Black Ice Tires?

My choice is Nokian WRg2. Good MPG and great traction in all conditions. They can be left on all year.

JeffD

 

If your place allows it anything with studs. I drive on ice at work all the time and studs make it possible without sliding

Tirerack has the Pirelli Winter Carving Edge in 195/65/15 for $404 without studs, $464 with metal studs. There is another option that is $6 cheaper

 

Yep...studs. I appreciate the maintenance issues, and will pay extra if the state so determines, but I will use them as long as they are legal.

 

Yokohama Ice Guard

Falken Espia EPZ

Studs are a scam propagated by the tire manufactures and the road paving companies. Especially in WA and OR where the roads are usually just wet. Studded tires have worse traction in all other conditions except ice.

The 2nd gen Prius does pretty well in slippery conditions.

This winter took a trip to Banff Canada, was there for a week in Feb on the icy snowy roads. They won't let you across the border if you have studded tires.

 

Michelin Xi3...is the BEST snow and ice tire evah. Highest rated by Consumers. I've had them on for this crazy blizzard season and had everyone from Subaru's with studded snows to Ford lifted F150 AWDrivers say "Gee...that little Prius really goes in the snow!"

The new high tech snows have silica in the tread material, like having sandpaper on the tires on ice....very grippy.

No need for studs, they tear up the road and the new snows are better in all conditions.

 

For such rare occasions that you do experience icy conditions, I would look at the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 or Blizzak WS70. Both are better for all other winter conditions than studded tires yet they still do great on ice. They don't tear up the roads and they won't hurt your fuel economy as much nor increase your stopping distance.

Tire Test Results : Testing the Newest Studless Ice & Snow Winter Tires

 

Consumer Reports gives them the BEST rating on snow and ice, but the WORST rating for dry and wet braking, and below average for hydroplaning. See CU winter tires on my photo page.

If your mix of driving includes more time on wet and slushy roads than on serious ice and snow, some other tires might possibly be a better all-around choice for your mix of conditions. Here is CU's list for performance winter tires. But check them directly for any updates since I snapped this image, read their advice surrounding these rankings, and check other sites too.

 

"Worst" among the five best. Very relative. The Michelin Xi3's are excellent in all conditions from direct experience in one of the worst Mid-West blizzard winters evah...which involves a LOT of quick melting slush...the Michelin's do great in hydroplaning inducing slush and melt.

On dry they are much better than the Avid33 standard tires on wet and dry pavement.

On the dry, they have a 40,000 mile wear guarantee as good as standard tires.

If you alternate with regular tires, you should get four years of safe, superior winter driving out of them.

You don't want "Performance Winter Tires" you want the regular winter tire ratings from Consumers.

Micheline Xi3 is the top gun.

 

I have lived all over the Northwest and use only all season tires. As stated above studs are better on ice but only on ice. I would rather just slow way down when I have to drive on ice and have better traction the other 99.9% of the time.

 

All Season tires will not cut it in ice and snow. AWD vehicle with all seasons will get stuck where a FWD with traction and new high tech snow tires will not.

As for new high tech snows vs. studs on ice, the difference is minimal if even noticeable.

Studded tires are a road damaging anachronism that should be outlawed.

 

Obviously one can survive without studs or special winter tires, we did for years. There were accidents just as there are now but they were usually fender benders because most of us were afraid to go very fast. You can get by on good all season tires if you don't try anything stupid and give yourself plenty of room to stop. Winter tires are much better in snow and ice, but I think they impart a false sense of confidence in a lot of inexperienced drivers.

I agree, studs should be outlawed.

 

Many of us want to thrive not just survive in winter snow and ice, especially, ice, you want to have the new high tech snow tires with the silica impregnated rubber. We always see the AWD's with just all-season tires sliding off the icy ski area road.

The person starting this thread was particularly concerned about ice, in which case the new tech snow tires are just what he wants.

 

The Nokian WRg2 tires noted by me in the second post in this thread also use a silica rubber compound. Their Winter tires are among the best in the world as well.

JeffD