Author Topic: Rate your tires winter performance here! (Read 14985 times)

srivett · « **on:** December 07, 2004, 08:45:39 pm »

Sudbury just had a bunch of snow dumped on it so I took my Bridgestone (Exploder Special) Touranza Ts out for a run. These are the 175s on a Golf 1.6D.

The only thing they did good was stop quickly in deep snow. I rate these tires poorly for the following: Stopping and going on ice, accelerating in deep snow, and control in deep water.

Yeah, I started to notice that these tires suck a few months ago as you hydroplane all over the place in deep water. These tires are pretty skinny so they should work well in water but they don't. If you're pulling out into traffic on ice you'll be in 3rd gear before the car starts to move, and it takes too long to stop on ice from 40 km/hr. With 3-5" of snow on the ground I figured I'd have trouble but not this much. I got stuck going up a steep hill so in disgust I smoked the tires for over 3 minutes to dig myself up the rest of the way. I guess this is a good way to test your rad fan as my temp went to 3/4s and the fan came on.

Steve

ps. My brother has the WalMart winter tires on his '89 Golf and he says they are really slippery on wet pavement and like to lock-up. It could be because his front tires are half worn out but I'm not so sure.

QuickTD · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2004, 09:26:03 pm »

I have cooper "weathermaster" snows 175/70-13's on my '97 jetta. Can't say enough good things about them. Excellent snow performance and decent on wet or dry pavement. They utterly transform the car in the snow. 2 seasons on them so far and they still have good tread.

I haven't had a chance to put them on yet this year and I can tell you first hand that my cooper "cobra" (195/60-14) summer tires suck royally in the snow. You only have your favorite prayer to get you stopped... My suggestion for snows is to mount the skinniest thing you can find to get some pressure on the contact patch, helps to cut through the snow and slush.

RAMMSTEIN · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2004, 06:22:55 am »

I have Michelin Arctic Alpin (185/65R14).

Worst winter tires ever.

Ok on ice, but slush, and worst snow and they become slicks.... :roll:

Bad tires for Montreal winters.

They would work great in BC or southern Ontario, but not here.

Next winter, Nokians with studs please.

MacGyver · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2004, 07:10:45 am »

I'm on my 3rd or 4th year of my Dayton Wintertrax 185/65R14's.
They're...decent tires. Not magical by any stretch of the imagination, but acceptable. Ok in deep snow, and...excellent on ice due to...additions I made... :lol:
The local tire guy here is a pleasure to deal with too, can't do enough for ya. That clinched the deal.

Dr. Diesel · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2004, 08:15:53 am »

i am pretty happy with my winter tires. I always go for a taller narrower tire. I'm using 187/70r13 canadian tire motomaster wintertracs. (not icetracks) I'm not a firm believer in unstudded ice tires. I figure, if you're hit a patch of black ice, it's going to be slippery as heck, regardless of what tires you have, so you might as well get the kind that work best in snow.

Patrick · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2004, 01:46:52 pm »

I second the Cooper Weathermasters. Been using them for three or four years on an 84 Jetta (gasser) and my wife's 87 Fox (gas). Waiting for a set of four for the new wheels (92 Jetta TD).

farkman · « **Reply #6 on:** December 08, 2004, 02:17:36 pm »

I've got 195/60R14 Michelin Artic Alpin's and they work pretty well. I don't really push my car hard when conditions are bad. Of course there are those moments where spirited driving is necessary and so far these tires have been up to the task. By the way, I only drive in the GTA so most of the snow turns to water by the time it reaches the road.

Rammstein, do you have the tires pumped up to their maximum inflation pressure (for maximum fuel economy :lol: )? If so, have you tried lowering the pressure to see if you get better traction.

Red Rabbit · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2004, 02:48:08 pm »

I've got Yokohama Snow 320 tires. I'm a very 'conservative' driver in the snow, but these tires drag me through deep snow with no problem, but I can't say I've done any panic maneuvers yet.

addautomotive · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2004, 02:58:22 pm »

Hey Quick TD,

I was cautioned against using 13" tires on my A3. I was told it would not handle well. Sounded like malarky to me, but who am I right? Anyway, I'm interested to know how the 13" tires handle. They're a lot cheaper, and I have 13" wheels so it'd be a lot cheaper for me to go 13" if possible.

srivett · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2004, 05:20:35 pm »

I went out for another drive today and found that my front discs were frozen up and my wheels were full of ice too. The ice in the brakes went away after 50 km of driving but the ice in the wheels did not. I've got the flying saucer style 13" wheels on my car and I've thrown away those big rings that come on them...are there any better wheels for winter driving? This is the second time I've had the shakes from my wheels being jammed full of ice so I'd like wheels that can clear themselves out a bit better.

ps. I was at Canadian Tire tonight and they only put OEM sized tires on your car. They wouldn't sell me 155s instead of 175s so I'll look elsewhere. They also only give you a 6 month waranty on batteries if you want a non-OEM size.

Cheers, Steve

NGTD · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2004, 06:55:51 pm »

I put 175/65R14 on my 95 Golf (summer 195/60R14). They are Nordic Icetracs. Pretty good for the money. Better on slippery roadsthan deep snow

BTW, I heard on the radio this AM, that studs will be legal in Ontario within 2 years!

QuickTD · « **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2004, 06:56:06 pm »

Quote

Hey Quick TD,

I was cautioned against using 13" tires on my A3. I was told it would not handle well. Sounded like malarky to me, but who am I right? Anyway, I'm interested to know how the 13" tires handle. They're a lot cheaper, and I have 13" wheels so it'd be a lot cheaper for me to go 13" if possible.

It isn't exactly on rails when wearing the 13's, but thats the trade off. The snow traction is far better than with 14's so I put up with the loose handling. Pulling big G's in the winter is not a priority.

The cheaper CL versions of the A3 cars came with 13's and there is inflation data for 13's on my tire sticker so I would assume it's OK. I'm not sure I would run the 4.5 inch wide rabbit wheels but the 5.5" 38mm offset ones from later golfs and jettas seem OK.

Be warned, you can't use 13's on all models of A3 golf/jetta. The 1.8 CL and the GL turbo diesel models are the only ones with 9.4" brakes, which are small enough to accept the 13's. TDI's, 2.0 and VR6 gassers have 10.1" brakes that will not fit inside the 13's.

RAMMSTEIN · « **Reply #12 on:** December 08, 2004, 09:47:03 pm »

Farkman, I have to check them, we got snow for the first time this year a week ago and I presume they are still around 40-42 psi all around...

I guess I'll lower them a little, let say 35.......

My air pump (the one I carry in the car) is broken, so I'll try to fix it before modifying the air pressure, just in case... :wink:

KMD · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2004, 08:47:11 am »

175/70-13 studded on all four corners of the bunny. They work very well in the snow and ice.

cheng · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2004, 12:19:15 pm »

snow and ice?
what are those?
oh yea, those are the things you have to go to the mountains to see here

When they say "all season" radials here, they really mean it.

tall and narrow, 50 psi, and lots of tread for cutting through the puddles that are in the tire grooves.

( by the way its 60* and mostly sunny here today.)
I love the Pacific Northwest.

Ken

Author Topic: Rate your tires winter performance here! (Read 14985 times)

addautomotive