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I live in South West Norway, where winter is mostly wet asphalt, but with periods of everything from snow, through slush to thick, uneven, wet ice. Up to now I have driven on nordic winter tires, but will soon be switching to quite a heavy EV. I have read that nordic rubber doesn't suit EVs well and was wondering if the extra weight might warrant using a good European tire, like the winter contact TS870p, which has better drainage and might be better in the wet conditions that we get the most. The standard winter tires for the car in Norway are Viking contact 7.
I know a lot of the US guys really rate the X-Ice Snow on the Teslas, which I realise is a nordic winter tire but it seems less extreme than some.
If the Viking Contact 7 is an OE tire for the vehicle it will have been developed with the weight and torque in mind so that would likely be the best option.
Thanks for that. After reading your reply and checking out the local company that deals with tires for Polestar, I went with the X-Ice Snow. Not the best in the wet, but one of the better nordics and a good all-rounder.
It's pretty cool to see how different types of winter tires act and compare to each other. I've long wanted to test different "blends" myself but, well, real life and budgets and stuff like that. However...
I live in a nordic country and we have mandatory winter tires that have to have M+S and 3PMSF ratings on them from December 1st until last day of February. You can legally run your summer tires from March 1st but that I would consider as chasing the Darwin's award.
I have used different winter tires over the 12 years I've owned cars. I've used expensive studs, very very cheap chinese brands, mid-range winter tires, very expensive top of the line nordic un-studded tires and I once did try chasing the Darwin's award by replacing winters with summers on 1st of March. I survived. It was a poor winter tho, no snow, no ice, just cold and dry roads. But I have not tested a proper good quality all-season tire during winter.
Now, I've looked at most of the tire tests and yes, nordic and studded "blends" are awesome on snow and ice. You really can't beat a set of Nokians or Contis doing their business on snow and ice. But, as I am a city dweller who quite occasionally takes a drive out of town, mostly on major roads, 90% of my driving time is spent on wet roads since we use a stupendous amount of salt on our roads. The temperature is mostly a few degrees below freezing and we get an occasional snow-storm or overnight fresh powder but there's hardly ever any ice on the roads. It's a bit different when navigating through supermarket parking lots, it seems that nobody tends to those, and small city streets in residential areas might have a lof of loose or packed snow as it's really difficult to clean those areas up with cars that are parked everywhere. But the speeds are low and the chance to slip and crash are non-existent unless you drive like an idiot.
So here I am, wondering away, if I should take a plunge and try a decent set of all-seasons next time I replace winter tires. Or not.
It's an interesting dilemma, but I'm not sure you'll find a tester / tire company in the world that would recommend an all season tire as a winter for nordic climates, as ice is the downfall.
It's worth remembering that these Conti all season tires are a fairly winter bias set, and a tire like the CrossClimate or A005 would be even further back on ice.
Back again to regret and repent my stupid ideas.
The thing that got me thinking about using all-seasons was that we haven't had a proper winter in years now. Well, proper winter happened. It's mayhem. There's so much snow. And ice. And it's fun. Unless you have to dig out your car every morning from the snow.
Yes, Nordic blends all the way. I pity the fools with no proper rubber and am ashamed of my heretical thinking. I hope the Spanish Inquisition won't catch me.
Glad you came to that conclusion before purchasing any tires :)
There is one gap in recomment - You haven't bought nor tested and all-season tire. So that's a shame because I thought that would be respectfull information. Nonetheless good for you that you have proper tires anyway. : )
We done it, there's a full video on youtube
Yes you have! Thank you for that, at last I can compare results of test made in the same environment and conditions. My comments was about Mike's heretical thinking. :)
I am very close to buy an all-season tire (vector gen-3) as winter tires for my S-max 2.2 200hp but there is still a bit of concern if that will be fine with occasional snow in Poland where i live. I have used an all-seasons before as allyear tire (Quadraxer 2 and Nokian weatherproof) on my Skoda Rapid and Renault Megane 3 but an S-max is way heavier and powerfull.
On one hand all-seasons seems to be better at everything except snow vs winter tires but on the other the difference is not that big. But on the snow the difference is theoretically not that big either but in the real life amount of snow might be way bigger that on the video with test.
Tests will be tests, I guess everyone have to make his own choice. :)
I do enjoy watching your videos TireReviews, as an engineer I appreciate methodology and precision with a bit of entertainment.
Cheers!
I think if it's just snow, I'll be fine with all season as winter. However if you start to see any serious ice or compacted snow, that's when the winter tire stretches its legs :)