Snow Tire Recommendations?

CivicSpoon · #1 11-12-2005, 01:35 AM

I have a few questions because I need some snow tires bad. CNY gets hit with around 200 inches of snow every year (this is average, but this year looks bad). I drive a '94 CX and it only weighs 2044lbs (wind blows me around the road like crazy), and 13" stock rims. Last year I just got by with regular all season tires, but had quite a few close calls (I also didn't drive every day). I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for some fairly inexpensive tires (preferably $50/per or less), that will be good on snow and ice? It seems that there aren't many tires in the 13' size I need. Also I'm wondering how much rear winter tires will benefit me? I've never had rear ones on in the winter in either of my cars, so I don't know. Finally, does putting added weight in the back of the car really help it stay on the road better? I have some subs I could put in there to add some weight to the back, but I'm wondering if it's even worth it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Schister66 · #2 11-12-2005, 01:43 AM

i have Blizzaks, i don't know what they cost because i got them w/ my car and i don't know how they handle in snow first hand because i put them on 2 weeks ago and we haven't had snow yet....i've heard good things tho

CivicSpoon · #3 11-12-2005, 02:07 PM

I was actually looking at them on tirerack.com and they have great reviews, but they're $62 a piece for the size I need. I'll definently check them out more.

Schister66 · #4 11-12-2005, 02:22 PM

As soon as it snows here, which i hope isn't anytime soon, i can give you some reviews on the Blizzaks. I got them given to me when i bought my Integra. The guy that owned it before me swore by them and just wore his last pair out so he bought another set and this winter they're getting their first use.

So far i can tell you they aren't the greatest on dry pavement, they definately aren't a great performance tire....

CivicSpoon · #5 11-12-2005, 02:50 PM

Yeah, everywhere I read about them says that they wear down fairly quickly and are kind of crappy (and noisy) on dry roads. Where I am it snows non-stop from early january to late february, so I'm not worried about dry road driving too much. And I'm not worried about tread wear too much either, because hopefully they'll last a few seasons; long enough for me to move south away from these horrible winters.

CivicSiRacer · #6 11-12-2005, 07:06 PM

I have Nokian Hakkapelitta 2s on my 00 Civic Si. They are the world's best snow tire, which is why I got them. The company is in Scandanavia and testing is done on a snow/ice covered track.

http://www.nokiantires.com/newsite/homeF.cfm

I ran a couple of snow autocrosses with them and they worked great! When I get some more money I might get the newer RSIs. I also heard the The Bridgestone Revos are supposed to be good: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Blizzak+REVO+1

I get a quarterly Tire Rack magazine that they did some testing with comparing the Blizzaks to the Revos and other all seasons.

If you live in an area that gets snow, snow tires are a great investment. Just make sure you take them off when you aren't expecting snow because they are manufactured to be soft and pliable so they stay flexible when it's cold out. So that means they willl wear quicker when it's not on snow. My Nokian 2s lasted well over 2 years and still have about 6mm of tread which is the minimum depth for snow tires. I thought about doing some ecostuds on the 2s for really heavy stuff.

GScivic7 · #7 11-17-2005, 05:52 PM

The Nokians mentioned above and the Blizzaks are the best non studded tires. I have a set of steelies with studded tires on them, they do wonders on ice, which is usually all we get here.

Ace$nyper · #8 11-18-2005, 08:56 PM

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...93&postcount=8

we have a tire review thread I've already covered blizzaks if you'd like info well worth the money.

CivicSpoon · #9 11-22-2005, 02:25 PM

I forgot about that tire review thread. I found out my friend has the Blizzaks on his 4dr when he was driving around in the snow and ice the other night. What a huge difference they made. We were on a back road and he tried to make the car spin out a little, and couldn't with these tires. But his roommate (another friend of mine) said he has some old snow tires off his sister's old jetta, studded Dunlops, and since he has a new car he will give them to me for free. Hopefully I can stop by there and pick them up tomorrow, as we're due for a long snow storm from Thurs to Sunday (skipping a few days and then continuing all next week). If it doesn't pan out with the dunlops, I'll definently check out the Blizzaks. Thanks for the help everyone.

knorwj · #10 11-22-2005, 04:29 PM

blizzaks are crap as are most non studded snow tires, if you are spending the dough on winter-only tires get them studded. I run a great tire on all my fleet vehicles at work, its a unidirectional studded snow tire made by I believe BF, I can't remember the specific name but i'll check our tire rack tommorrow and let you know. Actually the name might be a BF Goodrich Winterforce? anyway I'll check it out for you.

