Rep Power: 0

Winter is just around the corner and I can already feel the snow coming.

Unfortunately, my OEM tires from good ol' Honda are not going to cut it this winter. I drive quite cautiously in the winter and like Andretti during the summer. I need a set of tires that will accomodate my driving skills and "bad habits". I am looking @ getting a full set of winter tires for the season. However, I have a few questions:

1. With the unpredictable/fluctuating weather that we've (GTA/Ontario) been getting during the last few winters (ie. sun/slush/ice/snow/back to sun), wouldn't I be better off in getting "good" all-seasons?

2. I have a 2001 Civic coupe LX. What is the exact OEM tire size? What would be the best size rubber to get for an all-season or for that matter winter tire (ie 14's or 15's)? Everyone seems to suggest 195/60/15, what do you think?

3. Can someone confirm this fact/non-fact, the smaller the tire (ie. 14/15 or 185/205) the better the traction in snow/ice. This is so because there is less surface area so that the tire can cut through the bad weather a lot easier. I always thought that the bigger the tire the better the traction because of the larger surface area. Can someone please clear this up for me?

4. Finally, what does everyone use during the fall/winter seasons? Specifically, winter or all-seasons, manufacturer and model, and why?

I am entertaining the idea of getting both summer/winter tires but I don't have a lot of money to throw around these days. Furthermore, I don't like the idea of having to change/balance/align every season. I have already reviewed of few tires in both categories, could you please leave your recommendations and advice on each if possible? They're in no particular order:

All-Seaons:
1. Michelin HydroEdge's (***Brand-new tire***, does anybody have any further info in this tire. It looks as if it does everything I need and more)
2. Michelin Harmony's (recommended by a few on the board but I would like a few more suggestions and reviews)
3. Bridgestone Ponteza 950's (also highly recommended, but it doesn't seem as though there made for extreme snow conditions)
4. Goodyear Regatta 2's (another option that looks promising but I have yet to see a review on it)

Winters:
1. Bridegestone Blizzaks (spoke of frequently but are said to have a short tread life and are better suited for icey conditions)
2. Michelin Artic Alpines (hihgly recommended by T.O.'ers, a great set of tires)
3. Nokian Hakka's (European tire that sticks well to ice/snow, anybody heard of these?)

I have already been to tirerack.com and have seen the reviews there. I would like to hear from people who already drive in what I drive in on a daily basis and their advice. Sorry for the long post but I need to get some tires quick-time.

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 0

i have the nokian hakka's.. its pretty popular with ppl on this forum as well.

it worked pretty well.
quite pricy though.. about 4-5 bills.. forwhat i exactly paid for 'em
i heard the winter tires from cdn. tire was worth its money.. its like around 2bills i think.....

 
Rep Power: 0

i've been using artic alpins and pilot alpins for the past 2 winters and they have been great...... the snow traction is about the same as all other winter tires, but the ice traction is amazing.......

my dad's car has been running blizzaks and they are a very good tire as well... to the point that i'd say they are better than the alpins in snow...... as for ice, they are average and not up with the alpins....... but the short tread life is true about the blizzaks.....

i've frequently driven the hakka 1's in a few snow storms and they're good in snow and ice..... but i found them louder at highspeeds and also found the life to be shorter.....

another option is the pirelli series of winters..... i found them to be quite well in the snow and ice, and also amazingly quiet (quieter than the blizzaks, alpins, hakkas)........

but either of these are good choices and definitely help in the winter..... .

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the replies guys.

Now I know that many of you including my friends suggest that I just go ahead and get winter rubber. Unfortunately , by going that route I'll be spending twice the money that I expected to. I would have to go out and buy 2 sets of tires one for winter and one for summer. That's not even including the mounting/alignment/fitting fees. I don't have that kind of money right now, which is why I am leanimg more towards all-seasons. Does anybody use all-seasons on their cars currently? If so, which ones? Furthermore, no one has ansewred the question about tire size and upgrading/the smaller the better . . .

 
Rep Power: 0

i heard that for winter tires, the thinner the better...
it's also cheaper...

but for all season, stick with the stock size or the recommended plus/minus sizes (tire calculator)

 
Rep Power: 0

185/65/15 was stock..
i plan on sticking with a 15" rim but probably drop to a 175/65/15, it'll cut the snow better, less float..we usually don't see a lot of ice, more snow than anything else..

and i'll be trying the KW-11's

 
Rep Power: 0

I'm driving the 2k1 Si.... but I think I'm going to drop to a 14" wheel for winter cause the tire will be cheaper. So, in that case, I'm probably going to buy a 185/70-14 tire. My buddy is telling me I should invest in Toyo Observe G02 Plus and to tell you the truth they seem to be pretty good for Canadian winters considering snow is removed from the ground within 2 days and we're driving on cold pavement.

