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Snow tire question - studded or not?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by yoeddy, Oct 1, 2015.

  1. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    I've run Hankook iPikes, Michelin Arctic Alpins, Cooper Weathermasters (twice), Firestone Winterforce, Gislaved, and Nokian Haka2's. Each had relatively minor pros and cons but honestly I didn't find much of a real difference in day to day driving between any of them including the Hakka's which cost twice what the others costs.

    The more aggressive treaded ones (winterforce and weathermaster) were louder on dry roads but better in deep snow. The smoother treaded ones (Alpins and Hakka's) were quieter on dry roads but spun more in deep snow.

    These were on a variety of front wheel drive and rear wheel drive cars.

    I need a full set of new snows for the Prius this year and I expect I'll get whatever major name brand is running the best rebate/gift card deal at the time I purchase. I use a local Town Fair Tire that matches Tire Rack prices and adds a bunch of freebies on. I'd like to try the Michelin X-Ice Xi3's or manybe the General Altimax.
     
  2. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    to VT people: do you get as much snow as upstate NY?
     
  3. yoeddy

    yoeddy New Member

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    Sporin, I recognize your name from vwvortex. Any VW in your current stable? After my last Audi, we have been just Subaru and Honda until this Prius. Well, I also have a Miata, but I am not driving that in snow.

    We have some XIce3 that would fit a Prius if you want to try them. They have 6128 miles on them. They are not the standard size for a Prius, but the tirerack folks say they will fit. We used them for one winter with our 2014 Impreza which we sold. They are mounted on black steelies and the size is 205/55R16 with a rim size of 16x6.5. I did not think they were that great in snow. We don't drive in ice that often to really test the ice, but we do drive on dirt roads that get glazed over quite a bit. They are incredibly quiet on dry pavement.

    We have had good luck with previous Blizzak WS-60 and Nokian Hakka, but that was on AWD cars. We haven't used studded tires before, but don't want to get stranded heading up a steep hill and have the Prius traction control stop any forward momentum.

    Yes, there are parts of Vermont that get as much or more snow than Northern NY. I actually live in Champlain Valley so we don't get as much snow , but we drive to the mountains every weekend where they often get snow while we don't at home.
     
  4. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Eddy, thanks for the offer but I think we are all set on that. I'm pretty happy with my local dealer and the prices are very good on Prius sizes.

    No VW since my 98 B5 Passat.
     
  5. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    Hard to compare directly with the Blizzaks, but my guess is the old Ws60's are a bit better. Noisy and rough on dry roads, which is why some give the nod to the new tires. The Generals have been very good, and at a very low price. Wear is very, very good. Same tread as the old Gislaveds.

    When I had the Michelin Xice2, worst tire in the entire world. I was actually in fear of roads I drove everyday. But some enjoy the performance, which was extremely good, just not in snow. Most of my cars were better in snow than this Prius, so you'd have to A-B on the same car. But our 2007 CH runs the Generals as well, and we're glad we saved $200 or more on them. Not a great performance tire, but a very good snow tire.

    I hope that within two years, I'll never say "snow" and "tire" in the same sentence again:)
     
  6. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    No, not really.
     
  7. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    For only 2 days a year, you will likely never use chains.

    I drive on ice 3 months each year.
     
  8. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    Not as hard as the plow trucks.

    Towns that insist on having visible pavement will routinely grind away a 1/4 inch of the blades every week. They lose an inch a month off the the steel blades, because they put so much pressure on their plows.

    Studded tires do nothing to pavement compared to plow trucks.

    Beside how much of the winter are you even on pavement. A portion of winter driving on on frozen lakes and rivers. Then when you are on top of pavement you rarely see the pavement because of the base-layer.
     
  9. 348

    348 Junior Member

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    And you have the advantage of any major snow event has the effeminate shinny jean bearded Portland men abandoning cars left & right all over the city
     
  10. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    I already have the advantage over those slick-jeaned folk by having spent many of my weekends driving up snowy logging roads. The reason Portlanders abandon their vehicles is because they don't think they need winter tires or chains since it only snows twice a year.

    That is the reason I need chains; to pull the unprepared out of ditches for the couple times it does snow. I'd also like to get back into skiing again, and snowshoeing usually requires driving in snowy areas as well.

