Winter Tire Recommendations for 2000 Golf GL (195/65/15)

I just moved to Boston from Los Angeles and have no experience with
driving in the snow. What are some recommendations for good winter
tires? I would like a tire that will last a good number of seasons
and has good traction in the snow. I would also like to keep the cost
down to under $100 per tire.

I have heard a lot about the Blizzaks, but they seem like they wear
very quickly when not driven in winter conditions. One shop I called
recommended the Toyo Observe's. Can anyone tell me something about
them. Thank you for any help that you can provide.

Susheem

"Susheem" > wrote in message
om...
> I just moved to Boston from Los Angeles and have no experience with
> driving in the snow.

First and foremost, slow down in the winter...



What are some recommendations for good winter
> tires? I would like a tire that will last a good number of seasons
> and has good traction in the snow. I would also like to keep the cost
> down to under $100 per tire.
>
> I have heard a lot about the Blizzaks, but they seem like they wear
> very quickly when not driven in winter conditions. One shop I called
> recommended the Toyo Observe's. Can anyone tell me something about
> them. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
>
> Susheem

My favorite snow tires for my Golf are Vredesteins. That spelling doesnt
look right though, so google it. I believe The Tire Rack carries them...

In "Biz"
> wrote:

>
> "Susheem" > wrote in message
> om...
>> I just moved to Boston from Los Angeles and have no experience with
>> driving in the snow.
>
> First and foremost, slow down in the winter...
>
>
>
> What are some recommendations for good winter
>> tires? I would like a tire that will last a good number of seasons
>> and has good traction in the snow. I would also like to keep the cost
>> down to under $100 per tire.
>>
>> I have heard a lot about the Blizzaks, but they seem like they wear
>> very quickly when not driven in winter conditions. One shop I called
>> recommended the Toyo Observe's. Can anyone tell me something about
>> them. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
>>
>> Susheem
>
> My favorite snow tires for my Golf are Vredesteins. That spelling
> doesnt look right though, so google it. I believe The Tire Rack carries
> them...

You got the spelling right; I used to run with 4 of them on my old BMW
320i. I needed them and 140lbs of sand in the trunk to keep it pointing in
the right direction in the snow :-)

I've been getting along just fine with 4 Michelin Arctic-Alpins on my '02
Passat wagon, as has my wife on her '02 Saturn.

I'm a strong believer in snow tires, but a lot depends on where you're
driving. The poster says he's moving to Boston. If he's living in the
city, he could likely get away with decent "all season" tires.

If he's a tire nut, Vredestein has some exotics, and of course there's the
Nokian Hakkapeliitta line.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

Dunlop Wintersport M3's are a good choice, too. I run those on my Passat and
have been very happy.


--
Jeff
'02 Passat 4Motion Wagon

I've driven with Gislaved NordFrost (the NordFrost II is the current
generation I believe) snow tires and they performed nicely, we've had them
almost 10 years now... and they still have good tread depth, we have to get
rid of them because of age related cracking... Very good wear on these
tires, but they are quite squishy for cornering... they are VERY quiet tho,
and extremely smooth running. We don't put too many Kms on our snow tires,
the car only has 160K Kms on it and it's a 1993 (snow tires since 1994)...
They are on a rear drive Volvo wagon (a car that really needs good snow
tires).

My friends have told me that Michelin Arctic snow tires (H-rated) are very
good, as well as the Hakkapeletta line from Nokian... I have Nokian
"4-season" tires on my Golf (with Hakka Siping for winter) and they seem
pretty good in the winter, and they aren't even a real snow tire.


"Susheem" > wrote in message
om...
>I just moved to Boston from Los Angeles and have no experience with
> driving in the snow. What are some recommendations for good winter
> tires? I would like a tire that will last a good number of seasons
> and has good traction in the snow. I would also like to keep the cost
> down to under $100 per tire.
>
> I have heard a lot about the Blizzaks, but they seem like they wear
> very quickly when not driven in winter conditions. One shop I called
> recommended the Toyo Observe's. Can anyone tell me something about
> them. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
>
> Susheem

blizzaks do wear fast, but provide incredible traction on ice, and
have never had them hydroplane in any condition. i love them! going
back on my '86 golf diesel in about 2 weeks (southern indiana) for the
3rd winter, about 40% worn in 12k miles.

