Can't decice which winter tire to get :(

[warrior]

I've narrowed my choices down to two tires. Both are Hankook but I can't find any reviews on the 2nd tire. It seems as if it just got released this year.. however, I did find one review which was really negative but I'd take that with a grain of salt.

Hankook Ice Bear W300 - http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/t ... asp?pid=82 (http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/tire_detail.asp?pid=82)

http://www.hankooktireusa.com/uploadfile/product/w300_tire_left.gif

I've heard mixed reviews on this one, it's either good or bad. I'm getting this for $530 CAD, installed/balanced after taxes

Hankook Winter iPike W409 - http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/t ... asp?pid=84 (http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/tire_detail.asp?pid=84)

http://www.hankooktireusa.com/uploadfile/product/w409_tire_left.gif

I'm a big fan of directional tread patterns, but with no reviews, I'm kind of hesitate. I'm getting this one for $500 CAD, installed/balanced after taxes.

-----
Review: Recently put these tires on the car, they are very very very noisey. I have driven many trucks and such, but these tires are very noise. Wet weather handling is very scary. Very easy to lock up tires and set off ABS, stopping distance is more then 3x greater then with good allseasons on wet roads, same thing with cornering. The tire makes you feel like you are driving on ice when the roads are simpley wet or dry. Good on ice and snow, but not worth it due to the HORRIBLE saftey of these tires on anything but pure ice and snow. I will write another review in a few months more into the winter. But for now these tires are SCARY, would not even consider again!!!!!
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Feedback on either would be great!

[Huffer]

I have Icebears - a friend bought a set new for his 02 WRX wagon. He was doing 75miles one way to work on them in Toledo during winter.

Not really a big problem, but if you want THE BEST winter tires, you should consider Nokian WR or similar.

Seriously.

[Plays_with_Toys]

Studded tires can't compare to tires that are infused, such as blizzaks and some other tires. If I remember right blizzaks have microscopic bubbles in them that as the tire wears, you get tons of little rubber spikes/pits to really grab in snow. But because of this, they also wear faster. Other brands infuse walnuts into the tires to add bite.

I have studded hankooks, and they work decently. They aren't either of the ones you posted. The studded tires will add alot more road noise as you clang along the road. I guess I didn't notice much of a difference between the hankook winters and my BFG Potenza's in the snow. :-? I don't know if this helped you any.

[warrior]

Our winters aren't that crazy, the streets get plowed fairly quickly and they salt them as well.. it'll be mostly be slush that I need to worry about and I've decied on the W300. A lot of people on Nasioc are complaing about the W409's and how much they suck in wet/dry traction.

Nonetheless, these will be way better than the Winter King's I had last year on a FWD car!

[shazapple]

I have a set of Pacemark Snowtrakkers (not exacty a brand name) and they are super duber awesome in the snow. Theyre studded as well so that helps on the ice, but not much anywhere else.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Topic moved.

I have Michelin XIce...they're amazing.

[AussieDan]

Nokian RSi FTW! I love mine and after 1 winter they're showing barely any wear. They'll probably be going back on in a couple of weeks...I doubt the Hankook Z212s will take very kindly to snow ;)

[blackgtbeauty]

Walnuts? Wha?

[96legwag]

Yes, walnuts - in case you go off the road in a desolate area and can't be found for days - you can eat the tires and survive until help arrives...

[JPaul99GT]

Yes, walnuts - in case you go off the road in a desolate area and can't be found for days - you can eat the tires and survive until help arrives...

^^^ :grin:

[ivwarrior]

I hope your winters aren't bad, because that 300 doesn't look like it'd be worth a shit in snow.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yeah, the tread isn't very agressive.

Here's what my Xice tires are like:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2005/12/DSCF1543-1.jpg

[warrior]

I talked to my brothers friend who owns a tire shop and says the W300 are crap. He agreed to give me his cost price and for the same price as the W300, he's going to get me the Kumho KW17 which was my original tire choice.

Great reviews and sexy tread!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/10/kumho_kw17_large-2.jpg

Once it snows, I'll let everyone know how they are :D


I hope your winters aren't bad, because that 300 doesn't look like it'd be worth a shit in snow.

Our winters aren't too bad, but we get a lot of everything. It will snow a great deal, then the plows come out, lots of salt, slush, ice.. a lot of the reviews I read were from people in the Toronto, ON area so they know what the winters are like.. I'm so excited i can't wait!

[Jonathan]

http://www.nokianrsi.com/EN/index.html

These are a much better option for variable weather long lasting winter tyres.

[warrior]

http://www.nokianrsi.com/EN/index.html

These are a much better option for variable weather long lasting winter tyres.

and also $900 :lol:

[wcw2]

A bit late, but I just got the iPike 409s this fall. I've never driven with a dedicated winter tire so I can't compare it to much, but it's tolerable. It's stable at highway speeds, although it doesn't hold a straight track as tightly as I'd like. There's also some definite road noise that starts around 60 and goes away completely at 66-67mph. Overall, not a very loud tire and plenty grippy. I got it because it's supposed to be a decent tire in the rain, which is where a lot of traditional snow tires get squirrely. It comes pre-siped.