 
Rep Power: 0

get nokians hakka, if u wan pure ice/show drive, but if u want something that can even out wet/snow/ice/slush and noise level, get the nokian nrw or they might have a new model for nrw dunno what it call

 
Rep Power: 0

My winter tires and rims:
Michelin Arctic Alpin 195/60R15
Honda 5 split spoke alloy rims 15"

My summer tires:
Yokohama Parada Spec-2 205/45R17
ADR Sokudo-8 17"

 
Rep Power: 0

I have the Nokian Hakkpellita1's for the winter.

Size... 195/65/15 mounted on my stock Si rims.

Last winter... I found them to be great! Grips amazing and you can drive aggressive and still have full control. Grooves are really deep and the rubber is really sticky. Great winter tires in my opinion.

The only thing is... I noticed there is a whistling sound when you drive on a somewhat cleaner road. Probably just the wind channeling in and around the deep grooves. But it's not bad at all...

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the responses guys.

However, I am surprised to see that no one has commented yet on the whole all-season issue!?! Doesn't anyone use all-seasons? If so which ones? Other than that keep the responses and suggestions coming.

Also, how much did you guys pay for your set of tires/steelies? And . . . can someone please confirm the OEM sizing of tire on my 2001 LX coupe please.

 
Rep Power: 563

My old man works for Michelin. I can tell you this much...

1) Michelin HydroEdge's are insane!

2) Michelin Arctic Alpins are one of the best rated tires for snow and have been in the top two every year since they came out.

3) BF Goodrich Winter Sloloms: I use these and they're probably the best 15" for the Civic.

For those of you that don't already know, BF Goodrich and Michelin are the same company pretty much. Michelin High Performance Tires are mainly in Europe with the exception of the Sport Exalto (my summers) and the Pilot Sport AS (OEM Viper and so on...) BF G have more of the North American Performance market like the G-Force line.

Anyway, I would be happy to give you any info on either tire from those two companies if you need it....

 
Rep Power: 0

i have the same set up as nospleeny...
195/60/15 michelin artic alpin on si rims...
tires cost close to $600
but i got them in early december so it was hard to find a full set
but hey, i just put them on the rims last weekend and i was surprised to see how much treadwear they had (since i commuted to and from waterloo EVERY weekend from jan-april)

great buy!
i know a couple ppl using pirellis and 1 guy using nokians...
no matter which tire you get, it'd be better than all seasons...

i know 2002 lx coupe stock is 185/65/15

 
Rep Power: 0

My Arctic Alpins gotten my *** safely home to/from work (TO to Waterloo!) all of last winter... Thank goodness! I put 240km a DAY on these puppies back in the day (5 days a week!), and let's just say I'm very glad I bought them.

They make a supercharger whining noise when you're on wet pavement though

 
Rep Power: 563

Yeah, alot of winter tires will do that...The Alpins are quiet compared to most though.

 
Rep Power: 0

yeah i know...
it sounds like my car is taking off...
kinda fun actually

 
Rep Power: 0

I used the Nordic Icetracs the last winter, really good tires all around and really quiet too... and I got them for cheap at crappytire for 400bux installed... I think they're re-badged BF Goodrich tires... the Nordic Wintertracs are actually BF Goodrich Slaloms rebadged

 
Rep Power: 0

yup, when i had my alpins on, i was convinced that i was flying a plane and not driving a civic... heehee...

 
Rep Power: 0

My alpins made a slight high pitch noise...

But if my Parada Spec-2s make one that's 5 times as loud when travelling between 55-65 km/h and then it suddenly dies off.

 
Rep Power: 0

Most of us can't really comment on All Seasons, because most of us have rims and tires for the summer... and winter tires for the winter.

I'd try to comment on good All Seasons, but I don't know much about those... sorry...

 
Rep Power: 0

Well . . .

It seems as though the latter post is true. I am seriously considering getting the Michelin Hydroedge's the do look INSANE! Pharoh can you give me some more info on these tires.

PS: Does anyone have any hook-ups or know of any good hsops to go out and buy winter rubbers?

 
Rep Power: 563

Here's a link with the specs and I attached an image as well.

Basically this is a new model for Michelin so I can't get alot of details on it but from what I can see this will suit your needs very well.

Where did you find them and how much were you quoted? Do you have Frisby Tire in TO?

Michelin Hydroedge

 
Rep Power: 0

I have yet to go out and start my whole pricing "thang". I think that I am definately going to lean towards getting a set of these (ie. Michelin HydroEdges). They look like they do everything. Granted that they won't perform as well as getting separate seasonal tires but I'll bet my life savings (which is pretty much nothing), that they will perform 210% better than my stock Firestones.

Pharoh, can you get any deals from your dad on tires? I'll pay ($$$) you a cut to keep both of us smiling!

1. Does anyone else have any hook-ups when it comes to tires?

2. Can some of you suggest some stores where I should go and check out for pricing?

 
Rep Power: 0

where do you guyz go to re-mount your winter-tires?

and when do u guyz go back to steelies+winters? november?

 
Rep Power: 0

I put my winter tires on ... in my garage.

 
Rep Power: 0

im using Toyo's GO2 observe+ and they're amazing. they grip to everything.
i put kumho somethings on my mom's and she seems to do ok in them when she drives an hour to wrk and back each day.