Tires Cooper or Nokia

Nokian WR G3. It is a all-weather tire (all-season with the mountain-snowflake for severe winter conditions). They are available in 225/45r18 It's not going to have the dry road grip of the DWS06 or A/S3+, but will easily outperform them in the winter, that we are suppose to have.

So, this year, I banked big and bought the test-winning studded tires from Nokian (Hakapeliita 8). And let me tell you, I don't think I'm going back to studless tires ever, unless studded tires suddenly become illegal here.

- The grip and handling-ability on ice is unmatched. Everyone who sais that studless tires have come such a long way that there almost isn't a difference anymore has never tried a studded tire and should shut up. Especially the difference in brake-ability on ice is huge. Studded tires outperform studless in any icy-condition, that is for sure and any other claim is wrong. these tires really have given me confidence that no other studless tire has before.

Nokian's I've just put on the Hakk R2s for this winter. I was running WRG2s which I was thoroughly impressed with.

Car and Driver tested several studless snows and Nokian killed the competition

I have a set of 16" rims on order that will be getting Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 winter tires (205/55R16). They'll be getting installed at the end of October, after the car arrives.

I replaced them with Nokian Z-lines and I am loving it (cheaper too!)

Other than the heavy feeling at low speed (and a little bit of throttle fixes that), I think that most of the difference that I've experienced so far can be pinned on tires rather than the rack itself - feedback of the 14" Cooper H rated tires are slow and sloppy when compared to the BFG summer tires on our other car. I do like the faster ratio of the manual rack though, and I can feel the tug of the tires in rutted suburban streets, so feedback is good, if a little muted through the tires.

I'm currently running Nokian eTyer02's A/S <700/AA Rating> on the stock 17''s. With regard to our marvelous New England weather (CT) in the winter- It's either going to be (Bridgestone)Blizzacks, (Nokian) Hakkapeliittas, or (Gislaved) NordFrosts. All on my stock wheels. I used to be a huge Goodyear and Continental Fan. Things changed. Getting older with two in college I sharpen my pencils often to get the absolute best while keeping as much $ in my pocket.

Everybody has their favorites based on dynamic values i.e., cost, grab & release, noise, and/or life of tire. I just completed a modified Cannonball Run with my daughter on her Spring Break from college. Near the end of our 2,300 mile run we arrived one night in Niagara Falls with 34 degrees and slick rain. When we left the following day we cruised south to NYC via Wyoming County NY which was 78 degrees and sunny. We made it to NYC a day later in pouring rain. My Nokian enTyers were superb! Quiet, all weather dominance, and (Subjectively) a slow wear rate. The OEM Continentals had a firmer sidewall and turned in great fuel mileage but the Nokians earned my loyalty with how quiet they are.

I bought the RS3-G1s in 205/55R16 for my 2016 Sportwagen (stock was 225/40R18, have also had 195/65R15 snow tires and 195/65R15 LRR all seasons on it) - and they are EXTREMELY rough riding tires compared to any of the other tires, including the 18" P-Zero Neros. I almost pulled the wheels and tires off and listed them for sale within the first 500 miles. I had specifically gone 16" as a reasonable compromise of tire selection, price, looks, comfort, and gas mileage as the 18's had been a ~4MPG hit compared to the 15s, but any dreams of comfort went out the window with the Coopers. YMMV, but I wouldn't buy these again and regret doing so.