August 2011

Special File

2012 Winter Tires

Eric Descarries

Winter Slalom  KSi

We warned you in the last issue, time to think about winter tires. Taking some time now to think about what tires you need and which you will go for will help you save both time and money comes snow time.

Our tire industry publication, Tire News, has prepared the following comprehensive digest of some of the winter tires that are the most in demand on the market.

BFGoodrich
BFGoodrich is one of Michelin’s popular brands. It includes some of the most affordable, yet efficient winter tires for cars and light trucks.

• Winter Slalom KSi: Here is a very affordable tire for most wheel sizes from 14 to 17 inches S speed ratings. Probably one of the best buys for the money.

Blizzak WS-70

Bridgestone

Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone has built up a great reputation with its winter tires almost all known as Blizzaks.

• Blizzak WS-70: This is probably Bridgestone’s best and most advanced winter tire thanks to its Multicell and 3-D Sipe technology. It has been available for quite a while in many sizes for 15- to 18-inch wheels, all with T-speed index. While it does replace the WS-60, there are still some tires of that generation available for specific vehicles.

• Blizzak DM-V1: This is Bridgestone’s tire for SUVs. It is available in most sizes for wheels from 16 to 22 inches all with an R speed rating. This tire replaces many older Blizzaks such as the DM-Z2 and DM-Z3.

• Blizzak LM-25: This series of directional tires is available in many models including the LM-25 4 x 4, the LM-25 MOE and the LM-25 RFT (Run Flat). This is a performance tire that’s available in so many sizes and would require too much space here to describe.

Conti Winter Extreme Contact

Continental

Continental is a very aggressive German tire manufacturer that has a wide array of winter tires to offer. Expect some new products to show up during the season.

• ContiWinterContact TS810S: The TS810S is probably one of Continental’s most desirable performance winter tires. It is offered in some of the most popular sizes at a reasonable price. It will soon be accompanied by the TS830P. Don’t forget that the TS790 is still available in some models.

• ContiExtremeContact: This has to be Continental’s best performing winter tire. Introduced less than two years ago on the market, it’s even spectacular with rear-wheel drive cars. It is available in most popular sizes for 13- to 17-inch wheels in the Q and T speed index.

• ContiCrossContact Winter: This light truck and SUV tire is one of Continental’s most popular products. This performance tire is available in the T, H, and V speed ratings for 16- to 21-inch wheels. It is also recommended for AWD vehicles.

Graspic DS-3

Dunlop

Consider Dunlop as Goodyear’s European products. Its latest Graspic DS-3 is a great player on the winter tire market.

Graspic DS-3: recently launched, the Graspic DS-3 is a premium tire available in many sizes for 15- to 17-inch wheels with Q speed rating.

Winter Sport M3: This Dunlop tire is destined for performance vehicles with 15- to 20-inch wheels and H and V speed ratings.

• Grandtrek SJ6: This light truck, CUV and SUV tire is available in most needed sizes with a Q speed rating. It is a very popular and quite affordable product that has the reputation of not wearing out too quickly.

• SP Winter Sport 3D: This winter tire is mostly for performance vehicles A premium product, it performs very well on ice and on dry pavement but is also a great tire on dry pavement. H and V rated, it is available in certain sizes as run-flat tire.

Winterforce

Firestone

Firestone is a well known name in automotive tires. Now part of the Bridgestone family of fine products, the Firestone brand is back in the spotlight. Its Winterforce winter tires have been very popular lately.

• Winterforce: This studdable tire is available in most sizes for 15- to 17-inch wheels with S-speed rating. The Winterforce UV is its light truck and SUV version.

Altimax Arctic

General Tire

General Tire is part of the Continental Tire family of tire products. It has only one major winter tire in its catalogue—the Altimax Arctic—and it is already very popular.

• Altimax Arctic: This is a studdable winter tire available in most popular sizes for 13- to 17-inch wheels with a Q speed rating.
 

Nord*Frost 5

Gislaved

Gislaved is another brand that is part of the Continental Tire family of renowned products. Usually sought after by Volvo owners, it now attracts many more owners of other brands of cars.

• Nord*Frost 5: This tire is an advanced version of the former Nord*Frost 3. Not only does it have a T speed rating, but it also has the possibility of being equipped with a new generation of “brilliant” studs.

UltraGrip WRT

Goodyear

Goodyear has a good reputation as far as winter tires is concerned. Many of its local products are based on its European technology. The better part of its winter line-up is within the very popular Ultra Grip family of tires. Yet some of its light truck tires, such as the Wrangler Silent Armour and Fortera Triple Tred, bear the winter logo.

Ultra Grip: This is the basic Goodyear winter tire made for most popular sizes. It is studdable.

Ultra Grip Ice: The Ultra Grip Ice is as popular as the Ultra Grip but, being designed to perform well on ice, it is not studdable.

Ultra Grip GW-2, GW-3 and Performance 2: All of these are Goodyear’s winter products for performance cars.

Ultra Grip SUV: As its name says, the Ultra Grip SUV is a tire designed for most SUVs and CUVs on the market with 16- to 20-inch wheels in T and H speed index (though there is one V rated size).

• UltraGrip WRT: This most recent winter tire is now offered in 18 sizes for light trucks bearing 16-to 18-inch wheels with S rating. LT sizes are Q rated and show a different tread design.

MaxiMiler WT

GT Radial

GT Radial is not necessarily a new player on the winter tire scene, but it has recently become more serious with better distribution. These studdable tires were developed with the help of internationally renowned Nokian manufacturer.

Champiro WT: The Champiro brand best identifies GT Radial winter tires but the manufacturer also offers studdable IcePro and IcePro SUV winter tires, the Winter Pro ice tire and the non studdable MaxiMiler WT tire.

