I'm starting my search for a set of dedicated winter tires for the upcoming winter here in Upstate NY. I purchased a set of '07 Journey OEM wheels a few years back and managed to get through last winter with the OEM Goodyear RSA's installed. That being said, I won't be doing that again and would like to get a set of reasonably priced, quality snow tires that will last for a few winters. I have been looking on tirerack and locally and have narrowed it down to the following options in 225/55/17 size:

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 (tirerack)
Continental ExtremeWinterContact (tirerack)
General Altimax Artic (tirerack)
Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi (local)

Can anyone offer any opinions on these? Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

I am running the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 on my 37S and had zero problems last winter

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

I have the Blizzak WS-60's on my dads gs430 and he thinks my car is much better in the snow, take it for what its worth but Xi2's for me from here on out.

 

Check these tires out if you want V-rated snow tires.

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.p...135&sowigan=Wi

 

I have the Blizzaks and they are absolutely incredible on snow and ice.
I'm not verry happy with them on the dry, warmer days of winter though. They're like driving on marshmellows.
I really have a hard time remembering that the winter setup is on my car during those nicer winter days and wish I had a more performance oriented set of winter tires.

With that being said, the better the dry performance, the worse the winter weather performance. The Blizzaks have saved me more than once, so I'll be keeping them.

Last year, I almost decided to put off the install of my winter setup because the weather had taken a turn for the better.I hesitantly put them on anyway and the very nexy morning, I drove down a steep hill on my road and felt myself slide and then the tires caught as I entered a corner. I went around the bend and found a SUV and a car both off the road, on their sides in a ditch.
Without those tires, I would have been #3.

 

I had Michelin Hydroedge on my last car, a '99 Chrysler 300M and they were incredible in the snow with the front wheel drive. When I got my '07 G35x, one of the first things I did was to put on a set of those Hydroedges. The dry performance is just fine for me and they are just great in the rain. How they will perform in the snow with the all wheel drive and probably lighter car as opposed to the fwd heavy Chrysler will be determined before too long, I guess.

And if I'm not satisfied, I'll ride the ten minutes back and forth to work with my wife in her Jeep.

Mike

 

Thanks for the input guys. I am leaning towards either the Blizzaks or the Nokians based on reviews that I have read. Hmmm decisions, decisions.

 

A number of the Canucks on here have the WS60's and really like them. I have a used set on the way for mine.

 

^update.
They are not 'on the way' .....but I do know where they are.

 

Yeah, I know! To me they're a little closer than they were. Keeping the fingers crossed my Irish boys here come through. I know you will!

 

I hope it's an FX going back.....
An EX might make it interesting.

 

After a bit more research, I'm leaning towards the WS60's. If they are good enough for our friends in the great white north they should suffice for NY . Now one question I have is which size? I will be mounting the tires on 17" OEM Journey wheels and was going to go with 225/55/17 but see that 215/55/17 is also an option.

 

Tire Rack recommends a narrower tire for snow because it would offer less resistance when pushing through the snow.