In Norway you're required by law to use winter tires in the winter, and basically every car you buy come with one set of summer tires and one set of winter tires. It makes a massive difference.
@@joepatroni8777 If you save money and use all-seasons, let's hope you don't crash, because that's your collision deductible (if you have collision coverage) plus increased premiums as a result of the accident, especially if you hit another car or damage property
Maybe so, but I've survived 20 ski-seasons on all-season tires and have never gotten stuck. AWD and electronic diff lock have been enough to get through the most difficult conditions. And some driving skill.
@@joepatroni8777 Fair point- but people will care about their bank account...right up until they're counting on tires that are not up to the job. After that I'm betting they will be far more willing to part with their money for a proper winter tire - Now, that is of course....assuming you survive the experience.
Back in my 20's, I had my Mustang GT put away for the winter and my winter/work car decided do die on me. Not having the money to get another one, I opted to get a set of steel wheels and Dunlop snow tires for my Mustang. I couldn't believe what it would do with those and a few sand bags in the trunk. I was plowing through a blizzard like a 4x4 with snow as high as the top of the bumper. I drove past a guy who was stuck in a 4x4 Ranger. The look on his face was priceless to see a Mustang going by, shooting snow off to each side like a plow. Those tires defied all logic.
Metalbass79 same thing happened to me in my cobra but I had all season and couldn’t get up a small hill ... a cop car was giving me love taps to get me by. Later that week I spun out and thank god just chipped a piece of the bumper.
I dunno how many years ago it was now, but remember the big big blizzard here in the northeast? was out trying to clear my driveway and I look down the street to see my friend coming up our hill, sideways, in his 911 with Blizzaks.
@@jossuesandoval7761 Me too with a 68 Mustang 286 up in Michigan. One advantage over front wheel drive is going up hill. FWD cars couldn't make it but my Mustang + snow tires would rear back and shoot up the hills no problem.
This will save you some time: 8:08 - control test, "All Season Tires"; 10:05 - "Cooper Discoverer North"; 16:42 - "Dunlop Wintermax SJ8"; 18:15 - "Continental WinterContact SI"
Great video TFL. Props to Cooper, Dunlop, and Continental for sending entries for the contest. Disappointed that Michelin, Bridgestone, and some of the other 'big players' didn't bother. I have run Michelin X-ice for many years on 4 different cars/SUVs in Wisconsin and they have performed great. I know others who swear by Blizzaks. As you said, dedicated snow tires are a vast improvement over all-seasons. I have found this holds true for both AWD and FWD.
I absolutely agree. I hear stories of incredible praise for the Blizzaks especially in the Camaro community. Extremely disappointing that the big dogs did not participate. They always have their own "course" and car where they show how good their tires are but never in real world comparison. Note that a set of dedicated 20" winter tires for a performance car were $1,400 and am truly disappointed they didn't participate to show their "worth" (it's a Pirelli set fyi). Next winter, I will go with Copper tires and will call them personally to thank that they participated in this testing.
Its almost always the smaller companies, that Take the risks on the new comers in media. The bigger companies want more control alot of times, when it comes to reviews. The smaller companies see it as, even if they don't do get an A in the reviewers opinion. That the just getting their name out there is a win. Not to mention the potential of building new contacts. Most likely next year or the year following we will see the big guys demand to be a part.
Big shout out to Cooper, Dunlap, and Continental for providing the tires for review. Gives us a real world look at how they perform, and allow us to be more informed in our purchases!
unexpected surprising result! But the MAIN result and message of this video is: ALL 3 brands of dedicated winter tires do WAY BETTER then the all season tires. IMO that says a lot.
No, but he did sell you a set of tires you don't even need. All seasons work great in snow, I just took my wife to work, 37 miles one way on unplowed roads. Though we weren't doing the usual 70 mph, 50 mph on snow covered streets and highway we made it just fine and on time. The only ones who are going fast are the idiots in our society. You go buy those snow tires, I will stick with what I know.
The problem is that they don't say anything new. I don't think there's anyone on the planet who would argue that purpose-designed things are worse than all-purpose things. So, why make the video?
@@emissarygw2264 ha ha. I didn't even think of that, but now that you mention it, it's likely they get to keep those tires now that they're used and it looks like both Outbacks were running on all-seasons anyway.
All-seasons with AWD are terrible. A 2wd with good winter tires will out drive it. I regularly drive up from Boulder to the Peak to Peak to go fat biking, skiing etc. I did it early season with all-seasons (while waiting for new Winters to be installed) and promptly got stuck in deep snow and slipped off into a snow bank. The next week my new winters were installed and nary a scary moment since; even with 2wd. AWD may give a slight edge in acceleration but it doesn’t matter in cornering and braking. On a side note, to remove human error and variability of terrain, you really need to perform several runs of each tire and average the results.
Agree! I had all season h/t tires last winter and they sucked. I was in a 4wd 4runner too. I currently have cooper stt pros on right now and they do great in deep snow but in plowed and compact snow on the road it's fair. I plan on just buying dedicated snow tires for it to get the stopping power and traction which out weighs going fast in the snow.
We have an AWD rx350, I went up to flagstaff in AZ when they had a big snow up on snowbowl mountain. I drove up that snowy/icey mountain and the only time I had a problem was once coming down on one of the turns I spun out but regained my traction after a few seconds. I'm using 3 year old Michelin A/S tires lol. They got a foot of snow up there that day. I will say its the ice the scares me not the snow.
The main reason for AWD is to avoid getting stuck. It really sucks if you can't make it up a hill - It snowed last week in Seattle and I felt bad for my neighbors who had to abandon their cars at the bottom of the hill and walk home. But even if AWD keeps you from getting stuck, you have to drive at a crawl.
@@garrett1144 Yea, thats probably because the host of Stability control systems that thing has. My current car has no ABS, Trac Control or Stability control, Well that shit doesnt work due to a failed ABS control module.
I have used Michelin, Toyo, and some generic brand found in Canada and my Cooper Discoverer M+S is the best snow tire I have ever used. And I drive northern Ontario Canada all the time in weather most people would just stay home but the Discoverer M+S severe weather rates tires gives you the grip needed to blast through and brake in the most ridiculous conditions.
Do the tire manufacturers not realize TFL is quickly becoming the monster of all things Automotive and truck related! Love Grand Tour, but trust you guys!!!
I appreciate all the time and effort you put into the tests you perform. This probably took half the day and we watch it in a little over 20 mins. Very informative yet fun to watch. Great job boys.
i live in canada and i have owned every high end winter tires. best winter tire is nokian hakkapellitta 9 studded tires. and best tires with no studs is nokian hakkapellitta r3. i have hakka 9 nokians on my 2018 mazda 6 signature and i enjoy driving in severe snow storms and blizzards.
RH2RACING interesting.... the best ones I had were the toyo observe g02 plus... too bad they don’t make em anymore... got the x-ices and I’m not happy at all...imma switch back to the new toyos next season and see what’s up...
YES my hakkas w/studs are amazing, even with just the 'computer' awd of my 2007 rwd FX35 it becomes better on snow and ice than 99% of other vehicles on the road
@@dtriplett03 I use Tire Rack for a lot of info and purchase as well as multiple other websites. They conduct much better tests and have extensive customer reviews. I wound up with Michelin X ice X i2 for the Toyota 4runner and Bridgestone Blizzaks for the Mazda CX 30.
I've owned all the major brands on different trucks over the years, and I can honestly say that Cooper tires have provided the best grip, mpg, and low road noise. I didn't have any plans on going with a different brand, but your video just reinforced my experiences.
I'd would have liked to see a few more repetitions per tyre. If you try each tyre only once per test you could be introducing errors. For example it could happen that with another trajectory of the car it would have get more or less grip so that's why you have to make more repetitions and check the average or the best result. In any case, I like to see these kind of tests.
True and also the acceleration test on a corner leaves a lot of room for variation from steering input. Still more real world than most. Good show guys, keep it up👍🏼👍🏼
No additional retest are needed. There was a single winner. Moreover “winter tires” are the real answer when compared to “All Weather” tire’s. The fact that the ice/snow pack stayed consistent for the testing duration made the testing perfect in my view. What a great testing location, Bravo!
@@smokeysmith1282 Yes, obviously you don't have to retest to demonstrate winter tyres are much better than all season in those conditions. But If you going to claim a winner among the winter tyres, I would have expected a bit more of a "scientific" methodology. These result could mean quite a lot of money for the winner brand (as a result of people buying that one instead of others) so I think we have to take that into account and be more thorough with the tests.
I had Coopers on my old Subaru Forester, and had Nokians on my CRV. Both were pretty great in the snow, especially compared to the all seasons the cars came with. I would highly suggest if you live in snowy climate (like me in MN), AWD or not, get yourself a set of winters.
JJ J it’s a no brainer! Snow tires only option for winter! Just pulled a fella out of a snow lot with summer tires. Told him to get some good snow tires!
@@robertrichardson9953 Snow tires are cheaper than a set of all-seasons ($300??), and will last you probably the life of the vehicle because you only use em for 3-4 months? im on my 3rd winter with a set of Blizzacs on the oem stamped rims and there is visually no wear (Chicagoland/NWI '04 Scion XB)
Very good video. A lot of work went into that day of testing for sure. Thanks for the effort fellas. I have only used the Goodyear Ultra Grips and I have to say I have been very impressed with them on snow and ice, but interestingly enough, they are also very good in rain.
I put Blizzaks DM2 s on my 4Runner and I'm so glad I did. I LOVE these tires. I've been in snow and on ice and they have been flawless. Going uphill on icy streets where everyone else skidded and I just went up as though it were dry.
@@smart1sf When you buy your 4Runner PLEASE check to make sure the frame is in good shape. That is ViTAL with these vehicles. Have someone thoroughly check it out if you live in a climate where they use salt on the roads. I had to replace mine at my own expense late last year. I have an 06
The tires were sent from the manufacturers they didn't pick which ones they tested. And 'lower tier' according to who? Granted conti and cooper are essentially the same company, but with differences of a few feet or couple seconds these tires all performed pretty closely. Get a decent set of winters. Stay safe.
I've watched a ton of winter tire comparisons over the years and this one was by far the best reflection of the conditions I face every winter. Well done! As a side note, I live on a country lane at 4300', daily commute over a 4500' pass and regularly drive to a ski area at 6200'. All in the northwest where those qualify as high elevations. I run a Fiesta with winter tires and have never had a moments concern. Tire choice is always more important than which or number of driven wheels. Thanks!
