All year round tires with winter approval

[Lessmore]

Two of my family's vehicles need new tires. One is a car...a Chevy Cobalt 4 dr. sedan. The other is a 2008 Chevy Colorado light truck with the Z 71 off road package. It's 2WD with a Eaton G 80 locking axle.

I'm looking at getting all year round tires....not all season...but tires that can be used the year round and tires that have that winter severe service winter approval.

The truck is used to tow during the winter...a light trailer with a snowmobile.

Any ideas/experiences of brands/models of tires that are available both for the sedan and the truck ?

We get snow from late October to early April...also very cold weather, ice roads, etc.

I'm in Western Canada , but a similar American state's weather would be North Dakota or Northern Montana.
Thanks in advance.

[Tom_in_CT]

Lessmore wrote:

As far as I know, the Nokian WRG series is being produced and sold. The latest models are the WRG2 and WRG3. Maybe (I'm guessing) the WR was the forerunner to these two current Nokians ?

Les

Yes the WR was the original, directional tread all-weather. I used it, worked great but got quite noisy as it aged. Plowing snow on my Jeep Wrangler, they were noticeably better going forward than backward. The G2 went to an asymmetrical tread on most sizes, which was a bit quieter and worked equally well in each direction, and allowed rotating them to the other side of the car. There is still a directional tread available in some sizes. I had the WRG2 on my old Silverado, again - great in wet, really good in snow. Never towed with them, so I don't know how they handle that duty. Haven't tried the WRG3 on anything yet.

They have a new truck tire, the Rotiiva which is Winter rated,but listed on their website as a Summer Tire. Haven't seen snow around here yet, so I don't know if they're any good. I know the previous Vatiiva wasn't as good in snow as the WR, but it didn't carry the Mountain/Snowflake.

None of their All-Weather tires come in the right size for my Ram, so I'm trying to decide if I should go with dedicated Snows, another brand, wait and see if they expand the product line, or go with a 1" shorter tire.

[TurnThePage]

If one does go with those BFG AT KO's, I really, really think siping them is important. Made a huge difference for me.

[Lessmore]

CKNSLS wrote:

Tom in CT wrote:
For the car, you can't go wrong with the Nokian WR. I've used them for many years, they are great in snow and the wet, pretty good in the Summer as well. In various tests, they score well above other all-seasons in the snow, even beating out some of the lower end snow tires. No, they won't be as good as top of the line snows, but if you're going to use one tire year round, that's the one to have. Here, they're rated as "Good" but I believe they're the only all-seasons on the list. http://www.apa.ca/WinterTires2013-PassengerCars.asp

Moving up to the trucks, things get a little more complicated. Due to Canada's snow tire requirements and pressure from Commercial users, once you get to a certain weight rating, the Mountain/Snowflake symbol loses some meaning,and it is based off of tread depth like the old M+S rating. Check tire rack, you'll see the same tire will be winter rated in one weight class but not another.

According to Nokian's website, the Nokian WR is discontinued.

I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling that the WR series may have evolved to the WRG 2 and 3.

As far as I know, the Nokian WRG series is being produced and sold. The latest models are the WRG2 and WRG3. Maybe (I'm guessing) the WR was the forerunner to these two current Nokians ?

Les

[CKNSLS]

Tom in CT wrote:
For the car, you can't go wrong with the Nokian WR. I've used them for many years, they are great in snow and the wet, pretty good in the Summer as well. In various tests, they score well above other all-seasons in the snow, even beating out some of the lower end snow tires. No, they won't be as good as top of the line snows, but if you're going to use one tire year round, that's the one to have. Here, they're rated as "Good" but I believe they're the only all-seasons on the list. http://www.apa.ca/WinterTires2013-PassengerCars.asp

Moving up to the trucks, things get a little more complicated. Due to Canada's snow tire requirements and pressure from Commercial users, once you get to a certain weight rating, the Mountain/Snowflake symbol loses some meaning,and it is based off of tread depth like the old M+S rating. Check tire rack, you'll see the same tire will be winter rated in one weight class but not another.

According to Nokian's website, the Nokian WR is discontinued.

