I got my Michelin X-Ice Xi3 winter tires today as well as the rebate card.
Have Haka R2's on my TDI and they are hands down the best winter tires I've driven, noticeably better than Michelin X-Ice XI3's on my wife's Golf7.
I had the Pilot Alpines on my Z4M Coupe last winter. Loved them for below freezing dry conditions, and I was driving past stuck subarus in snowy conditions as well.
Michelin xice3 are surprisingly quiet and grippy on the dry.
I have the R2 and actually just had to use them while my Prets were in the shop.
As far as driving on dry pavement goes, the R2s are great--very quiet, good economy (I lost maybe 1mpg?). Main drawback is that they are very soft and race mode with R2s feels like comfort mode with stock all-seasons.
This is why modern winter tires like the Michelin X-Ice that have rather "docile" tread patterns still do amazingly well on ice and snow, and that is a compound that is still useful in the cold.
I once had about 4mm (barely anything) of tread left on some Michelin xice. I switched to a set of brand new all seasons... The traction on snow and ice that I had with the 4mm was so much greater than AS tires.
Wife now has Hakki 8 that she ran last year. no complaints, very aggressive studs
My suggestion is that the R2 is the best when it comes to not becoming really noisy after a few years (the Nordmans on my Jetta are pretty noisy). I have R2's on the Alltrack and had them on the Eurovan (it now has the Rotiiva AT's on it and those thing are the best Nokians I've ever had for all year use). So, skiing up in VT and driving through big snowstorms and ice, the R2 works just fine.
Nokian's are essentially the best you can buy. If it's anything related to winter driving, the Finns know how to do it.
Write your review
Help others - share your experience with this part.
Voted AGAINST engine oil RAVENOL on the rating page
The brake discs FEBI got the first review!
The power steering pump OEM Volvo got the first review!
The brake pads OEM Infiniti got the first review!
For tires OEM Toyota already 25 reviews.
For tires IRONMAN already 25 reviews.
In the rating best fuel pump already 5 brands participate!
In the rating best windshield already 14 brands participate!
In the rating best turbocharger already 4 brands participate!
In the auto rating brake discs for Volkswagen Golf already 5 brands participate!
In the auto rating tires for Ford Mustang already 5 brands participate!
In the auto rating shock absorbers for Ford Ranger already 5 brands participate!
For starter motor OEM Volkswagen already 25 reviews.
Voted AGAINST engine oil RED LINE on the rating page
Voted AGAINST engine oil PENNZOIL on the rating page