I put a lot of KM on my car in the winter. I have a 2004 Golf. Does anyone
here use snows with good high KM usage? It seems most snows don't come with
treadlife warrantees

Mike

"Susheem" > wrote in message
om...
> I just moved to Boston from Los Angeles and have no experience with
> driving in the snow. What are some recommendations for good winter
> tires? I would like a tire that will last a good number of seasons
> and has good traction in the snow. I would also like to keep the cost
> down to under $100 per tire.
>
> I have heard a lot about the Blizzaks, but they seem like they wear
> very quickly when not driven in winter conditions. One shop I called
> recommended the Toyo Observe's. Can anyone tell me something about
> them. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
>
> Susheem

"Mikhael47" > wrote in message
...
> I put a lot of KM on my car in the winter. I have a 2004 Golf. Does
anyone
> here use snows with good high KM usage? It seems most snows don't come
with
> treadlife warrantees
>
> Mike

Its partially physics related...Snow tires as opposed to all-seasons usually
have a much more aggressive tread design which will not wear as well. Plus
they tend to be a little softer to prevent chunking again due to the more
aggressive tread patterns used.

If you are really using them in snowy roads most of time, they will last
many seasons. If you spend most of the drive on clear roads, then they will
not wear well. Probably another reason for not offering tread life
warranties, due the huge variance in winter driving conditions.

I have heard Hakkapelletta's will wear very well as far as snow tires go...
and if you counted up all 9 or 10 years we have used our Gislaveds for you
could probably accumulate a solid 50-60K Kms, with around 1/3 of the useable
tread left... So you might be able to squeeze 70-90+K Kms out of them with
gentle driving... might not be possible with a front wheel drive car tho (my
Golf TDI wears down its front tires much quicker then the rears... whereas
our rear drive Volvo wears fairly evenly everywhere).

What kind of KM's are you excpecting from your snow tire?
"Mikhael47" > wrote in message
...
>I put a lot of KM on my car in the winter. I have a 2004 Golf. Does anyone
> here use snows with good high KM usage? It seems most snows don't come
> with
> treadlife warrantees
>
> Mike
>
> "Susheem" > wrote in message
> om...
>> I just moved to Boston from Los Angeles and have no experience with
>> driving in the snow. What are some recommendations for good winter
>> tires? I would like a tire that will last a good number of seasons
>> and has good traction in the snow. I would also like to keep the cost
>> down to under $100 per tire.
>>
>> I have heard a lot about the Blizzaks, but they seem like they wear
>> very quickly when not driven in winter conditions. One shop I called
>> recommended the Toyo Observe's. Can anyone tell me something about
>> them. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
>>
>> Susheem
>
>

I'm a 416 Commuter... so the KM are not easy on them. I wish I could go
14" but I don't think the calipers would clear a 14" rim. 14" are so much
cheaper for tires.

Mike

"Rob Guenther" > wrote in message
...
> I have heard Hakkapelletta's will wear very well as far as snow tires
go...
> and if you counted up all 9 or 10 years we have used our Gislaveds for you
> could probably accumulate a solid 50-60K Kms, with around 1/3 of the
useable
> tread left... So you might be able to squeeze 70-90+K Kms out of them with
> gentle driving... might not be possible with a front wheel drive car tho
(my
> Golf TDI wears down its front tires much quicker then the rears... whereas
> our rear drive Volvo wears fairly evenly everywhere).
>
> What kind of KM's are you excpecting from your snow tire?
> "Mikhael47" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I put a lot of KM on my car in the winter. I have a 2004 Golf. Does
anyone
> > here use snows with good high KM usage? It seems most snows don't come
> > with
> > treadlife warrantees
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > "Susheem" > wrote in message
> > om...
> >> I just moved to Boston from Los Angeles and have no experience with
> >> driving in the snow. What are some recommendations for good winter
> >> tires? I would like a tire that will last a good number of seasons
> >> and has good traction in the snow. I would also like to keep the cost
> >> down to under $100 per tire.
> >>
> >> I have heard a lot about the Blizzaks, but they seem like they wear
> >> very quickly when not driven in winter conditions. One shop I called
> >> recommended the Toyo Observe's. Can anyone tell me something about
> >> them. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
> >>
> >> Susheem
> >
> >
>
>