GET YOUR DEDICATED SNOW TIRES NOW !!!

have not bought yet, but found the following interesting -- especially the comments about Continental's new VikingContact and Bridgestones WS90.

Article (from Car and Driver) is somewhat recent -- Sept. 2019.

Great Winter Tires For Safer Snow Driving

 

With Bridgestone's new Blizzak WS90 out, remaining Blizzak WS80 is getting great discount now. $78/tire at TireRack. I have a feeling if you wait a few days, they will bring back $70 rebate promotion again to even sweeten the deal. If they do, and if they still have the sale going, the final price would be $60/tire shipped from TireRack.

 

That looks like a great deal! I was very happy with the set of WS80s which I put on (…with their own dedicated set of steel rims) back in November 2015 (…I got a deal from the local StealerShip, you buy 3 and get tyre #4 for $1). I used the WS80s for three-and-a-half seasons (about 16K miles) but replaced them in December last year with a great deal on a set of Antares Ice-60 (studded) which I'll be putting back on at the end of October for their second season. My summer shoes (mounted on the OEM 16" alloy rims are also made by Antares (Ingens A1s) which I've found to be excellent tyres. They're just finishing their fourth season (about 24k miles); they run very quiet, wear very evenly - I run them at 40F/38R and they still have 7mm spead evenly across the tread. The A1s are pretty good in the rain, but in torrential downpours I think both the Blizzaks and the Ice-60s have a slight edge (possibly since those tyres have fewer miles on them and thus more rubber!). The only (slight) disadvantage of running studs is the noise (particularly when the windows are down, but who the hell drives with the windows open when it's -20 degrees out and snowing?), but when it's icy, they can't be beat! (IMNSHO )

BTW: It being that time of the year, I'm thinking of selling the 4 x Blizzak WS80 (185/65R15). As I said earlier, they've only done three-and-a-bit seasons (about 16K miles) and they still have at least 7mm of tread evenly across the tire (I'll check for certain tomorrow), but if anyone's interested, drop me a line here and we'll work out a deal. The tyres DO NOT COME with rims, but can be picked up here in Southern New Hampshire, so if anyone local is interested, please drop me a line.

 

I have seen Antares tires sold at quite a bargain price. I don't think I have ever used them before, but many years, I was just using the cheapest tires local tire shops have for my size. Multi Miles, Ohtsu, Kelly, are some brands I remember but have no idea what models they were. I then started buying mostly Michelin. It is just the last 15 years I started to pay more attention to the brand and model of tires. Have only had to buy three sets of snow tires so far. As I commented on GET YOUR DEDICATED SNOW TIRES NOW !!! | Page 3 | PriusChat my first snow was studded. One icy road, studs are blessing to have on, but on 99% of the time I was driving on dry road, and I could not stand the noise. Since then I have had two sets of Michelin X-ice Xi3, one on Gen 3 and another set on current PRIME. After having Xice on my car, I don't think I will be switching to any other snow tires. But given all the review I have read about Blizzak, they must be a very good tire for snowy roads.

 

Last winter we didn't have all that much snow here in Southern NH, but there was certainly enough freezing temps and ice to make anyone thing seriously about using studs, so I decided to jump - and I'd already got a potential recipient for the Blizzaks, although that fell through, but I'm pretty happy with how well the Antares performed with studs, I'd already had the A1s since mid-2017 and was impressed but their quality and performance. They were recommended by the local tire-guru at TownFairTire, and it was he who recommended the studded Antares - I agree with you about the noise, but just wind up the windows and turn up the music! (…and, BTW come the spring, when I changed back to the A1s, their whisper-quiet lack of stud racket was just like putting on a comfortable pair of slippers after wearing DocMartens all day!

 

Just checked who makes Antares tires. Very little hit in terms of company history and its manufacturing process, but it seems to be made in China and imported and distributed by Horizon Tire.

Buy Antares Tires - Mud, Snow & All terrain Tires for Truck, SUV and Passenger Cars - Tires-Easy
Cheap Chinese imports are not always bad but usually does not give a good brand image and confidence to the consumers. I, for one, am always willing to give a try provided the price is right and opportunity exist. I was interested in this tire made in Turkey by an absolutely never heard before company, Waterfall Tyres. It was dirt cheap at Walmart.com at $37/tire but with plenty of positive reviews. For a while, it was the cheapest tire available for 195/65R15 size online, but it is no longer on sale and price went up to $52/tire. At that price, I am no longer interested.Waterfall Eco Dynamic 195/65R15 95 V Tire - Walmart.com

 

Just got back from a local independent tire dealer. No way am I wasting cash on winters for the Prius. First, my wife drives the Prius and first sign of bad weather, I end up being her personal driver. Plus, I do not trust our (Gen 2) Prius in slippery conditions, since it has that wonderful traction control that shuts the entire car down if it starts to slip.

But, I did buy four tires and four wheels for my six-month-old Subaru Outback. The shop had a set of alloy wheels and Blizzaks WS80s that were hardly used and a perfect fit for my Outback. They wanted $900 for the set -- without TPMS -- or -- $1,100 with TPMS.

Went whole hog and bought them for $1,100. They will do the seasonal changeovers for free for the life of the car. I had previously priced NEW steel wheels and Cooper Discovery North(something or other) for the same price at the big chain discount places.

But, the local guys are only four miles away (the chain places are more like 40 miles) and the local guys have always been good to me. Plus, they are local. That counts for something -- at least for me.

I had a set of Nexen several years ago on a Nissan minivan. They were O.K. Not great, not bad. Surprised they came about in '42 -- middle of WWII.

 

You lost me with the Toyo stuff. All I was saying was Nexen seemed O.K. But, I only bought them once and I only bought one particular line. Hardly enough to diss -- or -- endorse a whole line of tires.

Still seems strange they started a resource intense business in the middle of WWII.

 

Look out! Here come de pics!

 

Wil, one more winter on those tires? Many states have a 4/32" minimum tread depth when traction tires are required, and a 5/32" minimum might be prudent.

 

I think the rule of thumb for dedicated snow tires is 6/32" minimum.

https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/make-driving-fun-2/can-my-winter-tires-last-another-season

 

Have you measured the depth on all four tires? Not going to buy them, just curious. I've seen a couple sets of Blizzaks from AWD or 4WD vheicles where one tire has much more and another has much less tread depth than the other two. Combine that with the extremely fast wear on the front of my Prime, and my conclusion is that these tires are really soft and don't last long at all.

 

Yes, they all look in pretty much the same condition; if anything the fronts have very slightly more wear than the rears, but they've all done just over 3 seasons, being rotated after each stint (…i.e. not being put back on the same hub).

 

I think at least one more, especially if you're cost-cutting! One of the reasons I changed to the Antares with studs was that these guys had done yeoman service, and it was about time. If I'd left them on until now (to complete their 4th season), I'd certainly be looking to change them at the end of this month. As it is, the Antares will be put on for their 2nd season at Halloween!

 

I got my wheels too. Tues Oct 1
I haven't had time yet to check the shipping on the hub rings.
I've got a 2005 Blue Yamaha YZF600R tuneup in progress and the new thermal expansion tank just arrived today. I was working on a muffler install to our 06 civic hybrid when the wheels arrived yesterday. I still have to get around to reinstalling the A/C clutch plate on the 02 civic EX one of these days.

I'll test the wheels and hub rings fitment as soon as I get them, too. cheers