Winter Sport M3's...

[Dean]

Originally Posted by JoelK

No comments on the Nokian WRs? Does anyone have experience with them?

As I recall from the Audiworld discussions on the Nokian is an incredible pure snow/ice/ugly stuff tire for people who live where the streets don't clear to pavement for much of the winter.

[doubleurx]

Well the M-3's performed amazing this morning. They pulled the STI through 16" of wet rutted snow. I hope I didn't rip anything off the bottom of the car. I heard some nasty sounds as I was going up the street. Considering the density of the snow and I was basically plowing the top 10", it made it up my street and out to the main road that was fortunately plowed. It is crazy up here right now. It is still dumping. Downtown Truckee only got what looks like 8 inches. I can only imagine that over 7000 feet got over two feet of snow. Looks like we will get another 6-12 inches today. These early storms suck! The snow is so damn heavy. I was up at 6:00 snowblowing the driveway and shoveling my decks (2 hours). To top it off they didn't cancel school so I had to get my two children to school on time. Somehow I made it.

Have any of you STI owners played with the DCCD in the snow. It is amazing the affect you can have over the car in a rising corner in deep snow. Tons of fun, even with my two scared children in tow.

[MattR]

The STI is an animal in the snow, I absolutely love driving it in snow. You're right, If you really want to feel the DCCD at work, go out in the snow...It's realy cool to play with the power bias...

[MikeSTI]

in deep snow I just put it in lock

but then again auto still seems to be the best to keep control

[LetItRev]

Originally Posted by JoelK

I've been debating between the M3s and Nokian WRs. It seems to me that the WRs will have 2-3x the treadlife and better (possibly quite a bit better) dry traction. The one thing I'm unsure of is what the exact difference between the two tires would be in the snow. I will probably drive about 7000 miles before I remove the tires in April/May and if I'm only going to get one season out of the M3s, then I'll go with the WRs.

Any thoughts?

Hey Joel,

I have used the Nokian Hakkapalitas (sp) for a season and a half. These were studded 205/70/15's for an outback. The tires were stellar. As others have mentioned, these were great in real ugly conditions. I lived at the lake and could get through anything with these tires. I wouldn't run a studded tire living in Reno though. Too much increased stopping distance for down here. (I'm not sure if the model you mentioned is studless or not).

Overall Nokian has a solid reputation for snow tires.

[JoelK]

Thanks for the responses.

Actually, the Nokians I'm looking at are the WRs, their "all weather tyre" with a heavy winter bias. I've read that it has outperformed a number of true snow tires in the snow, and that's why I was considering it.
http://www.nokiantyres.com/passenger...name=NOKIAN+WR

Interestingly, I located a thread on Nasioc doing the exact comparison I've been trying to do. I'm leaning toward the M3s because the dry handling seems to be about the same as the RE-92s (if that's believable), and I can live with that.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...4b13&p=7825326

[sti deede]

Originally Posted by JoelK

Thanks for the responses.

Actually, the Nokians I'm looking at are the WRs, their "all weather tyre" with a heavy winter bias. I've read that it has outperformed a number of true snow tires in the snow, and that's why I was considering it.
http://www.nokiantyres.com/passenger...name=NOKIAN+WR

Interestingly, I located a thread on Nasioc doing the exact comparison I've been trying to do. I'm leaning toward the M3s because the dry handling seems to be about the same as the RE-92s (if that's believable), and I can live with that.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...4b13&p=7825326

I don't know what the were is on the M3's because I've only had mine on for about three weeks. The dry handling appears to be pretty good. I'm used to re070's, so snow tires are completely new to me. Every now and then I forget that the snow's are on and I get a little excited around a corner. The hold pretty good, but definately break free before the Re070's do. The two tires are definately not comparable. But so far I'm loving the snows, the ride is really good in dry and wet. I haven't really had a chance to try them out in the snow yet though.
I definately recommend them, or maybe you might want to try the tires that MattR was talking about that Dean purchased, they're very reasonably priced. Good luck.

[khail19]

Originally Posted by MattR

Also, Dean just bought a pair of Hancook 300 Snows..I'm very intereted to see how they look and perform. They are $100 a tire or thereabouts, so that might be another option to consider.

I've had these on for a couple of weeks in 205/55/16. With the Kragen deal they are $57 each from Discount Tire. They are surprisingly good in the dry so far, and fairly quiet. Much softer sidewalls than the Azenis ST-115, but no surprise there. I can't wait to get some snow to try them out in. Last year I was on nearly bald Dunlop Sport 9000's, I'll never try that again.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by khail19

I've had these on for a couple of weeks in 205/55/16. With the Kragen deal they are $57 each from Discount Tire. They are surprisingly good in the dry so far, and fairly quiet. Much softer sidewalls than the Azenis ST-115, but no surprise there. I can't wait to get some snow to try them out in. Last year I was on nearly bald Dunlop Sport 9000's, I'll never try that again.

Got any hookups w/ TireRack? Nick's buying my some M3's from there in exchange for my WRX stockers w/ LM-22's. Save him some money!

[doubleurx]

Originally Posted by sperry

Got any hookups w/ TireRack? Nick's buying my some M3's from there in exchange for my WRX stockers w/ LM-22's. Save him some money!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.......M3's