Looking for some new winter tires to replace the OEM tires in 195/55/15. Note that I'm looking for winter tires that will work in the cold and snow. My local tire guys suggested Nokian Hakkapeliitta Qs. Anyone run these before? Tire longgevity is an issue for my winter tires, as I'll probably put around 10K miles on them each season. Any suggestions would be great.


[Modified by Shmeek, 1:09 PM 11/23/2001]

 

I'll be using Michelin Arctic Alpins (195/60) with 14" black steelies..... pics coming soon. Good traction for the money and they are not too soft in the dry.

Oh, yeah, I put 8k miles on my Michelin fronts last year (ran my 712's in the rear... bad, bad idea) and bought 2 more new ones a month ago and there is little difference in wear from last years and the new ones. $78 for 195/55/15 at TireRack.

BTW, Josh from the ITR forum (and from Brookfield) has those Hakkiler325sdf tires.


[Modified by MmmVTEC, 10:20 PM 11/23/2001]

 

I would just go to your local tire store and buy something cheap. The crappy tire-screeching performance they provide in the dry will do wonders for fine-tunung your lines through corners, seriously. I got some tire called powder kings or power kings or something like that. They are good in inclement weather and I paid like $63 for them installed and warrantied and everything, free service for the manufacturers rated mileage and I think it even included replacement if damadged by a road hazard.

 

blizzaks or the artic alpins

 

All the Tire Rack feedback suggests the Blizzak MS-01's are the best pure snow tire out there. However, the Blizzak LM-22's come in second in pure snow, but are WAaaayy better in dry, wet, hydroplaning-resistance, handling, etc., etc. My LM-22's will be here next week!

 

The problem with the the Blizaks is that they don't last very long (which is why they work so damn good). Unfortunately, Tire Rack's surveys and recommendations don't include the Nokian Haakapaliita Qs. From my research after posting the initial question, the Hakka's kick *** in all categories over the Blizaks except in ultimate traction when new. However, a season's worth of driving on the Blizaks reduced it to less than the Haakas. I read reports of the Haakas getting 45,000 miles, 5 seasons, and my own tire guy saying they had someone who they just mounted the same Haakas for the 7th season in a row. Now that's longevity from a snow tire. I also know that anyone serious about ice racing runs one of the Haaka models, not that I'm serious about it, but I might try it this year. I'm fairly sold on them pending a call to a good friend of mine who's an ice racer.

Aaron, is Josh's name on this board "Josh?" I think I caught his web site the other day when searching about these tires.


[Modified by Shmeek, 8:53 PM 11/24/2001]

 

His H-T name is 'itrsport.com' and that is his website address too. I think he got his from Big Bear in Oconomowoc.

 

Anyone out there live in the Cleveland area? I am considering winter tires, but the difficulty with the NE Ohio climate is that snow is not all that common. We will get some, but the total number of days which roads are snow-covered is low.

Bottom line is, I need a tire with good wet/snow traction but can stand up to some serious miles on dry pavement.

 

did you look into the Kumho Rally tire?
it is on tirerack.com but its a competition tire actually, it may not be as low profile (hehe funny) as you require/requested, but it seems to be a great winter tire for the ice and slushy mushy stuff.

 

allenp,

Tire Rack has many high-perf all-seasons. A friend had Dunlop SP5000s and those worked well all year.