Nokian Hakkapeliitta R or Blizzak WS-70?

**jay-d** · #1: 10-09-2012, 10:25 AM

In the years that I've owned my car, I've always opted to get better winter performing tires.

Firestone WinterForce --> Kumho KW17 --> Conti ExtremeWinterContact

For my wagon, I want to get the best for around $1000 budget!

I can get the WS-70 for $850 and I can get the Nokian's for $1050. Only $200 more!

If anyone can chime in for which ones I should opt for.. that would be great! How long the Nokian's last compared to the Blizzaks and such!

**bluesuby** · #2: 10-09-2012, 12:32 PM

I've had Nokian RSi snows for 6 seasons (maybe 30,000 miles) and they'll be good for a couple more. Amazing grip on ice and snow. I can't compare them to Bridgestones, but Nokian is a top seller in Canada and Russia so they must know something about cold weather tires.

**PrimeRib** · #3: 10-09-2012, 12:38 PM

General Altimax Arctic.

**captainobvious** · #4: 10-09-2012, 12:49 PM

Bridgestone Blizzak

**outahere** · #5: 10-09-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay-d

.........I can get the WS-70 for $850 and I can get the Nokian's for $1050. Only $200 more!

If anyone can chime in for which ones I should opt for.. that would be great! ........

It depends. What are you winter driving conditions like? Ice? Snow? Slush? Mostly dry? Mostly wet?

**stuck686** · #6: 10-09-2012, 02:54 PM

nokians are amazing

**krzyss** · #7: 10-10-2012, 05:10 AM

According to Consumer Report the winter tires to have this season (studless winter to be precise) are Michelin X-Ice Xi3 ir Xi2.
Check their Nov 2012 edition.

Krzys

**robinlsb** · #8: 10-10-2012, 07:08 AM

Toyo Garits hx

**SCHM1AN** · #9: 10-10-2012, 01:35 PM

Nokian is a Finnish brand-- in Finland, in order to get your license, you have to learn how to perform emergency maneuvers on snowy roads since lots of roads there do not get plowed. Finnish drivers know a thing or two about car control. (Ever heard the saying "If you want to win, hire a Finn." ?) That being said, if you can afford the Nokians, get them.

**Mr. Sinister** · #**10:** 10-10-2012, 03:38 PM

I'd answer outahere's questions then buy whatever he recommends.

With that said, I had to drive like a total ass to get my WS60s to break loose on maybe 2" of wet snow. Those things gripped abd I would expect the WS70s to be better.

**dmanaenk** · #**11:** 10-10-2012, 10:33 PM

What's wrong with Contis? Per last season's euro tests, they seemed on par with Hakka R's overall (assuming ContiVikingContact 5 is the same tire), although offering slightly different mix of characteristics.

**bluesuby** · #**12:** 10-11-2012, 08:59 AM

Nothing wrong with Contis. I bought a set of TS740s back in the 80s when Continental first introduced "thermogummi". Great tires then and better now. Conti bought General Tire and that's where General got the smarts for the Altimax Arctic.

**jay-d** · #**13:** 10-11-2012, 09:13 AM

Wow, thanks for the responses guys!

I've never had Bridgestone, and I've always known Nokian to be top of the line. One of the things that are making me lean towards the Nokian is the low rolling resistance which should in theory save gas mileage.

I'm in Toronto, Ontario so we get every type of snow you can imagine. Deep, slush, hard packed, black ice, you name it! I also drive up north to go snowboarding and that's usually deeper or hard packed snow, sometimes ice.

I've been reading a lot of reviews on 1010tires and Tire Rack and the Michelin's Xi2 just isn't cutting it for me if I'm going to be paying that price.

I appreciate all the other suggestions, but from my original list, I narrowed it down to those two as they had the best reviews from multiple sources!

Nokian Hakka R's
Toyo Garit XK
Bridgestone Blizzak WS70
Bridgestone Blizzak LM60
Conti ExtremeWinterContact
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT
General Altimax
Michelin's Xi2

Looks like I'll be getting the Nokian's! I wasn't too happy with the Conti ExtremeWinterContact on my '99 Legacy. They were too soft for my liking, so the performance aspect wasn't what I was used too compared to my previous Kumho's on there (those were awesome!) Great tire, but I felt a little squirrely in some types of snow.

**luchadorjose** · #**14:** 10-11-2012, 09:18 AM

My WS70's performed AWESOME but their wear sucked really bad. You'd be lucky to get two seasons out of the unless you drive on snow all the time. I've heard nothing but good things about the general arcticMax's, considering their price

**outahere** · #**15:** 10-11-2012, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay-d

..................Looks like I'll be getting the Nokian's! .............

Nokian R is always a great choice for snow and slush, as long as you don't mind paying the "Nokian tax".

Here is a recent 2012 test of the HakkaR vs Xi2, Conti CVC5, Dunlop DS3, Toyo Garit G4. Use Google Translate.

http://www.autoreview.ru/_archive/se...ECTION_ID=7083