I have had no problems whatsoever with these tires and have found them to have superior grip/traction/tire wear to any other winter tire our garage has installed on our fleet.

CivicSiRacer · #11 11-22-2005, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knorwj

blizzaks are crap as are most non studded snow tires, if you are spending the dough on winter-only tires get them studded. I run a great tire on all my fleet vehicles at work, its a unidirectional studded snow tire made by I believe BF, I can't remember the specific name but i'll check our tire rack tommorrow and let you know. Actually the name might be a BF Goodrich Winterforce? anyway I'll check it out for you.

I have had no problems whatsoever with these tires and have found them to have superior grip/traction/tire wear to any other winter tire our garage has installed on our fleet.

Well in some states it's illegal to drive on non-snow covered roads with studded tires. Plus they are loud as hell when there's dry pavement out.

knorwj · #12 11-23-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CivicSiRacer

Well in some states it's illegal to drive on non-snow covered roads with studded tires. Plus they are loud as hell when there's dry pavement out.

honestly they really aren't that loud, and not being able to drive on non snow covered roads doesn't even make sense, what states have that law? usually they aren't allowed on before a date in the fall and they are required to be off by a date in the spring. Chains however are usually not allowed on non snow covered roads which may be what you are thinking of.

I mean unless they are completely illegal in certain states I don't see how they say they are illegal today but not tommorow. Its not like tires are something you can just whip on and off depending on the weather. They can't expect you to swap tires every time it snows? And what if your road is covered and so you decide to drive with the studs only to find yourself later in the day on a non snow covered road? I mean come on thats a ridiculous law if you ask me... leave for work in the morning in a snow storm and later on you see the sun coming out " uh-oh better get home before the roads clear up so I don't get a ticket with my studs on"!

besides he lives in the same state as me where they are legal from oct till april I think so it doesn't really matter.

By the way civicspoon those tires are made by firestone and they are called Winterforce. They are as I said by far the best snow tire I've run up here, and they are decent even without the studs. I usually run them without studs on our plow trucks and our service vans, and with studs on our fleet vehicles and on my personal vehicles. Unfortunately it looks like we don't have them under state contract anymore

, So i'll have to find something else for our work vehicles, But i'm definitely sticking to them for the personal vehicles.

CivicSpoon · #13 12-16-2005, 04:36 PM

I know I'm bringing back a month old thread, but at least it was on the first page still.
But I ended up getting some studded snow tires from a friend of mine, for free. They are Dunlops, think they are called TracMaster or something like that. And I certainly gave them a real test last night. There was an inch of ice and about half a foot of snow on the roads last night (while it was still sleeting). Only problems I had were when I took a corner, the rear tires would slide a little bit, but that could be because of the way I had my old all season tires stacked in the back of my hatch (throwing the car off balance). Other than that, they were a night and day difference from my all seasons. I even passed a few SUV's and semi's on the highway (I was only going 45mph, so they were slow anyways).

alfonso2501 · #14 12-21-2005, 12:34 PM

Thanks for the write up spoon!

JakeDrummer · #15 12-21-2005, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfonso2501

Thanks for the write up spoon!

I put on walmart's "snowtracker" snow tire on my caravan about 2 months ago. They're a new hybrid 50,000 mile all season snow tire that can be studded. I was a doubter considering they came from walmart, but I thought I would try them since they we're pretty reasonablely priced. They work unbelievable, I've driven in about 8" of snow with them, hardpacked, ice, and slush with no problems, the van acctully handles as well as (if not better) the old goodyears handled in the rain during the summer. On dry pavement they are alittle noisy, but still I would buy them again.

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