"No way a 2 wheel drive would make it up this hill" All winter tire comparisons I've seen refute that fully. Winter tires on 2wd are WORLDS better than all seasons on an AWD vehicle.
@@aurtisanminer2827 It doesn't matter, extensive tests have been done, AWD with all seasons are much worse than FWD cars with winter tires. So again, it's just not true.
Jacob K yea, I get what you’re saying. He just meant a 2 wheel drive with the same tires. I am fully aware of what a 2 wheel drive car will do in the snow with good tires. They make all the difference in the world, but there comes a point when 2 wd just wont go where an all wheel drive will.
I came to see how the Blizzaks compare to other brands. I've always considered the Bridgestone Blizzak as the best winter tire and that is all I've ever bought. Running them this winter on my '15 Mustang and they've been great!
The Blizzak WS80's is the BETTER winter tire for your car as I am also running them on my 2016 S550 GT for the last 3 years with no issues. My first purchase was the Michelin X-Ice Xi3's which is rated the best winter tire and it was horrible on this car when there was snow and ice but fine in other weather scenario's. What I have noticed with the WS80's is that it's a gas guzzler and tread wear is horrible and I am on my 2'nd set on the third year of owning this car but when it comes to getting through 8+ inches of snow the Blizzak's destroy the Xi3's 'for this car"... Keep in mind especially for Mustang owners that the Xi3's is not a tire that was listed as a compatible tire for our Mustang's and that's what makes it tough for rear wheel drive owners! What might be rated for a front and all wheel drive as being the best tire might not be good for rear wheel drive vehicles! I trust the Michelin brand as I have used them all of my life and still stand by them for the best bang for your buck but just not for Mustang's to get through the winter safely...I had the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's as my summers for the first 2 years and those tires were awesome on this car!
@@mtbrdude I can agree they have amazing grip and do wear fast but i have been able to pull 3 years out of them. It will always be YMMV. I will be getting nokians next because i just want to try them out
We had the Blizzaks for 3 years on my wife's Corolla. There was another year left on the tire but they are similar to a regular winter tire at that point. If we kept that car I wanted to replace them. On our Vernao they are on their second year. I feel there should be a third in them.
I’ve owned X-Ice, Blizzak and Hakka’s...all work great and imo are the best three you can get. That being said, my 5th Gen 4Runner on Blizzaks is the best winter setup I’ve ever ran. It’s a tank in the snow, so confident in the deep stuff or icy roads in Canada
I wish more companies submitted their tires to be tested. I guess when I buy snow tires I'll go with Cooper, Dunlop, or Continental, because I've seen them in action on TFL. I do think Andre may have been a bit slow on the acceleration timer for the continental. I think they may have actually won that test. Great video though! 👍👍
@ Scott Warren: Even before this test, when my All-Season OEM Honda Pilot (2016 EX-L AWD) tires wear out (I'm in the "yellow" of Discount Tire's tire-tread gauge!) I'm putting on Continental TerrainContact AT tires...mainly for occasional off-road use in the desert here, but also for occasional rain/snow use on pavement (and when I visit friend in CO in the Winter). Don't need a dedicated Winter tire here in almost snowless West TX, but WOULD be putting them each season on if I were still living in CO. But frankly, all 3 of these tires -- Dunlop, Cooper and Continental -- look pretty good, and don't think you can go wrong with any of them really. -- BR
@@VroomNPew Except Blizzaks, Nokians AND Michelin X-Ice all perform better than these. TFL is literally blackmailing tire manufacturers into giving them thousands of dollars worth of freebies so that they can be included in this fake comparison. You know what the *ethical* thing to do would have been? Pick tires that are likely candidates based on their features and expected performance (as opposed to based on who is willing to pony them up for free), BUY them, and test with multiple runs etc.
@@emissarygw2264 hardly think TFL are blackmailing manufactures. come on seriously? The simple matter is TFL always do basic real word test, which is what keeps the videos interesting and relatable. To me, the point of this video is about demonstrating all season tires aren't even come close to winter tires. I'm sick of seeing individual tests of a single tire. This showed 4 different types of tires in different situations.
@@troymortimer3487 if you're going to call it "the ultimate winter tire test", you are making the implicit statement that it is a comprehensive comparison of the best of the best in that category. And then drawing conclusions like "welp looks like the Cooper wins the ultimate winter tire test this year!" while factually correct are super misleading because (a) only sponsored tires were represented, and (b) it was the only actual winter tire (if I remember correctly, it's been a long time since I watched this) that competed. And the comment section shows that plenty of people have been misled into buying these thinking they are actually best at anything.
Troy Mortimer just check tire rack. They typically compare multiple tires. For instance, they have a snow tire test with X-Ice 3s, Blizzaks, Dunlop IceGuard, and I believe a Yokohama. XIce and Blizzak were both significantly better.
I tell people every year that they should get snow tires to be safer, and its always great videos like this that finally convince them too. Not everyone one of your videos is always going to be a hit with everyone, but I really like how you guys are reading our comments and always adding new tests or improving old tests, it makes me want to stay tuned to your channel. I will say too, your channel would only be have of what it is, if you guys didn't live in Colorado, definitely helps having these tough conditions for testing :) Keep up the great work!
Really appreciate the effort put into this one. It’s a shame more companies didn’t send product to be tested. Can’t really go wrong with either of these three. Especially compared to all seasons in snow. Good job guys.
Having watched the TFL winter tire review I’d take a flier on a 4 set of Cooper’s model Discoverer True North; 225/60/HR18. (Production 7/2019). The vehicle a 2020 Subaru Outback XT Touring (2.4t) .. Took delivery of the ordered ‘20 OB XT on 11/1/19 w/11mi in GA. The following day mounted the Winter Coopers beginning a 1,500mi road trip to Vail, Colorado. The Cooper winter True North tires have demonstrated being a Tier One performance winter tire. Starting a 2nd Vail winter season with the Coopers; Dec 2020. Thanks for the tire review effort TFL Crew.
You know TFL could have *bought* the tires? Considering there are a number of extremely popular and well rated tires including the Michelins, Blizzaks and Nokians... but TFL decided that only the ones offering them free tires would be considered for "best tire". What a joke.
@@emissarygw2264 These are youtube videos, dude. Its great for companies to promote their stuff, its not great for the creator to earn cash. Buying all these tyres would hit a big dent in their economy, companies sending free tyres for them to review doesnt even leave a scratch in the company economy.
Just driven from Alberta with -30F down to Az and Galveston Tx. Michelin Xice because they came with the car, RWD Genesis. Extremely impressed. Fantastic on ice and snow, perfectly fine on dry warm spring conditions and VERY quiet. Can barely tell they’re winter tires on dry, highway asphalt
As a long time ice racer I will tell you that many of the true hydrophilic winter tires reguire some miles to wear off the smooth surface from the tire moulds aand oppen up the cells in the tire compound.
In the past few years I've switched from Nokians to Coopers. Nokians area amazing but too expensive. The coopers have been amazing. Heavy snow, heavy slush, ice , mix , they have smashed through all of it with no issues and very little slippage. 2011 Subaru Impreza 1" lift /215/60/16 Cooper weather master ST2 2004 Subaru Forester 1" lift 1" wheel spacers /215/70/16 Cooper discoverer M+S 2019 Subaru Forester Sport/ 225/55/18 Cooper weather master WSC Great video guys👍
Price is an important factor. A very important factor. But getting a 4x4 vehicle and Not getting a winter tire just because you have a 4x4 is a stupid thing. Yet another video proving just that. They are saying that no 2 wheel drive vehicle can get there, but i'm not sure about that. Get a new front wheel drive car, put some nice winter tires and check it.
Great idea for a series. I suggest running each test w each tire, 3 times. Tires warm up, soften, and results will be more representative of real world driving. Also, try the Toyos and Nokians.
Another great video guys! Props to Dunlop, Cooper and Continental for providing tires. I'm in Canada, and over almost 30 years of winter driving (rallying & commuting on AWD, FWD and RWD platforms) and snow plowing, I can tell you they are all good picks, especially over all season. ANY snow tire is better than an all season! Although it's a different design, I run Cooper Discoverer tires on my plow truck, so you can draw your own conclusions there. Studded tires are antiquated technology, but have their place, just behind chains, on roads that rarely see the tarmac surface break through. The road you tested on looks like it might be good "stud territory". The biggest disadvantage of studs is the detrimental effect on wet or dry pavement. They are better than they used to be, but the old studded tires on wet tarmac were almost as bad as all seasons in the snow. A good local dealer might have tips on what tires work best in your local conditions (or they might just want to sell you their highest markup tire), look at what is on the emergency, taxi and courier vehicles in your area. Stopping in at your local police or fire station you might get an experienced opinion on what they've seen work, or not work. Condition considerations are snow depth, speed of travel, ice, slush, and cold dry or wet pavement etc. As for studs, or even what design of tread, performance will vary with conditions. There is no magic bullet for all conditions. My pics for light truck use are as above, the Cooper Discoverer (which is studdable), for passenger car, Michelin Xi3, Bridgestone Blizzak, Nokian Hakkapalita, or possibly the best budget winter tire, General Altimax which is based on old Gislaved winter tire designs. Finally, a shameless plug for my automotive channel: ua-cam.com/channels/eEUIPWhIEyMg8Z3jBsPaPQ.html Drive for conditions and stay safe!
I have often wanted to see a comparison of how snow tires preform after they are used for a season or two. They definitely make a big difference when they are new. I really enjoy all of the testing you do, real world as it is.
Cool video. I'd like to see a similar test with all-weather tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2, Bridgestone WeatherPeak, Firestone WeatherGrip, Nokian WR G4, Toyo Celsius, and General Altimax 365 AW. An all-weather tire is obviously not as good as a dedicated winter tire, but I'd like to see if it can get up that steep hill without slipping and sliding out of control like that all-season tire did at the beginning.
Great test. So glad to see Cooper on your channel. My father spent his entire life in the northern California mountains and swore by Cooper tire. Had them on all his trucks. I even put a set on my wifes Q5. She has no idea… Thanks guys!
There was a study done in Norway. Only one third of drivers need to use studded tires for all drivers to benefit. They chew up the ice enough to create grip for non-studded snow tires.
