True Snow Tires Question

Hello,

Live in New England, outside of Boston.
So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
like Northern Maine, e.g.

Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.

She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is willing
to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather version)
and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.

Would like to ask, please:

Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow
tires, but haven't been able to.
Is there such an issue ?

and, the basic question:

Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?

Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.

Any to stay away from ?
Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?

Thanks, appreciate the help,
Bob

On 9/10/11 3:10 PM, Bob wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Live in New England, outside of Boston.
> So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
> like Northern Maine, e.g.
>
> Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.
>
> She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is
> willing to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather
> version) and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.
>
> Would like to ask, please:
>
> Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow
> tires, but haven't been able to.
> Is there such an issue ?
>
> and, the basic question:
>
> Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
> acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?
>
> Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.
>
> Any to stay away from ?
> Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?
>
> Thanks, appreciate the help,
> Bob

Best source of unbiased ratings and user reviews is

http://www.tirerack.com/index.jsp

I would recommend Bridgestone Blizzaks on new steel rims as best _ICE_
and snow tire. Does the Elantra have AWD ?? If so, all 4 tires must be
same type/size, etc.

Bob wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Live in New England, outside of Boston.
> So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
> like Northern Maine, e.g.
>
> Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.
>
> She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is willing
> to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather version)
> and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.
>
> Would like to ask, please:
>
> Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow
> tires, but haven't been able to.
> Is there such an issue ?
>
> and, the basic question:
>
> Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
> acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?
>
> Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.
>
> Any to stay away from ?
> Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?
>
> Thanks, appreciate the help,
> Bob

Bridgestone Blizzaks
Goodyear Ultra Grip
Would be my choices.
Studs are good on ICE or very hard packed snow. On bare pavement they
actually reduce traction, plus they are NOISY.

Either way get a set of STEEL wheels to install the new tires on. Saves
the rims, allows much faster tire swaps and if she does slide and hit's
a curb the steel rims can be straightened while cast/aluminum can fail.

--
Steve W.

On 09/10/2011 07:56 PM, Steve W. wrote:
> Bob wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Live in New England, outside of Boston.
>> So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
>> like Northern Maine, e.g.
>>
>> Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.
>>
>> She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is
>> willing to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather
>> version) and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.
>>
>> Would like to ask, please:
>>
>> Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow
>> tires, but haven't been able to.
>> Is there such an issue ?
>>
>> and, the basic question:
>>
>> Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
>> acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?
>>
>> Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.
>>
>> Any to stay away from ?
>> Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?
>>
>> Thanks, appreciate the help,
>> Bob
>
> Bridgestone Blizzaks
> Goodyear Ultra Grip
> Would be my choices.
> Studs are good on ICE or very hard packed snow. On bare pavement they
> actually reduce traction, plus they are NOISY.
>
> Either way get a set of STEEL wheels to install the new tires on. Saves
> the rims, allows much faster tire swaps and if she does slide and hit's
> a curb the steel rims can be straightened while cast/aluminum can fail.
>

Check out the reviews on Tire Rack and also check their web site for
specials. I picked up some Dunlop Winter Sports for very cheap a couple
years ago when I was driving a Porsche 944 (which pretty much requires
snow tires; apparently Michelin has discontinued all-season tires in the
size that car requires, so my only choice for regular tires were Yoko
AVS which aren't even all-season rated.)

Bridgestone Blizzaks and Nokian Hakkapellittas seem to be consistently
well-regarded, FWIW. I didn't put that much thought into it because
really where I live we don't typically get Real Snow save for once every
5-10 years or so. (we did get Real Snow one year while I had the 944,
but it was so much that I wasn't getting out in anything short of a
lifted 4WD - there was close to three feet on the ground at that point!
just keeping the driveway shoveled involved going outside and starting
again every couple hours, and it took a day or two for the city to get
around to clearing my street...)

good luck

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

In article >, Bob > wrote:
>
>Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
>acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?

