Car and Driver: Top 6 Winter Tires review

[aboulfad]

Maybe helpful for some who are still shopping for winter tires! http://www.caranddriver.com/features...mpared-feature

[CanAutM3]

Sadly, not many of those tires are really suited for the F8X

[aboulfad]

I know at least three of them are used by fellow M owners including myself: Nokian R2, Michelin and Blizzak. I am curious why you say that some are not suited for F8x, unless you really meant the other 3 I didn't list

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

I know at least three of them are used by fellow M owners including myself: Nokian R2, Michelin and Blizzak. I am curious why you say that some are not suited for F8x, unless you really meant the other 3 I didn't list

I am not talking about the manufacturers, I am talking about the specific tire models tested by C&D. Different models of a given manufacturer will perform differently .

[teefive]

Interested in dry road performance of the Xi3 vs Conti Si

[aboulfad]

For once i beg to differ with you CanAutM3 , the following tire companies and models featured in that article are also recommended by tire rack. I never said they are the best choices, but nonetheless applicable choices for the F8x. I run now with the Nokian R2 245/45R18 which is mentioned in that article.

So here's the makes/models featured that are applicable for the F8x that i have seen references even on this forum, but again I am not saying you have to get this exact same tire (maybe different load rating, ...), just some more reviews to add to our plethora of information:
- Nokian R2
- Michelin X-Ice XI3
- Dunlop Winter Maxx
- Yokohama iceGUARG iG52C

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by teefive

Interested in dry road performance of the Xi3 vs Conti Si

I have hyperlinked some tire reviews from tire rack above, but don't know much about the Conti Si (maybe its not for our cars :-) ), rather the TS830 P or the new TS850 P.

[teefive]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

I have hyperlinked some tire reviews from tire rack above, but don't know much about the Conti Si (maybe its not for our cars :-) ), rather the TS830 P or the new TS850 P.

Yeah the Si is their studless winter (replaces the ExtremeWinterContact) -- the ones you linked above are in the performance snow category.

The Si is the Conti equivalent to the Xi3, R2, WS80, etc. The Si comes in 245/40/18, which would fit 18s.

Still thinking 225/45/18 Xi3s are the way to go for me though -- looking for max winter traction but still driveable on the highway.

[aboulfad]

If you are not looking for a winter performance tire, what about the Nokians, or are they too wintery for your area ? You can check my post with pics and some initial reviews.

albeit I thought 225 was too thin for the car, I chose 245 which looked decent on the car. I had Michelin XI2 on my previous e46 325 and they were ok, just like the Blizzak WS60 which were ok too, but nothing great.

[teefive]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

If you are not looking for a winter performance tire, what about the Nokians, or are they too wintery for your area ? You can check my post with pics and some initial reviews.

albeit I thought 225 was too thin for the car, I chose 245 which looked decent on the car. I had Michelin XI2 on my previous e46 325 and they were ok, just like the Blizzak WS60 which were ok too, but nothing great.

Yeah i'm definitely considering the nokians but have read the xi3 is a little better on dry roads. Also attracted to the treadlife wty on the xi3s.

ill check out your review again -- interested in how dry road performance improves after the tires wear in a bit more, keep us updated!

[remmib]

Yeah, another win to the Hakka R2.

Never seen those Continental WinterContact SI here in Norway, or Europe for that matter.

Here the Continental equivalent to the Michelin XI3 and Nokian R2 is called Continental ContiVikingContact 6, and looks different than the SI.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by remmib

Yeah, another win to the Hakka R2.

Never seen those Continental WinterContact SI here in Norway, or Europe for that matter.

Here the Continental equivalent to the Michelin XI3 and Nokian R2 is called Continental ContiVikingContact 6, and looks different than the SI.
...[/IMG]

at first glance, it looked so close to the Continental TS850 P and the extreme winter contact. That looks like a mean tire, so you say its the equivalent of the R2? but not available in north america. Man, you guys have the best winter tires

[e90_2_f80]

I am currently running the Xi3 on the F80. I have around 1000 miles on them, all rain around high 30s low 40s no snow yet. I used to have the r2 on the e90m3.

I can speak to dry/wet driving only I dont have experience with the xi3 on ice/snow yet.

The R2 were better around 30/40 in the wet/dry, the turn in was sharp and braking was good. They did well in the snow as well.

The xi3 is more mushy at turn in similar temps, while performance when braking/accelerating is comparable to the r2.

The r2 were at $235 per tire while I got the xi3 for $160. For $340 difference for the set, I still think the xi3 are an excellent tire for the money.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

For once i beg to differ with you CanAutM3 , the following tire companies and models featured in that article are also recommended by tire rack. I never said they are the best choices, but nonetheless applicable choices for the F8x. I run now with the Nokian R2 245/45R18 which is mentioned in that article.

So here's the makes/models featured that are applicable for the F8x that i have seen references even on this forum, but again I am not saying you have to get this exact same tire (maybe different load rating, ...), just some more reviews to add to our plethora of information:
- Nokian R2
- Michelin X-Ice XI3
- Dunlop Winter Maxx
- Yokohama iceGUARG iG52C

You are totally right. My comment was biased towards my own preference for performance winter tires . Those tires in the C&D test are well suited for those that prefer a stronger bias towards snow performance at the detriment of dry/wet performance.