During the summer after High School, I worked for the Boulder County road crew. I have driven up and down Lick Skillet many times, both in County vehicles and my own cars. IT IS STEEP!
I 've tried the coopers, great snow tires, I think I 'll give continental a try this time. Thanks for the comparison video, this may not be 100% scientific but it's still showing all three tires in action.
Think Continental has 5 diff types of snow tires in passenger car sizes. Winter contact, extreme winter contact, vikingContact, winter contact "performance" tire TS830,TS830P,TS850 & TS860.❄️❄️⚙️🏔️. I used the Continental Extreme Winter Contact for a couple seasons 2014-2016 until I experienced massive hydroplaning, switched to Michelin Alpin❄️ PILOT, 16 inch 2017 -sept 2019, now back to (mounted last week at dealer) Brand-new Continental TS830"P"; on a 2008 lacrosse FWD
When you read winter tire reviews online, be aware that winter conditions vary vastly from region to region. The X-Ice and the WS80 are being raved all over the internet, well I found the X-Ice to have average traction in deep snow and same on ice (for a non studded that is), while the Blizzaks were downright dangerous in slush inside the city and when changing lines over snow "barriers" in between the lines. And as shown in the video, BE SURE to remember that all cars have a traction disabling SWITCH. It will save your day when you will get stuck in snow.
special thanks for TFL videos. all auto ralated companies put themselves on top. but you guys are the real deal. test and put the best one on top for real people.
@Peder Hansen Oh yeah, can vouch for the Pirelli Ice Zero, had a set on a Volvo XC60 R-Design a couple of years ago out here in Boulder CO. And yes, same roads as what TFL tests on. The Pirelli's were quite amazing!
I've been running Nitto NT90W studless ice/snow on my 2015 Forester, and they've been great, have been able to drive on multiple inches of snow like it was bare pavement on a hilly state road. This year I've put General Grabber Arctics on my 2013 F-150, and though it's been a weird winter here in NW Connecticut, I did get a chance to drive through 7 inches of unplowed dirt road in the truck, and the tires performed perfectly. No slippage and able to start from a dead stop. Also have had experience driving my mother in law's 2013 Ford Escape on General Altimax Arctic 12's. The addage is true, any snow tire is waaay better than any all season tire, even if one version might be slightly better than another.
It's a safety system for night driving, similar to what Audi uses for their fogs when you turn the wheel in each direction corresponding to the fog in the direction you are traveling. I am sure other manufacturers have this, but Audi was the first which came to mind. Foresters have this but instead, swivel their headlights on their '17+ mid-level and upper trim models.
@@TheCoffeeField It's funny I have a 2015 Subaru and I just leave my fog lights on now so that it avoids so many people coming up to me saying one of my fog lights is out.
I don't believe fifty percent of people in the Boulder mountain area use studded snow tires. I was driving back in '70 or so when studded tires were first introduced, and people in the midwest quickly realized that steel does NOT give you traction as well as rubber does. Not to mention that steel destroys asphalt! And the snow and ice in the midwest is much heavier and tougher to get through than the fluff you get at mountain elevations. After a few years, no one used them anymore, although I believe they are still legal in the winter months.
@@mjb2048 Totally wrong. Snow tire tread is NOT big open blocks and are nothing like mud tires. Here's a link to a detailed test of winter tires: www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/wheels-tires/1803-tire-test-coopers-discoverer-atw-is-an-all-around-at-with-special-winter-skills/
Nokian AT Rotiiva winter rated tires are awesome and sometimes that's All you need. I've been using these on my 2007 Pontiac Montana sv6, 2009 Ridgeline, 2017 Ridgeline, 2012 civic, and 2016 civic ext over the yrs in northern Ontario Canada and northern Quebec Canada and awesome for trips on trips to Toronto which is approximately 7hrs ride on hwy.
I live in Switzerland (on the top of the Jura mountain range) and currently own 2 Subarus, an Outback (2016) and a Justy (2004). I've also owned 3 other Subaru models previously. In my experience, the best tyres for snow/slush/ice are Vredenstein. Unbelievably good tyres. Will never choose another brand after trying several brands over the last 16 winters. Vredenstein are by far the best. My little Justy is virtually unstoppable and great control always.
Too bad the three best "winter" tire manufacturers didn't send their tires for review. Bridgestone Blizzak, Michelin X-Ice and Nokian Hakkapeliitta (my personal favorite after using all three for years) leave many of these others in the dust - or should I say "powder".
Sirgromulus I wasn’t as impressed with the Ice X tires myself, the Nokia’s and Blizzaks outperformed them in terms of traction. The Ice X are the smoothest and quietest out of the bunch though. Currently running Nokians
@Dave Penn I put the R2 SUVs on my wife's and oldest daughter's Mazda CX-5s and the standard R2 on my youngest daughters Mazda3 and while they exhibit excellent performance on snow and ice during colder temperatures they really excelled (compared to other winter tires I have tried) in maintaining their composure and handling on those warm winter days as well. Great tires. I am glad to see they are more readily available (especially on-line) the past couple years.
Drivesideways 1: I concur. The X-ice are my least favorite of the three I mentioned. The Blizzaks (at least during the first couple seasons) give me the most confidence on ice but the Nokians were easily the best in all conditions. I have heard good things about the Contis but have no first hand experience myself. Having used several of their all season tires, I would not be surprised if they outperformed most other winter tires.
With all the snow we have had in the Seattle area in the last few weeks I'm so glad I had Nokian tires on my 4x4 Suburban. You would not believe how many Subaru's I passed on hilly streets.
I’m no expert, but I do live in Maine and have some experience with winter driving. Seems to me, and my experience proves this out, that there are many differences in the type of snow and how a tire interacts with it. For instance, driving through say 6” of powder when it is 5* below zero is altogether different than driving through 6” of snow when it is 28* and the sun is beating down on it. Now, if you were to test the same tires in both environments, I can almost guarantee that the tire brand that came out on top in the -5* powder environment probably won’t be the winner in the sunny, 28* environment. So what I am getting at is that these tests of theirs are completely inconclusive because they aren’t testing in differing environments. It is entertaining though, nonetheless!
@@zombanator3000 Then again, we all kind of knew that was the case, didn't we? Easily the most useful result here was that the Cooper Discoverer True North was the best of the winter tires tested. And in 2020, let's ONLY compare apples-to-apples, okay guys?
@@4orrcountry fair enough. Wish they would have gotten some different conditions to test in.. like rain, slush, dry.... but oh well.. other youtube videos out there already showing them test already
I have a set of bizzacks on my 09 legacy and that thing rips through snow. I live in Wyoming and has been a true pleasure to drive on ice and snow with them.
@@normt5463 Ice traction is different than snow traction. With snow, the tread actually bites into something so the pattern matters a lot, whereas with ice what matters more is how sticky your rubber is.
My buddy is trying to use chains on his WRX STI. I said dont bother and buy some cheap steal wheels and wrap them in taller snow tires for the season. My WRX dominated with GForce 2s and I can only imagine what snow tires could do. Great testing and I will consider either of the three manufacturers for purchase. Thanks guys.
You should do another video this winter season, with more tires (if manufacturers send them). I would also highly recommend you include Nokian tires. Up here in Maine they are a little known secret.
We run Bridgestone Blizzak on the wife’s 22 Outback (1st set was on the 2019 Outback). We live on a hill probe to ice. X-mode, 2nd gear, 18mph and we’re up. On our trucks (20 F150 & 21 F350) we run Falken Wildpeak AT3s & carry 2 sets of chains (4x4). Truck used for Search & Rescue, winch & snowplow. Triple peak tires are worth it, we run them year round here in the PNW.
They have more patents on winter tires than all the big manufacturers combined. Indeed, Nokian is the way to go. Blizzaks are outdated now, I like that Nokian very frequently updates their designs.
Hi TFLcar folks. Please test the Toyo GSi6 series studless winter tires with the microbit technology. I have lived in Colorado for several decades, and 2.5 of those decades I lived in Lyons, Colorado (in Boulder County) north of Boulder, and just a few miles N. of James Canyon, where you all tested the three tire brands on LickSkillet Road off the James Canyon Road (I have been on the James Canyon road dozens of times, EXCEPT after the Floods of 2013). Toyo makes a studless winter tire in the GSi series. I found Toyo microbit tires in 2007 when I had to get to work in all weather at any time (supporting a 24 x 7 x 365 security operations center (SOC)). In October of '07, I put four Toyo Observe GSi 5 tires on a 1998 Saturn SL2 that had no ABS braking system. In the last week of October, there was an ice storm with a skif of snow on top. I got to work at 4:30 in the morning and no cars were in the huge parking lot at our site. I accelerated to close to 30 mph, and then slammed on the (non-ABS) brakes. The car stopping distance was 40 to 45 feet. That was my first 'HOLY CR4P' these tires are GREAT moment. I have been driving the Toyo Observe GSi series tires ever since. Those tires have saved my life at LEAST three times, which Please test the Toyo GSi6 series studless winter tires with the microbit technology. The tires are somewhat pricey, which caused me to make up a saying, "Rubber is STILL cheaper than blood."
As someone who lives in snow 6 months a year and an area with one of the top 10 highest snow fall accumulations each year, and tried every tire....nokian hakka studs or non studded. The end. Look no further.
On my Jeep here in Montana I run Hankook Dynapro MT2's in 285/ 70/ 17's. They run great on mud, snow and ice here! By contrast cars here run winter tires with studs, if you don't you don't get far... Roads don't get plowed much here, its just a way of life.
Great video. Nice to see a real world demonstration of all season vs snow tires. Too bad the other tire companies didn't take part. Maybe next year. Would be interesting to see a truck test using dedicated snow tires vs popular all terrain tires. I'm running Toyo Open Country AT on my Ram 1500 and have been quite happy with them as an all around tire that does well on snow and ice.
I have told folks for years that all season tires are for late spring to mid fall only. They still make snow tires for a reason. The tires tested are great however for someone that drives more than a few miles a day on NON snowy days they can wear out in one season. Here in CNY there are more clear road days than snow covered days. Another thing to consider is when mounting these tires is to have them mounted on a different set of rims as the beads are easily torn while dismounting even on today's high dollar tire machines.
