Best winter tires available

[UNtamed67]

THESE seem to be really good ones !

http://www.nokiantyres.com/winter-tyres/nokian-hakkapeliitta-r2/

Probably for Toronto/Ottawa they are indeed way better than the WR A3 which seems ok for most European countries..

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[Ehdrian]

I've heard all those comments from naysayers about needing to buy a "winter beater" throughout the years. I can only assume they're just horrible drivers. For the record, I drove my Mustang GT PP all winter. Purchased 19in "winter wheels" and rode on a 255/40/19 square setup which were Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's. This is my 4th Mustang that I've driven all year 'round, previous ones all GTs and Cobras. I'd say this is by far the best of them with the added aggressive Snow/Wet mode. The way it controls everything, you seriously forget you're even in a Mustang.

 

[ssyellow]

I've heard all those comments from naysayers about needing to buy a "winter beater" throughout the years. I can only assume they're just horrible drivers. For the record, I drove my Mustang GT PP all winter. Purchased 19in "winter wheels" and rode on a 255/40/19 square setup which were Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's. This is my 4th Mustang that I've driven all year 'round, previous ones all GTs and Cobras. I'd say this is by far the best of them with the added aggressive Snow/Wet mode. The way it controls everything, you seriously forget you're even in a Mustang.

Anything else to weight the rear down? I picked up some Pirelli Sottozero's for dirt cheap from a friend in the same size. They will be going on the prior generation Brembo wheels.

 

[MichaelKael]

Yeah, the question about the additionnal weight in the trunk, is that "necessary" ?
I mean of course I can only be a plus, but should we ?
And also, did you get rust proofing for your Mustangs or not ?

 

[YvonneOfTheYukon]

I have to nokian hak r2s and they are phenominal. Drove it through winter with no issues. No weight is needed the car is already well ballanced and lets not kid ourselves its a heavy car to begin with so it handles snow and ice just fine. Just make sure you get skinnier winter tires than your summer ones and you will be fine.

 

[EXP Jawa]

The use of a dedicated winter car has a lot less to do with (for me) how readily one can drive a high performance RWD car in the snow and a lot to do with protecting that car from harsh operating conditions and other drivers that aren't able to control their own vehicles. Let's face it - winter is hard on cars. Around here, excessive amounts of salt are dumped on the roads since its plentiful and mined locally. I just don't want to expose my very nice car to that. Then factor in the morons out there that have no business operating a motor vehicle, much less in snow, and there is no good reason to want to drive my Mustang in the winter...

 

[MichaelKael]

I have to nokian hak r2s and they are phenominal. Drove it through winter with no issues. No weight is needed the car is already well ballanced and lets not kid ourselves its a heavy car to begin with so it handles snow and ice just fine. Just make sure you get skinnier winter tires than your summer ones and you will be fine.

Thanks, what I thought too
I'm getting the V6 with the 51A 18" wheels, is 17" the skinniest size you can put on the stang, or would 16 be an option too ? Might not look the best, but being from the Alps, I was taught the skinnier the better on snow...

 

[YvonneOfTheYukon]

While i ageee with what you said jawa i just got good insurance and prefer to enjoy driving my really nice car all the time rather than letting it collect dust in storage. I thought about buying a beater but i just dont want to have to deal with a shitty vehicle. Plus any money that goes into the beater doesnt go into my car. But my brother garages his boss all winter so i can see it both ways.

 

[Boff]

Another vote for Blizzak LM-32. BTW I don't believe that the "performance" Blizzaks like the LM-32 have the "half the compound" issue...that is only the regular Blizzak winter tires such as WS60 (which are much more effective than the performance series).

 

[Ehdrian]

Yeah, the question about the additionnal weight in the trunk, is that "necessary" ?
I mean of course I can only be a plus, but should we ?
And also, did you get rust proofing for your Mustangs or not ?

I haven't put weight in the trunk since my '90 5.0. Not necessary.

To protect the paint, I had 3M put on the car. The front 24", headlights, rocker panels, mirrors, door handles, behind each wheel, first 6" of roof and the trunk area. It looks so good, you can't even really see it on a clean black car.

 

[UNtamed67]

I've heard all those comments from naysayers about needing to buy a "winter beater" throughout the years. I can only assume they're just horrible drivers. For the record, I drove my Mustang GT PP all winter. Purchased 19in "winter wheels" and rode on a 255/40/19 square setup which were Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's. This is my 4th Mustang that I've driven all year 'round, previous ones all GTs and Cobras. I'd say this is by far the best of them with the added aggressive Snow/Wet mode. The way it controls everything, you seriously forget you're even in a Mustang.

I don't think it's a matter of good or bad driver. I can only say with winter tyres the brake distance is considerably shorter. Even on a volvo xc90 with all kind of winter and Dynamic stabilty stuff there is a noticeable difference...And you have to buy new tyres anyway after a number of miles so why not buy 2 sets and use the benefits of each ...Just my thoughts of course.

 

[UNtamed67]

Thanks, what I thought too
I'm getting the V6 with the 51A 18" wheels, is 17" the skinniest size you can put on the stang, or would 16 be an option too ? Might not look the best, but being from the Alps, I was taught the skinnier the better on snow...

Skinnier is better and prices are way cheaper as well, worth buying a spare set of wheels...

 

[Waylap1]

I drive my GT all Winter no problem in NH. I did put about 80lbs extra in the trunk (2 bags wood pellets) but it wasn't needed.
I recommend Hankook Winter I-pike. Or of course Blizzak. Also, a little known tire made by Cooper but labeled as "Arctic Claw" only available in 17" is an awesome snow tire.
There's no reason to hide the Mustang in a garage all Winter. After all, who are you saving it for?.....the next owner?

 

[MichaelKael]

There's no reason to hide the Mustang in a garage all Winter. After all, who are you saving it for?.....the next owner?

Hahaha, exactly ! It's like these people who put ugly seat covers to protect their seats, cause it's better for resell value lol They're gonna look at ugly seats with moving fabrics while sitting on, just so the guy who's gonna own the car afterwards can enjoy like new seats... Screw that, I dont even know that guy, and it's gonna save em like what, 100$ on the resell value ?! I wanna enjoy my car andmy seats the whole time I'll be owning it

And you have to buy new tyres anyway after a number of miles so why not buy 2 sets and use the benefits of each ...Just my thoughts of course.

Yeah, very true, but anyway I live in Quebec and it's mandatory here to have wintertires on your car from December 15th to March 15th, so you dont really have a choice; and even if I had, I would go with winter tires, stll ; I mean it's Canada, would be a fool to drive around with "all season" tires IMO

 

[EXP Jawa]

Another vote for Blizzak LM-32. BTW I don't believe that the "performance" Blizzaks like the LM-32 have the "half the compound" issue...that is only the regular Blizzak winter tires such as WS60 (which are much more effective than the performance series).

It would be easy enough to tell - they traditionally have had two sets of wear bars molded into the tread. The taller ones indicated the depth of the unique compound, the shorter the limit of legal depth. If you only see one set of wear bars, then I would guess that the dual-compound isn't an issue. But there are two sets, you can bet that it still applies.

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