Ok, ok, I know that it is still August but I am starting to think about suitable snow tires for the new E.

I have searched the archive but found nothing very specific to peoples' experiences, preferences, or recommendations.

I am considering either the Hankook W300 Ice Bears or the Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV. I currently run the Hankook W300's on my Accord. Overall very happy with them here in the snow belt.

Any opinions on either type or other suggestions?

I have already obtained some black steel wheels so my E's alloys will never see salt.

Thanks

Lawrence

Having lived in Eastern Ontario I would recommend the Hakkas. Their ice traction is great and unlike some other tires with good ice traction the rubber compound is durable enough to run on bare pavement without wearing too quickly.

I have used Vredstein's as my preferred snow tire for about 20 years know. Good dry and wet weather perforamnce to go along with great snow, slush and ice performance. Vredsteins are almost as good in the dry as Yoko AVID H4s. On my 90325i with a lowered suspension and 2.5 degrees + plus of negative camber they handled great. Only snow tire that is better from what I hear is Michelin Alpins. Havent heard any reports on their new SUV snow tire yet.

Depends on where you live. In the DC area the roads are rarely snow covered for more than a few days. A week on very rare occasions. You go from dry interstates and secondary roads to snow and slush covered roads in your neighborhood. And then it freezes up at night.

Vredsteins or Michelin snows are going on my E the first week of December.

And remember snow tires on all 4 wheels.

I went with Mich alpins 4X4's which have since been discontinued.After 3 winters they still look amlost new.If i was buying tires now id concider the Mich Lattiude X-ice.


Dont worry about august being too early to think about snows.We typically run out on certain sizes by late october.The sooner you start looking it you will have better selection.

We didn't get much snow last winter, but my Michelin X-Ice snows did beautifully on the snow and ice we did have. I bought them just before the Consumer Reports test, and I was pleased that they ended up on top of the rating.

I have the Michelin X-Ice as well -- they're fantastic in snow and ice.

I would agree with the Hakkas but they are a little pricey.
I run 4 Cooper Discoverer M&S and they have hauled me through as much as 10 inches of snow. They run around $40 cheaper per tire than the Hakkas.

I currently run hakka CQ's. You can't get stuck. They wear pretty fast in
warm weather, but for all out snow tires, they can't be beat.

Go to snowtire.info for a good website to review all tires.

For a better wearing tire in areas that don't get that much bad stuff, try
WR's or Vatiiva's. Again, Ive been using Nokian for a while, and no one with
them is dissapointed.

Is everyone running the stock size? (215/70R16)
After some searching 15" sounds like an option? (215/75R15)
Just thinking about cost and availability...thx

I recall talk of using 15" wheels with snow tires - from a couple of years ago. More recently a couple of owners have used 15" wheels to get more of a 'truck' look.

paulj

I have always used Bridgestone Blizzaks on my cars. I have a leftover set sized 205/55 16". Think they'll work for my E?

Duplicate threads on this. :D

Check out the post in the Canadian Elements eh? section:

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27393

Lawrence

2ndtimearound - I'm not sure if you bought your snow tires yet, but I live in Ottawa and bought the Hakkas last year - best winter tire I have ever had. They have excellent grip and roll relatively quiet. They also seem to wear well (I put roughly 20k-25k on them last winter). I bought them at Goldwing Auto - good service.

Michelin Cross Terrain SUV tires. Love them! :) Might go for more hard core snow tires in Ontario but these Michelins are fantastic for anything I'll ever see on the east coast. For extra insurance, I carry chains. These pics are from our biggest snow last year. The E broke the snow on this road (and served as a partial plow) and made it up quite a steep, unplowed driveway with no problem, at all. I was nearly as surprised as I was delighted.

That looks so fun!!:lol: I can't wait for some snow for my Ellie...

I just picked up a set of Arctic Claws (a cooper made no name tire) in 215/70R16 and a set of take off rims. Through a friend of a friend I got the tires for $100.00 each and the rims for $55.00 each - and I paid cash and saved another 14%

The dealer I bought them from said that he started selling these tires last year and they worked really well for all his customers. I thought that for the price, I'll try them out.

I just had Michelin Latitude X-Ice snows mounted on my stock rims in stock size. So far they seem great...now if I had some snow to drive on.
Why would anyone live in Minnesota?