Good helpful video, I drove my Charger last year on WinterContactSis and it did great, decided to park it this year to keep the salt off and this year I'm driving a 16 Dart with Blizzaks which I wish they would have sent you for testing. I highly recommend Winter Tires and your testing validates that.
Daytona 5.7 you couldn’t be more right. I’ve pulled more “all season” Subaru’s out of the ditch then any other vehicle. Winters make all the difference, not just in acceleration traction but stopping and cornering. Winters are a must in snowy climates. People think RWD is bad in snow, properly equipped with the right tires it’s no worse then a FWD vehicle IMO just a different driving dynamic. I live where we get snow 6 months out of the year, we’ve had 2+ feet since early November, have always run winters and always will.
I have a 05 Forrester and I go all over the Mountains of Western Washington Seattle area. We have very similar conditions but lower elevation. I run Bridgestone quite track and they are more Highway but a bit more open tread than the duelers. I do great with low tire pressure for everything except the really deep stuff. Also the preferred method for getting started on ice and snow on a hill or anywhere is to rapid pump the gas gently applying as much umf as possible with minimal side slides. It helps prevent side slides. 🐺
This should be required watching for all the driving professionals that claim their skill can overcome the use of all season tires in snow and ice conditions.
Not so much skill as sense. Slow down, increase following distance, ease into a stop. Other than panic stops, which you are screwed with snow tires too...and probably would be on dry pavement as well if it's THAT close. Experience: 21 years driving and never had a wreck caused by inclement weather and/or a lack of snow tires.
@@dchawk81 , I knew we would get this attitude. The test clearly showed several car lengths difference in braking and with others on the road you cannot just say avoid panic stops. It is not a good driver vs bad driver situation. I have been driving for over 30 years , in Canadian winters no less, and while no accidents attributable to lack of winter rubber I know I have a better chance to avoid collisions with as much traction as possible.
@@patrickrichardson7918 Tell that to my employer who fires you if you nail the brakes too hard more than x number of times regardless of weather conditions and no special tires. And pulling 44,000lbs of freight. You learn to drive with what you have and park it when it's too dangerous. I've never had a panic stop in the snow. I don't follow anyone, I look ahead, left, right, all around. And I'm not in it when it's blizzard unless it came on while was already out, because there's nothing worth that.
@@dchawk81 well if you must know " we " would refer to the community that watches and provides comments to some UA-cam videos. You appear to take my comments as some slight on your driving ability. and that is not the case. Your advanced skill does not trump the science of traction and rubber designed to provide same.
Not a enough different winter tires, but the obvious take away is that winter tires are the way to go, which is what I've been trying to tell my family and friends. They prefer AWD without winter tires.
The seven tiremakers that chose not to reply missed a good opportunity. Too bad for them. Perhaps they work only with channels that have a minimum of one million subs or something. Chicagoan here, no mountains of course but usually plenty of snow. Got stuck last year. Shrugged it off after the whole hassle was over, but now we're right back at the same point again.
@Stonnie Mikita Regular tires don't work in snow. All Seasons include winter, which in over half of the USA, winter includes snow. Except people who deal with a real snow season know you need a better tire.
For what it's worth I ran the Dunlop ice tire when I lived in northern NH "Mt Washington" where we would get ice in about a dozen different forms along with a Mega hill plus lots of snow...I had 97 Subaru legacy 2.2L manual and never lost footing. Excellent tires and as you said it ultimately comes down to the correct tire for the job. Thanks for doing this video as I'm sure it wasn't cheap or easy to do
Really helpful video..!! Would be awesome if you could do an a/t tire test on ice. Love to see how bad KO2S on ice vs Duratracs. Also like to see Continental Terrain Contact vs Yokohama Geolander.
when i bought my truck it had coopers on it, they're fabulous in snow, but in regular wet conditions they're just as bad as bald tires when accelerating from a stop, or turning some corners. if you plan on getting some of those, make sure you get them on a separate set of rims, and keep your regular tires for the rest of the year.
I thought Magnolia was the steepest in the county! I learned something today! I run studded Nokians on our 17 Forester and it has by far the best tire wear out of Blizzaks, Michelin’s, continentals, and hankooks that I’ve owned on the rest of my cars.
I just purchased Cooper true north for wife’s rav-4. Made the selection because of this vid. Blizzak came up as a highly rated product also but I couldn’t find a side by side comparison with Blizzaks. Tire companies take note! This is how we normal people get our info now! (Oh also true north’s were significantly less expensive than Blizzak to be fair)
I have had the Cooper winter tires on my car in a Norwegian winter and they were useless. I changed to the Nokian Hakkapelita and it was a world of differance. The Nokian has a special Nordic tire and that is what I used.
Great video, i highly recommend having a set of winter tires if you live in a snowy climate. On my Civic, I have the Continental WinterContact SI tires and they are great.
It's too bad that you probably didn't have time to put at least a thousand miles on the tire before you tested them. The reason being that some winter tires have a surface texture built into the tire mold that will give the tire extra grip, when brand spanking new. But that surface texture really only lasts a couple hundred miles on pavement (if even that much). so, for a true "real world test" you need to drive on the tires a couple weeks and then re-test.
It would be interesting to see a comparison between snow tires and all terrains since so many people run them on their trucks and Jeeps. Even though I have KO2's on my Land Cruiser, I still run dedicated snows in the winter.
Every single tire manufacturer SHOULD have participated! No exceptions. At the end of the day these results will make us drivers choose which tires to buy and they missed out on customers. You can always spend more on some "Pirelli's" for example because of their name but I will personally chose one of these 3 participating brands simply because they were smart enough to put them to the test on real road conditions. TFL please make one similar video for performance summer tires as well.
The General Altimax Arctics were the best of the 2nd price tier tires about 10 years ago, and are certainly a great winter tire for the price. I paid under $700 CAD for a new set, used them for 4 winters on a Mustang GT, used them another 3 winters for storing the Mustang and then sold them for $180. I think the Continental WinterContact Si is currently the best of the 2nd price tier tires.
The three best winter tires without studs are. 1.Continental ContiVikingContact7 2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 3. GoodYear UltraGrip Ice 2 Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮
In Norway you're required by law to use winter tires in the winter, and basically every car you buy come with one set of summer tires and one set of winter tires. It makes a massive difference.
Winter tires make a HUGE difference. People who have never used them have NO idea.
Yes, to your bank account
@Peder Hansen Ok, will do buddy. Skide godt Egon
@@joepatroni8777 If you save money and use all-seasons, let's hope you don't crash, because that's your collision deductible (if you have collision coverage) plus increased premiums as a result of the accident, especially if you hit another car or damage property
Maybe so, but I've survived 20 ski-seasons on all-season tires and have never gotten stuck. AWD and electronic diff lock have been enough to get through the most difficult conditions. And some driving skill.
@@joepatroni8777 Fair point- but people will care about their bank account...right up until they're counting on tires that are not up to the job. After that I'm betting they will be far more willing to part with their money for a proper winter tire - Now, that is of course....assuming you survive the experience.
Back in my 20's, I had my Mustang GT put away for the winter and my winter/work car decided do die on me. Not having the money to get another one, I opted to get a set of steel wheels and Dunlop snow tires for my Mustang. I couldn't believe what it would do with those and a few sand bags in the trunk. I was plowing through a blizzard like a 4x4 with snow as high as the top of the bumper. I drove past a guy who was stuck in a 4x4 Ranger. The look on his face was priceless to see a Mustang going by, shooting snow off to each side like a plow. Those tires defied all logic.
Metalbass79 same thing happened to me in my cobra but I had all season and couldn’t get up a small hill ... a cop car was giving me love taps to get me by. Later that week I spun out and thank god just chipped a piece of the bumper.
@@jossuesandoval7761 What year Cobra? I wanted a 2003-04 so bad.
I dunno how many years ago it was now, but remember the big big blizzard here in the northeast? was out trying to clear my driveway and I look down the street to see my friend coming up our hill, sideways, in his 911 with Blizzaks.
Metalbass79 I wish a had a 03/04 . I have a 99 .
@@jossuesandoval7761 Me too with a 68 Mustang 286 up in Michigan. One advantage over front wheel drive is going up hill. FWD cars couldn't make it but my Mustang + snow tires would rear back and shoot up the hills no problem.
This will save you some time: 8:08 - control test, "All Season Tires"; 10:05 - "Cooper Discoverer North"; 16:42 - "Dunlop Wintermax SJ8"; 18:15 - "Continental WinterContact SI"
None of those are high end snow tires.
Great video TFL. Props to Cooper, Dunlop, and Continental for sending entries for the contest. Disappointed that Michelin, Bridgestone, and some of the other 'big players' didn't bother. I have run Michelin X-ice for many years on 4 different cars/SUVs in Wisconsin and they have performed great. I know others who swear by Blizzaks. As you said, dedicated snow tires are a vast improvement over all-seasons. I have found this holds true for both AWD and FWD.
I too use Michelin x-ice. 3 winters now and very happy.
Like the Bridgestone ws80's
I absolutely agree. I hear stories of incredible praise for the Blizzaks especially in the Camaro community. Extremely disappointing that the big dogs did not participate. They always have their own "course" and car where they show how good their tires are but never in real world comparison. Note that a set of dedicated 20" winter tires for a performance car were $1,400 and am truly disappointed they didn't participate to show their "worth" (it's a Pirelli set fyi). Next winter, I will go with Copper tires and will call them personally to thank that they participated in this testing.
Its almost always the smaller companies, that Take the risks on the new comers in media. The bigger companies want more control alot of times, when it comes to reviews. The smaller companies see it as, even if they don't do get an A in the reviewers opinion. That the just getting their name out there is a win. Not to mention the potential of building new contacts. Most likely next year or the year following we will see the big guys demand to be a part.
I use the xi3 on my altima!
Big shout out to Cooper, Dunlap, and Continental for providing the tires for review. Gives us a real world look at how they perform, and allow us to be more informed in our purchases!
unexpected surprising result! But the MAIN result and message of this video is: ALL 3 brands of dedicated winter tires do WAY BETTER then the all season tires. IMO that says a lot.
No, but he did sell you a set of tires you don't even need. All seasons work great in snow, I just took my wife to work, 37 miles one way on unplowed roads. Though we weren't doing the usual 70 mph, 50 mph on snow covered streets and highway we made it just fine and on time. The only ones who are going fast are the idiots in our society. You go buy those snow tires, I will stick with what I know.
