Snow/Ice winter tires

708 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 12:57 PM

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#699 of 708 Re: Costco [xwesx] by xwesx Oct 06, 2009 (9:39 pm)
Replying to: xwesx (Oct 06, 2009 9:02 am) I shall find out in a couple weeks.... Oh, the irony continues! First I get my factory-ordered Forester in two weeks, then come the tires that I said would take another two weeks. Not an hour after I wrote that last message did I receive a call from the local vendor stating that my tires arrived. I am having them mounted on my spare rims right now, but my initial impression is favorable. They look to be a well-balanced tire, with a nice, deep, open block design that will surely excel in snow by allowing sufficient movement of the flakes through and out of the tire. The W-style siping is deep and the rubber is relatively soft, both of which should make for proficient traction on ice. I doubt they will perform as well as Blizzak WS-60 or the Xi2 on ice, but time will tell. Weather is unseasonably warm here right now (daytime temps are hitting 40s!), but within a week or two I expect we will be well under freezing and not looking back, so it shouldn't take too long to measure them up. Replies to this message: xwesx (Oct 12, 2009 11:06 am) hammerhead (Oct 12, 2009 8:15 pm) xwesx (Oct 13, 2009 8:06 am) xwesx (Oct 27, 2009 11:49 am) and 2 more... dona83 (Oct 22, 2009 10:40 am) xwesx (Oct 22, 2009 11:24 am)
#700 of 708 Re: Costco [xwesx] by xwesx Oct 12, 2009 (11:06 am)
Replying to: xwesx (Oct 06, 2009 9:39 pm) I have the Ultra Grip Ice tires on my car now. No ice yet to try them out, but they sure are quiet and smooth compared to the stock tires on the car (2010 Forester). These are P215/65R16; stock tires on the car were P225/55R17. The tires have a subtle hum at highway speed, but that is to be expected with a tire with an open-block design. Replies to this message: hammerhead (Oct 12, 2009 8:15 pm) xwesx (Oct 13, 2009 8:06 am) xwesx (Oct 27, 2009 11:49 am) woodyww (Nov 10, 2009 12:12 pm) and 1 more...
#701 of 708 Re: Costco [xwesx] by hammerhead Oct 12, 2009 (8:15 pm)
Replying to: xwesx (Oct 12, 2009 11:06 am) It's interesting that the winter tires are quieter than the stock summer or all-weathers. Snow in the forecast here, although with the forecasted highs what they are, it's not going to stick... yet. Cheers! Paul Replies to this message: xwesx (Oct 13, 2009 8:06 am) xwesx (Oct 27, 2009 11:49 am) woodyww (Nov 10, 2009 12:12 pm) xwesx (Nov 10, 2009 12:57 pm)
#702 of 708 Re: Costco [hammerhead] by xwesx Oct 13, 2009 (8:06 am)
Replying to: hammerhead (Oct 12, 2009 8:15 pm) Amazing weather here. We have temperatures into the high 50s for the last four or five days. The last two mornings were the first in a week or more where it dropped under freezing. Typically, highs this time of year do not break freezing and we almost certainly have snow that will stay until April by now. I'm not complaining, for sure, but it could change to more "seasonable" temperatures and weather at any time....
#703 of 708 Re: Recommendations for a Rav4? [hammerhead] by dona83 Oct 22, 2009 (10:34 am)
Replying to: hammerhead (Sep 29, 2009 10:21 am) Yea I actually took out my winter tires and put the all seasons and rims on for a few weeks through February as it was pretty warm, then had to rush the winter tires back on for another surprise from Old Man Winter. I need to get an impact wrench this year, doing it manually is not fun!
#704 of 708 Re: Costco [xwesx] by dona83 Oct 22, 2009 (10:40 am)
Replying to: xwesx (Oct 06, 2009 9:39 pm) The Xi2s are overrated... from what I heard from real owners of the tire, they're not that great in real world snow conditions although they are second to none on ice. The tread design is just not aggressive enough. The Blizzaks are a very good tire but like a broken record I repeatedly hear complaints about accelerated tire wear and how winter performance quickly drops off. Though the tread pattern is a bit better than the Xi2s, it's really not better by a whole lot. I wouldn't be worried with your decision with the Ultra Grip Ice. Replies to this message: xwesx (Oct 22, 2009 11:24 am)
#705 of 708 Re: Costco [dona83] by xwesx Oct 22, 2009 (11:24 am)
Replying to: dona83 (Oct 22, 2009 10:40 am) Thanks; I appreciate that feedback. Still no snow here, which worries me! We really need some before it starts getting real cold (below 0F) or else the frost will start driving deep into the ground and that means broken pipes, root kill, etc. This is the first time (that I can remember) where we have dry roads this late into October. In '95, the first snow was on 10/15, and that was pretty late compared to most other years. Temps are no longer venturing above freezing during the day, though, so winter is all but upon us.
#706 of 708 Re: Costco [hammerhead] by xwesx Oct 27, 2009 (11:49 am)
Replying to: hammerhead (Oct 12, 2009 8:15 pm) The switch was flipped and it is now winter! Snow and ice yesterday, for the first time this year. My Escort, with the Kelly Snowtrekkr's, slips and slides. My Forester, with the Goodyear UG Ice, tells me it is summertime. I even jetted from an icy intersection going all-out and it never slipped a tire. ABS engaged briefly once at another icy intersection on a downhill slope, but judging by the slicks there, others had their hands full just trying to stop at all. So, long story short, the Goodyears are an effective tire: Very effective. Now I just have to see how they perform in extreme cold (-50F) and how well the tread wears. Replies to this message: woodyww (Nov 10, 2009 12:12 pm) xwesx (Nov 10, 2009 12:57 pm)
#707 of 708 Re: Costco [xwesx] by woodyww Nov 10, 2009 (12:12 pm)
Replying to: xwesx (Oct 27, 2009 11:49 am) I'm not familiar with the Goodyear UG Ice tires, but they sound terrific. I have new Dunlop Winter Sport M3's that I need to have mounted on my spare rims; I have high hopes for them, based on what I've read. But weather here in Mass. is 50-60 degrees F. this week (a rare gift), so I've been delaying...... Replies to this message: xwesx (Nov 10, 2009 12:57 pm)
#708 of 708 Re: Costco [woodyww] by xwesx Nov 10, 2009 (12:57 pm)
Replying to: woodyww (Nov 10, 2009 12:12 pm) Hahah; well, people here delay like that too, even when it is late October and they know winter conditions are inevitable! That is one reason I mount my winter tires on separate rims. Not only does it save money over the long term, but then I can put the tires on in a moment's notice whenever the conditions require it. If I were in a more temperate climate, that benefit would be even more pronounced because I would not need to run the winter tires during periods of warmer weather (which can often be multiple weeks and/or months). It only takes me about 20 minutes to do the deed, so I think it is well worth the effort. I considered the Dunlops, but decided to go with a more balanced snow/ice tire rather than a performance tire. Maybe if I had a WRX.... Please let us know how the Dunlop tires work out for you!