clearance and at least 10-15+ cm of fresh snow on the road. My Honda was plowing snow with the front hood up a steep hill. Toyo held up with no wheel slip. I can only imagine the newer Toyo KX will only be better.

[pnoy_vokal]

I'd Go with the hakks. Had this on my Si

[Sales 101]

ive always had blizak but do to high milage i do im staying away from them and xice due to wear factor. just put on michelin a3 that i got back in august. As new 10\32 $400 for the set. Pays to shop around early. I need something that is quite on the highway and it is a stiffer tire.

[ShortBus]

you should also look at the bridgestone lm series, unlike the ws series it's supposed to be full microcell instead of 55%.

[azn_outlaw]

Im just curious,

what in the world do you need high performance winter tires on FWD Driver car, especially a car in which is an economy class vehicle?

what type of driving are you doing?, please tell as the team leader of the Mazda 3 club, are you one of those people dont drive accordingly to winter weather conditions ?


Unless Im totally wrong and this setup is for a STI, Audi TT or A4, Mazdaspeed3, if thats the case....I was just curious, and need clarification..

But on the side of things, my hommie runs Wani Winters on his chipped A4 for two years and no complaints, Sottozero was also prime choice from another friend of mine who is running them on a RDX

In relation then to this thread:

Kelly Snow trackers did well on a small trip up north (Haliburton to be exact) and mild heavy duty highway use (407, 401, 400), vehicle used was a 1988 w/ a B16 swap Honda Civic DX hatch

[wabbit]

Im just curious,

what in the world do you need high performance winter tires on FWD Driver car, especially a car in which is an economy class vehicle?

I just put Dunlop Sport 3000 Ds on my 2010 3 GTs. The handling feels as good or better than the OE Yokohamas. When you leave winter tires on nearly half the year, and there's snow on the roads only ~ 20% of the time, why put up with tires that don't allow you to enjoy the fine handling of the stock 3? Sure, it's an economy car. Sure, he's not racing it. But for me, the handling dynamics of the car were the reason I chose the 3. And performance winter tires allow you to enjoy that ~ 80% of the time between Nov 1 and Mar 31.

[S.F.W.]

Im just curious,

what in the world do you need high performance winter tires on FWD Driver car, especially a car in which is an economy class vehicle?

what type of driving are you doing?, please tell as the team leader of the Mazda 3 club, are you one of those people dont drive accordingly to winter weather conditions ?


Unless Im totally wrong and this setup is for a STI, Audi TT or A4, Mazdaspeed3, if thats the case....I was just curious, and need clarification..

But on the side of things, my hommie runs Wani Winters on his chipped A4 for two years and no complaints, Sottozero was also prime choice from another friend of mine who is running them on a RDX

In relation then to this thread:

Kelly Snow trackers did well on a small trip up north (Haliburton to be exact) and mild heavy duty highway use (407, 401, 400), vehicle used was a 1988 w/ a B16 swap Honda Civic DX hatch

I will gladly answer your questions/concerns, though I really wish you would strop being such a forum troll.
I want a high performance winter as I do a fair bit of driving, both highway and city, but more highway. I do drive according to the conditions on the road, and do not race my car under any conditions summer or winter. I find the sidewall on most of the winter tires I have had experience with(Kuhmo KW17's, Michelin X-Ice2, Gislaved Nordfrost5, among others), to be too soft for my taste. Since I was going to be purchasing new winter tires this year, I wanted a tire that handled a little better than your typical winter tire. I also did not want to sacrifice a lot of traction. I have ordered a set of Yokohama W Drive's. From everything I have read, they should be precisely what I want. A tire that does winter very well, without being as soft as some of the other winter tires.

[shu5892001]

I have had the PA3 for 2 weeks and I love the handling, not much different than my potenzas.