[Zyzzthetic]

Chucked on some studded Nokian Hakkas on the rears and Pirelli Sottozeros in the front for my RWD 6MT.

First time using winter tires and feel very prepared!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Zyzzthetic

studded Nokian Hakkas on the rears and Pirelli Sottozeros in the front

On the next +2°C or so day with dry pavement, put that thing in DSC OFF, and then go out and have some serious fun!

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by Zyzzthetic

Chucked on some studded Nokian Hakkas on the rears and Pirelli Sottozeros in the front for my RWD 6MT.

First time using winter tires and feel very prepared!

Watch out for hard braking on a dry surface with that setup, the Sottozeros will have a lot more grip than the Hakkas, so the car will want to spin.

[Zyzzthetic]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Watch out for hard braking on a dry surface with that setup, the Sottozeros will have a lot more grip than the Hakkas, so the car will want to spin.

Interesting! Thanks for this. I did notice another thing, when I accelerate fast I feel like my car will spin out of control. It feels like the car is floating and the tail is moving around.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Zyzzthetic

Interesting! Thanks for this. I did notice another thing, when I accelerate fast I feel like my car will spin out of control. It feels like the car is floating and the tail is moving around.

On dry pavement, right? If so, that's due to what aerobod explained: with much more grip up front, the rear is generally going to be loose. The studs help greatly with that!

Looking at your setup from a safety perspective, it could be argued that it's unsafe. Be careful.

[Sportstick]

I will echo some others and respectfully suggest you change your setup to have the same tires on all four corners to reduce the likelihood of losing control of one end of the car.

[Zyzzthetic]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I will echo some others and respectfully suggest you change your setup to have the same tires on all four corners to reduce the likelihood of losing control of one end of the car.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate this advice.
Should I do all Hakkas or all Pirellisottozeros? I will looks for 2 used tires

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Zyzzthetic

Thanks guys, I really appreciate this advice.
Should I do all Hakkas or all Pirellisottozeros? I will looks for 2 used tires

To use an analogy, you have track shoes on the back and bedroom slippers up front. My philosophy is that winter is something to get through and driving is about surviving without damage. I don't see it as play time, although others do...on the other hand, I still have all the original fascias and sheetmetal!

I'd go for Hakkas front and rear, but then again, I don't know Calgary weather or winter road conditions.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I will echo some others and respectfully suggest you change your setup to have the same tires on all four corners to reduce the likelihood of losing control of one end of the car.

I agree. I was just about to say that. While your intentions were to get more grip, you could find yourself in a heap of mess with this non-congruent set up.

[aerobod]

I use Sottozero 3s in 225/45-18 (4% larger than standard 225/40-18) here in Calgary. I found X-ice Xi3s had too much squirm on a RWD M240i. I do use the softer and grippier on snow and ice ‘H’ rated version as opposed to the more commonly available ‘V’ rated version that uses a harder rubber compound. Grip on snow is close to the Xi3, but Sottozeros are a lot more stable on dry and wet roads.

[Zyzzthetic]

Originally Posted by aerobod

I use Sottozero 3s in 225/45-18 (4% larger than standard 225/40-18) here in Calgary. I found X-ice Xi3s had too much squirm on a RWD M240i. I do use the softer and grippier on snow and ice 'H' rated version as opposed to the more commonly available 'V' rated version that uses a harder rubber compound. Grip on snow is close to the Xi3, but Sottozeros are a lot more stable on dry and wet roads.

Calgary fam!! Thanks for the information

[Zyzzthetic]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

To use an analogy, you have track shoes on the back and bedroom slippers up front. My philosophy is that winter is something to get through and driving is about surviving without damage. I don't see it as play time, although others do...on the other hand, I still have all the original fascias and sheetmetal!

I'd go for Hakkas front and rear, but then again, I don't know Calgary weather or winter road conditions.

Thanks for this. I understand it much better now.

Do you think it would be better than my current setup if I swapped the hakkas to the front and sottozeros to the back?

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Zyzzthetic

Thanks for this. I understand it much better now.

Do you think it would be better than my current setup if I swapped the hakkas to the front and sottozeros to the back?

No. The goal is balance with similar traction on both ends. Reversing what you now have would induce oversteer. You would find the rear end coming around.

[bimmer_girl89]

I swear by HAKKAPELIITTA's, been using this for about 6 years now. I had it installed on my RWD 3er before and it worked like magic - was able to drive the car like it was summer on snowy wintry road. I have a new set for my 2er and still like it.

But like what everyone is saying, change your set up to have all tires matching.

[RoundelM3]

Got the wife's 228i convertible ready for winter - had the oil and brake fluid changed and made sure the steering wheel heater is working. That should do it for SE NC area.

[msej449]

Get the same tyre on all four wheels as soon as you can - manufacturer's advice to never mix substantially different tyres front and back is genuine, not just marketing. I have the Pirelli Winter Sottozero S3* on my M235i for Alpine driving (but they also have very good resistance to aquaplaning, so they also work well at home on the wet south coast of England. They're snow-biased, compared to the Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie-II which I had previously. The Serie-II are really very good as performance tyres in those spring/autumn transitional periods where you get more warmer, dryer days, so in the Pirelli range, its an S3 snow-biased vs a Serie-II performance-biased winter choice.

[*225/45 R17 94V XL on 7.5Jx17 square]

[Shovelman]

Studded tires are great in certain situations. On ice or hard packed snow they increase traction, everywhere else they reduce it. Choose what you need.

You may be able to remove the studs, making the Haka's reasonably similar to the Soto's

You have a RWD car so the front and back will never handle exactly the same.

[accs]

What is the wheel size? I've got a set of SRs I'm not sure if I want to mount yet

[Maynard]

As noted, definitely go for a matched set all around. I'm on Hakka 9's all 'round, and for Calgary that's what I'd recommend; not as good traction on bare roads, but winter driving is about not sliding off in the snow. It would be a terrible waste to try to remove the studs, and I doubt you could do it w/o ruining the tires - they are a complicated stud-suspension unit, not the old screw-in posts. And according to their press info, the new high tech studs don't degrade traction compared to studless versions.

And good to know I'm not the only one nuts enough to go for studded tires.

[morphomeman]

In most parts of the US, studs are not recommended. In some parts of Canada, they may be. But for gods' sake, don't mix tire types! That is madness.

[Zyzzthetic]

Originally Posted by RyonC

What is the wheel size? I've got a set of SRs I'm not sure if I want to mount yet

18"

[Zyzzthetic]

Originally Posted by Maynard

As noted, definitely go for a matched set all around. I'm on Hakka 9's all 'round, and for Calgary that's what I'd recommend; not as good traction on bare roads, but winter driving is about not sliding off in the snow. It would be a terrible waste to try to remove the studs, and I doubt you could do it w/o ruining the tires - they are a complicated stud-suspension unit, not the old screw-in posts. And according to their press info, the new high tech studs don't degrade traction compared to studless versions.

And good to know I'm not the only one nuts enough to go for studded tires.

Haha defs not the only nut in Calgary with studs