Winter tire shopping Bridgestone or Continental for 13 GT

[JonsMustang]

Bridgestone Blizzaks WS-90 or Continental Viking Contact 7

Gearing towards Viking since it's on cheaper side with good reviews.

​​​​​​​Thoughts?

[Scrape]

My vote goes to the Continentals as well.

[ZR]

Neither and by a huge margin.
Haka's if the budget will allow.

https://dc602r66yb2n9.cloudfront.net/pub/web/images/innovation_images/Sipe-activators-Nokian-HKPL-R2-720px.png

[ZR]

If your on a tight budget, Sailun are extremely capable n priced very right.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71qi1pmvytL._AC_SL1100_.jpg

[fast Ed]

General Altimax Arctic 12 is good value too. General is owned by Continental, and this tire is one from their European Gislaved subsidiary that is relabelled as a General for the North American market. Great performer, especially for the price.


cheers
Ed

[CON VERT]

I'm with ED ^^ had Altimax last 2 sets of snows , no issue's what so ever, my only observation is they maybe a little noisey on the HWY ??

[Scrape]

I ran Gislaved's on my 07 GT for 7 winters and have them now for my Jetta and no issues there at all to be honest. I was only following what the OP was asking between the two tires. But Agreed on all parts that there are a lot of tires better valued and more capable than the two that he listed.

[Uncle Buck]

I run Blizzaks on one of my cars and find them marginally better than the inexpensive China snows I run on the others.

I got them cheap through family but wouldn't pay full pop for them.

[JonsMustang]

Looks like ALTIMAX ARCTIC 12 only goes up to 18in

I have 19's and running brembo's.

[JZ67]

Blizzak's are great the first season. They are a dual compound tire with softer outer layer but once you burn through the first half of the tire life they are no better than an all season tire. For the money you can do much better than Blizzak.

I have been using Yokohama Icegaurd on my dd. Great performance overall and I am very pleased with how they respond, how they have worn and I find them much less noisy than Blizzak. They were marginally less expensive.

When I was doing my research, I read great things about Continentals and a Pirelli offering.

My daughter wanted a reasonably priced and reliable winter tire. We found Starfire Tires. They are a division of Cooper Tire. I was really impressed with the ride at the price - noisy but they do the job. I would think your exhaust note would cover the road noise though.

[DELZZZ]

I had Conti Winter Contacts on the 18 GT for the last two years and they were really good on the stock 18's.
This year I am trying Nokians on the Camaro to see if they are as incredible as their reviews say.
I would definitely buy Conti's again in the future though.

[ZR]

First experience with Hakas was on my Dad's Marquis. The road he lived on had a substantial hill with a 90deg corner at the bottom which left no chance at a good run at it. Previous decent snows made it a grind n spin to get out when things got shitty to car walked up the hill with relative ease on the Nokians. Trust me, was a big deal to get him to spend that much on snows but after the first couple times in the snow, he never regretted it. Yes some of the knock offs are pretty darn good but if your looking for an over achieving snow tire, simply can not go wrong with them. In the same breath, I cringe at how poorly some of the high rated snows out there actually perform.

[UnlimitedTraction]

Blizzaks or X-Ice or Sottozero. I have experience with all 3 and they are all good

[xeninworx]

Looks like ALTIMAX ARCTIC 12 only goes up to 18in

I have 19's and running brembo's.

You can fit 18s with the Brembos. Drag Wheels have a few wheels that fit. Did some research for 18s with Brembos as I want to put Brembos on my 14 V6 but didn’t want to keep the 19” Brembo wheels for the winter.

[xeninworx]

Also found that some of the Touren wheels work too. When looking for 18s that fit over the 4 piston Brembos, look up Boss 302 or 07-12 GT500. They have the same 4 piston Brembos as some sites don’t factor in that the GT has Brembos. Touren wheels aren’t even expensive either.

[xeninworx]

I just looked at the stats for the Vikingcontact 7. Really impressive based on the Tire Rack testing. Pricing is less than the WS90 based on a 235/50/18 size.

Looking at the prices the WS90 is the most expensive while if you go with the DM-V2 in the same size, it’ll be around the same price as the Vikingcontact 7. The DM-V2 is comparable to the WS90 but is meant for a SUV/Truck.

If you really want to go for the WS90 you can go 215/55/18 which is around the same size as 235/50/18 and at that size it’ll be priced around the Vikingcontact 7 and DM-V2.

Once I get the Brembos on next year I’ll be switching to 18s for the winter. The Touren TR76 is a nice looking wheel which according to Touren fit over the Brembos. I’ll also buy a 5th Touren wheel, probably the TR9, to use as a spare wheel. Will mount a skinnier cheap all season tire on it and replace it with the dummy wheel that won’t go over the Brembos.

[CON VERT]

Been lookin for some snows for the caddy, 235/55/20, wanted altimax but they don't come in that size


would like to source some 20" steelies & TPS to go with em, so far everyone wants to sell ,me some fancy rims cause its a caddy, but they forget there is a CHEEP :oldman:old guy buying them !

