Mike T Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 Hello everyone, I'm new to this board and a relatively new Subaru owner. Like the subject line says, I have a '05 Outback XT Wagon, manual tranny, and I am looking for the best snow tires I can find. I live in Bend Oregon and my wife and I are both huge snow enthusiasts, and will be up at Mt Bachelor several times a week. For those that don;t know, studded tires are legal here in OR and many people use them, although I would be happier with a studless tire since the roads in town are usually not snow-covered. I am a snow enthusiast and not a car enthusiast (I do LOVE my Sube though!) so please bear that in mind when making recommendations. So if I ask any off the wall questions please forgive me. Example - will I need to pick up a set of 16" wheels for snow tires, and if I do, how would it affect handling and performance and do you have any recommendations? If anyone is here from bomberonline.com (alpine snowboarding) - hello Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest *Jedimaster* Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 I'd like to help out, but I'm back on the RE92's til spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dojo Posted October 27, 2005 Share Posted October 27, 2005 nokian WR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Hello everyone, ...I am looking for the best snow tires I can find. ...I would be happier with a studless tire since the roads in town are usually not snow-covered.... Hello Mike, and welcome! I have one recommendation: Nokian RSIs. IMO for pure Winter use, they are the best friction (non-studdable) tires on the market. They are also superior to the Nokian WRs for Winter season application. Best of luck to ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sduford Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 Here's an interesting report on witner tires from the Canadian APA. http://www.apa.ca/template.asp?DocID=97 As you're probably aware, we know a thing or two about winter up here. Sylvain www.digitalfotographer.com - Audi Q5 Club - MB-GLK Club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03Indigo Posted October 30, 2005 Share Posted October 30, 2005 I am running the Hankook IceBear W300, V rated, 225-55-17, $444 shipped to my door with replacement certs from www.tires.com may not be the "best" overall tire out there, but it is a great performer on dry, wet, snow and ice. So far, been real impressed with their overall handling and comfort. I can still take my on-ramps at nearly 50mph...thanks to the stiffer sidewalls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beston38st Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 I'd like to help out, but I'm back on the RE92's til spring. Are they really any good in the winter? I've heard conflicting info on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bici OBXT Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Michelin Blizzaks. The rubber compound on these tires is supposed to become softer as the temperature decreases. However, if it's cold outside without snow, the tires become bald really fast. I had a set on my '99 Passat in Colorado, and never got stuck in the snow, but quickly worn down the front two. Where do you live in Bend...near Bachelor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 I've had them on for about 2000 miles now and I lvoe them. Handle rain like a champ. Handle Dry like a beast. Stuck to a dirt road like I was on rails. Can't wait to try them in the snow. Probly gonna be super sweet My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sduford Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Michelin Blizzaks. The rubber compound on these tires is supposed to become softer as the temperature decreases. However, if it's cold outside without snow, the tires become bald really fast. I had a set on my '99 Passat in Colorado, and never got stuck in the snow, but quickly worn down the front two. Where do you live in Bend...near Bachelor? You mean the Bidgestone Blizzaks. The Michelin X-Ice has similar performance but better thread life and better dry/wet traction. Sylvain www.digitalfotographer.com - Audi Q5 Club - MB-GLK Club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sduford Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 I've had them on for about 2000 miles now and I lvoe them. Handle rain like a champ. Handle Dry like a beast. Stuck to a dirt road like I was on rails. Can't wait to try them in the snow. Probly gonna be super sweet The M3 is indeed a very good all-around tire, doesn't behave like a snow tire on dry pavement at all. However, they do not have the performance of a Snow & Ice tire on icy surfaces. That's OK unless you live in a place that gets a lot of icy roads. Sylvain www.digitalfotographer.com - Audi Q5 Club - MB-GLK Club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erci Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 I've had them on for about 2000 miles now and I lvoe them. Handle rain like a champ. Handle Dry like a beast. Stuck to a dirt road like I was on rails. Can't wait to try them in the snow. Probly gonna be super sweet Another vote for M3's. Fantastic tires in snow (not much ice here, but they're awesome in snow) and they handle quite well on dry/wet