:? Opinions Yokohama V901 Winter/ AVS Winter

I was about to pull the trigger on a set of Nokian RSi tires for this winter in 205/50/17 at a cost of 233.25 cdn$, when the dealer threw a wrench in the equation and offered me the Yokohama s for 205 cdn $ a tire. This after I elemenated the Dunlop M3, goodyear GW3, Nokian WR etc .Now I had never really heard of this tire and it does seem to get great reviews but I need first hand feedback, is this with a V rating that will work mircles in the snow? Or are we back again to the debate ice tire vs performance winter tire. [url]http://www.yokohamatire.com/TireFeatures.asp?TireID=49[/url] or the Nokian RSi[url]http://nokian.verstas.com/get.vers?f=1674[/url] Please understand my hesitation I have always had Nokians because I was always able to fit the ones I wanted on the car, NRW,Hakka1+studs,Hakka2+Studs the only other tire I have had is a Toyo Observe G-02( forget it). PS I live in the city where snow is cleared regularly but it falls often and where ice and freezing rain are always lurking. I do not do a lot of highway driving just long hauls like Montreal to NYC or Halifax. I do not really beleive in going at V rated speeds in winter but i need a tire that will respond to my inputs and will not leave with the 4 wheels spinning(the only time that has happened to me was with the Hakka2 when I effectively beached the car(my rex wagon)

Why are you ruling out the WR's? I used the NRW's and WR's and have found both to be very good in urban areas. In fact I live in Toronto, and my family is in Montreal, and I drive every other weekend from one to the other :-) They have been great tires - and they will last much longer than the RSi's, and provide (in my opinion) 90% of the snow traction, but much better dry handling (and in both cities, the snow is cleared effectively). Just my 2 cents. Mal. Sorry I don't know much about the yokos. I was quoted $200 a tire canadian for the WR's in our exact tire size 215/45/17, which is a good price. This is steelcase tires ' mags in Toronto.

The WR is a bit compromised in the white stuff. They don't make the RSi (a tire I am also considering) in the exact GT size. You can either go 225-45-17 or 205-50-17, apparently. Kevin

Done. I went in 205/50/17 in the RSI. Checked with Subaru and the change in profile is ok as long as all 4 wheels are done, obviously there will be a slight speedo error also after checking with Nokian, even in the friction tires the narrow tire will be the choice, plus they gave me 85$ per tire for my used Hakka2. If you have a chance to check out the flash presentation on the RSi looks really good. I have to admit to being a Nokian _hore :wink: Now I will just have to get the suspension ready for this winter and we should be set.

The WR is a winter performance tire. Thus you have a compromise for its handeling capabilities in the snow/ice/slush for better pavment traction. I do not drive hard in winter unless I am on a cleared snow packed road and I have my trusty studs on. My number one winter criteria is to be able to go at all times in winter speed takes a back seat. If I had gone with a winter performance tire it would have been either the Goodyear, Dunlop, Yokohama. But finally I got a "friction tire" I have to say the flash presentation sold me.

What do you mean by getting the suspension ready for winter? I'll have to consider the RSi also this year (the only other choice being the WR). Did you have them put on already on the stock rims? Mal.

[quote name='gtguy']The WR is a bit compromised in the white stuff. They don't make the RSi (a tire I am also considering) in the exact GT size. You can either go 225-45-17 or 205-50-17, apparently. Kevin[/quote] Compared to a WR 215/45x17, the RSi in 205/50x17 will give you a reduction in revolutions per mile of only 2.0% (843 rpmile vs 826 rpmile). Not too bad a mismatch. The 225-45x17 will give an even smaller percentage difference, but the tire will probably cost more than a 205, and being wider will presumably perform less well in snow.

The tires will be mounted and balanced on stock rims. The suspension I use right now is the Spec B which for winter is just wrong mostly because of the coils that are too stiff and also I have my doubts as to the Bilstein working well in minus 20 temps, already the STI setup I had on the WRX use to get rock hard when it got really cold. So chances are that the stock setup will be put back on the car for winter.

Hey I didn't realise you got the Spec B setup. Nice. If you don't mind my asking how did you go about obtaining it in Montreal? Thanks, Mal.

Bought on Yahoo Auction Japan and shipped in by EMS. PS what car do you drive and where did you buy it?

I purchased a 2005 Legacy GT Wagon about 1 month ago. It will arrive either tomorrow or early next week. It is being shipped from Vancouver (!) since they could not find me any other Regal Blue wagons with a stick shift and limited package in Canada (!) I purchased from Dowtown Subaru in Toronto. Mal. I will be looking to firm up the ride a little, but probably not to spec-B levels. It's possible that new springs alone will do the job since the concensus seems to be that the leg is under sprung more than it is under-dampened. We'll see.

Well all I can say is that the Bilstein dampers are nice in terms of dampening range and have a very nice liner phasing, I posted the data and graphs on them. If they are matched to a good set of coils: Swift, Sti, JDM GT: then you will have a very nice combo. PS I was supposed to get a Regal blue also but the wait at the time was too long so got a black. :)

Nicd, where did you buy your Nokian RSi? I have a very hard time finding some here in Ottawa. I go to Montreal every weekend so it will probably be easier to buy some there. BTW I got a Regal Blue wagon, unfortunatly I had to go with the EAT to accomodate the wife.

Did you try [url]www.carmodifier.com?[/url] They are based in ottawa and sell nokian tires. Mal.

Thanks!!! Seems like a great place. Glad to have it close to my house.

That is where I got mine and I also drive a 5EAT for the same reasons as you, I am not that dissapointed but yeah it is not a 5MT.

Hi nicd. Can you tell me which dealer offered you the Yokohama tires for $205? I might ask them to ship them to me in Halifax. Thanks, Tom

meerson Automotive here in Montreal.