WINTER TIRES: Winterforce vs. Hakkas vs. Green Diamond
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From: Denver, CO/ABQ, NM
WINTER TIRES: Winterforce vs. Hakkas vs. Green Diamond
I just got some Yoko all-seasons under an impulse buy, and although they are M+S, I dont think they will be good in the amount of winter driving I do. Thus, I will likely buy some winter tires.
I am currently looking at the Winterforce M+S, some kind of Nokian Hakka's, or Green Diamond Icelanders.
Winterforce:
Pros: CHEAP!! Really good in the snow. Great value.
Cons: "You get what you pay for"? Soft sidewalls, noisy(not a huge issue to me), squirmy on dry pavement--however, these are dedicated snow tires, you cant expect much in the way of great dry handling etc etc
Nokian Hakkas:
Pros: Excellent in the snow. Also pretty good on dry.
Cons: Expensive
Green Diamond:
Pros: Cheaper than Nokians. Cool little studs that pop through after a bit of wear. Save the environment by using remolded tires.
Cons: I cant find many reviews. Not sure how I feel about the safety of remolded tires. Need to be "broken in" for about 500-1500 dry road miles before the "studs" come through. Oh, and currently out of stock in the size I need.
Im definantly leaning towards the Winterforces because of the price and the fact that they seem to get a ton of great reviews.
Does anyone have any comments about which I should go with, or stay away from?
I am currently looking at the Winterforce M+S, some kind of Nokian Hakka's, or Green Diamond Icelanders.
Winterforce:
Pros: CHEAP!! Really good in the snow. Great value.
Cons: "You get what you pay for"? Soft sidewalls, noisy(not a huge issue to me), squirmy on dry pavement--however, these are dedicated snow tires, you cant expect much in the way of great dry handling etc etc
Nokian Hakkas:
Pros: Excellent in the snow. Also pretty good on dry.
Cons: Expensive
Green Diamond:
Pros: Cheaper than Nokians. Cool little studs that pop through after a bit of wear. Save the environment by using remolded tires.
Cons: I cant find many reviews. Not sure how I feel about the safety of remolded tires. Need to be "broken in" for about 500-1500 dry road miles before the "studs" come through. Oh, and currently out of stock in the size I need.
Im definantly leaning towards the Winterforces because of the price and the fact that they seem to get a ton of great reviews.
Does anyone have any comments about which I should go with, or stay away from?
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do you need studded tires and how extreme conditions will you be driving in
I went with Hankook Icebears last 2 years and had no problems going thru 4+ feet of snow in Vermont. They have the proper speed and load rating for the allroad at a very good price.
Check the speed rating on the Winterfroce tires, IIRC, it is not adequate for an allroad.
I would never buy a remolded tire. It's jus tone of those thing you don't mess with -- Tires and Brakes.
Check the speed rating on the Winterfroce tires, IIRC, it is not adequate for an allroad.
I would never buy a remolded tire. It's jus tone of those thing you don't mess with -- Tires and Brakes.
Thread Starter
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From: Denver, CO/ABQ, NM
speed rating on the Winterforces is S(112mph).
I dont get near 112 in the summer, so I definantly wouldnt intend to get even near that speed in the winter. And max load is about 1700lbs per tire, or 6800lbs total. Even with gear and a full load of people, I wouldnt get close to that. Definantly leaning towards these tires because of the price(just $80 per tire) and I emailed a guy with an allroad and these tires. He's had them on for 3 winter seasons, going on the 4th, loves them and says he will def buy them again. Currently has over 30k miles on them.
I dont need studded. I will be in New Mexico for college(still snows down there), but then in Colorado for my breaks. Im also a pretty avid skier, so I get up to the mountains a fair bit. However, I have spent a few winter seasons in Colorado on all-season tires with quattro and gotten by just fine. Winters will just be an added bonus.
I will check out those Hankooks.
I dont need studded. I will be in New Mexico for college(still snows down there), but then in Colorado for my breaks. Im also a pretty avid skier, so I get up to the mountains a fair bit. However, I have spent a few winter seasons in Colorado on all-season tires with quattro and gotten by just fine. Winters will just be an added bonus.
I will check out those Hankooks.
Thread Starter
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From: Denver, CO/ABQ, NM
.....
vredesteins and nokians are no less than $200 per tire in the size i need. Dont have that kind of money.
even dunlop wintersports are a still a bit expensive at $140/tire. heard great things about these, and was going to run the M3's last winter on my A4 but one of the wheels i was going to use was bent.
even dunlop wintersports are a still a bit expensive at $140/tire. heard great things about these, and was going to run the M3's last winter on my A4 but one of the wheels i was going to use was bent.
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I really have liked my Nokians, especially the hakka2s that I have now.. but...
I was able to get them for a good deal.
If I were buying winter tires right now I would get the Hankook iPike W409, which has a blatant copy of the Nokian Hakka5's tread pattern.
A few people here in Minneapolis ran those last winter and the tires performed very well! They were an incredible bargain. I would run them in a heart beat.
If I were buying winter tires right now I would get the Hankook iPike W409, which has a blatant copy of the Nokian Hakka5's tread pattern.
A few people here in Minneapolis ran those last winter and the tires performed very well! They were an incredible bargain. I would run them in a heart beat.
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Another vote for Nokians
I know, $$$$$$, but I have learned in the past that I get what I paid for in tires. And when I have to live with a mistake for another 30K miles, frankly, it pisses me off everyday.
I've run the RSi's for the past two seasons on mostly dry pavement. They are astonishingly good in the snow and ice (considering they aren't studded) and still handle very well in the dry (much better than Dunlop Wintersports on both counts). Previous to the RSi's I've run WR's which were a tad better in the dry, a tad worse in snow, and no match for the RSi's on ice.
I've used Bridgestone and Yokohama winter tires in the past as well, and the Nokians have always been worth their premium when I find myself in nasty weather. It's also worth noting that the lifespan of both Nokians is substantially better than any of the other tires I've had (which helps to offset the cost). I'd estimate that I got 50-75% more mileage out of the Nokians before the winter traction degraded to the point of a regular M+S all season tire.
I've also had some off brand winter tire (I want to say Winterforce but I'm not 100% certain), and they got downright dangerous as they aged. The compound hardened to the point where they were worthless in the snow, cold, and even plain old wet pavement.
I've run the RSi's for the past two seasons on mostly dry pavement. They are astonishingly good in the snow and ice (considering they aren't studded) and still handle very well in the dry (much better than Dunlop Wintersports on both counts). Previous to the RSi's I've run WR's which were a tad better in the dry, a tad worse in snow, and no match for the RSi's on ice.
I've used Bridgestone and Yokohama winter tires in the past as well, and the Nokians have always been worth their premium when I find myself in nasty weather. It's also worth noting that the lifespan of both Nokians is substantially better than any of the other tires I've had (which helps to offset the cost). I'd estimate that I got 50-75% more mileage out of the Nokians before the winter traction degraded to the point of a regular M+S all season tire.
I've also had some off brand winter tire (I want to say Winterforce but I'm not 100% certain), and they got downright dangerous as they aged. The compound hardened to the point where they were worthless in the snow, cold, and even plain old wet pavement.
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What about people who can't fit 16" wheels over their stock brakes?
"Remember, you dont want low profile snows.....or you dont really need snows in the first place."
That makes no sense. "Low profile" is a general and vague term as it is. If someone has brakes that require 17" minimum wheels for clearance (many OEM brakes now), they don't need snow tires?
That makes no sense. "Low profile" is a general and vague term as it is. If someone has brakes that require 17" minimum wheels for clearance (many OEM brakes now), they don't need snow tires?