Who wants a great winter tire for a KILLER price
#63
I had the pleasure of driving my brother's '08 Outback XT in Tahoe over the Thanksgiving holiday with the newly mounted ContiExtreme DWS'. While they were by far the best all season's I've used in the snow, they weren't as good as any of the dedicated snow tires I've used in the past (Blizzak LM-22, Michelin Alpin PA2 and the General Altimax Arctic). The General's have been the best value snow tire by far and I'd recommend them to anyone that spends a fair amount of weekends in Tahoe.
-Brian
-Brian
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....n&autoModClar=
Look at other tires & pricing and it will list 205/60R15 @ $66.00 (ea.) as an applicable size for a 03 wrx sedan...???
Last edited by steeze; 12-04-2010 at 10:53 PM.
#68
VIP Member
iTrader: (9)
My experience having driven Blizzaks, Altimax Arctics, and the DWSs (as well as the Michelin Alpin PA2) is as follows:
Blizzaks - Great tires if you put them on for the trip to Tahoe and take them off when you get back. They're just too soft to drive on bay area roads throughout the whole winter, IMHO. They squirm and slide quite a bit and wear like hell on dry roads.
Altimax Arctics - Excellent for bay area Tahoe heads. I HIGHLY recommend this tire as a tire you can rock all winter. They're not as soft of a compound as the Blizzaks and handle the dry/wet/no snow roads of the bay area winter much better than the Blizzaks. It's pretty damn good on dirt too if that matters to you.
DWSs - Good winter tire for a couple of trips to the snow per year. I wouldn't want them for the big dumps or any deep snow as the treads aren't as deep as the other two tires mentioned. They're pretty good in the snow for an all season, but I wouldn't recommend them if you want to be first on the hill after a HUGE dump.
I'm sure people will debunk my opinion as it is just that, opinion. I have, on the other hand, had my fair share of snow driving experience having lived in Colorado for five years so take it for what it's worth.
-Brian
Blizzaks - Great tires if you put them on for the trip to Tahoe and take them off when you get back. They're just too soft to drive on bay area roads throughout the whole winter, IMHO. They squirm and slide quite a bit and wear like hell on dry roads.
Altimax Arctics - Excellent for bay area Tahoe heads. I HIGHLY recommend this tire as a tire you can rock all winter. They're not as soft of a compound as the Blizzaks and handle the dry/wet/no snow roads of the bay area winter much better than the Blizzaks. It's pretty damn good on dirt too if that matters to you.
DWSs - Good winter tire for a couple of trips to the snow per year. I wouldn't want them for the big dumps or any deep snow as the treads aren't as deep as the other two tires mentioned. They're pretty good in the snow for an all season, but I wouldn't recommend them if you want to be first on the hill after a HUGE dump.
I'm sure people will debunk my opinion as it is just that, opinion. I have, on the other hand, had my fair share of snow driving experience having lived in Colorado for five years so take it for what it's worth.
-Brian
#69
Lil' Slugger
iTrader: (7)
I have the Altimax Arctics, and they did great last year. I had Blizzak WS 60's before that, and many other winter tires before that. They are very similar to the blizzaks in the deep stuff and ice. On the dry they are a bit squishier than the blizzaks. I like them, and would buy them again (in fact I am probably going to pick up a set for the GF) for a dedicated winter set since I live up here and run them for about half the year or so. I definitely did like the blizzaks, but for me the difference between the two weren't worth the extra $ that they charge for them.
#70
Lil' Slugger
iTrader: (7)
My experience having driven Blizzaks, Altimax Arctics, and the DWSs (as well as the Michelin Alpin PA2) is as follows:
Blizzaks - Great tires if you put them on for the trip to Tahoe and take them off when you get back. They're just too soft to drive on bay area roads throughout the whole winter, IMHO. They squirm and slide quite a bit and wear like hell on dry roads.
Altimax Arctics - Excellent for bay area Tahoe heads. I HIGHLY recommend this tire as a tire you can rock all winter. They're not as soft of a compound as the Blizzaks and handle the dry/wet/no snow roads of the bay area winter much better than the Blizzaks. It's pretty damn good on dirt too if that matters to you.
DWSs - Good winter tire for a couple of trips to the snow per year. I wouldn't want them for the big dumps or any deep snow as the treads aren't as deep as the other two tires mentioned. They're pretty good in the snow for an all season, but I wouldn't recommend them if you want to be first on the hill after a HUGE dump.
I'm sure people will debunk my opinion as it is just that, opinion. I have, on the other hand, had my fair share of snow driving experience having lived in Colorado for five years so take it for what it's worth.
