These are the best snow tires ever!

[bubbadabulldawg]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta Sport Utility 5
When I bought my Expy a month ago, the stealership installed GoodYear Wrangler RT/S 265/70/17 on the truck, tires are quiet when driving around with fairly good grip when wet BUT IN SNOW they might as well have been bald! The outer edges of these tires is a solid band not individual lugs, I have the 265/70/15 RT/S tires installed on the wife's exploder and the tread pattern is totally different. So while driving to dinner to the in-laws on Dec. 16th during a small snowstorm the expy with my family and I almost drove into the guardrail and oncoming traffic while turning onto a bridge that crosses a small river near my home. I have always installed Nokian tires on my cars and also other family members cars but not on any suv that I haved owned until now, I had my friend who runs a garage order and install these on the 19th just before another snowstorm and all I can say "IS WHAT A DIFFERANCE" The truck handled as if it was not snowing and the pavement was dry! I didn't have them studded for ice but they are studdable. The tires are expensive msrp is about $350 each, around $200 each on the web but I only paid dealer cost because it pays to have the right friends that work in the right places, $580 w/tax mounted, balanced and out the door I went

 

[chuck s]

Studs are legal?

Wranglers have gotta be the worst tire I've ever had. I took 'em off my daughters Rodeo in a week.

-- Chuck

 

[anfo]

Have you ever run the blizzaks? If so, how do they compare?

 

[bubbadabulldawg]

Originally posted by anfo
Have you ever run the blizzaks? If so, how do they compare?

I did use the Blizzaks before I had found out about the Nokian's, Blizzaks only have the extra biting in the first few 1000ths of it tread so when the tires get worn past the biting cuts in the tread they become a regular snow tire, where as the Nokian tire biting cuts are through it's entire tread pattern down to it's wear bars, so you can get many seasons with these and expect the same traction each time vs the Blizzak where you can get about 2 seasons depending on how many miles you put on them each season. Bridgestone might have improved their tire design but I would rather buy a tire from a company that is located and has developed it's tires for snow climates.

I pulled this from Nokian's site

Expertise in Nordic Conditions
Nokian Tyres is the largest tire manufacturer in the Nordic countries. The company develops and manufactures summer and winter tires for cars and tires for a range of heavy machinery. It is also the biggest retreading materials manufacturer and the biggest retreader in the Nordic countries. In addition, Nokian Tyres runs the Vianor tire chain with over 200 outlets across Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Russia. Some Vianor outlets operate on a franchising basis.

Key markets include Nordic countries, Russia, North America, Eastern Europe and Alpine area, i.e. countries with demanding driving conditions caused by changing seasons or other reasons.

The company’s product development, administration and marketing functions are located in the Nokia facility in Finland. The company has two factories, one in the town of Nokia in Finland and the other one in Vsevolozhsk, Russia. The Russian factory is a new one; the operations started in the summer 2005. Certain products are produced as contract manufacturing in other tire manufacturers’ factories for example in the USA, Indonesia, Slovakia and China. Nokian Tyres has its own sales companies in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Russia and the USA.

In 2005, Nokian Tyres booked net sales of EUR 686.5 million and employed 3,201 people. Of that Vianor Tyre chain employed 1,297 people and the Russian factory 172 people.

Nokian Tyres plc was founded in 1988 and it was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange in 1995. The company’s roots go back all the way to 1898, when Suomen Gummitehdas Oy, or the Finnish rubber factory, was established. Passenger car tire production began in 1932 and the company’s best-known brand, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta tire, was launched in 1936.

Originally posted by chuck s
Studs are legal?

This is pulled from NYS DMV site,

You can use tires with metal studs in NYS on October 16 through April 30. You cannot use tires with metal studs in NYS on May 1 through October 15.

If you use tires with metal studs when the tires are not permitted, you can receive a fine of $150 or less and mandatory surcharges of $30.

 

[PaisanNYC]

if you and your friend ever have the heart to help out a fellow NYer I could even donate my brand new Fortera SilentArmor's to someone

 

[anfo]

I didnt realize you were from upstate, is the dealer near Saratoga anywhere?

 

[Tech]

I have been using these tires for years... Well, for as long as I had my F-150, Blazer, and now Expedition:

http://tiny.cc/NrYdB

They pull through the snow like a tank.

(Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo's)

 

[Buck Nasty]

BFG A/T's = DA BOMB! Tough as nails and simply badass in the snow. No studs needed baby!

 

[Tech]

Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo still rated higher over the BFG A/T's FTW!

Tire Chart

 

[Buck Nasty]

Originally posted by Tech
Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo still rated higher over the BFG A/T's FTW!

Tire Chart

I would have to agree that the streetability of the Revo is better than the BFG. It's a tamer tread design (quieter), better channeling (hydroplaning resistance) and softer casing (better ride), make it a better overall choice for the average joe.

However, I'm gonna call bull$hit on the snow and ice traction ratings (they're barely better BTW). The BFG actually is rated for severe snow conditions, whereas, the Revo is not. It looks like they rate the treadwear higher on the BFG too. More miles logged on the BFG.

The bottom line is, buy the tire that suits your driving style. I'm more of the "weekend warrior" type. I spend a fair amount of time offroad, in the snow and have short commute distance. The BFG is a better choice for me IMHO. If I spent more time on the road, I would pick the Revo. Actually, I'd take the Michelin LTX AT2. I've sold and serviced Bridgestones for about 8 years. In our neck of the woods, the Revo's didn't stack up. On a 4Runner, the'd do well. On a 2500 Dodge Diesel, they'd get their ass kicked.

It seems like the Tire Rack is biased toward Bridgestones so, I take their (and customer's) ratings with a grain of salt.

Bubba....sorry to hijack!

 

[Tech]

On a side note, my Mustang is running BFG's, and I love them on it.

 

[davesexplorer]

Ill stick with the A/T KO's.

 

[Buck Nasty]

Originally posted by davesexplorer
Ill stick with the A/T KO's.

Word!

 

[Remo]

I honestly cannot complain about my Definity Dakota A/T's that cost me only $500 out the door...I love them.