You'll do "fine" in alot of contexts with all-season. But actual winter tires will make the difference between hitting (car, child) and not.
The problem is that they don't say anything new. I don't think there's anyone on the planet who would argue that purpose-designed things are worse than all-purpose things. So, why make the video?
@@afcgeo882 I'm pretty sure they made it just to have an excuse to get free tires from manufacturers trying to bribe them with product placement.
@@emissarygw2264 ha ha. I didn't even think of that, but now that you mention it, it's likely they get to keep those tires now that they're used and it looks like both Outbacks were running on all-seasons anyway.
All-seasons with AWD are terrible. A 2wd with good winter tires will out drive it. I regularly drive up from Boulder to the Peak to Peak to go fat biking, skiing etc. I did it early season with all-seasons (while waiting for new Winters to be installed) and promptly got stuck in deep snow and slipped off into a snow bank. The next week my new winters were installed and nary a scary moment since; even with 2wd. AWD may give a slight edge in acceleration but it doesn’t matter in cornering and braking.
On a side note, to remove human error and variability of terrain, you really need to perform several runs of each tire and average the results.
Agree! I had all season h/t tires last winter and they sucked. I was in a 4wd 4runner too. I currently have cooper stt pros on right now and they do great in deep snow but in plowed and compact snow on the road it's fair. I plan on just buying dedicated snow tires for it to get the stopping power and traction which out weighs going fast in the snow.
We have an AWD rx350, I went up to flagstaff in AZ when they had a big snow up on snowbowl mountain. I drove up that snowy/icey mountain and the only time I had a problem was once coming down on one of the turns I spun out but regained my traction after a few seconds. I'm using 3 year old Michelin A/S tires lol. They got a foot of snow up there that day. I will say its the ice the scares me not the snow.
The main reason for AWD is to avoid getting stuck. It really sucks if you can't make it up a hill - It snowed last week in Seattle and I felt bad for my neighbors who had to abandon their cars at the bottom of the hill and walk home. But even if AWD keeps you from getting stuck, you have to drive at a crawl.
Very true My little 01 Passat with a set of studded winters does just that.
@@garrett1144 Yea, thats probably because the host of Stability control systems that thing has.
My current car has no ABS, Trac Control or Stability control, Well that shit doesnt work due to a failed ABS control module.
That was a great winter tire test. Kudos to Cooper Dunlap and continental. Thanks for sharing the details of this test.
it was a great video but Andre's wifes car seems to be slower
I have used Michelin, Toyo, and some generic brand found in Canada and my Cooper Discoverer M+S is the best snow tire I have ever used. And I drive northern Ontario Canada all the time in weather most people would just stay home but the Discoverer M+S severe weather rates tires gives you the grip needed to blast through and brake in the most ridiculous conditions.
Do the tire manufacturers not realize TFL is quickly becoming the monster of all things Automotive and truck related! Love Grand Tour, but trust you guys!!!
Thank you!
TGT isn’t the same thing though... So many other options to compare with
Much better than bias magazine covers. I like the reviews they provide real world testing without brand bashing
I wish I could feel this is true...
🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑
I appreciate all the time and effort you put into the tests you perform. This probably took half the day and we watch it in a little over 20 mins. Very informative yet fun to watch. Great job boys.
i live in canada and i have owned every high end winter tires. best winter tire is nokian hakkapellitta 9 studded tires. and best tires with no studs is nokian hakkapellitta r3. i have hakka 9 nokians on my 2018 mazda 6 signature and i enjoy driving in severe snow storms and blizzards.
I tried the nokians last year and was very disappointed. They did lousy in the icy mountains around here in WV.
RH2RACING interesting.... the best ones I had were the toyo observe g02 plus... too bad they don’t make em anymore... got the x-ices and I’m not happy at all...imma switch back to the new toyos next season and see what’s up...
YES my hakkas w/studs are amazing, even with just the 'computer' awd of my 2007 rwd FX35 it becomes better on snow and ice than 99% of other vehicles on the road
Great test guys, I'm glad it's not just us spreading tire information :)
Great test? It couldn't have been less scientific. I can understand why most manufacturers didn't participate. They know these guys are hacks.
@@jamesmac8424 it was scientific enough for me, and I think these guys are great.
@Finder Rv Nope, I don't work for any of the non-participants, but I buy their snow tires!
@@jamesmac8424 what science backed tires did you buy & use??🤓
@@dtriplett03 I use Tire Rack for a lot of info and purchase as well as multiple other websites. They conduct much better tests and have extensive customer reviews. I wound up with Michelin X ice X i2 for the Toyota 4runner and Bridgestone Blizzaks for the Mazda CX 30.
Blizzaks all the way!
Also continental dws 06 are really really good all season tires
I've owned all the major brands on different trucks over the years, and I can honestly say that Cooper tires have provided the best grip, mpg, and low road noise. I didn't have any plans on going with a different brand, but your video just reinforced my experiences.
I'd would have liked to see a few more repetitions per tyre. If you try each tyre only once per test you could be introducing errors. For example it could happen that with another trajectory of the car it would have get more or less grip so that's why you have to make more repetitions and check the average or the best result. In any case, I like to see these kind of tests.
Bingo, that’s what I was thinking too. Thou needeth Standard Deviation.
True and also the acceleration test on a corner leaves a lot of room for variation from steering input.
Still more real world than most. Good show guys, keep it up👍🏼👍🏼
@@somestuffithoughtyoumightl6985 true except the corner adds needed realism and could trip up some tires.
No additional retest are needed. There was a single winner. Moreover “winter tires” are
the real answer when compared to “All Weather” tire’s. The fact that the ice/snow pack stayed consistent for the testing duration made the testing perfect in my view. What a great testing location, Bravo!
@@smokeysmith1282 Yes, obviously you don't have to retest to demonstrate winter tyres are much better than all season in those conditions. But If you going to claim a winner among the winter tyres, I would have expected a bit more of a "scientific" methodology. These result could mean quite a lot of money for the winner brand (as a result of people buying that one instead of others) so I think we have to take that into account and be more thorough with the tests.
I had Coopers on my old Subaru Forester, and had Nokians on my CRV. Both were pretty great in the snow, especially compared to the all seasons the cars came with. I would highly suggest if you live in snowy climate (like me in MN), AWD or not, get yourself a set of winters.
You buying
JJ J it’s a no brainer! Snow tires only option for winter! Just pulled a fella out of a snow lot with summer tires. Told him to get some good snow tires!
Yup, have snow tires on my wife's Corolla and does 10x better. More snow on the way for us Minnesotan. lol
A FWD car with winters will outperform a AWD car with summers in the snow, watched a test on that. Tires make all the difference
@@robertrichardson9953 Snow tires are cheaper than a set of all-seasons ($300??), and will last you probably the life of the vehicle because you only use em for 3-4 months? im on my 3rd winter with a set of Blizzacs on the oem stamped rims and there is visually no wear (Chicagoland/NWI '04 Scion XB)
Very good video. A lot of work went into that day of testing for sure. Thanks for the effort fellas. I have only used the Goodyear Ultra Grips and I have to say I have been very impressed with them on snow and ice, but interestingly enough, they are also very good in rain.
Thanks for the kind words. We really appreciate it!
Yeah that's weird winter tires are usually pretty bad in rain.
I’ve just put on Nokian hakkapeliitta r3 on my Mercedes GL550 and it’s a absolute game-changer! I Would highly recommend them.
TFL, Next send a request to the shoe companies for studded shoes review for Roman, almost killed the guy on that ice. Good job guys real life tested
I put Blizzaks DM2 s on my 4Runner and I'm so glad I did. I LOVE these tires. I've been in snow and on ice and they have been flawless. Going uphill on icy streets where everyone else skidded and I just went up as though it were dry.
Thx im getting a 4runner and looking for best tires for winter
@@smart1sf When you buy your 4Runner PLEASE check to make sure the frame is in good shape. That is ViTAL with these vehicles. Have someone thoroughly check it out if you live in a climate where they use salt on the roads. I had to replace mine at my own expense late last year. I have an 06
Should have got the Blizzaks and Nokians for comparison.
yep blizzaks are by far the best
@@garrettsurfboards Yea, im kinda feeling like this didn't help much, these are all lower tier winter treads.
Best comment
The tires were sent from the manufacturers they didn't pick which ones they tested. And 'lower tier' according to who? Granted conti and cooper are essentially the same company, but with differences of a few feet or couple seconds these tires all performed pretty closely. Get a decent set of winters. Stay safe.
Nokian Nordic wintertires. That's what u go with to see the Northern lights..
I've watched a ton of winter tire comparisons over the years and this one was by far the best reflection of the conditions I face every winter. Well done! As a side note, I live on a country lane at 4300', daily commute over a 4500' pass and regularly drive to a ski area at 6200'. All in the northwest where those qualify as high elevations. I run a Fiesta with winter tires and have never had a moments concern. Tire choice is always more important than which or number of driven wheels. Thanks!
"No way a 2 wheel drive would make it up this hill"
All winter tire comparisons I've seen refute that fully. Winter tires on 2wd are WORLDS better than all seasons on an AWD vehicle.
He was just talking about that specific hill.
@@aurtisanminer2827 It doesn't matter, extensive tests have been done, AWD with all seasons are much worse than FWD cars with winter tires. So again, it's just not true.
Jacob K yea, I get what you’re saying. He just meant a 2 wheel drive with the same tires. I am fully aware of what a 2 wheel drive car will do in the snow with good tires. They make all the difference in the world, but there comes a point when 2 wd just wont go where an all wheel drive will.
I had a Subaru Forester several years ago....That alone gives you a HUGE advantage in snow. Tires in a Subaru are almost an afterthought.
I came to see how the Blizzaks compare to other brands. I've always considered the Bridgestone Blizzak as the best winter tire and that is all I've ever bought. Running them this winter on my '15 Mustang and they've been great!
The Blizzak WS80's is the BETTER winter tire for your car as I am also running them on my 2016 S550 GT for the last 3 years with no issues. My first purchase was the Michelin X-Ice Xi3's which is rated the best winter tire and it was horrible on this car when there was snow and ice but fine in other weather scenario's. What I have noticed with the WS80's is that it's a gas guzzler and tread wear is horrible and I am on my 2'nd set on the third year of owning this car but when it comes to getting through 8+ inches of snow the Blizzak's destroy the Xi3's 'for this car"... Keep in mind especially for Mustang owners that the Xi3's is not a tire that was listed as a compatible tire for our Mustang's and that's what makes it tough for rear wheel drive owners! What might be rated for a front and all wheel drive as being the best tire might not be good for rear wheel drive vehicles! I trust the Michelin brand as I have used them all of my life and still stand by them for the best bang for your buck but just not for Mustang's to get through the winter safely...I had the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's as my summers for the first 2 years and those tires were awesome on this car!
