Studded snow tires VS Blizzaks?

[Timothyd]

Why does no one mention Nokian? Because they are not popular with MTC forum users. Why is that? Price and geography. Most MTC forum users are in North America. In North America, you can get 225/60R18 vanguard Arctic claws (like the OP bought), for $127. The same sized nokian Hakkapeliitta is $220. People almost always buy the cheapest item, if it works at least 80% as well as the premium item. In Europe, where Nokian is popular, they don’t get the low cost options, at least they didn’t used to. I haven’t been to Europe for the last 10 years. But their retail commerce is weird. For example, in the US, if you’re working on a shed project, you go to Home Depot and buy your 2x4’s, plywood, lag bolts, hinges, latch, door, door handle, wiring, light switches and lights all in the same stop. In most parts of Europe, there is no store like that. You have to go to the lumber yard, then the hardware store, then the lighting shop…. And on every stop, the items are premium or boutique and they are expensive. No one in town has the Walmart variety cheap Chinese equivalent product. Same thing with tires. They don’t get the option to buy 1/2 priced Chinese made Arctic Claw tires, so everyone talks about what they have bought and what they have experience with.

I had good luck, in the past, of having just snows on in back (drive tires) but I'll pony up this time and get all 4. Besides, it would look a little funny with the alloys on back and steelies on front.

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[Scott Asheville]

OP, I would stop by your local police department and ask them what they put on their cruisers during the winter.

 

[Timothyd]

2024 Hybrid BAP pkg

so I am in a debate with myself and a few friends. on what is better so me*

I live in a very snowy resort town where winter last from about oct. 31 to may.
on the mountain we average 400-500" of snow per year.
I drive 25 miles each way to work over a step mountain pass up to 10% grade

in the past I have always ran studded snow tires on a FWD manual little car scion Xa the thing was a goat it very will in snowy conditions. drove it for 10+ years that way.

so now that I have my fancy new mav. its time to get proper winter tires.
I am leaning towards studded but have no ruled out the blizzaks...

thoughts

Getting 4 Blizzaks installed tomorrow and, it's supposed to snow so I'll get an instant comparison between them and the shitty stockers.
Wish it was almost spring instead of almost winter.
I'm putting them on some steelies I bought. They actually look pretty good.

 

[A A Ron]

I live in Northern Vermont, and while we don't get 400-500" of snow per year, we do get our fair share. I am also at the mountain every weekend for my kid's ski lessons. In the past, I've used studded and non studded snow tires on my previous car (VW Golf). I went with Michelin x-Ice snow tires on the Mav last year and couldn't be happier. As others have said, if ice on the road is big concern, then studded tires may help a little more. I haven't run studded tires in at least 6 years, and never noticed a drop off in grip.

What size X-Ice did you go with? I picked up 17" OEM steelies for my hybrid lariat. Wanted to put 225/65/17 x-ice tires on them but can only find 235/65/17

 

[jahaas13]

What size X-Ice did you go with? I picked up 17" OEM steelies for my hybrid lariat. Wanted to put 225/65/17 x-ice tires on them but can only find 235/65/17

I ended up ordering 225/65R17 106T Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV from Discount Tire - they are a sponsor of this forum. I worked with them directly through this site. Super easy transaction.

 

[A A Ron]

I ended up ordering 225/65R17 106T Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV from Discount Tire - they are a sponsor of this forum. I worked with them directly through this site. Super easy transaction.

We don't have a discount tire around here, so went with the Ice-X Snow SUV 235/65R/17 108T from Tire Rack. Will see how they do!

 

[Johnny maverick]

Nokians were my first encounter with a dedicated snow tire. I never went back to a studded tire. I've run blizzaks, Michelins. goodyear ultra grip ice were a great tire for the icy roads. It was what the cops were running so I thought they'd be good for my marauder. I have cheap Chinese AT tires on the maverick. Other than the snow traction I hate the tires. I should have bought a better brand tire. But they were so damb cheap it was worth the chance. Next ones will be Michelins.

 

[jahaas13]

We don't have a discount tire around here, so went with the Ice-X Snow SUV 235/65R/17 108T from Tire Rack. Will see how they do!

No tire rack around here either. They shipped in 2 days and I had my local mechanic mount them. Super easy

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