I*Pike RW

Hankook

Hankook is the well known Korean brand that offers high quality tires at moderate prices.

• W300 Icebear: This Hankook tire is one of the brand’s most popular performance tires. It remains available in almost every standard size possible up to V speed ratings. It is sold at moderate to high prices but is not studdable.

• Winter I*Pike W409: This is Hankook’s most standard passenger car tire and it is available in many popular sizes with Q, S, and T speed ratings. By the way, it is studdable.

• Dynapro I*Pike RW07: This is Hankook’s tire for SUVs and CUVs and it is studdable.

• I*Pike RW11: This tire is newer than the RW07 but is still destined for SUVs and CUVs.

I’ZEN KW23

Kumho

Most Kumho winter tires are sold under the I’ZEN identification and they are available in many versions.  By the way, some Kumho tires are sold under the Marshal brand name.

• I’ZEN KW23: This is Kumho’s latest product and it shows very aggressive tread pattern. This tire is available mostly for performance applications and it is not studdable. For even more performance standards, check with the I’ZEN KW27. Note that most Kumho tires are expensive.

X-Ice Xi2

Michelin

Michelin does not need any introduction. Its winter products are very well known.

• X-Ice Xi2: This is Michelin’s most popular winter tire and it is available in just about any size for 13- to 18-inch wheels with a T speed rating but it is not studdable.

• Latitude X-Ice: This light-truck and SUV tire is comparable to the X-Ice. There is a Latitude Alpin HP tire for performance SUVs.

• Pilot Alpin PA3: This is Michelin’s performance tire with V speed rating. It is not available with studs.

• Primacy Alpin PA3: This late Michelin product is designed for more popular cars and very light trucks with an H speed rating.

Nexen

Nexen is a Korean tire manufacturer that is slowly turning up on the Canadian market. Nexxen has three products to offer.

Winguard:  A performance tire for 16- to 18-inch wheels and V speed rating.

Winguard SUV: A tire similar to the Winguard but for SUVs and light trucks.

Euro Win: A passenger car tire for 13- to 16-inch wheels and T and H speed index.

Nitto SN2

Nitto

Nitto is slowly showing up on the Canadian market and its first winter tire is the SN2, an affordable product.

Nitto SN2: A very affordable product, the Nitto SN2 is now available in some 29 sizes for 14- to 18-inch wheels with a T speed index

Hakkapeliitta 7

Nokian

It is difficult to ignore Nokian in the winter tire segment. This Finnish manufacturer has given us some of the most efficient winter tires on the market, most of them under the Hakkapeliitta brand, the other under the more affordable Nordman brand.

• Hakkapeliitta  7, 7 SUV, 5, 5 SUV, R, R SUV and LT: This is a line of great winter tires all available with studs and now offered at a more affordable price though they remain premium products.

WRG2 and WRG2 SUV: This most recent generation of Nokian tires is a new type of all-season tire that meets winter requirements but can be used during the rest of the year.

Nordman 2, 4, SUV, Van and Cargo: This is Nokian’s more affordable line of winter tires. All are studdable and their design hails from past Hakkapelliita models.

Winter Sottozero Series II

Pirelli

Pirelli is an Italian manufacturer that offers mostly premium products.

• Winter Sottozero Serie II: This is an improved version of the original Sottozero. A premium product, it is mostly destined for high-end cars and light trucks.

• Winter 210/240/270 Sottozero: These tires are still premium performance units but aimed at more popular sizes including some run-flat tire sizes. These products are available with H, V, and W speed ratings.

• Winter Carving/Edge: This is the most current Pirelli tire available in most sizes for the most current vehicles and even performance SUVs. These tires can be studded.

• Scorpion Ice & Snow: This SUV product with T, H, and V speed ratings is available in many sizes and even for 18-, 19-, 20- and 21-inch wheels!

• Winter Chrono: This is a studdable commercial van tire.

Be on the lookout for a new Ice control non studdable tire and a new Snow Control European styled winter tire designed for car like the smart.

Garit KX

Toyo

Toyo is a very well known winter manufacturer. Though it had to go through some ordeals following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, it is still very active in the winter tire segment.

• Observe G-02 Plus: This is Toyo’s most popular product but as these lines are written, rumours have it that the brand will eventually be replaced by the new GSI-5 line of winter tires except for bigger 19-20-inch wheel applications.

Tiger Paw Ice & Snow II

• Garit KX: This still is the performance winter tire of the brand available at an affordable price with an H speed rating.

• Snowprox S952: Toyo’s performance tire, it comes in more than 25 sizes with Microbit technology and H and V speed ratings. Not studdable.

• Open Country G-02 Plus: This is Toyo’s winter tire for light-duty trucks and SUVs but it could be replaced by a newer version based on the GSI-5 product. More to come in Tire News.

Uniroyal

Ice Guard IG20

Uniroyal is another one of Michelin’s very affordable brand.

• Tiger Paw Ice & Snow II: This passenger car tire is available in 20 sizes for 14- to 17-inch rims all with S speed ratings. Most sizes are studdable.

Yokohama

Japanese manufacturer Yokohama is bringing back its array of winter tires—the Ice Guard IG20, the Geolandar I/T G072, and the W.drive.

• Ice Guard IG20: Yokohama’s most popular tire will fit most wheel sizes with Q, R, or T speed ratings. The IG20 is not studdable, but it is affordable.

• Geolandar I/T G072: This tire is designed for light trucks and SUVs and will fit many wheels sizes with Q and R speed ratings.

• W.drive: This most recent winter tire is designed for premium high performance cars such as BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo.

Many thanks to Stéphane Parenteau from Pneus Premier Choix in Laval for helping us in the research.