As a tidbit, I find odd that the tires on my car are labelled as TS830P while their tread pattern is more akin to the TS850P. On the Continental site, the TS850P are not even offered in the 255/40R18 size, which tends to indicate that the tires on my car are indeed TS830P. I still wonder why the different tread pattern though. Strange...

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

...
As a tidbit, I find odd that the tires on my car are labelled as TS830P on the sidewall while their tread pattern is more akin to the TS850P. Strange...

you are not the only one, check here, another local Montreal-er has the same observation, I also tried to re-assure him (exmowner) that you drive with those tires and that you were happy with, but that you are not an average driver

BTW, what are you winter driving impressions with the Conti TS830/850 P ? i know its your daily driver, do you venture on snow storm days, or do you take another car ?

[teefive]

Originally Posted by e90_2_f80

I am currently running the Xi3 on the F80. I have around 1000 miles on them, all rain around high 30s low 40s no snow yet. I used to have the r2 on the e90m3.

I can speak to dry/wet driving only I dont have experience with the xi3 on ice/snow yet.

The R2 were better around 30/40 in the wet/dry, the turn in was sharp and braking was good. They did well in the snow as well.

The xi3 is more mushy at turn in similar temps, while performance when braking/accelerating is comparable to the r2.

The r2 were at $235 per tire while I got the xi3 for $160. For $340 difference for the set, I still think the xi3 are an excellent tire for the money.

cool, thanks for the review. how did the r2s do with treadwear? how do the two tires compare with noise?

[JoeFromPA]

There is no way, NO WAY, in the real world performance the Michelin PS A/S 3 stops within 5 feet of a dedicated snow tire on ice at any real-world speed.

They represent this as some sort of significant finding saying a 5 foot difference can be the difference between a fender bender and not, which is true, but to be clear the Michelin PS A/S 3 is the weakest michelin all season in the winter.

I have them on my wife's 2008 535xit and have about 15-20k miles and one winter on them now. They are on the "average in the winter" side of the all-season curve at best.

[aboulfad]

JoeFromPA , I'd take any review with a grain of salt, its just another source of information. I would have not thought stopping distance between any all season and winters would be that short but who cares ! those that live in areas with tough winters know that you need winter tires, end of story.

BTW, thanks for your thread that influenced me to buy the BBS mags and choose 245/45R18 as a size.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

You are totally right. My comment was biased towards my own preference for performance winter tires . Those tires in the C&D test are well suited for those that prefer a stronger bias towards snow performance at the detriment of dry/wet performance.

As a tidbit, I find odd that the tires on my car are labelled as TS830P while their tread pattern is more akin to the TS850P. On the Continental site, the TS850P are not even offered in the 255/40R18 size, which tends to indicate that the tires on my car are indeed TS830P. I still wonder why the different tread pattern though. Strange...

I think it would be cool if some of you winter tire dudes could set up a database thread ... I'm only academically curious but here would be some dimensions:

* Winter performance vs Handling tire
* Brand, model
* size, width
* experience
* past tire history
* review

I'm a recovering winter tire whore and have ran just about everything (even gislaved nordfrosts!), granted the tire companies are always improving upgrading. In any event, the best tires IMO are:

Performance: Vredestein WinTracs

Handling (studless): Nokian Hakkas

[Rotherd31]

My only experience with the current tested snow tires is with the Hakkas. I've run them for the past ten years. And yes, on all four corners. Two, CTS-V's, 06 and 09, a 2012 Mini S and my current X1 35i. I will not consider any other snow. Why argue with success? Mileage has been great on them, only minimal tire noise on the bare road and best of all, great steering control on the front end and great traction on the rear end. Excepting of course, the FWD Mini. Maybe you could do better, but not with any of the other five tires in the MT test. Getting off my Nokian speech platform now

[e90_2_f80]

Originally Posted by teefive

cool, thanks for the review. how did the r2s do with treadwear? how do the two tires compare with noise?

I had around 20k on the R2 when i sold my car. The backs were shot, the fronts had %30/40 left on them. i sold the car with the winters on it.

The Xi3 is okay as far as noise, not too loud so far. When I first put them on in early November temps were in the 70/60s and the grip was pretty bad, plus they were new. The car would sway on direction change, and the tire wall was not providing feedback.

If you drive them early morning to work in low 30s its completely different tire, you cant imagine its the same tire. Lateral grip is much higher, that mushiness and vague steering feel goes away.

The tire is designed for cold weather, it shines below 30F. If you dont get more than 15-20 inches during the winter then go with performance winter (Pa4 or LM32). But if you get 20inches+ then R2 or XI3 is your choice

[teefive]

Originally Posted by e90_2_f80

I had around 20k on the R2 when i sold my car. The backs were shot, the fronts had %30/40 left on them. i sold the car with the winters on it.

The Xi3 is okay as far as noise, not too loud so far. When I first put them on in early November temps were in the 70/60s and the grip was pretty bad, plus they were new. The car would sway on direction change, and the tire wall was not providing feedback.

If you drive them early morning to work in low 30s its completely different tire, you cant imagine its the same tire. Lateral grip is much higher, that mushiness and vague steering feel goes away.

The tire is designed for cold weather, it shines below 30F. If you dont get more than 15-20 inches during the winter then go with performance winter (Pa4 or LM32). But if you get 20inches+ then R2 or XI3 is your choice

I'm located in central MA and drive north for skiing -- sounds like the R2 or Xi3 are for me. Thanks again!