Since I can't get Michelins in the sizes I run anymore, I've switched to Laufenn (by Hancook). It's German for "runner", they are inexpensive and initial performance is excellent.
Got Nokians last year. They work much better than the cheap chinese ones i had before.
Very, very much a happy camper. Ride is suprisingly supple, I went up in size from 215/65 R16 to 215/70 R16 which I knew would give it a bit of a cushier ride but I didn’t expect it to feel better than the All Seasons, which it does. A little added road noise, slight roar over the All-Seasons but not noticeable unless you look for it. Ride height went from the stock 8.2in to about 9.4in which easily cleared the wheel well with no rubbing.
Most surprisingly though, it feels like it handles better. Comparing it to the high-mile Continentals I had (90k warranty) they’re more confidence inspiring
in turns, not much added lean at all, might be due to other mods on the wagon but
it definitely didn’t make it worse. Tested today at 90F from a winter-rated “AT-lite” tire, I was caught off guard how well it takes the turns. It’s no Michelin Pilot Sport, but it’s better than I thought it’d be. It also took a gravel road I threw at it like nobody’s business. I drove it pretty aggressively through some twisty, dusty gravel and it was planted pretty much the whole time.
The compound in a decent snow tire like a Nokian, Michelin, Blizzak, etc… stays less form in cold weather and will stop better in the winter.
Winter tires are best in class, their Hakkapeliitta 10 and R3/R5 line is the best in the world right now, their summer tires are very good, up there with the high-end brands maybe not as good as top-end Michelin or Continentals but still very good.
I use Nokian Hakkapelliita R3 winter tires in the winter (in Michigan) and they've worked great.
I previously tried Michelin CrossClimate2 tires, but they didn't provide quite enough snow traction. On packed, compacted snow, I could feel the car just barely sliding if I changed lanes, and I occasionally felt the ABS when braking. With the Nokian winter tires, I never feel either of those phenomena.
I had Nokian WRG2s on my Subaru and loved them. I run blizzaks on my truck now and find them to be better than the nokians were.
I have Nokian WRG4 all weather tires on my 2020 GLI base. Quiet, good handling and great in snow and rain. Good warranty too!!
Personally, I think a Hakka 1 or Hakka 2 is too agressive a tire for an AWD NJ daily driver unless your commute is only a couple of miles. They'll corner like you have four gum-erasers mounted and at least double your road noise.
I am living in Alaska now, where studded tires are a common thing. After five years in Houghton, 3 winters w all-weather tires and 2 with winter tires and now with studded tires, driving a small-to-mid-sized SUV (VW Tiguan and Jeep Renegade), my verdict is that studded tires are overblown. I have the highest end studded tires- the Finnish ones made in Russia. They offer nothing over my all-weather tires. Nothing at all.
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