Snow tires for the AWD Taurus

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: redhat
Originally Posted By: funkymonkey1111
They wear more quickly because they're soft and they work. What's your life worth?


About $3.50
In that case, just stick with your all-seasons for winter.

 

[redhat]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: redhat
Originally Posted By: funkymonkey1111
They wear more quickly because they're soft and they work. What's your life worth?


About $3.50
In that case, just stick with your all-seasons for winter.

I have never ran an all-season in winter.

 

[SavagePatch]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
what I have read about the X-ice is that they're more of the "highway" winter tire(IDK if I said that right) in regions where there is very good snow removal.

What I've heard and read is that the X-Ice xi3 is best-in class for dry, wet, and ice, but there are a couple of other tires that are better for deep snow and slush (e.g. Blizzak WS-80). HT edyvw for that, mainly.


That was our experience. Great tire but we realized that we needed better snow and slush performance so we sold them back towards some Falken Wildpeak AT3W's. This was on a Mazda CX-9, I don't think you'd want them on your Taurus.

 

[redhat]

Mazda looks pretty good with them in that pic.

 

[jjjxlr8]

Cooper Discoverer True North is ranked #1 in Consumer Reports most recent testing. Its also a lot cheaper than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 which ranked 5th in their most recent testing.

 

[krzyss]

CR tester R3s?

I must have missed it.

Krzyś

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Originally Posted By: jjjxlr8
Cooper Discoverer True North is ranked #1 in Consumer Reports most recent testing. Its also a lot cheaper than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 which ranked 5th in their most recent testing.



Is the True North actually out yet?

And also, while you're here, will Cooper be releasing a performance witner tire soon? (something like the Weathermaster Snow Cooper used to offer, and the ContiWinterWContact TS8-series, Sottozero, Pilot Alpin, etc)

 

[johnnydc]

I have the Winter Force tires. They are some what loud on dry pavement. They also wear very well, and they get great traction in the snow and slush and I don't have to take a second mortgage out to purchase them. I run them on my vehicles in my sig.

 

[sloinker]

Vitour Polar Bears. Cheap and chinese. Worked well on daughters car. I prefer the Altimax Arctics and have had good luck with them. I used to use the x-ice from Michelin but only got two good seasons out of them, so Kind of a budget buster.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-New-Vitour-Polar-Bear-S-P215-70r15-Tires-70r-15-2157015/263395912131?epid=2245523676&hash=item3d539ea9c3:g:RhwAAOSwNWxaOW8x

 

[benjy]

i used mich snows years ago in my 2001 jetta decent wear + quiet with good rain + snow traction USE FOUR!! best is to use dedicated rims + mount + balance is $$ also narrower is better so downsizing with a taller sidewall keeping the same outside diameter is best. if you went 16" rims tyres are cheaper also, be sure brake clearances are ok. discount tire has alloys for about a buck ea, buy tyres there + they are mounted, balanced + shipped free!!! i always shop around but discount tire is hard to beat especially on their package deals!! the 2001 base jetta used 15, 16, + 17" rims + tyres on it varying the tyre size + profile!!! all similar diameter.

 

[Brigadier]

Originally Posted By: redhat
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: redhat
Originally Posted By: funkymonkey1111
They wear more quickly because they're soft and they work. What's your life worth?


About $3.50
In that case, just stick with your all-seasons for winter.

I have never ran an all-season in winter.


I haven't seen anyone recommending all-season tires. Do you?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Originally Posted By: Brigadier
I haven't seen anyone recommending all-season tires. Do you?


You did

Although these tires do have more winter capability than regular all-season tires, they WILL NOT be as good as a standard winter-only winter tire. The "all weather" tires are mainly for people who don't get enough snow to justify a second set of tires, and for people that live somewhere where winter tires are legally required in the winter and they're too poor or too cheap to buy two sets of tires or otherwise need to get by on one set of tires year-round.

Even though the 3-peak sign makes them legally a winter tire to comply with the law, they are still not as good as having regular winter tires. The jurisdictions that require them usually get enough snow to justify a second set of tires.

The OP does not fall under these circumstances. Buffalo gets a LOT of snow! And the east coast snow is different than what they get in the Rockies!

Originally Posted By: Brigadier
Look at the new All Weather types of tires. Especially for an AWD vehicle. No need for short life snow tires IMO.

Goodyear WeatherReady
Nokian WRG3 or WRG4
Toyo Celsius
Vredestein Quatrac5

 

[Brigadier]

No, I didn't. Read my post very, very carefully. I have experience with this type of tire, and with running regular all-season tires on an AWD vehicle in the snow. Heck, growing up in upstate New York we never had snow tires and we got around without any problems.


Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted By: Brigadier
I haven't seen anyone recommending all-season tires. Do you?


You did

Although these tires do have more winter capability than regular all-season tires, they WILL NOT be as good as a standard winter-only winter tire. The "all weather" tires are mainly for people who don't get enough snow to justify a second set of tires, and for people that live somewhere where winter tires are legally required in the winter and they're too poor or too cheap to buy two sets of tires or otherwise need to get by on one set of tires year-round.

Even though the 3-peak sign makes them legally a winter tire to comply with the law, they are still not as good as having regular winter tires. The jurisdictions that require them usually get enough snow to justify a second set of tires.

