Author Topic: Winter Tires Review (Read 112937 times)

Asstuna · « **Reply #650 on:** November 17, 2013, 01:06:18 pm »

Today I took the wife's BRZ for a drive on the studded Hakka 7's. Roads were rather icy and snow covered.

So.
Much.
Fun.

NiceEqualLengths · « **Reply #651 on:** November 17, 2013, 01:39:41 pm »

Because I dont see any WS70 reviews I'm gonna post mine.

So specs:
Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 205/55/R16
$900/set of 4, installed at Blaskin & Lane on Macleod.
Dry Road: Good. What I expect from a dedicated winter tire. Tires squeal if I corner on dry roads a little harder then normal. The backend can come out if I corner with more speed.
Wet/Rain Road: Cold concrete really help the tires. I can hold traction, no squealing tires, nothing.
Slush: Way better then the Hankook I-Pikes I had on my lancer. I can turn, no under steer.
Heavy Snow Fall: The best tire I have ever been on for this. I went looking to get stuck and I couldn't. I had snow up to the doors and I couldn't. I even stopped and sat there for a minute just to see if I could sink and not get out. I was amazing.
Ice: There is some tire slip due to the fact I can't/didn't want studded tires. But I can control this car no problem.
Braking. On dry/wet it brakes like a normal car. I don't noticed any change. On slush/heavy snow the braking is amazing. I didn't see a stop sign in time last night (I was getting itshay out of my eye, bad driver call) and did a panic brake and I stopped like I was on track tires in 30 degree weather. I was completely surprised and impressed. Ice braking is ice braking. It stops great but the back end does slide out a bit but I feel thats the 4 piston to the 1 piston brake set up.

So Overall
4.5/5
Dry/Wet
4/5
Snow/Ice
5/5

Zaider · « **Reply #652 on:** November 19, 2013, 05:35:19 pm »

Hakkas for the Audi would be $1600+ (19" rims) so I'm thinking about going with the Dunlop winter sport 3d's. They apparently don't make the 4d in the size I want.

The blizzaks I got from the dealership last winter were too squirmy on deerfoot on Saturday. Looks like they're worn down too much to be useful.

jvd · « **Reply #653 on:** November 19, 2013, 07:42:56 pm »

Loving the Hakka R2's on my old crusty Audi.

Way more grip than I'm used to in winter. I'm shocked.

Still feel a little squishy on dry roads. Very comfy though.

yella · « **Reply #654 on:** November 19, 2013, 07:57:02 pm »

zaider, and jvd...... up the pressure a bit if you have not already. If it says 32 psi on your door, go to 36 or 37... it will help get the squirm out!

jvd · « **Reply #655 on:** November 19, 2013, 08:24:04 pm »

Quote from: yella on November 19, 2013, 07:57:02 pm

zaider, and jvd...... up the pressure a bit if you have not already. If it says 32 psi on your door, go to 36 or 37... it will help get the squirm out!

I'll give it a try and report back. Thx.

Zaider · « **Reply #656 on:** November 20, 2013, 09:17:56 am »

They're fine on dry pavement. Its the icy highway where the car started to feel really floaty and unsettled.

SheldonH · « **Reply #657 on:** August 31, 2014, 02:49:53 pm »

Anyone know a good set of winter tires for the new sti??

snackers · « **Reply #658 on:** August 31, 2014, 02:55:07 pm »

Do the new STIs not use the same round rubber compounds that every other car uses?

http://www.westernsubaruclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=3007.0

SheldonH · « **Reply #659 on:** August 31, 2014, 05:51:23 pm »

I don't get what your saying, im just looking for good set of winter tires for my car for Fort McMurray winters

REX · « **Reply #660 on:** August 31, 2014, 06:35:53 pm »

Quote from: SheldonH on August 31, 2014, 05:51:23 pm

I don't get what your saying, im just looking for good set of winter tires for my car for Fort McMurray winters

He's saying your car isn't special. Any tire mentioned in this thread will work on your car.

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #661 on:** August 31, 2014, 08:56:16 pm »

Quote from: SheldonH on August 31, 2014, 05:51:23 pm

I don't get what your saying, im just looking for good set of winter tires for my car for Fort McMurray winters

Sorry buddy, but you're the first person to ever look into buying winter tires for their STI in Alberta. You're gonna have to do all the research yourself. Hopefully future owners can learn from your experience. Maybe if you posted what you got in a review thread of some type...

