Originally Posted By: Virtus_Probi
Originally Posted By: edyvw
Before I moved to the U.S. I used their UG 5, 6, 7. Only Continental TS 830 was better winter tire I had.
What they sell here is pure garbage.
Well, what I found to be pure garbage were the OEM Duelers that came on my FXT...they were horrendous in even a tiny amount of snow. The WRTs were a massive improvement over those.
I don't know anything about Goodyear European tires, and I will admit that I might have gone with the Xi3 for ~$100 more if the Tirerack review had been available when I was shopping back in 2014. I am probably off Blizzaks after my experience with two sets of them on another car (meh to scary on the highway). But, these are some hella cheap prices for some snow tires that have pretty good user reviews on Tirerack. And, I know from personal experience that they are limiting those reviews to tires purchased on the site, as my reviews for the OEM tires on my FXT were rejected because they were not purchased there!
- Duealer and Ultra Grip are tires made for different conditions. Dualers are going to be bad in snow period.
- I posted review on Tire Rack of many tires I never bought on Tire rack, including recent ones (Blizzak DM-V2).
- I have had Blizzaks LM-60, have WS 70 on my wives car and DM-V2 on my BMW. What scary? They stay on the road, they do not like warm weather (if winter tire is very good in warm weather, I do not want it on my car). Also, all those tires I bought elsewhere and posted reviews on TR.
- I saw reviews of WRT on TR. "Got me out of deep snow." Any winter tire will get you out of deep snow or uphill. What makes difference is when you drive 70mph and you hit patch of ice while you braking or going through curve. Considering GY built quality for US market (Had two Eagles and on Dunlop) and issues with balancing, flat spots, I would avoid it.
- Michelin Xi3? Not advocating for that tire. Michelin always had issues with winter tires because demands on the roads are colliding with their philosophy of building long-lasting tire that provides good performance from beginning to the end. They are good in ice and packed snow, horrible in deep snow and slouch (actually slush should be WRT's strength).
- In the end: ANY, ANY winter tire (and WRT is definitely not at the bottom of the hierarchical order) is better then BEST all season tire in the winter.
So if funds are issue, I would also get WRT. If not, I would get Xi3, Blizzak, Pirelli's, Nokian.