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I've been trying to find info, but haven't found much. Was hoping maybe this board can help me.
I currently have Nokian WRG3 on my Mazda 3 HB. It did well last winter, except the time I was at a deadstop and needed to get up a slope (not even a hill). Where I live, I'm more concerned about ice, not snow. And since I'm moving soon to a city where I'll be commuting on a winding, elevation change, two-lane road, think "light" mountain road, I was wondering if I should get true winter tires to assist with the ice. I can't put chains on my tires (well, I can, but I'll probably do a lot of damage to my wheel well and rims) and I really don't want studded tires.
Thoughts between the Nokian WRG3's and true winter tires? I realize true winter tires will do better, but would it be worth it for me to buy some? I'm on the poor side right now and even Blizzak's are $140 each.
I had WRG2's, and didn't care for them. Wore fast, noisy at the end, and didn't seem to do anything all that well. A true compromise tire. With those tires, I probably would need to time getting a new set every fall, or about every 30k.
At the moment my cars run General RT43's. Probably not quite as good snow traction, but when they are new, they seem decent. I toyed with just replacing every fall, but finally bit the bullet and got snows. Been too long to give a full A/B comparison but I've done plenty of driving on the RT43's in snow, and they get the job done.
You may be low on cash but how much would it cost you if you smash your car because of crappy tires in the Winter time ? Lots of information on and other websites regarding true winter tires vs. all season tires, basically there's no comparison.
Also if you have two sets of tires they last twice as long theoretically because you're only using them approximately half the year each, so as long as they don't age out ( tires are good for 6 to 10 years usually).
You may be low on cash but how much would it cost you if you smash your car because of crappy tires in the Winter time ? Lots of information on and other websites regarding true winter tires vs. all season tires, basically there's no comparison.
Also if you have two sets of tires they last twice as long theoretically because you're only using them approximately half the year each, so as long as they don't age out ( tires are good for 6 to 10 years usually).
I don't have all-season tires, I have all-weather. There's a difference and very little information out there comparing all-weather to winter. The only thing I could find was a Consumer Report and the Nokian WRG3 ranked #10 out of 10 in winter tires, it's not a winter tire, so I guess it could barely hang with the big boys.
Where I live, I'll need the tires for maybe 3 months. I'm concerned about storing them. I get that tires are cheaper than fixing my car (not really since I have insurance), but not having $600 is an issue also.
I had WRG2's, and didn't care for them. Wore fast, noisy at the end, and didn't seem to do anything all that well. A true compromise tire. With those tires, I probably would need to time getting a new set every fall, or about every 30k.
At the moment my cars run General RT43's. Probably not quite as good snow traction, but when they are new, they seem decent. I toyed with just replacing every fall, but finally bit the bullet and got snows. Been too long to give a full A/B comparison but I've done plenty of driving on the RT43's in snow, and they get the job done.
But a real snow tire...
Yikes. I'm hoping they don't wear that fast. Granted, I only drive a few thousand miles a year. I would hope they last longer than that. And they are definitely louder, I do dislike that. Mine seemed to do well in snow though. Ice was so-so, but better than my old Conti DWS.
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