Just waiting to put on Nokians...

[Dario]

Got Nokians mounted on my Trail wheels (bought from a member here). Anxiously waiting for colder weather to swap out the stock tiers on the wife's Limited and to get the Trail wheels on there!

Kinda funny story: I went to the usual tire place and the guy was very open with me. They have older style snow tires with walnut shells in them. These are generally good enough to get around. He could get me Blizzaks but would have to order them. Price was decent. He told me he'd run the Nokians if his shop could get them.

So I went to Tire Factory. Price was a little higher. Cost me ~$1050 for 4 Nokians + TPMS programmed to match the existing ones. 2nd pic shows a Trail/Nokian just in front of the mounted limited wheel.

(apologies for the crappy phone photos)

 

[DrDubzz]

I just got mine back from the Tire Factory here in Anchorage with some new Nokian Rotiivas, great minds...

 

[Dario]

I just got mine back from the Tire Factory here in Anchorage with some new Nokian Rotiivas, great minds...

So I have to ask... heading into Winter, why Rotiivas rather than a winter tire?

 

[DrDubzz]

well, I spent last winter on Cooper Discoverer ATRs and had nary a problem. These should be noticeably better so I didn't feel a dedicated winter tire was necessary -- though, if I could have found cheap steel wheels up here I might have gone with winters, but I really don't want to mess with 'change over season' and the added cost each time.

 

[Dario]

well, I spent last winter on Cooper Discoverer ATRs and had nary a problem. These should be noticeably better so I didn't feel a dedicated winter tire was necessary -- though, if I could have found cheap steel wheels up here I might have gone with winters, but I really don't want to mess with 'change over season' and the added cost each time.

Makes sense. Was just curious.

FYI, I've loved in many parts of west and mid-west US and driven all over the place without snow tires. Living in the hills in Portland I'm not about to the 18% grade out of my house without some winter rubber. (More accurately, don't want the wife to try it. I'll just chain up my truck.)

 

[Dario]

well, I spent last winter on Cooper Discoverer ATRs and had nary a problem. These should be noticeably better so I didn't feel a dedicated winter tire was necessary -- though, if I could have found cheap steel wheels up here I might have gone with winters, but I really don't want to mess with 'change over season' and the added cost each time.

DrDubzz, How are your Rotiivas doing in winter weather? I need new tires on my Landy LR3 and these are on my short list. (And yes, I just felt all of you cringe. Hopefully I don't get banned for mentioning it.)

I know "all season" tires are generally BS, but these specs on these look good. Similar to you, I really don't want to change tires (no 2nd set of rims). I can chain up for significant snow and ice. Note that I drive on wet roads about 220 days per year, so good wet performance is first, dry is secondary.

Put the Haka SUVs on the wife's Limited a few days ago. Two days later we had some snow and then ice hit. Those tires are fantastic in snow. Adequate on ice but obviously you can only so so much without studs.

 

[DrDubzz]

DrDubzz, How are your Rotiivas doing in winter weather? I need new tires on my Landy LR3 and these are on my short list. (And yes, I just felt all of you cringe. Hopefully I don't get banned for mentioning it.)

I know "all season" tires are generally BS, but these specs on these look good. Similar to you, I really don't want to change tires (no 2nd set of rims). I can chain up for significant snow and ice. Note that I drive on wet roads about 220 days per year, so good wet performance is first, dry is secondary.

Put the Haka SUVs on the wife's Limited a few days ago. Two days later we had some snow and then ice hit. Those tires are fantastic in snow. Adequate on ice but obviously you can only so so much without studs.

oddly enough, we haven't had any winter weather yet. It's cold, but we haven't had any snow to speak of... I will post results once I have some though.

 

[Chill will]

I ha a set of Nokia snow tires and ther were the best. I liked the. So much that I got a set of ther mud terrains. I believe they were Nokian Vativa M/T Awesome tire in the mud and snow. Soft compound made them sticky on the rocks but chunked out on sharp rocks. In the mud the cleaned out and threw a roost of mud. Really liked them but they wore kinda fast on the street.

 

[DrDubzz]

This winter is/was very underwhelming, but the Rotiivas have been great in the snow, good enough on the ice (not noticeably different than the winter tires on my golf for stopping and handling).
Even in relatively deep snow I could make it up hills in 2WD if I wanted to