I tried to do the same thing since I knew my Nokian Hakka Q's were worn out and would need to be replaced before next Fall. Tire stores in this area (S.E. Michigan) all gave me a fish eye when I asked for new snow tires in February. They try to get them all out the door by Thanksgiving so they won't get stuck with them for a whole year.

But I found some! I got them over the internet from tiresavings.com for $52 each in P195/65HR15 size. Semperit "Sport-Grip" tires, they seem to have lots of fans on Audi and Subaru BB's. With this week's ice and snow they have performed great.

As far as life expectancy goes - that will depend on a lot of other issues. Warm temperatures and dry roads will wreck havoc with life of most winter tires due to the soft compounds necessary to gain maximum traction in snow and on ice. My Haka Q's were gone after 2 seasons (I used them for 3 seasons), but they are clearly a cold weather tire and the first season was uncharacteristically warm here. Nokian WR's are suitable for summer driving also, so their life will be limited by miles more than temps and road conditions. Blizzaks are notorious for a very soft outer tread compound - tire is shot with half the tread remaining - but maybe Bridgestone has addressed that issue.

I would guess that three seasons may be the maximum life, even with ideal conditions. A lot of posters with different driving needs and styles have mentioned that number. I am beginning to suspect the rubber compounds may harden with age and limit the tire's usefullness in winter driving conditions, regardless of tire's history of use.

posted by 68.42.114...

• Off-Season Sale on Winter Tires, Skip, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 09:14:38
  • Nokian Availability, Skip, Thu, 18 Mar 2004 11:39:57
    • Re: Nokian Availability, Schu, Fri, 19 Mar 2004 03:59:14
  • I'm happy with Green Diamond . . ., Mike in Anchorage, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 20:11:16
  • Re: Off-Season Sale on Winter Tires, ricknosnow, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 15:47:01
  • Too Late - off season sales are in November...., Roger, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 15:33:31 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Check the classifieds, ramprat, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 13:23:42
  • You're on the right track ..., Pierre in Ottawa, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 12:34:56
  • I just talked with my Saab Dealership, moresnow, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 10:56:09
    • Re: I just talked with my Saab Dealership, yoeddy, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 13:13:23
      • I hear ya, nickR, Wed, 17 Mar 2004 14:18:33
        • Stud Free State, Skip, Thu, 18 Mar 2004 05:38:40
          • $0.02, Ravi, Sat, 20 Mar 2004 18:08:22

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