Blizzaks are definitely the best for grip, but they wear out twice as fast. 2 years on Blizzaks vs 4 years on xi3's...
@@mtbrdude I can agree they have amazing grip and do wear fast but i have been able to pull 3 years out of them. It will always be YMMV. I will be getting nokians next because i just want to try them out
We had the Blizzaks for 3 years on my wife's Corolla. There was another year left on the tire but they are similar to a regular winter tire at that point. If we kept that car I wanted to replace them. On our Vernao they are on their second year. I feel there should be a third in them.
I’ve owned X-Ice, Blizzak and Hakka’s...all work great and imo are the best three you can get. That being said, my 5th Gen 4Runner on Blizzaks is the best winter setup I’ve ever ran. It’s a tank in the snow, so confident in the deep stuff or icy roads in Canada
I wish more companies submitted their tires to be tested. I guess when I buy snow tires I'll go with Cooper, Dunlop, or Continental, because I've seen them in action on TFL. I do think Andre may have been a bit slow on the acceleration timer for the continental. I think they may have actually won that test. Great video though! 👍👍
@ Scott Warren:
Even before this test, when my All-Season OEM Honda Pilot (2016 EX-L AWD) tires wear out (I'm in the "yellow" of Discount Tire's tire-tread gauge!) I'm putting on Continental TerrainContact AT tires...mainly for occasional off-road use in the desert here, but also for occasional rain/snow use on pavement (and when I visit friend in CO in the Winter). Don't need a dedicated Winter tire here in almost snowless West TX, but WOULD be putting them each season on if I were still living in CO.
But frankly, all 3 of these tires -- Dunlop, Cooper and Continental -- look pretty good, and don't think you can go wrong with any of them really.
-- BR
@@VroomNPew Except Blizzaks, Nokians AND Michelin X-Ice all perform better than these. TFL is literally blackmailing tire manufacturers into giving them thousands of dollars worth of freebies so that they can be included in this fake comparison. You know what the *ethical* thing to do would have been? Pick tires that are likely candidates based on their features and expected performance (as opposed to based on who is willing to pony them up for free), BUY them, and test with multiple runs etc.
@@emissarygw2264 hardly think TFL are blackmailing manufactures. come on seriously? The simple matter is TFL always do basic real word test, which is what keeps the videos interesting and relatable. To me, the point of this video is about demonstrating all season tires aren't even come close to winter tires. I'm sick of seeing individual tests of a single tire. This showed 4 different types of tires in different situations.
@@troymortimer3487 if you're going to call it "the ultimate winter tire test", you are making the implicit statement that it is a comprehensive comparison of the best of the best in that category. And then drawing conclusions like "welp looks like the Cooper wins the ultimate winter tire test this year!" while factually correct are super misleading because (a) only sponsored tires were represented, and (b) it was the only actual winter tire (if I remember correctly, it's been a long time since I watched this) that competed. And the comment section shows that plenty of people have been misled into buying these thinking they are actually best at anything.
Troy Mortimer just check tire rack. They typically compare multiple tires. For instance, they have a snow tire test with X-Ice 3s, Blizzaks, Dunlop IceGuard, and I believe a Yokohama. XIce and Blizzak were both significantly better.
I tell people every year that they should get snow tires to be safer, and its always great videos like this that finally convince them too.
Not everyone one of your videos is always going to be a hit with everyone, but I really like how you guys are reading our comments and always adding new tests or improving old tests, it makes me want to stay tuned to your channel.
I will say too, your channel would only be have of what it is, if you guys didn't live in Colorado, definitely helps having these tough conditions for testing :) Keep up the great work!
Really appreciate the effort put into this one. It’s a shame more companies didn’t send product to be tested. Can’t really go wrong with either of these three. Especially compared to all seasons in snow. Good job guys.
Having watched the TFL winter tire review I’d take a flier on a 4 set of Cooper’s model Discoverer True North; 225/60/HR18. (Production 7/2019). The vehicle a 2020 Subaru Outback XT Touring (2.4t) .. Took delivery of the ordered ‘20 OB XT on 11/1/19 w/11mi in GA.
The following day mounted the Winter Coopers beginning a 1,500mi road trip to Vail, Colorado. The Cooper winter True North tires have demonstrated being a Tier One performance winter tire. Starting a 2nd Vail winter season with the Coopers; Dec 2020. Thanks for the tire review effort TFL Crew.
I really wish that General and Michelin would have offered up their dedicated ice/snow tires for testing...
You know TFL could have *bought* the tires? Considering there are a number of extremely popular and well rated tires including the Michelins, Blizzaks and Nokians... but TFL decided that only the ones offering them free tires would be considered for "best tire". What a joke.
General tires are great, I put them on my front wheel drive car and I had no problem.
In a nutshell, General is a subsidiary to Continental.
@@emissarygw2264 These are youtube videos, dude. Its great for companies to promote their stuff, its not great for the creator to earn cash. Buying all these tyres would hit a big dent in their economy, companies sending free tyres for them to review doesnt even leave a scratch in the company economy.
Just driven from Alberta with -30F down to Az and Galveston Tx. Michelin Xice because they came with the car, RWD Genesis.
Extremely impressed. Fantastic on ice and snow, perfectly fine on dry warm spring conditions and VERY quiet. Can barely tell they’re winter tires on dry, highway asphalt
As a long time ice racer I will tell you that many of the true hydrophilic winter tires reguire some miles to wear off the smooth surface from the tire moulds aand oppen up the cells in the tire compound.
In the past few years I've switched from Nokians to Coopers. Nokians area amazing but too expensive. The coopers have been amazing. Heavy snow, heavy slush, ice , mix , they have smashed through all of it with no issues and very little slippage.
2011 Subaru Impreza 1" lift /215/60/16 Cooper weather master ST2
2004 Subaru Forester 1" lift 1" wheel spacers /215/70/16 Cooper discoverer M+S
2019 Subaru Forester Sport/ 225/55/18 Cooper weather master WSC
Great video guys👍
Would of liked to see the prices of the tires also when comparing them. Price point is also an important factor in any tire purchase.
I think the Coopers are the cheapest of the bunch, definitely a good overall tire.
@@406Steven After this test, I'd go for the Coopers. ...easy choice.
Only for po pipo
Price is an important factor. A very important factor. But getting a 4x4 vehicle and Not getting a winter tire just because you have a 4x4 is a stupid thing. Yet another video proving just that. They are saying that no 2 wheel drive vehicle can get there, but i'm not sure about that. Get a new front wheel drive car, put some nice winter tires and check it.
Life is priceless.
Great idea for a series. I suggest running each test w each tire, 3 times. Tires warm up, soften, and results will be more representative of real world driving. Also, try the Toyos and Nokians.
Another great video guys! Props to Dunlop, Cooper and Continental for providing tires. I'm in Canada, and over almost 30 years of winter driving (rallying & commuting on AWD, FWD and RWD platforms) and snow plowing, I can tell you they are all good picks, especially over all season. ANY snow tire is better than an all season! Although it's a different design, I run Cooper Discoverer tires on my plow truck, so you can draw your own conclusions there.
Studded tires are antiquated technology, but have their place, just behind chains, on roads that rarely see the tarmac surface break through. The road you tested on looks like it might be good "stud territory". The biggest disadvantage of studs is the detrimental effect on wet or dry pavement. They are better than they used to be, but the old studded tires on wet tarmac were almost as bad as all seasons in the snow.
A good local dealer might have tips on what tires work best in your local conditions (or they might just want to sell you their highest markup tire), look at what is on the emergency, taxi and courier vehicles in your area. Stopping in at your local police or fire station you might get an experienced opinion on what they've seen work, or not work. Condition considerations are snow depth, speed of travel, ice, slush, and cold dry or wet pavement etc. As for studs, or even what design of tread, performance will vary with conditions. There is no magic bullet for all conditions.
My pics for light truck use are as above, the Cooper Discoverer (which is studdable), for passenger car, Michelin Xi3, Bridgestone Blizzak, Nokian Hakkapalita, or possibly the best budget winter tire, General Altimax which is based on old Gislaved winter tire designs. Finally, a shameless plug for my automotive channel: ua-cam.com/channels/eEUIPWhIEyMg8Z3jBsPaPQ.html
Drive for conditions and stay safe!
Willoh Remember Continental owns General tire !!!!!
I have often wanted to see a comparison of how snow tires preform after they are used for a season or two. They definitely make a big difference when they are new. I really enjoy all of the testing you do, real world as it is.
Cool video. I'd like to see a similar test with all-weather tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2, Bridgestone WeatherPeak, Firestone WeatherGrip, Nokian WR G4, Toyo Celsius, and General Altimax 365 AW.
An all-weather tire is obviously not as good as a dedicated winter tire, but I'd like to see if it can get up that steep hill without slipping and sliding out of control like that all-season tire did at the beginning.
I bought the Toyo Celcius...good in the snow, but I do Not like them on WET pavement. (2018 CX 9 AWD)
They suck
The G4 is good in the summer even on ice they are good but if you want ice tracetion, get the t3
Great test. So glad to see Cooper on your channel. My father spent his entire life in the northern California mountains and swore by Cooper tire. Had them on all his trucks. I even put a set on my wifes Q5. She has no idea… Thanks guys!
Great comparison. Interested in seeing how the blizzaks and x-ice would’ve compared.
Blizzaks are fantastic on my Mazda CX-30 in the mountains on snow/ice! 👍🏻👍🏻
As a Colorado resident I recommend the General Altimax Arctic snow tires. Incredible grip at a decent price.
I highly recommend them as well! They make a huge difference when driving in the snow.
There was a study done in Norway. Only one third of drivers need to use studded tires for all drivers to benefit. They chew up the ice enough to create grip for non-studded snow tires.
Yes, but they're also looking to ban metal stud tires because the roads end up looking like train tracks every year.
Great info!