The OP does not fall under these circumstances. Buffalo gets a LOT of snow! And the east coast snow is different than what they get in the Rockies!

Originally Posted By: Brigadier
Look at the new All Weather types of tires. Especially for an AWD vehicle. No need for short life snow tires IMO.

Goodyear WeatherReady
Nokian WRG3 or WRG4
Toyo Celsius
Vredestein Quatrac5

 

[Brigadier]

And you should try driving in western WA snow/ice.

I don't know what Rockies snow has to do with this post.

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted By: Brigadier
I haven't seen anyone recommending all-season tires. Do you?


You did

Although these tires do have more winter capability than regular all-season tires, they WILL NOT be as good as a standard winter-only winter tire. The "all weather" tires are mainly for people who don't get enough snow to justify a second set of tires, and for people that live somewhere where winter tires are legally required in the winter and they're too poor or too cheap to buy two sets of tires or otherwise need to get by on one set of tires year-round.

Even though the 3-peak sign makes them legally a winter tire to comply with the law, they are still not as good as having regular winter tires. The jurisdictions that require them usually get enough snow to justify a second set of tires.

The OP does not fall under these circumstances. Buffalo gets a LOT of snow! And the east coast snow is different than what they get in the Rockies!

Originally Posted By: Brigadier
Look at the new All Weather types of tires. Especially for an AWD vehicle. No need for short life snow tires IMO.

Goodyear WeatherReady
Nokian WRG3 or WRG4
Toyo Celsius
Vredestein Quatrac5



CR tested the WR G3 and Toyo Celcius and ranked them above many regular winter tires. Below the class leaders of course (such that of Michelin Xice Xi3, Nokian Hakka R2, and Bridgestone Blizzaks).

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Originally Posted By: UG_Passat

CR tested the WR G3 and Toyo Celcius and ranked them above many regular winter tires. Below the class leaders of course (such that of Michelin Xice Xi3, Nokian Hakka R2, and Bridgestone Blizzaks).


But still, somebody buying a separate set of winter tires just to use in the winter is still better off buying the Hakka R2 or R3 than a WRG3/4

 

[Brigadier]

Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted By: UG_Passat

CR tested the WR G3 and Toyo Celcius and ranked them above many regular winter tires. Below the class leaders of course (such that of Michelin Xice Xi3, Nokian Hakka R2, and Bridgestone Blizzaks).


But still, somebody buying a separate set of winter tires just to use in the winter is still better off buying the Hakka R2 or R3 than a WRG3/4




Agreed. But why do that with the new all-weather tires and their snow capabilities, especially when mounted on an AWD vehicle like his Taurus?

Last Christmas we got about 6-8" of snow. I was driving around with my 3PMS rated 'all-terrain' tires in my Colorado, in 2WD and didn't need 4WD.

 

[funkymonkey1111]

Originally Posted By: Brigadier
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted By: UG_Passat

CR tested the WR G3 and Toyo Celcius and ranked them above many regular winter tires. Below the class leaders of course (such that of Michelin Xice Xi3, Nokian Hakka R2, and Bridgestone Blizzaks).


But still, somebody buying a separate set of winter tires just to use in the winter is still better off buying the Hakka R2 or R3 than a WRG3/4




Agreed. But why do that with the new all-weather tires and their snow capabilities, especially when mounted on an AWD vehicle like his Taurus?

Last Christmas we got about 6-8" of snow. I was driving around with my 3PMS rated 'all-terrain' tires in my Colorado, in 2WD and didn't need 4WD.



congrats, man! It's good to know the entire snow tire market segment is a joke because you were able to drive around on Christmas in 2wd!

 

[UG_Passat]

Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted By: UG_Passat

CR tested the WR G3 and Toyo Celcius and ranked them above many regular winter tires. Below the class leaders of course (such that of Michelin Xice Xi3, Nokian Hakka R2, and Bridgestone Blizzaks).


But still, somebody buying a separate set of winter tires just to use in the winter is still better off buying the Hakka R2 or R3 than a WRG3/4




When the road is clear and you're not suffering from lake effect snow, the R2/r3 isnt better than the WR.

Or when its above freezing and you're getting more rain than snow or slush, the r2/r3 will more susceptible to hydroplaning than the WR

I have owned the WR G3, I have gotten stuck once, due to the lack of ground clearance of my car. It got me everywhere my old Hakka RSI got me, including being quite reliable for my ski trips on New England.

Like I said earlier, buying tires means choice of compromises. There is no one winter that has every good characteristic.

 

[Smokescreen]

Often the "all weather tire" is 'sufficient for a snow if installed just before the snow hits but then after winter, their abilities decline to the point were they are just an all season and usually won't be up to the task for next winter. In effect you have paid for a premium all season tire with diminishing abilities.

If you want you winter driving capability to be most effective (regardless of how many wheels are being powered), you pick the corresponding type of winter tire (ie: more deeps snow vs more ice vs more hard pack snow...different winter tires excel at at different winter weather surface types)

Anything less than a winter tire in winter is a compromise, just like anything else that a summer tire is a compromise in the summer. An all season tire provides mediocre performance in all weather/seasonal conditions.