[xeninworx]

You couldn’t go with something smaller? The DM-V2 come in your size.

[fast Ed]

Yes should be able to downsize to 18" wheels with 235/65R18 likely, tires will be much cheaper. If anyone makes 20" steelies they would be extremely heavy.

What is the year and model Glen? I can check to see what will fit for a downsize on it.

[CON VERT]

Thanks ED, its a XT6 ~ AWD Sport she is also a 6 bolt !

[CON VERT]

You hit it ED, 235/65/18 is a dead ringer in size , now to find some 6 bolt steelies that fit !

[fast Ed]

When I look on the Fastco site (they do a lot of steel wheels as well as their alloys), they don't have a steel in any size for this application. A quick look Tire Rack in the USA gives the same result, so it may be that a wheel in the correct size, offset, and hub bore doesn't exist in the 6-bolt fitment yet. You may have to put winters on your factory wheels, or go for a low cost 18" alloy wheel package.

[CON VERT]

OK, Thanks for the info ~ YIKES ! that's why the $$$$$ are so high ! & of course back to 20" rubber

[xeninworx]

6 bolt wheels shouldn’t be hard to find.

Found the Touren wheels I want at canadawheels for $550 for 4. Not bad for 18x8.

[Hutch]

I have had blizzaks on my Fusion for 3 years and they where awesome. Good grip and low noise. I have sailuns on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and they are crap. Haven’t liked them since new. Little bit more noise but traction isn’t that great.

[xeninworx]

Well I definitely have to buy new winter tires as I just sold my 11-14 GT Brembo wheels with Blizzaks to a guy with a 2020 GT PP. the 19x9 and 255/40 tires were too wide and I wasn’t happy with the performance. Time for some 18s and narrower tires.

[xeninworx]

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1524895019

What are your thoughts? Price includes taxes but installation is extra, which is fine as I’d have them installed elsewhere and when it gets colder. I sent them a message asking if the prices already include the rebate or if it’s the price + $60 then get the $60 back from the rebate.

Thinking I might go 225/55/18. A little narrower and a little taller. If I’m doing 60kmh I’d be doing 61.4kmh with that size so not a huge difference. Much cheaper too.

[ZR]

I have had blizzaks on my Fusion for 3 years and they where awesome. Good grip and low noise. I have sailuns on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and they are crap. Haven’t liked them since new. Little bit more noise but traction isn’t that great.

Oddly enough,opposite review on Sailuns here. This will be third winter with them on Kath's HHR. Price point tire that feel and drive more like a good all season (especially for a snow tire), are virtually silent and have done a top notch job in the snotty weather. Add to that, are wearing very well and to us they've been a home run.

[fast Ed]

225/55R18 is definitely a good size for an S197 or S550 where you have to run 18s.

[xeninworx]

That deal from Tire Discounters Richmond Hill is legit. Paid $760 taxes included for the Vikingcontact 7. Installation extra. Also the mail in rebate of $60 deducts from that price. So in the end it’ll be $700. The rebate starts October 1st so they’ll send me a new invoice showing that I purchased when the rebate starts. The girl at the front counter was super friendly. When I went to put the tires in the backseat of the Accord, the mechanics put the tires in bags for me so they wouldn’t dirty the seats. Quite honestly one of the best experiences I’ve had at a wheel shop.

[CON VERT]

Decided finally, my go to tire guy has a set of 20's that fit, ordered for another customer , put on and removed and put back in the box , ???? so their NEW $400 for all 4, the rims are a great buy, genuine GM , going to wrap them in Michelins XI3, front wrap is going on today , bring on WINTER I'm ready , LOL

[xeninworx]

I noticed a lot of people selling their X-Ice 3 on Kijiji for less than half their worth new. Don’t know if that’s a good or bad things. Only used 1-2 seasons.

[fast Ed]

There is a new generation Michelin winter tire coming this season in most sizes, the X-Ice Snow. The X-Ice Xi3 was a nice smooth, quiet tire that offered great wet / icy / slushy / light snow condition performance, but not great in deeper snow. The new tire is supposed to address that deficiency.


cheers
Ed

[xeninworx]

Did not know that they had a new one coming out.

[fast Ed]

https://www.michelin.ca/en/tires/x-ice/x-ice-snow.html

[CON VERT]

My tire guy checked and they are not available in my size (not yet) and I want the quiet ride, Xi3 seems to fit that bill + slush and ice grip, that's what we get in Ajax most of the time !

[DELZZZ]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3's ordered yesterday.
I hope they are worth the hype, because they weren't cheap.
Oh well...
Keep the shiney side up :cool:

[Old Fart]

Hakkapeliitta's are great...good purchase!

[ZR]

You will not regret Haka's.

[xeninworx]

Well the Vikingcontacts handle like all seasons in the dry. The ride is just as comfortable and corners great. Very quiet too. With the stereo volume on low I can’t even hear them. The Touren TR76 wheels are lighter than the stock rims. I don’t work out but I can lift the TR76/Conti higher than I would the stock wheels lol.