-Brian
Blizzaks - Great tires if you put them on for the trip to Tahoe and take them off when you get back. They're just too soft to drive on bay area roads throughout the whole winter, IMHO. They squirm and slide quite a bit and wear like hell on dry roads.
Altimax Arctics - Excellent for bay area Tahoe heads. I HIGHLY recommend this tire as a tire you can rock all winter. They're not as soft of a compound as the Blizzaks and handle the dry/wet/no snow roads of the bay area winter much better than the Blizzaks. It's pretty damn good on dirt too if that matters to you.
DWSs - Good winter tire for a couple of trips to the snow per year. I wouldn't want them for the big dumps or any deep snow as the treads aren't as deep as the other two tires mentioned. They're pretty good in the snow for an all season, but I wouldn't recommend them if you want to be first on the hill after a HUGE dump.
I'm sure people will debunk my opinion as it is just that, opinion. I have, on the other hand, had my fair share of snow driving experience having lived in Colorado for five years so take it for what it's worth.
-Brian
But like you said, it is all opinion!
#72
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Above the fog, below the snow
Posts: 1,667
Car Info: 2002 BRP 2.5RS
I highly recommend the Altimax's! I have used the same set for two winters now, going on my third and still have a solid 12mm on them. I live just where the snow stops and drive the summit every weekend so these tires see mileage. I can pass trucks in a downpour of snow and never break traction. To snow drift is almost difficult with these.
I used to use Cooper's snow tires (blanking on the name at the moment), bought these 3 winters ago and haven't looked back. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
I used to use Cooper's snow tires (blanking on the name at the moment), bought these 3 winters ago and haven't looked back. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
#73
VIP Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 7,441
Car Info: 2018 Golf R Variant
My experience having driven Blizzaks, Altimax Arctics, and the DWSs (as well as the Michelin Alpin PA2) is as follows:
Blizzaks - Great tires if you put them on for the trip to Tahoe and take them off when you get back. They're just too soft to drive on bay area roads throughout the whole winter, IMHO. They squirm and slide quite a bit and wear like hell on dry roads.
Altimax Arctics - Excellent for bay area Tahoe heads. I HIGHLY recommend this tire as a tire you can rock all winter. They're not as soft of a compound as the Blizzaks and handle the dry/wet/no snow roads of the bay area winter much better than the Blizzaks. It's pretty damn good on dirt too if that matters to you.
DWSs - Good winter tire for a couple of trips to the snow per year. I wouldn't want them for the big dumps or any deep snow as the treads aren't as deep as the other two tires mentioned. They're pretty good in the snow for an all season, but I wouldn't recommend them if you want to be first on the hill after a HUGE dump.
I'm sure people will debunk my opinion as it is just that, opinion. I have, on the other hand, had my fair share of snow driving experience having lived in Colorado for five years so take it for what it's worth.
-Brian
Blizzaks - Great tires if you put them on for the trip to Tahoe and take them off when you get back. They're just too soft to drive on bay area roads throughout the whole winter, IMHO. They squirm and slide quite a bit and wear like hell on dry roads.
Altimax Arctics - Excellent for bay area Tahoe heads. I HIGHLY recommend this tire as a tire you can rock all winter. They're not as soft of a compound as the Blizzaks and handle the dry/wet/no snow roads of the bay area winter much better than the Blizzaks. It's pretty damn good on dirt too if that matters to you.
DWSs - Good winter tire for a couple of trips to the snow per year. I wouldn't want them for the big dumps or any deep snow as the treads aren't as deep as the other two tires mentioned. They're pretty good in the snow for an all season, but I wouldn't recommend them if you want to be first on the hill after a HUGE dump.
I'm sure people will debunk my opinion as it is just that, opinion. I have, on the other hand, had my fair share of snow driving experience having lived in Colorado for five years so take it for what it's worth.
-Brian
BTW - I see a lot of Continental snow tires over here, but they are usually on studded tires by 12/1 so not sure what they move to at that point.
#74
Registered User
iTrader: (73)
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Suckafree
Posts: 1,414
Car Info: bugeye WAR wagon
https://www.i-club.com/forums/norcal...-fs-sf-211391/
I highly recommend the Altimax's! I have used the same set for two winters now, going on my third and still have a solid 12mm on them. I live just where the snow stops and drive the summit every weekend so these tires see mileage. I can pass trucks in a downpour of snow and never break traction. To snow drift is almost difficult with these.
I used to use Cooper's snow tires (blanking on the name at the moment), bought these 3 winters ago and haven't looked back. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
I used to use Cooper's snow tires (blanking on the name at the moment), bought these 3 winters ago and haven't looked back. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
Last edited by BeE_JiZZeLs; 10-06-2011 at 07:56 PM. Reason: added pic