During the summer after High School, I worked for the Boulder County road crew. I have driven up and down Lick Skillet many times, both in County vehicles and my own cars. IT IS STEEP!
I 've tried the coopers, great snow tires, I think I 'll give continental a try this time. Thanks for the comparison video, this may not be 100% scientific but it's still showing all three tires in action.
Think Continental has 5 diff types of snow tires in passenger car sizes. Winter contact, extreme winter contact, vikingContact, winter contact "performance" tire TS830,TS830P,TS850 & TS860.❄️❄️⚙️🏔️. I used the Continental Extreme Winter Contact for a couple seasons 2014-2016 until I experienced massive hydroplaning, switched to Michelin Alpin❄️ PILOT, 16 inch 2017 -sept 2019, now back to (mounted last week at dealer) Brand-new Continental TS830"P"; on a 2008 lacrosse FWD
@@missingremote4388 thx for the info.
When you read winter tire reviews online, be aware that winter conditions vary vastly from region to region. The X-Ice and the WS80 are being raved all over the internet, well I found the X-Ice to have average traction in deep snow and same on ice (for a non studded that is), while the Blizzaks were downright dangerous in slush inside the city and when changing lines over snow "barriers" in between the lines. And as shown in the video, BE SURE to remember that all cars have a traction disabling SWITCH. It will save your day when you will get stuck in snow.
I've used Cooper M and S for the last 8 years, in Canada.
Excellent tires...
special thanks for TFL
videos.
all auto ralated companies put themselves on top.
but you guys are the real deal.
test and put the best one on top for real people.
Really disappointed in Nokian for not sending a set of Hakkas for testing or even their all weather WGR4 tires that police use.
wait until they have their USA factory open first. then you'll probably see a more aggressive marketing strategy from them
They prob didn’t even ask Nokian
@Peder Hansen Oh yeah, can vouch for the Pirelli Ice Zero, had a set on a Volvo XC60 R-Design a couple of years ago out here in Boulder CO. And yes, same roads as what TFL tests on. The Pirelli's were quite amazing!
@Joseph Carron Do you know what the cops use for their tahoes and explorers? Nokian as well?
Leatherkid01 Nokian WGR3 SUV here in Michigan.
I've been running Nitto NT90W studless ice/snow on my 2015 Forester, and they've been great, have been able to drive on multiple inches of snow like it was bare pavement on a hilly state road. This year I've put General Grabber Arctics on my 2013 F-150, and though it's been a weird winter here in NW Connecticut, I did get a chance to drive through 7 inches of unplowed dirt road in the truck, and the tires performed perfectly. No slippage and able to start from a dead stop. Also have had experience driving my mother in law's 2013 Ford Escape on General Altimax Arctic 12's. The addage is true, any snow tire is waaay better than any all season tire, even if one version might be slightly better than another.
Those fog lights have a mind of own at 4:10
It's a safety system for night driving, similar to what Audi uses for their fogs when you turn the wheel in each direction corresponding to the fog in the direction you are traveling. I am sure other manufacturers have this, but Audi was the first which came to mind. Foresters have this but instead, swivel their headlights on their '17+ mid-level and upper trim models.
@@Kiss__Kiss steering responsive foglamps.I learned something today.
@@jl4091 That's what they're called!!! Sorry half asleep still here at 5-ish AM lol
J L 😂
@@TheCoffeeField It's funny I have a 2015 Subaru and I just leave my fog lights on now so that it avoids so many people coming up to me saying one of my fog lights is out.
I don't believe fifty percent of people in the Boulder mountain area use studded snow tires. I was driving back in '70 or so when studded tires were first introduced, and people in the midwest quickly realized that steel does NOT give you traction as well as rubber does. Not to mention that steel destroys asphalt! And the snow and ice in the midwest is much heavier and tougher to get through than the fluff you get at mountain elevations. After a few years, no one used them anymore, although I believe they are still legal in the winter months.
Next year please do some deep snow testing as well. Maybe some subjective testing also. Great job on the first annual winter tire test.
In my opinion most any tire can do deep snow. Snow alone isn't difficult.
Snow is easy to judge. Needs same as mud. Big open blocks. Except very few will actually drive regularly in it without having chains.
@@mjb2048 Totally wrong. Snow tire tread is NOT big open blocks and are nothing like mud tires. Here's a link to a detailed test of winter tires: www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/wheels-tires/1803-tire-test-coopers-discoverer-atw-is-an-all-around-at-with-special-winter-skills/
@@scarhart53 read it and stand by my comments. 5 inches of snow is NOT DEEP. It's only an inch more than our minimum for sending out the plows.
Nokian AT Rotiiva winter rated tires are awesome and sometimes that's All you need. I've been using these on my 2007 Pontiac Montana sv6, 2009 Ridgeline, 2017 Ridgeline, 2012 civic, and 2016 civic ext over the yrs in northern Ontario Canada and northern Quebec Canada and awesome for trips on trips to Toronto which is approximately 7hrs ride on hwy.
Love my Hakkapeliitta R3 SUVs. Best snow tire I have ever run.
Sad they are only sold by one company in Canada. They really make you pay for them :(
I live in Switzerland (on the top of the Jura mountain range) and currently own 2 Subarus, an Outback (2016) and a Justy (2004). I've also owned 3 other Subaru models previously. In my experience, the best tyres for snow/slush/ice are Vredenstein. Unbelievably good tyres. Will never choose another brand after trying several brands over the last 16 winters. Vredenstein are by far the best. My little Justy is virtually unstoppable and great control always.
Too bad the three best "winter" tire manufacturers didn't send their tires for review. Bridgestone Blizzak, Michelin X-Ice and Nokian Hakkapeliitta (my personal favorite after using all three for years) leave many of these others in the dust - or should I say "powder".
Sirgromulus I wasn’t as impressed with the Ice X tires myself, the Nokia’s and Blizzaks outperformed them in terms of traction. The Ice X are the smoothest and quietest out of the bunch though. Currently running Nokians
The Contact Si has beat the WS80 in every test done so far. Wish I had a set of Nokian but Si will have to do.
Put those Nokians on my wife's FWD Outlook XR, they're like a hound dog for traction.
@Dave Penn I put the R2 SUVs on my wife's and oldest daughter's Mazda CX-5s and the standard R2 on my youngest daughters Mazda3 and while they exhibit excellent performance on snow and ice during colder temperatures they really excelled (compared to other winter tires I have tried) in maintaining their composure and handling on those warm winter days as well. Great tires. I am glad to see they are more readily available (especially on-line) the past couple years.
Drivesideways 1: I concur. The X-ice are my least favorite of the three I mentioned. The Blizzaks (at least during the first couple seasons) give me the most confidence on ice but the Nokians were easily the best in all conditions. I have heard good things about the Contis but have no first hand experience myself. Having used several of their all season tires, I would not be surprised if they outperformed most other winter tires.
With all the snow we have had in the Seattle area in the last few weeks I'm so glad I had Nokian tires on my 4x4 Suburban. You would not believe how many Subaru's I passed on hilly streets.
I’m no expert, but I do live in Maine and have some experience with winter driving. Seems to me, and my experience proves this out, that there are many differences in the type of snow and how a tire interacts with it. For instance, driving through say 6” of powder when it is 5* below zero is altogether different than driving through 6” of snow when it is 28* and the sun is beating down on it.
Now, if you were to test the same tires in both environments, I can almost guarantee that the tire brand that came out on top in the -5* powder environment probably won’t be the winner in the sunny, 28* environment. So what I am getting at is that these tests of theirs are completely inconclusive because they aren’t testing in differing environments. It is entertaining though, nonetheless!
Perhaps. But I'd more take this video as a showing that winters are miles ( well, yards) ahead of a generic all season tire.
It snows in Maine?
@@zombanator3000 Then again, we all kind of knew that was the case, didn't we? Easily the most useful result here was that the Cooper Discoverer True North was the best of the winter tires tested. And in 2020, let's ONLY compare apples-to-apples, okay guys?
@@4orrcountry fair enough. Wish they would have gotten some different conditions to test in.. like rain, slush, dry.... but oh well.. other youtube videos out there already showing them test already
I have a set of bizzacks on my 09 legacy and that thing rips through snow. I live in Wyoming and has been a true pleasure to drive on ice and snow with them.
The other 7 manufacturers are lame!
Yeah but this video would have been 7 times longer so I'm totally okay with them not responding. 😂
Brodey Dover right! Boooooo
@@normt5463 was going to point out the sun factor as well. Huge difference.
Maybe they chickened out when they heard who they would be up against . 🤔
In any case dedicated snow tires are the best choice for winter driving.
@@normt5463 Ice traction is different than snow traction. With snow, the tread actually bites into something so the pattern matters a lot, whereas with ice what matters more is how sticky your rubber is.
My buddy is trying to use chains on his WRX STI. I said dont bother and buy some cheap steal wheels and wrap them in taller snow tires for the season. My WRX dominated with GForce 2s and I can only imagine what snow tires could do. Great testing and I will consider either of the three manufacturers for purchase. Thanks guys.
You should do another video this winter season, with more tires (if manufacturers send them). I would also highly recommend you include Nokian tires. Up here in Maine they are a little known secret.
We run Bridgestone Blizzak on the wife’s 22 Outback (1st set was on the 2019 Outback). We live on a hill probe to ice. X-mode, 2nd gear, 18mph and we’re up.
On our trucks (20 F150 & 21 F350) we run Falken Wildpeak AT3s & carry 2 sets of chains (4x4). Truck used for Search & Rescue, winch & snowplow. Triple peak tires are worth it, we run them year round here in the PNW.
Nokian tires are the best winter tires. Very simple😉
I agree, but they wear quickly. Love my hakkapelittas!
MaxCam35mm I have WRG3s on my Jeep. Great tire in summer and winter. I don’t even want to buy anything else.
They have more patents on winter tires than all the big manufacturers combined. Indeed, Nokian is the way to go. Blizzaks are outdated now, I like that Nokian very frequently updates their designs.
@@asertiv1 I'm just impressed that Walmart sells them... and for under $100!
@@afcgeo882 good to know, thx!
Hi TFLcar folks.
Please test the Toyo GSi6 series studless winter tires with the microbit technology.
I have lived in Colorado for several decades, and 2.5 of those decades I lived in Lyons, Colorado (in Boulder County) north of Boulder, and just a few miles N. of James Canyon, where you all tested the three tire brands on LickSkillet Road off the James Canyon Road (I have been on the James Canyon road dozens of times, EXCEPT after the Floods of 2013).
