Tire Rack - Testing Winter Weather Specialists: Studless Ice and Snow Tires

[rhys009]

i live in alaska and so stupid buying a small car honda civic 2004 ex, i bought this cause i travel 45 miles like everyday and just to save gas, but its not worth it lol always got stock, now i got tire chains, yey!

[nolanm6500]

Winter tires are of course best, but all seasons aren't that bad, if you go a little wide in a turn you take corrective action rather than stomp and hold the brake as seen in the video.

[jlubez]

this guys sounds like a robot

[TheRobfreeman]

@lafue108 a test of all-seasons vs. winters @ 32 degrees plowed would be completely pointless, thats like comparing water wings to a life jacket in 3 feet of water, in ideal conditions almost anything will work but if you got stuck in the ocean with 10 ft waves those water wings wont help much, an all season will get you down a dry cold road fine but if your next turn takes you to a road the plows havent made it to and you slide into the ditch, that test won't matter to you one bit!

[Lafue108]

@TheRobfreeman and when you wreck on a plowed road because your winter tires handle like soft marshmallows you wont care how much ice grip they have. It goes both ways and becomes more important to know how much winter tires give up the farther south you live. I mean, this is the reason why they have "performance winter tires" out there to begin with.

[TheRobfreeman]

this video neglects to show things to look at when purchasing a set of winter tires, i would have liked to see a slush performance test, Ice traction relies on a lot of tight sipes in a tire to grip a slippery service but with all these companies going to this design they are losing the larger voids to be able to expell slush and snow, the other problem is all these tires are new I have found the continentals and dunlops really fall off after the first season, how about a test at 20000 miles?

[TheRobfreeman]

@valereydyachuk, just because these tires are not studded does not make them all season tires, you can stud a hockey puck and it will stop great the problem is most states and provinces no longer allow studded tires there for creating a need for a well performing studless tire, its funny Nokian actually market their tires as an all weather as opposed to these tires which are strictly winter so in reality they are more of an all season tire than these

[valereydyachuk]

Folks, don't be tricked into believing that these are winter tires. They are All Season Tires at best. I used to have stud-less winter tires and now have some Nokian STUDDED snow tires and I'm sufficed to say that the difference is NIGHT and DAY. You will stop much quicker with studded tires, you will drive up hills with studded tires with your FWD car and you will even be able to stop up a hill and get moving again when the road is COMPLETE ICE.

[alaskacajun1]

I wish someone would do a comparison (studs vs stud less) in some real winter conditions like we have here in Alaska instead of a hockey rink where you can't get up to highway speeds.

[drev5001]

@Lafue108 This is not MISLEADING ADVERTISING. These tires are specifically meant for winter conditions, not all season driving. Winter tires are designed to drive in conditons below 32 degress where snow and ice exsists. In winter conditons, all season tire can not even compete with winter tires. I think you should do a little more research about the differences between the two tires before you start shouting out "MISLEADING ADVERTISING."

[Lafue108]

@drev5001 I would just like to see some testing between winters and allseasons done in 32 degree, plowed conditions. I think its relevant to see the trade off in handling in these conditions to gain the obvious benefits in grip on the snow and ice. Not everyone drives on snow and ice 100% of the time. So to make an informed decision you need to see both sides of the coin.

[sleazykilla360]

aww yea that video was hot those tires were so fucking sexy awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[oceancolours]

These are full winter tyres right? so why are they testing the handling in what looks like summer conditions? Winter tyres are designed for 7C or below conditions.

[ProXECHOx]

buy a 4x4, nuff said

[oceancolours]

@ProXECHOx a 4x4 may get you going but you still need to stop. All cars have 4x4 braking. Hence it's the tyres that make the difference.

[granolanutpunch]

@oceancolours That's not entirely true. Although all 4 brakes are being engaged, a non 4wd car can easily lock up one or two tires while the rest keep spinning.

Whereas with 4wd you have to lock up all tires to begin a skid. If one wheel starts to lock up the mechanical connection between the still spinning tires will kick it free which maximizes the braking potential.

For this reason, a 4wd can stop quicker and retain control under braking on ice/snow/mud far better than a 2wd.

[montante22]

@granolanutpunch lmao...wtf are you talking about. 

[granolanutpunch]

@montante22 4wd vs 2wd braking ability in the snow and ice... 4wd stops a lot better but a lot of people think they would be the same and I was explaining why that's not true.

Anything else I can help you with?

[montante22]

@granolanutpunch you've got to be kidding right? so a brake test on an F-150 for 60-0 ft would do better in 4wd than 2wd...funny how no one has ever mentioned this before in a test

[granolanutpunch]

@montante22 On ice,snow & mud yes. I don't know about on dry or wet pavement because you're not supposed to drive in 4wd on pavement.

I own a 4x4 truck that doesn't have ABS and trust, me it's a MASSIVE difference between 2wd and 4wd. It's the same way on every vehicle i've ever driven with the option of 2wd or 4wd, ABS or not.

Go try it yourself if you don't believe me.

[montante22]

@granolanutpunch tires do not gain magical traction when in 4wd.

[granolanutpunch]

@montante22 No shit flatlander. They don't gain magical traction with a limited slip differential compared to an open differential either but the car sure does, don't it?

In 4wd all 4 wheels are mechanically connected to the rest, therefore one cant spin slower than the rest, can it?

Again, if you don't believe me go try it. I promise you it's a lot harder to activate ABS or lock up a wheel in 4wd than it is in 2wd.

[montante22]

@granolanutpunch in 4wd all the wheels are not mechanically connected to the rest this is only if you have a locking diff and 4wd has nothing to do with braking. and you mention a limited slip..that is for putting the power down more effectively...NOT BRAKING.

[granolanutpunch]

@montante22 They're connected side to side and most are either full lock or limited slip between the front an back.

The important part is the results. I've lived above 8k feet in Colorado my entire life. I've been a valet, a taxi driver, a delivery driver and most importantly a high schooler with a drivers license. I'm EXTREMELY familiar with sliding a car around in the snow and it's just a fact: It's much harder to lock up your brakes or activate the ABS in 4wd than it is in 2wd.

[StevenKMorris]

my dick has better traction

[billytoilembocker]

@StevenKMorris Of course it digs in well when it's as skinny as the blade of an ice skate!

[bwright1991]

Continental needs a better marketing strategy. Without this review I never would have given them a thought unlike Michelin or Bridgestone which have ads everywhere.

[jimbeaug22]

My tire is the best ever ! If someone help me to pay my patent in the world , i will can put my technologie in the market ! If you can help me call me 1-819-542-2436 JIM LUSSIER

[pbmdh]

I actually would buy from tirerack if shipping wasn't retardedly expensive. $600 rim/tire set and they charge $150 for fucking shipping. Ridiculous.

[SparkDischarge]

@pbmdh How much did it weigh? Where were you shipping to?

The most expensive shipping charges I've incurred was $60 (wheel & tire)

[pbmdh]

@SparkDischarge

Had no clue what the weight was, shipping to Minnesota. Doesn't matter now though, got from a different company anyways.

[0HOON0]

Good Info. Thanks

[gcidgvjkfbhvfjzkgbj]

This video became reference very much.

Thank you.