Snow tires? Or all season recommended?

Probably the best all season tire to use in snow is the Nokian WRg2. They are LRR, not too noisy, and have excellent snow and wet traction. Expect to pay more than $100 per tire, even over the web.

 

LRR = Low Rolling Resistance: Means less or no mileage hit once the tires break in.

 

Avoid the run-flat option as that will significantly lower MPGs. I am now on my third set of WRg2s (185/65HR15), and obviously like them.

JeffD

 

+1 for the Hakka R2's.

Earlier today I did a 4+ hour trip on a brand new set and even with no break-in I was blown away by the mileage. Normally I expect to take a pretty big mileage hit when the weather turns cold, even with the all-season LRR michelins. This particular trip covers many miles of winding rather high 2 lane mountain roads and lots of elevation changes (one pass over 12,000 feet and much of the trip over 10,000). Today the temperature for most of it was in the low 30's (f), not frigid but certainly not summer. Having driven it many times in all kinds of conditions I should have gotten an indicated 46-48mpg. Instead I got a rather amazing 56.6! That's close to the best I've ever gotten in the summer. I've purchased various sets of LRR (all-season) tires for both our 2007 and 2010 and they did seem marginally better than the non-LRR tires and most of the time I expect to take a bit of a hit when moving from well worn tires to brand new ones. I also expected a bit more noise when switching out my summer tires for these, but was pleasantly surprised by how minimal the cdifference was. Whatever the magicians at Nokian have done, these R2's definitely deserver their "extremely low rolling resistance" moniker.

Note that I don't even remotely attempt any hypermiling techniques and am usually one of the faster cars on the road (I pass many people and never get passed). Also these tires happen to be mounted on the rather heavy factory 17 package V rims rather than my much lighter other wheels. All 4 tires were set at 41psi.

Next test is how they do in snow, but given what others have said, I'm not terribly concerned.

 

Exactly! That's the reason I was so impressed. These are full on world class dedicated winter tires. The fact that in coldish weather they gave me mileage comparable to the best I could expect for an all season or summer tire in warmer weather at the same time as giving a relatively low noise and comfortable ride makes me think the high initial cost was well worth it. I had also looked at the Xi3's also but were told they wouldn't be available until the middle of December. Glad I didn't wait. I realize this sounds like a fanboy kind of commercial but I have no association with any tire company or dealer, I'm just a very satisfied customer.

The only thing the reviews have said negative about this tire is their wet surface performance. However, I think even that observation is somewhat relative. Many of the curves on Monarch pass were wet from snow melting and running across the road and I had no trouble taking them at speed much higher than the traffic I was passing (both up and down).

 

They are a very narrow tyre to be running on a 15" tyre, any photos of how they look? I'd imagine that they're great in the snow

I've 195/65/15 Goodyear Ultragrip 8s fitted to mine and these tyres performed very well in the snow we here in Dublin last January

Here's a link to a video I made. I had the same tyres fitted to my Mk5 Golf (not 4motion)

 

My guess is that Jeff transposed the 6 and 8 in his tire size. I don't think you can easily find 85 profile passenger tires for sale.

 

that makes sense alright

 

A bit of an update on my first experience with the Hakkapeliitta R2's (245R45 17) In my earlier post I reported how thrilled I was with the mileage and modest noise on dry roads under cold conditions. The return trip last night involved 3+ hours in icy/snowpacked and blowing snow conditions (on winding mountain passes). During some sections people (not me) were white knuckle crawling along at less than 20 mph. It was like driving around cars in a parking lot. I can now say that these are easily the best dedicated snowtires I've ever owned. With over 30+ years of driving experience in the Colorado mountains in all kinds of vehicles with all kinds of tires I couldn't be more pleased with how well the Prius did with these tires. They were very noticeably better than the Blizzaks we had on prior. I had sometimes missed having AWD and was kind of hoping that some of the rumors about the 2015 Pruis offering it, however with these tires I think that need is substantially reduced. It's going to be long time before I ever consider putting anything else on any of our cars for winter tires.

 

Yep, that's what happened. Fixed now.

JeffD

 

I hear that you all like them for the winter and I'm reading that they are all weather but has anybody left them onall year round I live in Minnesota and I'm looking to buy 2 new front tires I'm wondering if this would be a good option for me I'm not looking for a winter tire I'm looking for all-season tire

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Do you not get enough snow there to justify snow tires mounted on a cheap set of wheels?

 

Considering your location, and your posting, I'd suggest replace what you've got (all four) with Nokian Nordman, Nokian's budget "all weather" tire. It has the snowflake/mountain symbol, and won't break the bank.

Nokian Nordman 5 - Winter Tires / Nokian Tires

 

In the past couple years we have been very lucky on our snowfall at the moment I have Michelin harmonies that came in the car when I bought it I have one rear back tire that failed so I need to replace two of them to the tread design matches the other two in front have a lot of tread left on them I'm trying to find a good llr Tire that is good in snow I've looked at the Bridgestone ecopia but haven't heard good things on the tread life I came across this thread and wondering if these would be a good option because I really don't want to be switching between snow tires that's why I'm looking for a good all season tire that has good tread life and will handle well in the winter if we do get a lot of snow this year thanks

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