Asstuna · « **Reply #662 on:** August 31, 2014, 09:32:51 pm »

Quote from: Ambystom01 on August 31, 2014, 08:56:16 pm

Sorry buddy, but you're the first person to ever look into buying winter tires for their STI in Alberta. You're gonna have to do all the research yourself. Hopefully future owners can learn from your experience. Maybe if you posted what you got in a review thread of some type...

Mod has sneakily moved new thread into old thread. You may have missed it because you now have a job. Job. JOB (finally, thank uckfay). Your sarcasm point is moot. Blame GrantC.

Ambystom01 · « **Reply #663 on:** August 31, 2014, 09:58:09 pm »

Oh I know that's what happened. I saw an opportunity to take a sarcasticrap.

canehdianJ · « **Reply #664 on:** November 12, 2014, 10:34:25 am »

Gislaved Nordfrost 100 studded.

Only one word:

Amazeballs.

greatnorthgnome · « **Reply #665 on:** November 13, 2014, 07:09:08 am »

Just picked up a set of barely used hakka 7 studded tires for a steal of a price. Theyre incredible! I'm totally going to get rear ended now.

Saul · « **Reply #666 on:** November 13, 2014, 08:24:26 am »

Quote from: greatnorthgnome on November 13, 2014, 07:09:08 am

Theyre incredible! I'm totally going to get rear ended now.

ROFL!! I was thinking about this actually... I've modified my driving habits to still slow down at the same rate as people with all seasons when they are around me, just so they don't have the idea that just because I can brake that fast they can too. When I come to a stop, I give a full vehicle length in front of me until I know the guy behind me will be able to stop then I start inching forward. That has actually saved me from getting rear ended on at least a couple occasions.

Rad_Racer · « **Reply #667 on:** November 13, 2014, 12:34:27 pm »

I got Pirelli Sottozero 3's. They're great on cold, frosty roads and wet pavement, but I've been disappointed since the recent heavy snowfall. They're definitely not as grabby as Blizzaks or Hakkas in these conditions. I haven't had any issues, but I have unexpectedly slid around a couple of times at pretty low speeds.

sti_positive · « **Reply #668 on:** November 13, 2014, 03:27:49 pm »

225/45/R17 Arctic Claw on stock bbs rims is what my car came with i have NEVER had winter tires on a Subaru only All season lol shame on me

STI 2NV · « **Reply #669 on:** November 14, 2014, 07:56:32 am »

I'm one real winters week worth of winter snowy goodness into my Hakka 8's.

Love em

Review over.

BradM · « **Reply #670 on:** November 14, 2014, 09:38:25 am »

How noisy are the Hakka 8's?

STI 2NV · « **Reply #671 on:** November 14, 2014, 10:35:05 am »

like running over pringles until you hit about 40ish. 60 if you have the windows rolled down

when driving on snow you cant hear them at all.

They have a bit of a howl when driving on a dry warm highway but no louder than my exhaust or the stock Dunlop tires.

yella · « **Reply #672 on:** November 14, 2014, 11:48:02 am »

The 500 km break in period of the Hakka 8 is loud. These tires have a stud hole design that has gum cushions under it. Until those work in the studs are activated all the time. Once the cushion breaks in the stud will be activated once the tire is either accelerating, braking, or sliding as the gum cushion is triangular in design. Once the temerpatures cool they also get quieter as the compounds become more rigid as they are supposed to.

Rathburn · « **Reply #673 on:** November 14, 2014, 01:55:10 pm »

Quote from: STI 2NV on November 14, 2014, 10:35:05 am

like running over pringles until you hit about 40ish. 60 if you have the windows rolled down

when driving on snow you cant hear them at all.

They have a bit of a howl when driving on a dry warm highway but no louder than my exhaust or the stock Dunlop tires.

I was going to say it sounds like driving on gravel. Then a sort of howling buzz at higher speeds.

They are an amazing tire. First time with studded tires for me, and I don't think I'll ever go back. It's like a whole new world of grip. They feel a bit soft and mushy, but not terrible. Definitely what you'd expect from a winter tire.

Canuckrz · « **Reply #674 on:** November 14, 2014, 02:15:24 pm »

I ran the Toyo Garit KX's on my supra when I DD'd it in the winter. They were pretty amazing studless tires. They wear quick, but they grip well.

They use walnut shell imbedded into the rubber compound to act like mini studs. As a result they also have a kawaii little Japanese walnut man on the sidewall, which is good for 3hp per tire.

That being said for my Fozzy I'm going with Hakka 8's, mostly because can't argue with price and buckets of studs. They're not installed yet however.