pavement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 They have alot of sipes....I'd think they'd do okay on ice. But seriously, do you live on a frozen lake? I'd say go with the blizzaks if you're worried about ice, the M3's if you get lots of actual snow. The blizzaks probly won't last as long as the M3's. M3's also come in a higher speed rating. My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 Where do you live in Bend...near Bachelor? Yep - I can see Century Drive Century as I type this, that's as much info as I'm publishing here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 Thanks for all the suggestions so far - lost to think about! I haven't seen any recommendations for "just get studded tires" - I'm assuming that other than making ODOT's job harder, dry pavement performance is why nobody is recommending them? I had them on my old Durango, it I didn't like taking corners fast in that thing anyway but the studs sure kept it from becoming a 2-ton hockey puck. (I lived over by Mount Hood last year, icy roads are not uncommon...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Mike, also, here's some addl info on the RSIs: http://www.nokianrsi.com/EN/index.html I ran them last winter (first season) and can't say enough good things about them. I had Blizzak MZ-02s prior to this and the Nokian's run circles around those. Can't speak for how the RSIs compare to the Blizzak WR-50s or Dunlop M3s, though the M3s look like they should do very well with all the siping. Have fun shopping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted November 7, 2005 Author Share Posted November 7, 2005 Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Based opn what I've read here, and conversations with a few locals, I decided to go with the RSI's. And not a moment too soon - it's snowing in Bend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndas Posted November 7, 2005 Share Posted November 7, 2005 Hey there just a note...I travel the highway back and forth from Vancouver to Whistler 3-4 times a week and rarely get ice...snow mainly...after reading a few of these threads I am sold on the M3's for the reasons that they are good in snow an good on dry and wet as well...which are the prevailing conditions here in southwestern BC...mostly rain and then snow at the higher elevations...but I am all ears for the RSI as well...my concern is that 80% of my drive is Dry and wet at best and the last part is snow occasionally...I'm open and trying to finalize this week...My thoughts on the M3's were that they were a superior tire for the user that needed a good comination for the longer term winter like we have in BC as in November to March/April (Possible snow at anytime in between but not always the case) I will say this...I lived in Anchorage AK for 10 years and drove on all wheel/front wheel/with studs without studs et all" and found that of course it's mostly how you drive of course but studs are great for keeping things on the straight and narrow during emergency braking...up there it's snow and ice for a good 4 months! It is my opinion that with new rubber compounds that studs are a thing of the past for most daily drivers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sputnik Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 johndas, for your conditions you should look at Nokian WRs rather than RSIs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndas Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I am on it...had a shop show me the Yokahama AVS Winter ...any experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sputnik Posted November 8, 2005 Share Posted November 8, 2005 I am on it...had a shop show me the Yokahama AVS Winter ...any experience! No experience with Yokahamas. Look at users' reviews online - maybe tirerack or what's the name of that big online retailer you have in Vancouver, they have lots of reviews as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkl303 Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 I had M3's on my audi prior to getting my subbie. All I have to say is they kicked the hell out of the artic alpins I had on another car and stopped like a dream on packed snow and powder...ice wasn't too bad as I tried it on a parking lot behind my appartment building, but I have no comparision to make it to on ice because I never tried it on the artic alipins and my other set were bald all seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdkobe Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 I installed the WR's purchased from Ann Arbor Tire... Have had them on most of the summer. Very good traction in summer and wet.. will try them in snow very soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted November 9, 2005 Author Share Posted November 9, 2005 One more question... I noticed the owner's manual says I should get P215/55/R17 snow tires instead of P225/55/R17's that come on the vehicle. If I go with the Nokian RSI, is this an issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydude Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 If you live in the snowbelt then the RSi's are your best bet. If you live in a moderate climate then the WR's are for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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