I just had my new Yokohama Geolander I/T's mounted this morning... got them from Discount tire & they were $272 delivered to my door with a $25 rabate that I need to mail in..... they look alot like the Blizzaks that I run on all my vw's in winter....couldn't beat the price....oh, & I mounted them on a set of 05' aluminum wheels that I got from Loco on here & coated black.... should look & perform well this winter... Pat

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTMyNTQxODZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMTMyNTQxNzZzNDEzZGZkMzF5NTQx.jpg

pics added....

First impression of the Hankook W300 Ice Bears on the E after a 3 hour road trip.

They are noisier than the factory stock tires, but besides this no other issues. :)

Strange that I find them noisy since I run the same tire (different size) on my '04 Accord and haven't noticed the noise. Better sound proofing in the Accord perhaps? :confused:

Once I get to try them in the freezing rain/ice/snow I will give a further update.

Just put Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 on the E and the Cherokee. First snow yesterday, 6". Most melted today, can't believe how these tires throw the snow and mud. So far so good.

First impression of the Hankook W300 Ice Bears on the E after a 3 hour road trip.

They are noisier than the factory stock tires, but besides this no other issues. :)

Strange that I find them noisy since I run the same tire (different size) on my '04 Accord and haven't noticed the noise. Better sound proofing in the Accord perhaps? :confused:

Once I get to try them in the freezing rain/ice/snow I will give a further update.

I have got the Hankook Ice Bear W300 in the P215/70/16 size and I have found them to be better in all areas including noise, ride and handling. I don't know if it makes any difference but I run mine at 44 psi. Anybody know what kind of mileage to expect from the Ice Bears?

Gooseler,
How did you get the paint to stick to your rims? If I could do that I would be a happy man. What'd it run you? No need to spend $900 on rims and tires if I can keep my stocks and do that...

On Friday we had our first dose of winter here in the Canadian Capital.

So the Hankook Ice Bears W300s with the Honda 4WDRT system WOW!.
I said earlier I do run the W300s on my Accord. My impression there was very good,
when you put them on an E -- fantastic.

Some have asked how they are wearing -- my Accord is now starting its 3rd winter....l have lots of tread depth left, probably at least 22000 KM on them. Sorry that I didn't record exactly the mileage....

Lawrence

That's good to hear. We have the same tires on our Element. We only get occasional snow here but we can get major snow only 20 miles to the north and south.

FYI

Gislaved Nordfrost 3's in 225/70-16, $365.65 + shipping (actual) on E-bay.

These are quite well regarded german made winter specific tires.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-NEW-Gislaved-Nordfrost-3-SNOW-TIRES-225-70-16-NR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ66474QQihZ018QQitemZ 280057448174QQrdZ1


And a cheaper set of Winterforce (a Bridgestone brand) in stock 215/70-16
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-215-70-16-Winter-Force-Tires-Winter-Snow-Tires_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ66474QQihZ014QQit emZ330058851914QQrdZ1

HS

(BTW, I'm still waiting on 2 backordered black pilot steel wheels (avoid partstrain.com. :mad: ) on which I'll mount the Cooper Discoverer M&S's that are in the garage. Those came from Mavis Tire, $66 ea (quickly and affordably shipped)

The Winterforce from Mavis are $58 ea, probably less than the Ebay seller, Hmmm.
http://www.mavistire.com/ProductCart/pc/_shopbysize.asp

I picked up a set of Arctic Claws ( a cooper made no name) and I'm very happy with them. They were only $100.00 CDN each as well. They stop well, have tons of traction, and have a nice meaty tread.

I've been riding on the Cooper Discoverer M&S's in the stock size for a month of snow now.

We got alot of snow compressed into ice on our side streets and I am really impressed with these tires!! Not only is starting/stopping EXCELLENT, but the tires seem to ride a bit "smoother" the the Yokohama TRZ's without noticable reduction in handling feel. If the 4WD is kicking in, I'm not aware of it. I think they're quieter than the TRZ's too. Though we haven't had 6+" of snow yet, I'm looking forward to the day and I'm confident that these tires will handle it VERY well.

The details again:
$ 160 4)Black Pilot Steelies 16 x 6.5
$ 280 4}215/70-16 Cooper Discoverer M & S shipped (Mavis Tire)
$ 30 modified Element center caps (used EOC)
$ 75 mount, balance, valves (Discount Tire)

$ 545 TOTAL damage: