Recommend me some winter type tires...

[xBa380]

I say "type" because they do not have to be strict winter tires.

I am looking to replace my OEM tires (some bridgestone tires) on my 2008 Scion xB with something nicer for winter. I have aftermarket Konig wheels and Falken 912's for summer, so these are going to be strictly an October to March type of deal on my steelies.

I am looking to spend $400-450 is possible on them, and hope to at least get 3-4 winters out of them.

Three possible options I have been eyeballing are the Hankook Optimo H727's, Michelin Aplin PA3 and Blizzaks. Not sure what to do though.

Cleveland does not get THAT much snow, and most of the time the roads are clear. When they are bad though, they are bad. So I may be better off with a more "all-season" tire with excellent snow and ice abilities (such as the Optimo's according to CR).

What do you guys suggest? Should I go completely all-winter tires or get a better performing all season? I don't want horrible tire thread life, but want decent snow/ice grip as well for when I need it (which may be a handful of times per winter). But I do know you compromise one or the other. I would like a good balance with more weight on the traction side



Appreciate your input and help. Tire size is P205/55-16.

 

[Drew99GT]

Hankook Optimo 727s aren't snow tires, but they're one of the most highly rated all season tires for winter traction.

 

[xBa380]

Yes, which is why it was one of my options. It may be better off for me? Not sure, this is why I am asking for help.

 

[oilmaven]

I have a set of the Optimo H727's on my 2008 Impala. At 27,000 miles the treadwear is phenomenal. I can't say they'll last 100,000 miles as implied but they're definitely a long wearing tire. Winter traction is everything Consumer Reports said it was...plus they're whisper quiet (and I'm in extreme northern Michigan...winters here are pretty brutal and I drive for a living). I'd say they're THE best all season tire I've ever owned. A set is going on the Accord this fall (gotta finish wearing out the awful Goodyear Eagle LS on there now...at a little over 30,000 miles they're lumpy and loud). If you MUST have a dedicated winter tire, buy the General Altimax Artic (check out the reviews and pricing on TireRack). Best bang for the buck out there.

 

[The_Jeff]

+1 on the General Altimax Artic. Decent dry handling and cheap at about $80 a tire. Skip the studs of course.

 

[Scotty1981]

I am using these atm, General Altimax HPs and they are really good for the snow, they are a softer rubber so they don't get as hard in the cold weather giving better traction, on the downside they wear a bit faster becasue of this but I still like them.

 

[kkreit01]

Cooper CS4s are rated well in snow for a AS tire. Winterforce have always been a good bang-for-buck winter tire.

 

[oggb]

I'll add that my Continental ExtremeContact DWS (the all-season ExtremeContact) are AMAZING in the snow and are generally *very good* tires all-around.

Typically Continental, though. Soft sidewalls @ stock PSI, decent steering response @ 38-40ish PSI. VERY VERY high UTQG (540 I think?) and they're low rolling resistance (like that matters...).

They have excellent dry traction considering their wintertime performance. They're nowhere near a summer tire, but traction shouldn't matter much considering it's a Scion xB, not a Supra TT. Great in the rain, too.

I'm really surprised nobody else has mentioned these. If they come in the size you need I high recommend them. If they still make these when I need another new set I'll definitely be buying another.

Edit: Set of 4 ExtremeContact DWS for your car comes out to $384 + shipping from Tirerack.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Just had a set of Continental ExtremeContact DWS 235/45-17 installed on my '00 MB E430 last week, so far it has only 250-300 miles so that I don't have enough experiences to say either way. After the breaking in of 500-1000 miles, I will post my experience with DWS. According to most consumer surveys, it is the current leader in UHP all-season tire.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
+1 on the General Altimax Artic. Decent dry handling and cheap at about $80 a tire. Skip the studs of course.

+2

I put them on my 530i last winter and they've done extremely well in the white stuff. They were $75 each in my size.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Just had a set of Continental ExtremeContact DWS 235/45-17 installed on my '00 MB E430 last week, so far it has only 250-300 miles so that I don't have enough experiences to say either way. After the breaking in of 500-1000 miles, I will post my experience with DWS. According to most consumer surveys, it is the current leader in UHP all-season tire.


I am using the DWS as a winter capable tire in my size 215/45/17 for our Subaru Legacy turbo wagon. After 5000 miles the tires are decent but not sure all about the customer rave except for maybe price.

No winter experience and very curious as my prior tires(Nokian WR G2) were wonderful.

I can recommend the Nokian WR G2's as a great tire for your application year round. I believe one of the few year round all-seasons with a winter rating. Extremely quiet, great wear, excellent wet traction beyond the winter traction. We had 40k miles until my wife severely hit a pothole at 80 mph splitting the side wall and a bubble formed. I think they would have last till winter (another 7.5k miles) easily.

The downfall on Nokian's is price. They came out $170 more per set of 4 over DWS, I was unemployed and so I went cheaper. However I am guessing Nokian's may not be expensive on a Scion unless it has some larger wheels.

 

[XCELERATIONRULES]

Hankook winter I pike's

You may have to adjust the sizing if they don't come in your exact size,but fantastic tires for the money.
They last,and you can stud them if you like.

 

[charbaby]

Where I live, we get lots of snow in the winter time but the snow removal is great. Dedicated Winter Snows(DWS) for me aren't nessessary. I have only used All Season Tires(AST). But, I like good ones. I agree with using what others have recomeded...General Altimax HP/RT, Hankook Optimo H727, Cooper CS4. Im using Pirelli P4 and love em. I have introduced others(friends/family) to Kumho Solus KR-21 and they love them too! What ever you buy, buy good ones. Highly rated all season tires will do you fine in Cleveland. I'm sure the choice you make for your xB will be the right choice for you.

 

[xBa380]

I do not have to have a dedicated snow tire by any means... Just a good tire for Cleveland winters, which can be snowy but most of the time the roads are not terrible. This is why I think a dedicated snow-tire may not be best choice for me? Since I will be using the car all the time, regardless of temp/snowfall. I do not want to buy a tire and burn through it in one or two seasons. So a longer lasting tire is a bit more preferred.

As of now, the H727's look good as well as the General Altimax if I plan to go dedicated snow tire. Still looking into other options now though. Want to buy before the end of July so I can get Bing cashback

 

[MNgopher]

The Hankook Winter I-Pikes are a good tire for the money. I outfitted my '97 Explorer with 4 of these from Discount tire direct for under $250 last year, and dropped another $125 on four used explorer rims (there are benfits to driving one of the most common cars on the road - junkyards are loaded with these!) Excellent snow and ice performance, not terribly squirmy, and treadwear for one season so far was excellent. I'd gladly purchase another set. Tires were a recent build and not a previous season clearout either. Looked like it had been less than a month from manufacturing to my door. Not bad...

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Where I live, we get lots of snow in the winter time but the snow removal is great. Dedicated Winter Snows(DWS) for me aren't nessessary.


Continental ExtremeContact DWS is not Dedicated Winter Snows, it stands for D(ry) - W(et) - S(now).

 

[dhise]

If you're going through the trouble to get a second set of tires I think winter tires are a good bet anyways. I bought my first set of snow tires last fall and only really needed them for a couple of bad storms but they really made a difference and the ride/handling really didn't suffer all that much when the roads were clear. Running them from December through March or early April should get you quite a few seasons out of them.

 

[xBa380]

Well, since I have nicer summer ones my OEM wheels/rims turned into my winter set. I don't plan to swap back and forth all winter and all that.

I think the Hankook H727's are winning right now in my mind... We shall see though. Keep the comments coming!

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Where I live, we get lots of snow in the winter time but the snow removal is great. Dedicated Winter Snows(DWS) for me aren't nessessary.


Continental ExtremeContact DWS is not Dedicated Winter Snows, it stands for D(ry) - W(et) - S(now).


Who would have guessed!

Originally Posted By: xBa380
Well, since I have nicer summer ones my OEM wheels/rims turned into my winter set. I don't plan to swap back and forth all winter and all that.

I think the Hankook H727's are winning right now in my mind... We shall see though. Keep the comments coming!


Yeah, with me too! I had been thinking hard on the Kumho Solus KR-21 for my daughters car(and for good reason) but I've been seriously leaning toward the Hankook Optimo H727 now that their ratings are so good for not a whole lot more money in her size.

 

[xBa380]

And what I like, is how long they should last me. I bet per season, I may put 5-7K on them at most. Mixed with the long lasting thread design, they should last me a long time (while still getting decent snow/ice traction). The OEM tires are simply terrible, and even the ratings on tire-rack reflect that. I should be getting a MUCH improved tire all around, which is all I want.

So unless I find a better alternative, I think I will order these from tirerack/discount tire depending who is cheapest.