    It really doesn't make sense to get snow tires for very occasional snow/ice because it reduces performance in all the other driving conditions. Another reason I prefer chains for this area.
     
    348 likes this.
  11. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    I agree.

    If you only see snow occasionally, then carry chains and be happy.
     
  12. yoeddy

    yoeddy New Member

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    For our area - we drive all over Northern New England - we drive on snow several times a week depending on the winter. We have always used dedicated snow tires and require them. I was just trying to determine if I should switch to studded since this will be the first FWD car we have used as a ski car. I talked with other people local to me and they all said studded so I went studded. I have the tires in the garage, but haven't put them on the car yet. BTW, I bought Nokian Hakka 8 studded on steel wheels. Kind of funny - the most expensive snow tires on the cheapest wheel! I will reply back when I get some usage out of them.
     
  13. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Proper snow/ice tyres do make a big difference on ice. But they can't perform miracles. If you are going too fast you will slide. Not as far as without them, but you WILL slide.

    As an extreme example, I had an RX-7, 3rd gen. with performance summer tyres (forget what they were exactly, but they had a very high speed rating and the car would corner like it was on rails). One spring day I had an appointment for service work on the car, but it snowed a lot the night before. I drove my SUV up and down the alley and my driveway, compressing the snow so the RX wouldn't sink and high centre. Backed it out of the garage, and it got stuck in the 1/4" depression the tyres made! All it would do is spin the wheels, even at idle. A neighbor pushed and I steered it back into the garage.

    Another example. That SUV would slide through icy/snowy intersections with the OEM tyres unless I was almost crawling along. Antilock brakes buzzing away. I thought the antilock was too sensitive. Tyres finally wore enough to justify replacing (at $250 each) and I got Nokian WR SUV ones. First icy/snowy intersection I encountered where I had to stop things on the passenger seat ended up on the floor. Yup, proper tyres DO make a difference!
     
  14. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    Here in our township we get 'black ice'. Where we live is mostly dense forest with a lot of peat bogs. The road that goes through our town follows along the river. As the season progresses toward winter the ground freezes. Frost here goes down to 4 feet below grade. Fog will rise up from the river and it will condense into ice on the pavement. This is not a white ice, but clear and it looks like clean pavement.

    You can not stand or walk on black ice, unless you have cleats on your shoes.

    Vehicle speed really does not make any difference on black ice. If you are traveling 10 mph are tap your brakes, you car will slide a couple car lengths. Depending on alignment and other factors, you might slide straight, or you might do 360s. The only thing that vehicle speed influences is how far you will slide before your vehicle will come to a rest. After you do come to a full stop, There is not much you can do about it. If you step out of your vehicle you will generally fall down.

    On black ice 'Blizzaks' perform better than regular summer tires. But they do not perform as well as cheap tires with studs.



    We get black ice every spring and every fall.

    Obviously when winter arrives and it gets cold, that is a different story. But for safe driving in Spring and Fall we need studs.

    'Sheet ice' like when the lakes freeze over, for that it seems Blizzaks do great. It is not as slick as black ice is.
     
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  15. Chilly

    Chilly Junior Member

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    I've got an extra set of winter wheels with Blizzaks on them for our Colorado winters. They have been excellent tires and maybe only lose 3-4 mpg when they are on. I personally wouldn't get studded tires for the conditions that I drive in but I know the east gets a lot more ice. I think Blizzaks are the way to go and will work for your needs.
     
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  16. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    Which river? Kennebec?

    We drove beginning of Sept on river road alone Carrabassett at night and I was thinking: man.. I wouldn't wanna drive here when it freezes up!
     
  17. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    We are on the Penobscot River.
    :)
     
  18. Chilly

    Chilly Junior Member

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    Here is great video explaining the technology of winter tires.
    Just another reason I don't think studded tires are necessary in your application.
     
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  19. Ed Pilkington

    Ed Pilkington New Member

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    I absolutely love my Sumitomi ice tires (Amazon) $57.90 studdable!
     
  20. Ben Reader

    Ben Reader New Member

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    I've seen that video as well. What can I say? I was completely sold. I'm now planning to buy a new set of winter tires from 4WheelOnline. I heard they offer them at an affordable price.