[Tom_in_CT]

For the car, you can't go wrong with the Nokian WR. I've used them for many years, they are great in snow and the wet, pretty good in the Summer as well. In various tests, they score well above other all-seasons in the snow, even beating out some of the lower end snow tires. No, they won't be as good as top of the line snows, but if you're going to use one tire year round, that's the one to have. Here, they're rated as "Good" but I believe they're the only all-seasons on the list. http://www.apa.ca/WinterTires2013-PassengerCars.asp

Moving up to the trucks, things get a little more complicated. Due to Canada's snow tire requirements and pressure from Commercial users, once you get to a certain weight rating, the Mountain/Snowflake symbol loses some meaning,and it is based off of tread depth like the old M+S rating. Check tire rack, you'll see the same tire will be winter rated in one weight class but not another.

[Lessmore]

I would like to thank all the posters. Really good advice regarding tire selection. I appreciate it all and it will all be considered in the mix.

I haven't been able to answer all...due to press of time. But again thanks it makes for an informed decision going through this excellent advice.

Please continue to add any further info.

Thanks, les

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4x4ord wrote:
I have never run winter tires but I have Hankook Optimas on my Acura and am very impressed with their winter performance. I put Wrangler Adventures on my F350 and have pulled a Kenworth b-train out of the snow so I can't complain about them either. I have no idea as to the tread life of either tire.

Thanks 4X4. I'm glad I put a thread here..as I would not be aware of the Hankook Optimas. Seem to be a tire that copes well in the prairie winters.

I'll let my son know about the Wranglers.

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Lumpty wrote:
The best 4-season car tire that I know of is a Continental Extreme Contact DWS. I'm on set #2 on my DD Acura TSX. The first 4 went 50,000 very hard miles. Excellent in the wet, very good in the dry, and in my experience about 75% of the capability of a dedicated winter tire in snow.

Thanks for letting me know about that option. Was not familiar with this tire.

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CKNSLS wrote:
Look for any tire with the Snow flake symbol on the sidewall.

Info/Symbol here-
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=125

Exactly. I've checked and both the Nokian and now this Hankook ....both have the snowflake symbol...sort of encased within a mountain symbol...which is rating to use.

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Paul Clancy wrote:
I've owned the hankook 4s and now a dedicated winter both on front drive Hondas and can say the 4s was every bit as good on snow and ice. They do wear quicker than an all season. My next truck tire will likely be the goodyear adventure lt.

Thanks Paul...that comparison info is helpful and gives me an idea or relative performance of both types of tires.

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blt2ski wrote:
Chris, one also has to remember, some area's of NA do NOT allow metal traction devices, be them studs OR chains. For us here in the NW, that seems ludicrous, but in the midwest where it is flat....not as big a deal as here in the land of Cascade Concrete, or big flake, or wet flake......!!!!

Exactly...and my province is directly above North Dakota...for the most part prairie..then some boreal forest...and some Canadian Shield.

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Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
Les sorry there is not a tire made that can do it all! IB's video proves it! They say their tire is "as close as you can get to a dedicated wither tire'. In poker that's called a tell!

If you want a true winter tire buy a FULL SET as in all four not two. Other wise you are buying a compromise.

Don

A full set as you say is the only way to go. I have a buddy with two studded snow tires on front...two all season on the back (FWD car)...He's changing to same tires all around...says the two different types...are lethal in the snow.

[Lessmore]

Jarlaxle wrote:
WHat sizes do you need?

Son's truck uses 265/75-15...I know it's an odd size. Think he has factory issued General tires on now.

Daughter's Cobalt has 195/60-15...think she has Continental all seasons on now.

[Lessmore]

ib516 wrote:
For the car...Hankook Optima 4S? They have the "Mountain Snowflake" symbol issued by RAC.

VIDEO

Thanks for the link. I had checked the Canadian Tire web , but must of missed these tires.

How do these tires work...accelerate, brake, handle on... hard frozen ice, deep snow, slush, dry roads, wet roads ?

My wife has Goodyear Nordic winter tires on her Matrix. They're good, but noisy. They are as you know a dedicated winter tire.

I wonder how these Hankook ...all weather...tires work compared to a dedicated winter tire like the Nordic...or a good, all season tire like a Michelin Destiny (have on my Buick Allure sedan)...in aforementioned conditions ?

Being based in Regina...weather and road conditions would be almost the same as we have in Wpg.

Thanks in advance.

Les