skiracer

I have had good luck in the past with Dunlop Wintersport M3s, but that was on 16" wheels with a significantly larger sidewall than what I will have on 18" rims. I make a lot of trips into the mountains, so good snow and ice performance is necessary. However, the rest of the time I enjoy having decent dry road performance (yea, don't we all). The stock tire size I'm looking at is 245/45-18. Any recommendations?

EBG 18T [Eric]

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 and the Michelin Pilot Alpine PA2 are also very good. These are decent handling tires for wet and wintery conditions. They will also handle decent on dry roads.

If you want to go with a 235-40-18 (0.2"-0.3" smaller in OD & ~ 10mm narrower in width) you might be able to save a couple $$'s. Also in that size you can get the Hankook W300 which i have used for the past 2 winters. It is overall 95% of the above listed tires in overall performance (I have the M3's on the other car) and 70% of the price of the above listed tires.

If i lived fulltime in Steamboat or a place like that i would want a more severe use snowtire than the Hankook W300 or Dunlop M3. But with living in denver and going to mtns on the weekend these higher performance tires work just fine. We went back and forth to steamboat almost every weekend of winter 2005-06 from denver and never had any issues or concerns with the W300's.

nord1899

but if you want the most you can get for ice handling and not totally lose dry handling, get the Nokian RSi.

Basically just a matter of which do you drive on more and how important is that hardcore snow/ice performance to you?

ski ya later

best of all worlds for a snow esp. in 18". I have 3 sets, the nokian rsi, bridgestone ws-50, and dunlop m3, and can say: the m3 best in dry; the ws-50 best in snow/ice; and the rsi best blend between the other 2 and not much behind the ws-50 in snow/ice. HTH

Trango

My plan is Hankook icebears again, in that exact size.

nord1899

based on skiracer's description of his driving habits/needs.

skiracer

I'd like to price them out compared to what the M3s will cost.

EBG 18T [Eric]

meadow creek tire over on colorado blvd is the nokian dealer here in denver

skibuggy

for the price and dry performance, you can not beat the icebars. Swiss tire on Broadway and I25 carries great prices and fantastic service.

ski ya later

traction. it has a little tighter tread pattern and some cool channeling for slush.