Winter tire discussion for grown ups thread.

[BIC_BAWS]

Originally Posted by Amuse

Anyone have snow tires and drive in the snow with a lowered car in Vancouver?

Any predictions on how much snow we'll get this winter season?

You'll probably get a VI first



BUT, I did this last year actually. I'd take off any lips you have on. I broke a set of CF splitters by snowplowing last year. Make sure your bumper is sturdy, aka not close to falling off. Also broke a bumper bc of snow LOL.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by Amuse

Anyone have snow tires and drive in the snow with a lowered car in Vancouver?

Any predictions on how much snow we'll get this winter season?

I've taken a car lowered ~2" over the Connector and down forestry roads in the snow with winters without a problem, just watch for chucks of ice coming off other vehicles.

[DIEH4RD]

For the guys who have ran Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2's in our diverse winter conditions..

Just would like to hear your guys input on how they handle in the dry/rain?

I understand they kick ass in snow/ice but given the amount of rain we get in our winters, I'm curious to hear if these tires are reasonable enough to buy for wet conditions.

[IMASA]

Originally Posted by Amuse

Anyone have snow tires and drive in the snow with a lowered car in Vancouver?

Any predictions on how much snow we'll get this winter season?

Mine is lowered 2" and uses winter tires that are slightly too tall, so I have a very little fender gap and there's slight fender lining rubbing when wheels are turned at full lock.

Spoiler!

I leave for work at 630am and often the roads aren't fully plowed, but I've always managed to make it with any problems. The FWD and LSD configuration helps a lot with traction.

My prediction is we had a mild summer so I'm expecting a mild winter.

But yeah, like the other guy said, if you're lowered and have good winter tires, you're more likely to get a VI than have issues driving in Vancouver this winter.

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by DIEH4RD

For the guys who have ran Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2's in our diverse winter conditions..

Just would like to hear your guys input on how they handle in the dry/rain?

I understand they kick ass in snow/ice but given the amount of rain we get in our winters, I'm curious to hear if these tires are reasonable enough to buy for wet conditions.

They are OK in the rain - but they are below average at handling big puddles on the highway. Just watch your speed, as always, and you will be fine. Dry, they're a bit mushy as the sidewalls are soft, and the tread blocks are soft. Again, they excel in the bad weather - snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain. Just average in dry/wet conditions.

Don't buy them for the dry/wet performance, buy them for the snow/ice performance if you feel like you need it.

The Michelin Xi3 may be the best choice for Vancouver - it's good in the dry/wet, and average in the snow/ice, and won't wear as quickly in the warmer temperatures as some of the other tires mentioned in this thread.

[AzNightmare]

IMO, you don't really need kickass snow tires within the city. It doesn't snow enough here, and major roads are cleared relatively quick and it's mostly slush.

I think the Xi3 or WinterContact SI would be more suitable here.

[Liquid_o2]

My previous set of winters were Hakka's. There were two times that I felt my car losing control on a curve during slightly wet weather. I was able to correct in time.

Bought Xi3 last winter and they felt a lot more stable during dry and wet weather. And they were also champs going up to Whistler during a snow storm.

[underscore]

I put Xi2 through snow, ice, dumping rain, even summer heat and they worked great. I wouldn't hesitate to get a set of Xi3's.

[320icar]

Because I get this question all the time but have no experience in it, I’ll ask you guys.

All terrain / mud terrain tires versus winter tires for a truck. I see the Bridgestone KO2 is a hella popular tire and it comes with the mountain and snowflake. How well do they really hold up on snow and ice? Would you gladly do a road trip to the interior with them? Or would you really prefer winter tires

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by 320icar

Because I get this question all the time but have no experience in it, I’ll ask you guys.

All terrain / mud terrain tires versus winter tires for a truck. I see the Bridgestone KO2 is a hella popular tire and it comes with the mountain and snowflake. How well do they really hold up on snow and ice? Would you gladly do a road trip to the interior with them? Or would you really prefer winter tires

BFG KO2, not Bridgestone. The KO2's and Duratracs hold up really well in the snow and ice, but don't have the ultimate grip of proper winter tires when it gets super icy. They are really good in snow/slush because they have wide channels and pack down really well, but lack the siping for pure ice. The one scary moment I had with the KO2 was freezing rain turning the Sea to Sky near Pemberton into an ice rink - but that was in 2WD on my truck, and I was trying to accelerate up an incline. Once I went to 4WD High, it was back to being solid.

