Dedicated Winters Hakka vs XIce vs Blizzak

[mr.Magoo]

I think most of us who have run dedicated Winters at some point can agree that the Generals are awful in the snow...

I'm looking at dedicated Winters, and while my heart wants Hakkas (fantastic tire, had 'em on numerous SUVs over the years and it's like you're on rails) my brain is struggling to justify the price difference to Michelin XICE or Blizzaks.

Going rate for Hakkas is about $1400 plus 100-150 to mount and balance.
Costco currently has Michelin XIce for $1070 out the door.

Have anyone run both and care to comment ? I don't think I can justify a $500 premium.

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[AAnative]

 

[AAnative]

I ordered a set of the Michelins. Have Nokian R5 SUV on my land cruiser. Will post observations this winter.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Thanks for the video, the link in the description of the video where you can adjust your own weighting was especially helpful.

 

[tls]

What size wheels? Price and selection are a little better if your winter wheels are 18".

 

[VTbuckeye]

Last year I used continental vikingcontact7 275 65 18. No complaints. It was a true I was considering on our xc40 EV, before I put some hakka r3 SUV tires on in 2021. We also have hakka R2 SUV tires on a third car. No complaints with any of them. The R2 SUV still have plenty of tread, but they are getting old so the compound is not as soft as it once was.

 

[mr.Magoo]

What size wheels? Price and selection are a little better if your winter wheels are 18".

I'll use my "old" lariat wheels, so 275/60R20.

 

[It's Just Me]

I bought the Nokians last year. F@cking fabulous tire. First time I put a dedicated snow tire on any vehicle. I've been using Mountain/snowflake tires only on all of my past vehicles for at least a decade. These by far were the best.

We had a lame winter this year, but I would sit in the unplowed snow on the road at a dead stop and really stomp on the gas and the truck shimmied just enough that I noticed and then went like a rocketsled on rails. Fabulous.

If I get things lined up right, I am going to put some Nokian Outpost nATs on a set of these Rousch wheels and still swap them out every 1 December/1 April for those nasty days/weather that overlap. Plus I want a more aggressive tire as well.

Remember the old adage, you get what you pay for. While the Michelin's are less, how good are they? I don't know I am asking.

However you rarely see Nokians in the reviews. But 1) the Finns know a thing or two about snow and ice driving. 2) The Nokians are also much more likely to be made here in the US.

 

[tls]

I'm happy with the Blizzak LTs on my truck, which came off my ICE F150. I think they'll make it one more season. But I'll be replacing them with Nokians unless, as was the case when I bought the Blizzaks, there just aren't any to be found - I had waited until early November that year and the Nokians with the right load rating were basically sold out.

If you're using wheels from an ICE F150 be careful, most of them aren't rated for the Lightning's weight, especially if you have an ER truck.

 

[Heliian]

I no longer buy michelin products due to their shitty treadwear.

There is a reason they are cheaper.

The Nokians are overhyped, blizzaks are hit or miss but overall good.

I will be going with the cheapest Lt winters I can find.

 

[RI fisherman]

What Hakkas are you thinking about? Or has anyone put them on your lightning yet. Thinking of going this route with dedicated winters then get new rims/ tires spring as at 26k my oEms are almost done and definitely not driving into the mountains this winter with them.

 

[mr.Magoo]

I ended up getting the R5 SUV the other day.

 

[wighty]

I no longer buy michelin products due to their shitty treadwear.

Did you ever try using their warranty? IIRC the x-ice are the only snow tires I saw that have a mileage warranty.

 

[RI fisherman]

I ended up getting the R5 SUV the other day.

Welp I couldn't find them anywhere locally so just ordered a set of Mich X ice. Rather have the Hakkas but at least the mich are light weight so hopefully not to big impact on range.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Welp I couldn't find them anywhere locally so just ordered a set of Mich X ice.

Yeah, I don't know what's going on as a lot of places that used to have them are now sold out.

I got mine from Amazon (TiresByWeb) but they too have a set, then nothing for a long time and then one set and so on, so I pounced last time they came in.

But I'm sure I jinxed winter as a result, so we'll probably only get snow once or twice.

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