"budget" snow tires

[john112deere]

Shopping for a set of (four) snows for my Escort. Probably going to order from Tire Rack, and get them mounted on steelies.

Much as I'd like to buy a set of Nokian Hakkapellitas (IMO, the best snow tire available), I just can't afford them...looking at what I CAN afford, I'm down to these three:

Firestone Winterforce ($60/tire)

Dad's got these on his Focus (I think) and they're great in the snow, and lousy in the dry (noisy, and downright scary above 70 mph).

General Altimax Arctic ($60/tire)

From the reviews, these sound better in the dry, but not as good in the snow, as the Firestones.

Dunlop Graspic DS-3 ($68/tire)

Not much info on TireRack on these, but I did find a place (never heard of it before, so don't really trust it) that rated them the best budget snow tire.


Anybody got any experience with any of the above? Any other suggestions (in that price range, as it's already more than I can really afford right now...but that's the price of what I need, so I'll make it work.)


At this point I'm leaning away from the Generals- much as I hate the Firestones on a dry highway, they are great in the snow. I'm tempted by the Dunlops, though- if they're as good in the snow as the Firestones, but not as bad in the dry, it'd be worth the $32.

*BTW, there's two studdable and one studless tire on that list. I would not get any of them studded- I run studs on the back of my Ranger, but they're just too loud on all four corners, and absolutely awful in the rain.

 

[surewhynot]

Keep in mind, they go on the front of the escort.

 

[surewhynot]

Keep in mind, they go on the front of the escort.

 

[89frankenford]

haha double post FTL

 

[LEB Ben]

I don't have any experience with those particular tires...but of those, I always though Dunlop produced a better tire, just better all around quality. So take that for what it's worth.

 

[john112deere]

Keep in mind, they go on the front of the escort.

What's funny is that they recommend putting your best two tires on the rear of an Escort.

Seriously.

When I bought my last set, the guy said if I only bought two (I had two that were still legal), he'd have to put them on the back, (and I could swap them to the front when I got home).

Apparently, it's because after decades of FWD dominance, American drivers are now considered utterly incapable of controlling a car when the rear end breaks loose, so keeping the tail end from sliding has been deemed more important than, say, steering, accelerating, or braking.

 

[TexasNomad]

You live in the land of 6 feet of snow in a hour and you don't own a 4x4?
Hey, if yall really get that much snow, why not run a snow mobile?

 

[john112deere]

You live in the land of 6 feet of snow in a hour and you don't own a 4x4?
Hey, if yall really get that much snow, why not run a snow mobile?

6' in an hour? Not here...

3' in a day isn't unheard of (or even terribly uncommon), but they do plow the roads.

 

[LEB Ben]

You live in the land of 6 feet of snow in a hour and you don't own a 4x4?
Hey, if yall really get that much snow, why not run a snow mobile?

Just cuz you have a 4x4 doesn't mean your driving should change any...it just means you have a little more traction. Sometimes, all a 4x4 is good for is to get you twice as stuck than with a 2by. And as long as the state has a good road maintenance crew...there isn't 6ft of snow on the roadway.

 

[TexasNomad]

well wheres the fun in that, you can't play snow bank tag with the other cars.

 

[89frankenford]

well wheres the fun in that, you can't play snow bank tag with the other cars.

depends on what part of New Hampshire you are in

New Hampshire is pretty good at keeping the roads clear until you get up north, then your on your own...and man is it fun. i have never not had a 4x4 in my life, granted I've had an El Camino and a Monte Carlo z34 but i never drove those in winter. thats why i have never owned a 2wd truck...and never will unless its going to be a summer toy like a street/strip truck

 

[TexasNomad]

I really wish I lived some place that I would warrant owning a nice 4x4 but out there theres nothing but concrete and payment to pound on, every inch of land out here is owned by some foaming at the mouth farmer.

 

[polarbear]

First of all Ian, craigslist is your friend.

http://burlington.craigslist.org/search/pts?query=tires+14&catAbbreviation=pts&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

There's a seemingly endless supply of used snow tires out there as folks change vehicles and the winter tires never seem to follow along.

Second- I only have experience with Blizzak's- and they're awesome. Of the choices listed, I'd go with the Dunlop's. I've had good results using tireracks owner's survey for tire choices- even if I wind up buying elsewhere.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=W&VT=C

Also, do they have a Costco up there? The last couple of times, they've had the killer tire deals when I was out shopping. If they don't have it, they can get it.

You're also going to find out, in the next few months, why Subaru's are the winter driver of choice in New England (and the Northwest for the ski crowd).

 

[TexasNomad]

Personally I would have two sets of tires and rims winter and summer if you live in a place that calls for changing tires would it be cheaper and easier in the long run?
Luckily I live in a god forsaken seething sewer, where all I have to worry about is getting stuck in the boonies in a sand storm and getting high jacked by some Taco hat.

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

Why not just get a set of good snow chains or get some cheapo almost bald tires and have studs put in em?

 

[john112deere]

Why not just get a set of good snow chains or get some cheapo almost bald tires and have studs put in em?

'Cause chains are an enormous pain in the rear. We get a lot of "moderate" snow here- enough that you drive in it regularly, but rarely do you absolutely NEED chains.

And you can't stud cheap, almost bald tires. Not to mention that if you did, they wouldn't work on anything but glare ice.

 

[TexasNomad]

Get a dirt bike hehehe..

 

[john112deere]

First of all Ian, craigslist is your friend.

THANKS ERNIE!

I'd been looking on craigslist, and pretty well given up, because for all the tires on there, none were the right size for my car.

Checked again yesterday after you posted that link...and there's four mounted, studded Hakkas out in the driveway, with what looks to be one season on 'em. For $200.

Bought 'em off a kid from Mississippi, who bought a car up here, and is trying to raise cash to get back home before the snow flies...

You're also going to find out, in the next few months, why Subaru's are the winter driver of choice in New England (and the Northwest for the ski crowd).

No...remember- I AM a New England boy all my life, so I know why AWD is so popular (Mom's got a Subie; I've driven it in snow and ice).

I also know my odds of making it through one or two winters with this car are pretty good...at which point I'll hopefully have saved up enough cash to go shopping for one of the following (without needing a loan): Ranger 4x4, Wrangler 4x4, Subie Impreza hatchback.

 

[KdPate]

A friend of mine that lives in Ohio was talking about getting a re-tread that has walnut shells embedded in the tread for ice. Not for sure if that would be an option or if he is yankin my chain?????

 

[surewhynot]

I've heard of something like that.