new X-Ice Xi2?
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
new X-Ice Xi2?
I see Michelin is introducing the X-Ice Xi2.
Anyone know how this will compare to the original X-Ice in terms of dry road handling, snow handling, and on ice? Looks like it will be more of an "ice" tire vs a "snow tire, based on the pictures.
Which would be good for me in Minneapolis, as we have lots of ice, but not really much snow.
Tires I am considering (in order of how I suspect they handle on dry pavement):
New X-Ice Xi2
Original X-Ice
Hankook iPike W409
Comments on the order? How do you think they would be ordered in terms of grip on ice? In snow?
I've always loved Nokians, but they are so expensive...
Thanks,
Erik
Anyone know how this will compare to the original X-Ice in terms of dry road handling, snow handling, and on ice? Looks like it will be more of an "ice" tire vs a "snow tire, based on the pictures.
Which would be good for me in Minneapolis, as we have lots of ice, but not really much snow.
Tires I am considering (in order of how I suspect they handle on dry pavement):
New X-Ice Xi2
Original X-Ice
Hankook iPike W409
Comments on the order? How do you think they would be ordered in terms of grip on ice? In snow?
I've always loved Nokians, but they are so expensive...
Thanks,
Erik
Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 13,105
Likes: 3
My two cents (from mpls)
I run the Original X-Ice on my wife's car in the winter, and I have Nokian Hakka2s on my A4.
What I've found is I don't like tires that are specific to ice. The reason for this is while they do well on ice, they don't do as well in deeper snow and slush. There's not much groove between the tread blocks which really seems to dig through snow well, and allow slush to be channeled between tread blocks.
Previous to the Nokian Hakka2s, I had the Nokian RSi on my A4 and while they did good on the ice, they weren't as good in the snow as the hakka2s, and they weren't as good on dry pavement either.
The Hankook iPike W409 tread pattern is a copy of the Nokian Hakka5. The iPikes actually do pretty well, especially for the money! I know several people who run those and like them here in Minneapolis.
If I had to choose between the X-Ice / Xi2 or the Hankooks, I'd get the Hankooks!
What I've found is I don't like tires that are specific to ice. The reason for this is while they do well on ice, they don't do as well in deeper snow and slush. There's not much groove between the tread blocks which really seems to dig through snow well, and allow slush to be channeled between tread blocks.
Previous to the Nokian Hakka2s, I had the Nokian RSi on my A4 and while they did good on the ice, they weren't as good in the snow as the hakka2s, and they weren't as good on dry pavement either.
The Hankook iPike W409 tread pattern is a copy of the Nokian Hakka5. The iPikes actually do pretty well, especially for the money! I know several people who run those and like them here in Minneapolis.
If I had to choose between the X-Ice / Xi2 or the Hankooks, I'd get the Hankooks!
Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 13,105
Likes: 3
My opinion with no scientific data to back it up, just driving impressions :-)
Dry: X-Ice > Toss up between RSi Hankook and iPike W409
Snow: Hankook iPike W409 > RSi > X-Ice
Ice: RSi > X-Ice > Hankook iPike W409
Snow: Hankook iPike W409 > RSi > X-Ice
Ice: RSi > X-Ice > Hankook iPike W409
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Pelican Pete
Wheels & Tires Discussion
3
Oct 26, 2006 07:23 AM
jprice@CPS
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
3
Dec 11, 2000 08:46 AM
