[Fork!TheSpoonWrecker]

What are you guys running? i currently have pirelli sottozero 2 at 60% wear and theyre utter shit. a few cm of snow and i literally just spin on the spot

[Owen81]

Michelin Xice3. Great traction just a little squishy in the corners.
Might try Pilot Alpin PA4s next as they are more performance orientated.

[lnxguy]

I run Nokian Hakkapeliittas on OEM 17s. Not cheap but you won't find a better snow tire on the market IMO.

[BB_cuda]

What is snow?

[Got_Diesel]

Dunlop Wintersport 4D

[k335d]

Blizzak lm60. Was pushing snow with the bumper this weekend and they just keep going.

Had the sottozero 240II few years back and like yours they sucked.

[335dFan]

Have used Blizzak LM-25 on OEM 17" since Dec 2012. My winter tire season is only about 3-4 months max and I don't drive as much. But they were satisfactory tires for cold roads. The only challenge I gave them was up over I-84 from Pendleton OR to the ID border this last winter. It was rather nasty but they did quite well.

Our Forester has Michelin X-Ice3. They are truly great tires. Up over the Siskiyou Pass on I-5 and down through Mt Shasta City, etc. They gripped the road nicely while other vehicles were off the road on both sides of the interstate.

Not sure what I will replace the Blizzaks with. Maybe X-Ice3. Don't need them much now that I live in California except for trips to UT and up in the Sierras. I run 18" when not running winter tires.

[Whitbread]

My driveway is a 5% grade that isn't straight through the woods, even with snow tires there's no way any rear drive car is making it up. I couldn't even make it up in a customers Jetta today with a brand new set of snow tires, just a sheet of ice. So my car just gets parked in the garage and the summer tires left on it LOL.

[Owen81]

Pirellis always seem to be complained about for winter and summer tires. I've never seen them do well in any tire test either. They must give sweet deals to manufacturers or them to keep putting them on cars, then mark it up for the consumer to make their money back.

I found a good tire test by car and driver:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...mpared-feature

Highlights here:


Nokians did perform the best but at the top you're splitting hairs and the Michelins are $50/tire cheaper. Contis are the best bang for the buck at $20 cheaper than the michelins but the Conti is the newest released tire in the test.

[terry335d]

I find that the problem with every winter tire test I've seen is that they test on snow and ice and i drive on more dry pavement throughout the winter.
I've compromised by driving on performance winter tires which are not as good as studless winters snow on snow and ice, but likely better on dry. The performance winters are often closer to summer tires for handling feel at normal speeds which is important to me, as well. I would like a test that compared all facets of performance.
I also can drive my wife's SUV with all wheel drive and studless winters if necessary.

[nwsnowboarder]

I just put on Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2's this past week. Only got about 2" of snow, but I was pretty happy with the performance. They also look great on my 335D. One owner of an M3 was admiring them since he couldn't get out of his parking spot, still having his Summer tires on. Can't wait to go up and give em a try running up to the ski slopes.

They were very solid below freezing and when plowing through slush and fresh snow. The Nokians are a bit soft in the corners and squirmy on wet pavement, I definitely need to be careful of how much throttle I use and try to stay below triple digits.

Previously I ran Blizzak's, but with driving 40k miles/year I would burn through the special rubber compound in one season. I am hoping to get at least two seasons out of the Hakkapeliitta R2's.

[floydarogers]

I'm running Blizzak WS-80 in 225/45R18 square setup. Very good snow traction.

But the 225 width on the rear makes the car feel a bit over-steer happy; turn-in is ok but then the rear steps over a bit before taking a set. And they'll lose traction on wet (Seattle!) roads pretty easily.

I ran some performance Blizzak the last 3 years - LM-26 IIRC. They were ok, but last season was down below the snow rubber and they were tricky in snow, to say the least.

[bvanlieu]

Originally Posted by Fork!TheSpoonWrecker

What are you guys running? i currently have pirelli sottozero 2 at 60% wear and theyre utter shit. a few cm of snow and i literally just spin on the spot

They are performance snows, not snow snows. I have those on a cayman, and dunlop 4D's on the 335d. Since we mostly need to get around in snow then it melts around my area, I am not on a full time snow like Hakka or Bizzak.

Did you like them new? at 10/32 you have fill sipes but at 60% it may be just a A/S at this point for you.

- b

[Fork!TheSpoonWrecker]

Originally Posted by bvanlieu

They are performance snows, not snow snows. I have those on a cayman, and dunlop 4D's on the 335d. Since we mostly need to get around in snow then it melts around my area, I am not on a full time snow like Hakka or Bizzak.

Did you like them new? at 10/32 you have fill sipes but at 60% it may be just a A/S at this point for you.

- b

I bought them used as this is first winter with the car, just needed oppinions for other 335d given all the tq we have. I have to hurry and buy new ones prior to the 15th as its a law in QC to have winter tires by then and i literally couldnt leave my street last night because of these POS.

[RJ_]

I just put a set of Blizzak WS-70 225/45/17 all around on my 335. Not a diesel, but it's a 6MT and we have a respectable amount of torque as well.

The difference is unbelievable. The staggered all-seasons I had on it were nearly worthless in the snow. With these, it feels almost like dry pavement.

[dmanb2b]

I run General Altimax Arctic in 225/45 17. While it may not be the best in one single category, like blizzaks on ice, they are a great compromise on traction, handling and price. Lastly, the tread-wear is excellent. I easily get 3 winters out of them, from past experience and avg roughly 10K miles per winter season. IIRC the tire is a copy of a older Gislaved model.

Below is a link to tirerack and you'll notice the reviews support my personal experience. I got them at my local VW dealer for $102/tire. Yes, I used my VW loyalty credit for the diesel scandal to buy tires for the 335D and an alignment to boot. :>)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Altimax+Arctic

[Pat_335D]

I run General Altimax RT43 all seasons with 225 45 R/17 as my "winter wheel" set up. Never had any issues with traction or anything and for $83 a tire you can't beat them!

[Yozh]

Michelin PA4. Works great in the Coastal Pacific Northwest where we get three days of snow unless one heads to the mountains. But having a performance snow tire works well as it is not as soft and works well on cold and freezing dry pavement as well as rain. Wonder if Confi DWS06 be a good compromise as well.

[Fork!TheSpoonWrecker]

yeah i think i need something with more thread as the pirellis seem more like an ice tire than anything else.

[WreckerX5d]

I have the Nitto winter tires. They seem to be good in the snow with the little use I've had with them last year, they just suck driving on dry roads with a tuned diesel.. Traction control blinks at 70mph trying to pass people.

[dmanb2b]

Originally Posted by Wrecker335d

Traction control blinks at 70mph trying to pass people.

Oh good, I'm not the only one. I experienced that the other day at 70mph...thinking really??? Skinny pedal was only about 50% depressed and the light came on momentarily.

On my TDI I could actually feels the wheels slipping before the light came on...much more sensitive on the D.

[TorqueAddict]

I am on Hankook iPike's and they are great. 2nd season on them.