Canadian Tire winter tires

[skeeter080]

Hello,

does anyone know if CT's Goodyear Nordic tires are any good? Looking to buy winter tires for the wife's Elantra, and these are almost half the price of Michelin's X-Ice. I've seen decent reviews of Kumho winters but can't seem to find any places that carry them. Any other suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.

 

[Quest]

They are a bit noisier than X-Ice, but performance-wise it's not too bad due to rather soft rubber compound.

I actually like Toyo Observe (with walnut shells), Bridgestone Blizzark and Dunlop Gaspic better. X-Ice is ok but too costly IMHO (just like many other Michelins)

2c's worth

Q.

 

[Warlord]

I picked up a set of wintermark magnagrip ht's at walmart for my ranger and they were super cheap. They are made by kelly springfield who takes old goodyear designs and sells them for cheap. They have nice deep lugs and pretty good siping too. All 4 only cost me $320 mounted and blananced for the life of the tires.

 

[skeeter080]

Walnut shells, eh?
I got a set of Nordic IceTrac's from CT last year....noisy, but seem to be decent in the bad weather...especially compared to the all seasons. Any idea if these are pretty much the same thing, but with Goodyear name on them?

 

[Warlord]

No, they're much different than the icetracs. They look like they would be a great slush tire.

 

[old farmer]

Yup walnut shells. I have Toyo Open Country with the shells, and I really like them.

 

[Jim 5]

Anybody else have any impressions of these C/T Goodyear nordic tires? They're about the same price as the Walmart specials from the pricing I did today.

 

[Jim 5]

One other point, the Goodyear Nordic's can be studded at CT for $12 per tire. Anyone have any thoughts on this? With our changing weather in calgary, the most treacherous roads (and surprisingly frequent) are typically sheer ice with a thin dusting of snow on top, or sheer ice with rain on top. Seems like a good application for studs to me....

 

[rpn453]

Try the studs, Jim 5! My family has been using studded tires for years, and many of my friends now use them and will probably never use anything else in the winter.

 

[Quest]

You better check with your local city bylaws for running studded tires in the city/town. Not all towns and cities allow studded tires in wintertime, you know.

At least here in Vancouver, BeeCee, the law stated that one shall not run studded tires in the city regardless of weather, although I've seen some out-of-towners with studded tires during winter time though....

 

[Jim 5]

I'll check into the local rules, but I suspect it's OK in Calgary. I'll ask at Canadian Tire before I have them studded (I'll even get them to put it on the invoice), and if they turn out to be incorrect, they can buy me some unstudded ones.

 

[GMGuy]

If you have the option of studding, do it. At 12 bucks a tire, thats a steal.

Alex.

 

[rpn453]

Studded tires are legal in B.C. from October 1 to April 1. Most other provinces have similar schedules, but in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the territories studded tires are legal year-round. Ontario is the only province that doesn't allow studs. I was unaware of any cities banning studs, but I'm pretty sure Calgary isn't one of them.

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/popular-topics/driver_info/winter/Winter_Safety_Brochure.pdf

http://www.presidentire.com/en/technical/stud_periods.html

An interesting note from that brochure: it is illegal in British Columbia to use studded tires on the front tires only.

 

[skeeter080]

Well, decided to go with Brisgestone Blizzak's instead...a bit more pricey but I've heard really good things about them from reviews online and some people I know that have them.