Folks,

I'm about to order a new set of 16" winter tires for our MCS. The choice comes down to:

195/55R16 (stock size) Nokian Hakkapelitta R
195/55R16 (stock size) Michelin X-Ice Xi2
205/55R16 (1.77% taller) Bridgestone Blizzak WS70
195/55R16 (stock size) Bridgestone Blizzak WS60


Has anyone had firsthand experience with more than one of the above brands?
Would you mind sharing it and explaining your preference?

I had listed the tires in the order of decreasing price, though money is no object.
No RFT tires were listed, as I had ditched run-flats for the summer tires (now on RE-11’s) and the traction and ride quality improvements have been so overwhelming that I can never see going back to RFTs for any reason.


I live in the area that got 1+" foot of snow last winter on at least three (3!) separate occasions last winter, and I barely got by with DunFlop Winter Sport 3D's on my BMW.

Your opinion would be most appreciated.

TIA,
alex
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I had studded Hakkapelittas and loved them.

I don't know if I can afford them this year, but I hope to get them.

 

Would those be Hakkapeliitta 5's or 7's?
http://www.nokiantires.com/product-group?group=1.01

Why not Hakka R's ?

 

Blizzak. 8 sets, 7 cars, nuf said. They rule.

 

+1 . i purchased a set last winter and I ruled the roads .

 

I was a Nokian guy until last year. Got a deal at Costco for WS60. Loved it

 

They were 5s I believe.

They not only performed very well, but lasted a really long time. It was the only tire I've ever had that lasted as long if not longer than the manufacturer claimed.

Can't comment on the Blizzaks, but good to know anyway.

 

I am running Hakka 2s on my car and put Hakka Rs on the wife's Subaru Outback Sport because she did not want the noise of the studded tires. Fantastic tires. Very happy with them. The Hakka Rs are quiet and sure footed wet, dry, snow, or ice. Seem to be wearing very well.

If you have a choice, always go with a narrower tire for winter driving. My summer tires are 205/50R16 and my winter ones are 185/65R15. Unless the snow is so deep that the car floats up on top of the snow I can just about go anywhere I want.

I had put some Michelin IceX tires on my daughter's VW Jetta and those seemed to work pretty well. My son used Blizzak WS60 I think and he liked them. The Blizzaks seem to wear the fastest. The Michelins lasted several years. It is going to be the sixth winter for the Hakka 2 tires I use on my 2006 MCS.

My use patterns are not what most people are willing to put up with. As soon as the pavement is clear I take off the snows and put on my regular tires until the weatherman says we are going to have snow, then I put the snows back on. This way I do not have to listen to the unholy clatter of four studded tires on dry pavement.

 

Bridgestone WS60's on all 3 cars, a new set of WS70's are due this season for my car.

 

Alex those links did not work for me ("no such tire" or words to that effect) - mebbe I'm doing something silly?

 

i had a set of these on a previous car, they're great. be warned though that they're very soft and are susceptible to flat spots under emergency breaking (aka a deer in front of your car )

 

I don't have any basis for comparison from among the above choices, but I've had WS60s on the past two winters and been just fine (though in limited driving this past winter, when the weather was at its worst).

I'll be due for a new set of WS70s this winter... although my tire guy is trying to steer me towards Altimax (I think) instead.