Need some help in choosing the right winter tires

[flyingdutchman]

Hi guys,

This is my first official post. I have a 2010 Mazda 3 GX and want to buy winter tires for the upcoming season. I got prices from different places and now need to make a decision on which tire I want. I do about 60km of driving per day using the highway and city. The choices I have are:

205/55/16
Bridgestone Blizzak WX70
Gislavd Norfrost 5
Michellin X-Ice 2
Altima Arctic
Hankook W409

195/65/15
Bridgestone Blizzak WX70
Gislavd Norfrost 5
Michellin X-Ice 2
Altima Arctic
Hankook W409

One of the sales rep told me that the 195/65/15 is much better than the 205/55/16 because its narrower and so cuts through snow better. It is also more flexible on the turns and much safer. Plus it is also cheaper.

Now I do not have traction control in my car so I need something that will keep my car in one piece at the end of the season. What do you guys recommend?

[Hoodzy]

Going with a smaller tire is going to be cheaper. As of now the whole narrow tires are better is a myth until someone can prove to me otherwise.
I'd go with Michelin they still have a rebate going on I believe.

[stevenma188]

In regards to the narrower tire for winter, IMO, if you are going to be driving on a lot of loose/covered snow, it is a good idea to get a thinner size. However, since most of us live in areas with plowed streets etc, I would say there is no performance benefit to going to a thinner tire (might even be worse).

Personally, not a fan of Michelin or Bridgestone, as I find most of they time they are overpriced (even after rebate/discounts). Seems like the popular choices here are the Nordfrost 5 or the Hankook iPike (W409). They are both really good performing tires and are nicely priced too.

[flyingdutchman]

Ok so I have narrowed down my choices to

Hankook W409
Gislaved Nordfrost 5
Michelin X-Ice 2

Looking at reviews, everyone loved the Hankook tires. But a lot of people absolutely hated Michelin. But I read somewhere that Hankook will only last for 1-2 winters and is not good on pavement where as Michelin is really good on pavement and lasts longer but really bad on snow, ice and rain.

What do you guys think?

[zzz3]

i am running 205/55/16 gt altimax arctics on my 2010 sport. i do about 90km most days of the week, 80 hwy/10 cty. only time i had trouble is due to not having enough ground clearance (unplowed neighbourhood roads and my driveway). the tire has good dry pavement handling, decent wet handling and most importantly, great traction in deep snow as well as slush.

[Harbour Rat]

I have 195/65R15 Gislaveds for my 08 GX. My drive to/from work is up over Blue Mountain on often un-plowed country roads. The Gislaveds have been awesome. Mother has Blizzaks for her Honda and they handle the same drive just as well as the Gislaveds. I'd say you cannot go wrong with either tire.

Some will point out that once you wear the Blizzaks down past ~50% you have used up all the special grippy "winter" rubber and are just into regular "all season" type rubber. I don't see a problem here - you need deeper tread on winter tires and once they are 50% worn they are pretty much used up anyway, at least for use as winter tires. No reason you couldn't run half worn winter tires in the summer though and get all the life out of them. They'll be kind of noisy and won't give as much grip as a performance tire but for normal commuter driving they'd be perfectly fine, about the same as any all regular season tire. I see lots of cars driving on winter tires all year.

[flyingdutchman]

Ok so its come down to either Gislaved or Altimax (I guess Michelin lost)...

This is what my Mazda dealer is quoting me on Gislaved: $849+tax (includes tires, steel wheels, mount, balance, hubcaps). Also comes witha a $50 rebate. Mazda does not have the Altimax at their dealership.

Other tire company (Tire23) is offering the same thing (without hubcaps) for $810 after tax for the Gislaved. They also have the Altimax Arctic for $820 after tax.

Need to call SimplyTire to see what they offer.

How do these prices sound?

[zzz3]

altimax arctic is gislaved nordfrost 3. nordfrost 5 is the newer version, and i believe is geared more towards dry/wet pavement.

tires23 is the best deal i think if that includes taxes. you can always pick up hubcaps from joe at mot on the cheap if they are important to you.

[iiliu]

Michelin, Hankook and Gislaved are all good winter tires, just depends on what kind of weather you're expecting to drive in. I drive more than average, so I got Michelins because they wear well and have pretty good reviews on dry/wet/snow conditions.

Tire23 is probably the best deal you're going to get in the GTA, but Kal Tire will price match if you tell them somewhere else has it for cheaper. Kal Tire will also charge an extra one-time charge per tire (optional) and that will cover the rest of your mounting/dismounting fees as long as you own those tires.

[Figjam]

I had iceX2's last year and the year prior. Wear well, and quiet. Good in ice conditions, not very good in snow. Don't handle speed3 type driving very well.
I have Hankook icept evo this year. Just as quiet, seem better in the snow. Handle way better than the icex2.

[wmzda5]

I had Yokohama IG20 on the mazda5 for 5 winters they are good ice tires but pricy, paid $920 for tires installed with taxes in. That was in 2007 when I bought the car. They are 17's. Now I have Nexen on and they are still great at half the price. Now I'm beginning to think that it doesn't matter whether you have an expensive brand or cheap brand as long as they are winter tire you will be OK. Besides they will wear out whether you have expensive or cheap ones, and its not a good idea to make it last for more than 5 years. Now on my wrx I just bought cooper winter claw extreme 225/40/18 let's see.....

[Hotsky]

I couldn't be happier with Rovelo tires from Walmart. Had them on for two winters and still have about 70% left. FWIW