I'll be putting on the General Altimax Arctics that have gone on the wife's 3 for the last few years. They're unkillable. Too bad the car is still mediocre in the snow due to the light weight over the drive wheels and the traction (out of) control. The Frontier will need a decent set of A/T's to get through the winter. Been thinking the Cooper Discoverer AT/3. I've gotten almost 50k out of the stock tires, not bad IMO. The Mini will have to soldier on with the crappy all seasons that are on it right now. It will not likely see much, if any, snow.
Owner reviews for tires
I've run General Altimax Arctics for years. Probably gone through 3-4 different sets on various WRX/STI, MQB cars, always happy with them. I did get a used set of wheels with Michelin XI3's and they're pretty okay for my current MK7. Pretty ok in dry weather but I found they didn't do great compared to the Altimax on a prior Mk7 GTI.
I've got Altimax Arctics for both the Focus and BRZ. The Fit uses all-seasons all-season and does OK. I think the X-Ice 2's I had before the Generals had the edge on actual ice but both tires are excellent in the snow.
I am about to swap over to the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80s I bought last season. Very pleased with the wear and performance. My only complaint is that they are a little loud in wet weather. I ran General Altimax Arctic for six seasons and that was a great tire. Bang for the buck was superb.
Although not a 100% dedicated snow tire I run Nokian WR G4's on the A6. I have never had an issue with anything with them and they hold up a little better than a full on winter tire. Since the weather has been changing so much the last 6 years, getting a full dedicated snow set didnt make sense for me, being in the city. I would highly recommend them to anyone, or if you need full on snow, you cannot go wrong with the hekka R3s
I'll be rocking my 225/50/17 Nokian Haka R2's on my Alltrack again this winter. Absolutely wonderful winter tire, I love everything about them, amazing on ice unstoppable in deep snow. My wife's 2015 Golf has 205/65/15 XIce XI2's which are great on ice, but maybe not quite as good as the R2's, I do find they are not nearly as good as the R2's in snow. Before you say it's an apples to oranges comparison, I used to have 205/60/16 Haka R's on my 2010 TDI Sportwagen so I know what these tires are like on a FWD car.
I bought some Nokian Hakka-whatever 4's in 205/50R17"s and loved them. Years back we got 10+ inches of snow in Seattle and my R was at stock ride height and I drove wherever.
I have 225s (Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT) and one of mine tipped over while changing tires and it got a scuff on it. Would have been worse with 205s.
The summer comp 2 has been really good in the dry and excellent in the wet in terms of grip and ride, but they fall way short of the Conti DW and the even better Mich PSS in noise. These things sound like altimax winter tires.
Buy some Michelins and be happy.
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