Winter Tires.

are those the ones that they love to say we have nuts for?
the ones with the walnut shells

 

I have the x ice on my jetta, really love them. Before I had them I had the nokians and anther time had bridgestones (which I bought used already had a season on them)

Truthfully the bridges were close, but I found the x ice to be the best so far. I'd buy them again. My parents have them on their forester as well, no problems with them there.

too bad where I live we cant run studded tires.
funny I once asked why not and I was told because we have plows...funny because every winter my street and neighborhood isn't plowed for at least a week after we get a good snowfall.

 

Anyone in snow country just run tires like the KO2 year round or do you run dedicated winters and summers? I cant seem to decide which I want to do. I will have a lot of commuting to do this winter. I am coming from an A4 where I did summers and winters.

 

Ok so I will start by saying I'm not the best with snow tires. But I do know the goodyear wrangler duratracs are snow rated also and they do run great in the snow.

 

I was watching a review on some guys talking about running All terrains in snow.
they may be similar with deep treads but rubber composite is different.
I think its still better to run snows. snows aren't usually just about deeper tread its a different rubber so it stays soft even in the cold.

If you're already used to running snows probably just stick with it. I was considering this as well but I'm just going with snows. I'll talk the dealer into throwing it in with the truck when I get it lol.

 

are they snow rated or all season rated?
all season is really 3 season
snows are only good for winter. they do not harden under the cold temps

 

They are all tirain with the snow stamp on them.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaximkaQxo
heres a bmw vs a subaru

 

Don't run All season tires. When the first snow flies here in Ontario. The annual summer tire club all meet together in the ditch, hahaha.

Also just an fyi to everyone, in Quebec where the OP is from, snow tires are required by law.

There are new tires made by cooper (AT/W) and BF K02 which have the mountain and snow flake sysmbol but are all seasons. The consensus on them though is that they still can touch a dedicated winter tire.

Check out pmc tire, who is in Quebec. They had good deals, just bought a set of firestone winterforce tires. Everyone here in Ontario wanted 150-170$, managed to get them for 130$.

Also one fact I got told this year, there is no such thing as a snow and ice tire. It is either an snow tire or an ice tire. So look at the driving that you'll do and determine what tire you need.

And 4WD will not help with anything except getting moving. The rest is done with proper tires.

 

haha you are not the first one who ask me that. I couldn't tell you haha I will make some research about that

 

i just checked online, yes its the toyo observe winter tires.

So how are they? do you notice a difference?

 

@JoeChitussi , you are right!
From Tirecraft.com :
Features
For Toyo Observe GSi-5 winter tires, it all starts with the rubber compound. Toyo uses Microbit Technology to incorporate crushed walnut shells into the tread which allows the rubber to get additional grip on the road. Silica is also included in the compound to grant greater tread flexibility in cold weather conditions. Finally, the tread also includes an absorbent carbonic powder to absorb moisture on the road, allowing for better contact and better performance.

Didn't now myself about that haha!

 

have you noticed any difference in performance vs a typical winter?

 

I had the first Gen of those tire, Toyo GO2 on a 1995 chevy Cheyenne 2x4 and loved them. Then I had a set on my 1996 Nissan Pathfinder, still loving them, and then with the 16 inch Wheels I had to buy a new set so I bought the GSi5 and love them too haha. So by noticing a difference, I couldn't really tell since I run kinda the same brand for long.

I can tell that the traction is very good! I drove once on an icy hilly back road in 2x4 and was able to get to the top without any trouble. Related like that it looks like it's nothing but I was pretty impress. I do not have any problems driving on icy lake in winter hauling the fishing cabin too tho.

I do not regret not having bought studded tire. Those are pricy but I am very satisfied!

 

well studded are illegal where I live, and carry a $1000 fine.
But ya I run the X Ice and have found they are pretty good, but interested in these new ones. They sound pretty good so might look into it.

Need to compare prices.

 

Ohhh ya I forgot that studded were not allowed in Ontario! IMO there is a lot of good winter tire on the market. I went with the observe because of the good experience I had with my previous toyo's but I got told by a seller that they don't last as long as before (GO2). I do drive less in winter than in summer so I don't care about that and I try to put them on the later I can, like mid-end november, and take em off as soon as there ain't no more frost in night. I notice that they are heavier than my summer ones and that play a bit on my mpg but winter do too...

Good luck on your selection @JoeChitussi , hope I help you a bit

 

Google is your best friend and the local tire shops. All the shops in the great white north here say the same thing. They use snows in the country and ice tires in the cities. Look at tread design too (i.e x-ice vs big lug snow).

They will perform decent in the opposite category but not as great.

 

greatly.

As long as they last about 2-3 seasons thats good enough to me. I'm used to it lol. My summers last two seasons just. By the end of the second season they are pretty much bald, but then again they are the pilot super sports so terrible tread wear on them. but great traction.

Actually I'm going on my 4th season with the snows so rather impressed with them.

 

Duratracs I live at 8,000 and we get 200in of snow a year I never have problems getting anywhere. I live in a town of 10,000 people,sometimes roads don't get plowed for days. I have some ordered for my f250 psd so I can get around. You need an at tire when you are going threw 2' of snow.

 

Then you'll be well served! I'm going on my second winter with them and didn't notice a sign of wear yet from the first winter! I shoud get a tire tread reader to see the wear after each season!