Winter Tires

[rmncwrtr]

Here's my situation - hubby is having knee surgery next week so he won't be skiing this coming year and probably won't be heading up with us just to hang out while we ski. We are homeschooling and started early in the summer so we could spend more time skiing in the winter so I plan on making the drive to Timberline and Ski Bowl a lot this winter. In the past we've always just used chains, but I never had to put them on. Now that it'll be me and the kids alone, I'd rather not have to deal with chains.

 

I went to tirerack.com to see the various options for my minivan. It came up with studless ice and snow tires as their preferred option. I was thinking I'd need studded tires. Can someone explain what will work best? Thanks!

 

 

Edited October 30, 2008 by rmncwrtr

[RuMR]

blizzax or equivalent...pretty awesome tires, wear fast so take them off in the spring summer fall...better than studs, imo...

[rmncwrtr]

Thanks Rumr.

 

The Bridgestone Blizzack WS-60 was what they recommended.

[ketch]

+1 on the Blizzack,

to follow up on the OP. Studs are sort of old school. They work pretty well but don't come into there own until you are operating on glare ice. Most of us are not racing around on a polished lake so they are not really huge. The newer generation of studless tires are designed to make the most of the available traction. Since lots of little variances exist on road surfaces they do a great job. The Bridgstones do a top grade with these tires. Just be mindfull, as was already noted, the studless tires are made of a softer rubber to stay more flexible in cold. This lets them wear fast in warmer weather and/or more abrasive use. Put the street skins back on as soon as you don't need the extra traction anymore.

[mike1]

still though... you should throw on the chains in your driveway a few times so it's comfortable and easy to do. You never know when you will be forced to put them on.

[Off_White]

I put some Nokian Hakkapeliitta link on my Vanagon just for the Finnish spelling fun factor. Actually, the Vanagon's a tall somewhat heavy breadbox, and these tires have really stiff sidewalls that help prevent that squishy cornering feel. They've been really swell in the snow as well, not surprising that the Finns would excel in that regard. These might be overkill for your minivan.

[rmncwrtr]

Thanks! Sounds like the studless tires are the way to go, except...

 

My hubby was wondering if anyone had experience with spiders.

[dirtysloper]

Blizzaks for sure. I had a CRX that would spin on a wet day. I put some Zaks on it and was passing All-wheelers on the way to the slopes. But seriously, Blizzaks.

[mccallboater]

Another plug for Nokian Hakkapeliitta's. They are the most popular winter tire in the McCall/Cascade area. Considering how unknown they are elsewhere, that's a pretty ringing endorsement. I've put them on 5 different vehicles so far.

[snoboy]

Hakkas on my subie = hardly ever hit the 4wd button anymore.

[John Frieh]

Of all these studless models which one wears out the slowest? I.e. not a lot of snow during the week but for sure on the weekends?

[dirtysloper]

the most expensive...