I considered reskinning the stock 19" Pretorias with winter rubber, but instead will go with a set of factory 18" Pretorias shod in Nokian WR-G4. My motivation was to have zero fitment concerns, slight upgrade in tire protection, keep the current rolling-stock look which I love, try a tread type that is slightly less winter-storm-focused and instead mixed-winter-climate-focused.
I have these in 225-55-17, great 3 season 80K mile tire for us, very quiet and minimal MPG hit even going with the taller sidewall, double bonus, they are made in russia just like our Haka 8s.
Only after 3 months replaced with Yokohama Advan Sport A/S.
Current review on them is:
Dry pavement: A+ (I can take turns like a race driver on bare pavement and still feel safe)
Wet Pavement: B (Only problem I’ve had starting aggressively is on wet pavement with road markings on them, seems good on corners and doesn’t hydroplane on really wet pavement, but loses traction with hard braking on very wet pavement)
Roughish Roads: A- (my car has low clearance and low profile tires but got by easily on FS roads with medium rocks and being careful. It gets the minus because after driving 75 miles on semi rough FS roads and getting back to pavement, I pulled to the side of the highway and had a metal chunk lodge into the sidewall ruining the tire)
I went from some random tires (Achilles or something) to Yoko AD08rs and yeah those were amazing. So much better on Khanacross and back roads
I’ve decided skip Winter tires for my Golf Sportwagen this year and just go with Nokian WR G4 All weather tires to replace the stock all seasons. My reasoning is I got another car ( VW Routan) with dedicated Winter tires and on the bad days I have the choice to either drive the other car with Winter tires or even better work from home whenever school is cancelled due to snow. Given my circumstances, the All weather Nokians for the GSW make a lot of sense.
We have had winter specific tires on vehicles from 4x4 big pickups to the VW rabbits. Have use Michelin X-ice, Blizzaks, Winterforce studded and Nokian Hakka's, both studded and unstudded. Would not go through a winter without the Nokians. Last winter the big 4x4 truck ran Nokian Rotiiva's and they worked but not as well as winter specific tires. Wife's Ford Escape - Nokian Hakka's non-studded. A great ride. Good traction and road feel, snow and ice as well as base clear pavement.
I have run Nokian R2SUV full winter and am now on Nokian WRG3. I used to have mounted and dedicated winter tires, but the Nokian All Weather (not all season) are a great solution (they invented snow tires in the 30's and pioneered All Weathers). The Nokian R2's are better than the Blizzaks, Michelin Pilot Alpin and Michelin X-Ice in snow/ice. The Nokian WRG3 are approximately equivalent, but without the spongy (and no braking from Blizzaks) on dry pavement. The Pilot Alpin and Nokian WRG3 are actually fun to drive.
I’m planning on giving All Weather tires a try myself. I will be going with Nokian WR G4 in the 195 65 15 91H size for my base model GSW S. All Weather tires are definitely a step up from all season tires in the Winter.
Nice, I look forward to reading your impressions. I've been trying to find some decent reviews as well. I have bought many sets of Nokian tires since I discovered them 15 years ago. WR and Z line for the cars and I've bought several sets of Rotiiva AT (Plus) for trucks I've owned and I've been very happy with them.
Yokohama iceGuard : Garbage winter tires, still better than any all season
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