Toyo makes a studless winter tire in the GSi series. I found Toyo microbit tires in 2007 when I had to get to work in all weather at any time (supporting a 24 x 7 x 365 security operations center (SOC)). In October of '07, I put four Toyo Observe GSi 5 tires on a 1998 Saturn SL2 that had no ABS braking system. In the last week of October, there was an ice storm with a skif of snow on top. I got to work at 4:30 in the morning and no cars were in the huge parking lot at our site. I accelerated to close to 30 mph, and then slammed on the (non-ABS) brakes. The car stopping distance was 40 to 45 feet. That was my first 'HOLY CR4P' these tires are GREAT moment. I have been driving the Toyo Observe GSi series tires ever since.
Those tires have saved my life at LEAST three times, which
Please test the Toyo GSi6 series studless winter tires with the microbit technology. The tires are somewhat pricey, which caused me to make up a saying, "Rubber is STILL cheaper than blood."
As someone who lives in snow 6 months a year and an area with one of the top 10 highest snow fall accumulations each year, and tried every tire....nokian hakka studs or non studded. The end. Look no further.
On my Jeep here in Montana I run Hankook Dynapro MT2's in 285/ 70/ 17's. They run great on mud, snow and ice here! By contrast cars here run winter tires with studs, if you don't you don't get far... Roads don't get plowed much here, its just a way of life.
Great video. Nice to see a real world demonstration of all season vs snow tires. Too bad the other tire companies didn't take part. Maybe next year. Would be interesting to see a truck test using dedicated snow tires vs popular all terrain tires. I'm running Toyo Open Country AT on my Ram 1500 and have been quite happy with them as an all around tire that does well on snow and ice.
I have told folks for years that all season tires are for late spring to mid fall only. They still make snow tires for a reason. The tires tested are great however for someone that drives more than a few miles a day on NON snowy days they can wear out in one season. Here in CNY there are more clear road days than snow covered days. Another thing to consider is when mounting these tires is to have them mounted on a different set of rims as the beads are easily torn while dismounting even on today's high dollar tire machines.
Good helpful video, I drove my Charger last year on WinterContactSis and it did great, decided to park it this year to keep the salt off and this year I'm driving a 16 Dart with Blizzaks which I wish they would have sent you for testing. I highly recommend Winter Tires and your testing validates that.
Blizzaks are next level. It's super importany to know the best, snow tires can save lives
Daytona 5.7 funny I was just shopping winter tires for my scat pack lol I have a spare set of charger Pursuit steelies
Daytona 5.7 you couldn’t be more right. I’ve pulled more “all season” Subaru’s out of the ditch then any other vehicle. Winters make all the difference, not just in acceleration traction but stopping and cornering. Winters are a must in snowy climates. People think RWD is bad in snow, properly equipped with the right tires it’s no worse then a FWD vehicle IMO just a different driving dynamic. I live where we get snow 6 months out of the year, we’ve had 2+ feet since early November, have always run winters and always will.
Second that. I have Blizzaks WS80 and they are great on everything except straight up ice.
Blizzack I think are the best I'd cry if I had to drive my Srt Challenget in snow
These are the best group of channels on UA-cam. Andre is hilarious.
“I just measured 115 feet using my feet” LMFAO
legit my shoe size is actually 12 inches on point so... it's a pretty accurate measure for me ahahah
Russian tape measure
It allowed them to give an accurate measurement for this test which is all that is necessary. Pretty sure they are not certifying the results...
I have a 05 Forrester and I go all over the Mountains of Western Washington Seattle area. We have very similar conditions but lower elevation. I run Bridgestone quite track and they are more Highway but a bit more open tread than the duelers. I do great with low tire pressure for everything except the really deep stuff. Also the preferred method for getting started on ice and snow on a hill or anywhere is to rapid pump the gas gently applying as much umf as possible with minimal side slides. It helps prevent side slides. 🐺
This should be required watching for all the driving professionals that claim their skill can overcome the use of all season tires in snow and ice conditions.
Not so much skill as sense. Slow down, increase following distance, ease into a stop.
Other than panic stops, which you are screwed with snow tires too...and probably would be on dry pavement as well if it's THAT close.
Experience: 21 years driving and never had a wreck caused by inclement weather and/or a lack of snow tires.
@@dchawk81 , I knew we would get this attitude. The test clearly showed several car lengths difference in braking and with others on the road you cannot just say avoid panic stops. It is not a good driver vs bad driver situation. I have been driving for over 30 years , in Canadian winters no less, and while no accidents attributable to lack of winter rubber I know I have a better chance to avoid collisions with as much traction as possible.
@@patrickrichardson7918 Tell that to my employer who fires you if you nail the brakes too hard more than x number of times regardless of weather conditions and no special tires. And pulling 44,000lbs of freight.
You learn to drive with what you have and park it when it's too dangerous.
I've never had a panic stop in the snow. I don't follow anyone, I look ahead, left, right, all around. And I'm not in it when it's blizzard unless it came on while was already out, because there's nothing worth that.
BTW who is "we" - are you schizophrenic?
@@dchawk81 well if you must know " we " would refer to the community that watches and provides comments to some UA-cam videos. You appear to take my comments as some slight on your driving ability. and that is not the case. Your advanced skill does not trump the science of traction and rubber designed to provide same.
Not a enough different winter tires, but the obvious take away is that winter tires are the way to go, which is what I've been trying to tell my family and friends. They prefer AWD without winter tires.
When it comes to winter tires, I would rather have a noisy tire that works even better.
The seven tiremakers that chose not to reply missed a good opportunity. Too bad for them. Perhaps they work only with channels that have a minimum of one million subs or something. Chicagoan here, no mountains of course but usually plenty of snow. Got stuck last year. Shrugged it off after the whole hassle was over, but now we're right back at the same point again.
I have noticed that all seasons really lose grip after the first 33% of total tread. At 66% tread depth they are basically a regular tire.
@Stonnie Mikita Regular tires don't work in snow. All Seasons include winter, which in over half of the USA, winter includes snow. Except people who deal with a real snow season know you need a better tire.
@Stonnie Mikita Yes. What will they do when you tell them you are no longer getting the winter performance out of the all season tire?
For what it's worth I ran the Dunlop ice tire when I lived in northern NH "Mt Washington" where we would get ice in about a dozen different forms along with a Mega hill plus lots of snow...I had 97 Subaru legacy 2.2L manual and never lost footing. Excellent tires and as you said it ultimately comes down to the correct tire for the job. Thanks for doing this video as I'm sure it wasn't cheap or easy to do
Really helpful video..!!
Would be awesome if you could do an a/t tire test on ice. Love to see how bad KO2S on ice vs Duratracs. Also like to see Continental Terrain Contact vs Yokohama Geolander.
And compare it with nokian lt2 or the new lt3!
when i bought my truck it had coopers on it, they're fabulous in snow, but in regular wet conditions they're just as bad as bald tires when accelerating from a stop, or turning some corners. if you plan on getting some of those, make sure you get them on a separate set of rims, and keep your regular tires for the rest of the year.
This is filmed like a TV show but we could edit this down to about 11 minutes.
Great info tho
I thought Magnolia was the steepest in the county! I learned something today! I run studded Nokians on our 17 Forester and it has by far the best tire wear out of Blizzaks, Michelin’s, continentals, and hankooks that I’ve owned on the rest of my cars.
Awesome video guys!
I just purchased Cooper true north for wife’s rav-4. Made the selection because of this vid. Blizzak came up as a highly rated product also but I couldn’t find a side by side comparison with Blizzaks. Tire companies take note! This is how we normal people get our info now!
(Oh also true north’s were significantly less expensive than Blizzak to be fair)
At my job, seems everyone has Cooper tires.😃👍
I have had the Cooper winter tires on my car in a Norwegian winter and they were useless. I changed to the Nokian Hakkapelita and it was a world of differance. The Nokian has a special Nordic tire and that is what I used.
I had BfGoodrich winter tires on my X5 here in Finland and they were totally useless. Nokian is the only brand I'm gonna use.
You should have listed the price of these tires
Great video, i highly recommend having a set of winter tires if you live in a snowy climate. On my Civic, I have the Continental WinterContact SI tires and they are great.
It's too bad that you probably didn't have time to put at least a thousand miles on the tire before you tested them. The reason being that some winter tires have a surface texture built into the tire mold that will give the tire extra grip, when brand spanking new. But that surface texture really only lasts a couple hundred miles on pavement (if even that much). so, for a true "real world test" you need to drive on the tires a couple weeks and then re-test.
Weird, for competition tires... Tirerack will shave tires for you so you dont have to break them in to get the best grip
@@lexellll He is refering to the Silica based (super soft) layer molded into some tires. Those tires are shit after that 2mm layer wears off.
Wow UA-cam recommended this right before I bought a winter tire. Nice!
"Andre you drive like a pimp" lmfao. Great tire review thouuuuuuuuu.
good on the tire guys for sending them in for a unbiased and non shilling review. I would consider any of them
It would be interesting to see a comparison between snow tires and all terrains since so many people run them on their trucks and Jeeps. Even though I have KO2's on my Land Cruiser, I still run dedicated snows in the winter.
Every single tire manufacturer SHOULD have participated! No exceptions. At the end of the day these results will make us drivers choose which tires to buy and they missed out on customers. You can always spend more on some "Pirelli's" for example because of their name but I will personally chose one of these 3 participating brands simply because they were smart enough to put them to the test on real road conditions.
TFL please make one similar video for performance summer tires as well.
I used to have a set of general Altmax artics on an old accord I had best snow tire for the money
+1 I've got Altimax Arctics on my Honda Fit right now. Great tire!
The General Altimax Arctics were the best of the 2nd price tier tires about 10 years ago, and are certainly a great winter tire for the price. I paid under $700 CAD for a new set, used them for 4 winters on a Mustang GT, used them another 3 winters for storing the Mustang and then sold them for $180. I think the Continental WinterContact Si is currently the best of the 2nd price tier tires.
@@NukePooch1 I use these same tires, 4 of them studded on my 08 Ford Taurus AWD Limited !!! Great tires !!!
The three best winter tires without studs are.
1.Continental ContiVikingContact7
2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
3. GoodYear UltraGrip Ice 2 Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