Winter Tires

I tried the search function and was very surprised by the lack of information I could find on winter tires.

Just about to pick up a 2024 Platinum which has stock 265 60R20 tires and I was going to get a set of Nokian studded tires, yes I live in Northern Ontario. To my surprise, after some searching, that's not an option this year as there is no stock in Canada. So I then turned my mind to other options and as usual, an odd tire size means very very limited choices. Blizzacks are available in that size and they are usually pretty well rated. I usually start at Costco, but the only thing they have that would be even semi suitable is the BF Goodrich HD Terrain.

So, what are you Canucks doing in the winter? And I'd love to hear from people who deal with a fair bit of snow on a regular basis. I have zero faith in the factory tires.

 

I just put a new set of Coopers AT3 on my 2007 265/55-20 and bump it into 4wd (hi) when needed. I have no problems getting around and I live in Erie Pa where we see 90-100" annually. (except maybe this year)

 

I ordered Toyos for my wife's Pilot and that's what my brother runs on his truck. Friends of mine run Coopers on their trucks and highly recommend them.

Check out blackcircles.ca for the best prices and decent availability (at least in the sizes the Pilot takes).

 

If you got the Bridgestone Duelers that came with it, I totally understand and agree with you. In the snow, they suck. Just my opinion.

 

Thanks for the tip on Black Circles, great pricing. I guess the only issue is the warranty if anything happens as I was told by the shop that would install them, they have zero responsibility for any warranty. That said, they have a very good google rating and their warranty procedure is clearly explained as to what is covered, what isn't and what maximums are.

Mine came with Yokohama Geolanders. Although Yokohama is usually a good brand, like most other OEM tires, I don't expect these to last very long KM wise and just looking at the tread, they aren't going to cut heavy water driving.



We are snowmobilers and spend time in Northern Ontario, hence we need good traction especially when pulling the trailer. After striking out on the Nokian's this year, I have found that Cooper have a tire available that can be studded, the Discoverer. Because I live in the north, studs are legal up here between Oct 1 and Apr 30.

I'm down to 3. The studded Coopers - very expensive, Blizzaks - hands down the best traction winter tire but short tread life, and the Toyo Open Country WLT1 which appears to be well rated for traction and longer tread life.

 

I,went with Toyo gis6’s for winter. Not happy. Pretty disappointed actually.

nokian #1
Blizzak #2 (be aware only first 1/2 of tread is,good. Then the tire is “meh”)

 

Although the Blizzaks appear the best for traction, unfortunately you aren't the first to warn me about tread life. From what I've researched, if you do any sort of high KM driving in the winter, they are one season tires.

 

i,actually think,the blizzaks are simply the best tire. The problem is the compound that makes it awesome makes up 55% of the tread. Once you pass that then it’s a mediocre winter tire. Still better than an all season.

nokian is also very good, but it’s consistent till the end (snow performance dwindles with tread depth)

 

Where did you get those lug nuts? I have color keyed wheels like those, but with chrome lug nuts. Those look so much better.

 

Nokian Hakkapellitta LT

 

couldn’t find these. My favorite tire, hands down. Did you go studded?

 

xice was the first winter tire I ever bought. They were good.

I’m going from a frontier on nokian to a tundra on Toyo, so I don’t know if it’s the tire, or the truck. Plus we’ve had little snow in Winnipeg, and unusually warm weather so it’s around zero all the time which is the worst for ice.

 

Hakka LT studded are definitely the best snow/ice tires for this size vehicle. I have blizzaks too for various vehicles and they are the best all around winter season tire, including rain, but as previously stated above the tread-life is suboptimal. Hakka Nokian plants were in Ukraine and stopped production for about a year and were setup in other places recently, thus the limited quantities. You can find them on lesser known sites, also switch tire rim sizes for more options.

 

I did not get them studded, matter of preference, a great winter tire!

 

Nokian tires are pretty tough to get a hold of, at least the model of studded snow that I bought last winter in the U.S. as they're made in Russia, who's pretty unpopular these days.

 

They came stock.

 

Well, I'm out of Hakkapelitta ideas, I've tried everywhere, none to be had until next year at the earliest. I wasn't aware of the Russia/Ukraine connection so who knows, they may be off the market all together for a while.

I've decided to go with Blizzaks and a set of chains for those really bad days. I'm rural so I need the chains to get up a hill in the driveway while pulling a trailer. Once I'm out, the chains come off.

I'll try and get Hakka's in the off season as the Blizzaks are 2 season tires at the most.

 

Made in Russia pretty much explains it. It makes for some interesting reading. Nokian will most likely be out of the market for a bit while they regroup.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/05/business/economy/nokian-tyres-finland-romania.html

 

Paywalled, but ya. Sad, I like them. I think that the set I have will get me through until then.

 

Odd, first time it let me in, now it is paywalled via the link.

It basically said the company is taking a beating right now as they had to sell the Russian operation and that operation was producing 80% of their tires. Of course, they got pennies on the dollar and their stock plunged.

They are redoing their business model, building a new factory in Romania to serve the European market, and looking to make their North America market tires in the US. No more making everything in one site, they learned a lesson on vulnerability.

Of course, the big question now is will they survive financially and if they do, will the product be the same quality.

Too bad, I've read so many good things about them, everyone who has them raves about them.

 

Just ,rereading this thread. It looks like you have a suncast (“plastic”?) shed. What model/size did you buy? I’m getting older and my tires are up on a wall. Looking to buy a small shed for the backyard so I can roll the tires for storage. Plus my garage will have more space

 

Yes sir, got the Suncast 6x4 lean to version from Lowes model number BMS6202D. Works really well for two sets of larger tires, like I put a stack of 32” and 35” in there with room for more above. Like most plastic sheds assembly is somewhat annoying but this model had decent instructions and is sturdy. Big benefit is no maintenance and built in lock. I am surprised they are apparently 599$ usd here now, was 300 something not too long ago.