I have driven into the Interior and Northern BC with the KO2 during winter and would not hesitate to do so again. I did also have a set of Bridgestone DM-V2's, but I got those because I was a volunteer firefighter at the time and I needed something that had better ice traction to get to the fire hall quickly.

[JDMDreams]

I was looking at At tires for my suv, I found that the cheaper ones were rated summer dry climate only and basically will suck in the snow, cold weather. I opted for slightly taller snow tires as they were quite a bit cheaper. but I haven't mounted them yet

Originally Posted by 320icar

Because I get this question all the time but have no experience in it, I’ll ask you guys.

All terrain / mud terrain tires versus winter tires for a truck. I see the Bridgestone KO2 is a hella popular tire and it comes with the mountain and snowflake. How well do they really hold up on snow and ice? Would you gladly do a road trip to the interior with them? Or would you really prefer winter tires

[Hondaracer]

I second the statement about the KO2’s

A bit of snow, or slush etc even rain they are great. However they are not the full snow tire and do not do even come close to the performance of a full snow tire on ice

[yray]

shits gonna get serious this winter

I find xice3 to be so so in ice... but then I'm driving a 5000lb sedan lol

[noclue]

I had to get rid of my KO2 and buy separate winters cause they were extremely awful in the rain, that and not very good road noise and comfort.

If I lived in Alberta or someplace where it doesnt rain 24/7 like Vancouver, maybe I would've kept it.

[320icar]

Lol Bridgestone ko2.... I have brought shame to my family

[underscore]

For an AT tire KO2's and Duratracs are awesome, I've driven them through all kinds of crap between Kelowna/ski hill/Coq with them and they were great. Far better than the Grabber AT2, which was dog shit on ice. I think the weight of the vehicle is a factor though, I've heard complaints from fullsize truck guys they wear quickly, and my older (lighter) Jeep seemed to grip a little better with them than my new (heavier) Jeep. For a lot of ice (northern BC) I'd go for a dedicated winter tire though.

MT tires are absolutely useless in the snow and ice in my (limited) experience using them in it. The slightest incline with a bit of compact snow defeated full tread mud tires, while nearly toast snow tires climbed up the same thing no problem.

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by underscore

For an AT tire KO2's and Duratracs are awesome, I've driven them through all kinds of crap between Kelowna/ski hill/Coq with them and they were great. Far better than the Grabber AT2, which was dog shit on ice. I think the weight of the vehicle is a factor though, I've heard complaints from fullsize truck guys they wear quickly, and my older (lighter) Jeep seemed to grip a little better with them than my new (heavier) Jeep. For a lot of ice (northern BC) I'd go for a dedicated winter tire though.

MT tires are absolutely useless in the snow and ice in my (limited) experience using them in it. The slightest incline with a bit of compact snow defeated full tread mud tires, while nearly toast snow tires climbed up the same thing no problem.

Studded Duratrac's are pretty good, a lot of the guys I know run them for winter. If I was going on logging roads a lot in the winter that's what I'd run.

I did mention I spent time as a volunteer firefighter up North - here's what we found in the ditch quite often when responding to MVI calls. Notice what Bro has on his truck here...

[320icar]

Sketchy lift blocks and bald tires. Love it

[UnknownJinX]

So people have already put on winters?

Still waiting for the temp to drop more before I out mine on. I need to change the oil soon anyway.

[LuHua]

Probably going to put in an order for XI3s again for my C300, they handled that one huge dump we had last winter completely fine, and that was going up and down Cypress. That was in a 2010 open-diff Civic with a 1" drop, got out of that 6" or so of snow at the Cypress lot without issues.

[yray]

Originally Posted by UnknownJinX

So people have already put on winters?

Still waiting for the temp to drop more before I out mine on. I need to change the oil soon anyway.

It's gonna be raining so might as well. So tired of Pzeros slipping on wet piles of leaves.

[Kilinim]

Would I need my winter's on for a trip to Agassiz this coming weekend?

[Jmac]

Originally Posted by Kilinim

Would I need my winter's on for a trip to Agassiz this coming weekend?

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-70_metric_e.html

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/t...hain-up-routes

Doesn't look like it at this point. No snow in the forecast, not a designated winter tire route until you hit Laidlaw.

[320icar]

No? I just drove from Richmond to chilliwack tonight in this epic rain with all seasons, obviously no issues. It’s like 10°

[R1CED`]

still too warm
punched it in a 380hp AWD on P Zeros just now (closed course) and barely slipping