JHZR2
Staff member
Background: Bought a 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid. Two of the cars I used to drive had snow tires, and while I try to avoid weather and being out when I can, sometimes you just get caught, and Im a believer.
I ran GY Eagle Ultra Grip on my saab, I forget what I have on my BMW... Dunlop something. FWIW, the GY Eagle Ultra Grip is rated high on TR, and the Saab was unstoppable.
So, Im interested in buying snow tires. The HAH doesnt use a TPMS transceiver, instead, it uses the relative rotating speed based upon pressures. So my plan is to just get a set of identical wheels or some other equivalent 16 or 17" OEM wheel.
For now, lets assume I stay with the OE size. So 225/50R-17. It is V-rated as OE.
I checked discount tire and tread depot, and they didnt seem to have much good. I then checked tire rack and Costco. Better.
Here is the work-up of what Tire Rack offers:
That was in my size, available. A full workup of all tires of all types is listed here:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=W&VT=C
Costo offers the X-ice and the Blizzak LM-32. They also offer the WS80 Blizzak.
So that's my playing field... The tires listed on the image above plus WS80.
One factor going in is that Costco is a slightly better deal. But if they dont have the best tire, then so be it.
So, tests...
Here Tire Rack tests the Pirelli Sottozero and Dunlop Sport 4D:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=181
Here the Tire Rack tests WS80, Winter Maxx, X-ice, and Yoko Ice Guard. So all tires that are on the list.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=193
The thing that first strikes me is that the first review shows SUBSTANTIALLY reduced 50-0 braking distances. For example, the Sottozero is 106.9 ft while the WS80 is 128 ft!!!! Oddly, the tires in the second link which are longer from 50-0 in high 30's wet are shorter 12-0 on ice, which may be where it matters more...
My first gut is that for whats available, the best options are the Pirelli Sottozero ($180), Dunlop 4D ($167), or the WS80 ($157 at costco, so that means shipped). The wild card is the LM-32, which is $170 each but there isnt a good set of reviews...
So I think the WS80 may be the best option, when dry handling, noise, cost, etc are considered. Only thing Ive observed is an issue is that while weight rating is right at 94, the snows are H rated while OE is V, FWIW.
So, thoughts? Open to other options too...
I ran GY Eagle Ultra Grip on my saab, I forget what I have on my BMW... Dunlop something. FWIW, the GY Eagle Ultra Grip is rated high on TR, and the Saab was unstoppable.
So, Im interested in buying snow tires. The HAH doesnt use a TPMS transceiver, instead, it uses the relative rotating speed based upon pressures. So my plan is to just get a set of identical wheels or some other equivalent 16 or 17" OEM wheel.
For now, lets assume I stay with the OE size. So 225/50R-17. It is V-rated as OE.
I checked discount tire and tread depot, and they didnt seem to have much good. I then checked tire rack and Costco. Better.
Here is the work-up of what Tire Rack offers:
That was in my size, available. A full workup of all tires of all types is listed here:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=W&VT=C
Costo offers the X-ice and the Blizzak LM-32. They also offer the WS80 Blizzak.
So that's my playing field... The tires listed on the image above plus WS80.
One factor going in is that Costco is a slightly better deal. But if they dont have the best tire, then so be it.
So, tests...
Here Tire Rack tests the Pirelli Sottozero and Dunlop Sport 4D:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=181
Here the Tire Rack tests WS80, Winter Maxx, X-ice, and Yoko Ice Guard. So all tires that are on the list.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=193
The thing that first strikes me is that the first review shows SUBSTANTIALLY reduced 50-0 braking distances. For example, the Sottozero is 106.9 ft while the WS80 is 128 ft!!!! Oddly, the tires in the second link which are longer from 50-0 in high 30's wet are shorter 12-0 on ice, which may be where it matters more...
My first gut is that for whats available, the best options are the Pirelli Sottozero ($180), Dunlop 4D ($167), or the WS80 ($157 at costco, so that means shipped). The wild card is the LM-32, which is $170 each but there isnt a good set of reviews...
So I think the WS80 may be the best option, when dry handling, noise, cost, etc are considered. Only thing Ive observed is an issue is that while weight rating is right at 94, the snows are H rated while OE is V, FWIW.
So, thoughts? Open to other options too...