No snow here yet, but it'll sure beat the bare all seasons I had on last winter :roll:

[ten80]

I also have Hankook 409's and they aren't that bad on pavement! I find them much quieter than my previous studded 404's and if you run them at 38f/36r psi, they actually handle just fine. Tons of guys run the W300's on their WRX/STi's out here in Colorado and no one has called them "crappy tires," that I know of. You can't expect an ultra-high performance snow tire to be awesome on snow/ice anyways. Nokian WR's are far from the best snow tires, in fact, they are "snow-capable all-season tires," not "snow tires."

Warrior, I'm curious if you've ever driven on snow tires before!? No offence intended by the question, I'm just curious if you have anything to compare the 409's to.

The Hankook 409's were rated 7/10 by a scandinavian test that I read recently but can't find right now.

let it snow!

[warrior]

Ten80,

Yea I have.. but not in an AWD. I had an Eagle Talon 94' and it was FWD. For two winters I had Winterkings which were made by Michelin without the name branded on them and then later I tried WinterForce which are highly recommended as an economy, cheap, snow tire (as per tirerack.com)

It was ok, but since this winter is my first winter in an AWD, I opted to get something more performance orientated and higher end. Maybe in a few seasons I'll get the Nokian RSI!

The Kumho KW17's are sitting in my garage waiting for snow.. it's hot here in Ontario.. what the hell, hurry up and snow! :evil:

[ten80]

warrior,

I didn't notice that the review you posted wasn't yours, so my comments above don't really mean much (sorry bout that!). I did a little searching on nabisco and most people are quoting that single poor review of the W409's when they refer to poor dry and wet performance :roll:

anyways, the tires you bought look like they will drive great on dry and be decent on snow. Should also be pretty quiet!

After 260 miles to and back from the ski resort this weekend on dry, wet, slushy, icy, and snow-packed roads (typical colorado!), I can say that the W409's aren't the worst snow tires ever. In fact, I found them rather predictable and sure-footed on snow and ice. I'll put them through some serious tests going over 10000ft passes to steamboat this winter!

[GrassyKnoll]

I'll put them through some serious tests going over 10000ft passes to steamboat this winter!

I am insanely jealous. I love skiing but the Northeast sucks for it :cry:

[warrior]

ten80,

Sweet! I was hesitant to get the W409 because there wasn't too many reviews on it. The tread pattern looks a lot like the Pirelli Winter Carving and I love the aggresive look!

I'll keep you guys posted on my review for the KW17 (once it snows)

[Sarra]

IME, rain tires work better in slush than snow tires. Indeed, brand new rain tires will get good grip in snow, but not on ice.

I took my Subie out in deep snow with brand new rain tires on it, and I got better grip than dedicated winter tires. :)

[ten80]

I disagree. Rain tires do not have enough space between knobs to prevent packing and are made of a compound ideal for above freezing temperatures. they also do not have knobs with trailing edges designed to enhance braking in snow. I can see how they might be better than an all-season, since they tend to have lots of siping, but they still lack the design features necessary in a good snow tire.

[Sarra]

The rain tires I have used so far have had really big spaces in the tread, that's probably why I got good snow performance out of them. They aren't the best, but they worked better for me in deep snow, slush, rain, and on dry than typical snow tires.

I'd still perfer a real snow tire for ice and snow, though.

[ten80]

I see your perspective. It really does depend on the tread pattern. There are some rain tires that would kill you on ice, and there are certainly some snow tires that would do the same in rain.

[Wiscon_Mark]

On ice, I would think that the rubber compound used would have more to do with it.

[ten80]

yeah, ice traction comes down to soft rubber, siping, and contact surface. Deep snow requires tall and "saw edged" lugs, lug void space, and edge bite, generated by a narrow profile and the former two factors. Some sort of balance between the ice and snow features will make or break a good snow tire. Take a look at rally snow tires- they take advantage of 2cm studs combined with a super aggressive pattern and tiny width:

http://www.asncanada.com/2005%20Sherbrooke%20RallySport/Andros-Studs.jpg

That said, I just picked up a barely used and dirt cheap set of Michelin x-ice for the LGT. I can't wait to compare them to the hankooks!

[Wiscon_Mark]

I love my x-ice tires. Have 20k on them now.

[LunchBox04V]

I agree with the Ice-X's. They work great on my '93 SC2. However, I like my Yokohama Ice Guard better. I live in Traverse City, Michigan (as to my location, look at the back of your left hand, between the pinky and ring finger). We get TONS of lake effect snow. I had the Yoko's on my '93 Infiniti G20 (P10), my '93 Legacy Sedan L (BC), and now on my '99 Legacy Wagon L (BK43). I love them! Choose what works best for your area.

[Huffer]

I just put on my Hankook W300s yesterday. They're predicting heavy snow tonight. Bring it! :twisted:

[gwoiler]

I use Yokohama Ice Guards too. They seem to be the best snow tires I have found. I am in the Pacific Northwest where the weather can be all sorts of sloppy mush. Allthough I just bought my daughter a 1996 Outback on ebay last week, the Ice Guards are on my FWD Wolvo 850 wagon. Daughter got stuck in Outback this morning on icy back road! Girls.