Anything from Hakkapellita.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Steve W." > wrote:
> Bob wrote:
>> Hello,
>>> Live in New England, outside of Boston.
>> So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
>> like Northern Maine, e.g.
>>> Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.
>>> She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is willing
>>> > to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather
>>>> version) > and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.
>>> Would like to ask, please:
>>> Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow >
>>> tires, but haven't been able to.
>> Is there such an issue ?
>>> and, the basic question:
>>> Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and >
>>> acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?
>>> Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.
>>> Any to stay away from ?
>> Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?
>>> Thanks, appreciate the help,
>> Bob
>
> Bridgestone Blizzaks
> Goodyear Ultra Grip
> Would be my choices.
> Studs are good on ICE or very hard packed snow. On bare pavement they
> actually reduce traction, plus they are NOISY.
>
> Either way get a set of STEEL wheels to install the new tires on. Saves
> the rims, allows much faster tire swaps and if she does slide and hit's a
> curb the steel rims can be straightened while cast/aluminum can fail.


All weather like blizzaks, are best on light snowfall and icy. Snow tires
have less grip on these conditions. Thick snow does not usually last long,
so all weather usually work best for the long haul.

Blizzaks is just a name, they sell many versions in that line.

Greg

On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:10:08 -0400, Bob wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Live in New England, outside of Boston.
> So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
> like Northern Maine, e.g.
>
> Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.
>
> She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is willing
> to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather version)
> and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.
>
> Would like to ask, please:
>
> Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow
> tires, but haven't been able to.
> Is there such an issue ?
>
> and, the basic question:
>
> Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
> acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?
>
> Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.
>
> Any to stay away from ?
> Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?
>
> Thanks, appreciate the help,
> Bob

Believe it or not, Delta Ice Grips. But they aren't the bargain they used
to be. Might be able to get Blizzaks for near the price.

As far as studs, they are good from November until April in Mass, then
they have to come off.

hachiroku > wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:10:08 -0400, Bob wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Live in New England, outside of Boston.
>> So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
>> like Northern Maine, e.g.
>>
>> Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.
>>
>> She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is willing
>> to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather version)
>> and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.
>>
>> Would like to ask, please:
>>
>> Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow
>> tires, but haven't been able to.
>> Is there such an issue ?
>>
>> and, the basic question:
>>
>> Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
>> acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?
>>
>> Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.
>>
>> Any to stay away from ?
>> Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?
>>
>> Thanks, appreciate the help,
>> Bob
>
> Believe it or not, Delta Ice Grips. But they aren't the bargain they used
> to be. Might be able to get Blizzaks for near the price.
>
> As far as studs, they are good from November until April in Mass, then
> they have to come off.

I count 14 different blizzaks. I use Cooper weathermaster. These kinds of
tires wear fast but are sticky because of all the flexible flaps.

Greg

On Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:48:54 +0000, gregz wrote:

> hachiroku > wrote:
>> On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:10:08 -0400, Bob wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Live in New England, outside of Boston.
>>> So, get a fair amount of snow each winter, but not
>>> like Northern Maine, e.g.
>>>
>>> Daughter in Law has a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and a new kid.
>>>
>>> She's very concerned sabout getting stuck in the winter, and is willing
>>> to get 4 new snow tires (the true snow's; not some all-weather version)
>>> and go thru the trouble of changing tires twice a year.
>>>
>>> Would like to ask, please:
>>>
>>> Tried to find some reasonably new issue of CR that rates true snow
>>> tires, but haven't been able to.
>>> Is there such an issue ?
>>>
>>> and, the basic question:
>>>
>>> Is there any brand and tire model that is generally thought of and
>>> acknowledged as being "best" in true snow tires ?
>>>
>>> Opinions for her 2011 Hyundai Elantra would be most appreciated.
>>>
>>> Any to stay away from ?
>>> Folks still go for studs ? Legal ?
>>>
>>> Thanks, appreciate the help,
>>> Bob
>>
>> Believe it or not, Delta Ice Grips. But they aren't the bargain they used
>> to be. Might be able to get Blizzaks for near the price.
>>
>> As far as studs, they are good from November until April in Mass, then
>> they have to come off.
>
> I count 14 different blizzaks. I use Cooper weathermaster. These kinds of
> tires wear fast but are sticky because of all the flexible flaps.
>
> Greg

I had an '85 Celica I bought in 2000 for $200. These are not known for
being great cars in the snow.

I think it had the original set of Toyo 600's, judging from the look of
them! I replaced them with Cooper Cobras, Cooper's version of a "sport
tire". 205-60/14, nice wide tire.

I made the mistake of not paying attention to the weather report in
November that year, and drove the car to work. By the time it was time to
leave, there was 4" of snow on the ground.

The car got home without missing a beat, and NEVER got stuck or spun all
winter! Drove it for 4 winters with those tires.