Yaris in SNOW ... how should you drive?

[A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby]

snow tires make all the difference

a full on winter tire with the mountain snowflake symbol is the only way to go in winter.

I got Michelin X Ice Xi2 and they truly do allow the Yaris
to climb steep snow covered hills, and make corners safely, unbelievably well.
it went from 'I never want to drive this in the snow' to 'this car is unstoppable in snow'



The X Ice also doesn't howl on the highway, like other studless snows.
It is the best snow tire for what I do. short weekday commutes on steep
drumlins, and long trips up the interstate on weekends.

any current studless snow tire will be like night and day on the Yaris.

if you want MAX possible grip, get something with chunky blocks like the original
Blizzak LM50. If you want excellent snow and ice grip but less howl on highway, get the
Michelin X Ice or the newer Blizzak with a similar tread like WS60 or WS70


*if you want to stick with an M+S tire that does OK in snow, Michelin makes the
best M+S tire hands down. They actually last long in summer and have real grip
in winter to some extent.

[Scubaru Steve]

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

snow tires make all the difference

a full on winter tire with the mountain snowflake symbol is the only way to go in winter.

I got Michelin X Ice Xi2 and they truly do allow the Yaris
to climb steep snow covered hills, and make corners safely, unbelievably well.
it went from 'I never want to drive this in the snow' to 'this car is unstoppable in snow'



The X Ice also doesn't howl on the highway, like other studless snows.
It is the best snow tire for what I do. short weekday commutes on steep
drumlins, and long trips up the interstate on weekends.

any current studless snow tire will be like night and day on the Yaris.

if you want MAX possible grip, get something with chunky blocks like the original
Blizzak LM50. If you want excellent snow and ice grip but less howl on highway, get the
Michelin X Ice or the newer Blizzak with a similar tread like WS60 or WS70


*if you want to stick with an M+S tire that does OK in snow, Michelin makes the
best M+S tire hands down. They actually last long in summer and have real grip
in winter to some extent.

im sorry, i have to disagree with a few points. the m+s aka all season, there are a few tires that are way ahead of Michelin. there are currently 2 all weather tires on the market, the leader is actually the Nokian WRG2, winter rated all season tire that will give the same winter performance as the Xi2, and it is made to be driven year round. a new one also arrived this year which is the Hankook Optimo 4s.

one thing that Michelin doesn't advertise is that their Xi2 is actually an entry level winter tire. they are for the person that rather drive on good winter days and want a quiet winter tire. In my area we need something a lot more aggressive. but in the end they are much better then an all season.

[A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby]

Originally Posted by Scubaru Steve

one thing that Michelin doesn't advertise is that their Xi2 is actually an entry level winter tire. they are for the person that rather drive on good winter days and want a quiet winter tire. In my area we need something a lot more aggressive. but in the end they are much better then an all season.

well, my actual real world driving experience

a) entry level ? this is Michelin -only- studless winter tire that will
fits 14 inch rims, and it gets rave reviews (and from me too)

b) there is no compromise in this tire except hydroplaning. My yaris climbed
the hell out of steep 13 and 14deg hills coated with powder, packed powder, packed wet snow, and ice spots. traction control only kicked in a tiny bit, the rest was all grip grip grip and it drove around extremely well

c) ya I think in a different post I did say if you are constantly on snow, such as Canada, get something else, like a blizzak. Michelin are great for occasional 1 or 2 weeks of snow, 5-8 times a year, the rest of time dry roads
...but the tread will last longer than any other winter tire...this is a good point here

d) that nokian M+S vs Michelin M+S. that model nokian will hydroplane on you in
conditions a Michelin Harmony M+S won't. people use M+S the most hours they drive a car. and Michelin tires are hands down the best engineered for what I do anyway...my driving is a ton of 80mph in all weather. don't need to hydroplane and I never do with Michelins M+S (xice do hydroplane so I slow down to 65 when using those in the wet)

if I can clarify I mean: any M+S Michelin with large circumferential grooves is the best tire...period. and yes they can do extremly well in snow vs any other M+S -and- last a long time. I need to add 'last a long time' and also 'Michelins stay round longest of any tire' no one can make a better carcass than Michelin. other tires will develop warps or flat spots under conditions Michelin tires just laugh at

e) yes there are a dozen excellent tires and depending on where you live and
how you drive can dictate what tire is best. no one tire will work for everyone.

Michelin xice defy physics though...they have insane grip but they look like they don't...appearance-wise. stick them on some rims and stick them on a car and put that car on ice and snow and stand back...they only lack in the hydroplaning department... and on wet tar they can be made to slip if you are extra aggressive.

[Scubaru Steve]

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

well, my actual real world driving experience

a) entry level ? this is Michelin -only- studless winter tire that will
fits 14 inch rims, and it gets rave reviews (and from me too)

yes, that is what Michelin released to us directly, they state on their marketing, and that they are only recommended to 4mm of snow. (to us of course not general public as they want to sell their tires.) as for the reviews yes, they are tested in places like where you live.

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

b) there is no compromise in this tire except hydroplaning. My yaris climbed
the hell out of steep 13 and 14deg hills coated with powder, packed powder, packed wet snow, and ice spots. traction control only kicked in a tiny bit, the rest was all grip grip grip and it drove around extremely well

that is the requirement for winter tires. they wouldn't be able to sell any tires if they couldn't.
have you ever used anything else?

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

c) ya I think in a different post I did say if you are constantly on snow, such as Canada, get something else, like a blizzak. Michelin are great for occasional 1 or 2 weeks of snow, 5-8 times a year, the rest of time dry roads
...but the tread will last longer than any other winter tire...this is a good point here

yes, it sounds like you are in an area where these could be a best match for you. our winters are nothing like that. i didn't see that you stated to get something else for worse conditions, my bad.

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

d) that nokian M+S vs Michelin M+S. that model nokian will hydroplane on you in
conditions a Michelin Harmony M+S won't. people use M+S the most hours they drive a car. and Michelin tires are hands down the best engineered for what I do anyway...my driving is a ton of 80mph in all weather. don't need to hydroplane and I never do with Michelins M+S (xice do hydroplane so I slow down to 65 when using those in the wet)

i'm sorry but the harmony?!... that isnt even a compairison between the two, the hydro-plaining and slush-plaining from the Nokian are far superior. im sure you have run Michelins for many years but there are better tires on the market. why wouldn't you want a winter tire made to drive year round that going to stop shorter on snow and ice? it just doesn't make sense? the harmony's time is over. that technology is 30 years old.

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

if I can clarify I mean: any M+S Michelin with large circumferential grooves is the best tire...period. and yes they can do extremly well in snow vs any other M+S -and- last a long time. I need to add 'last a long time' and also 'Michelins stay round longest of any tire' no one can make a better carcass than Michelin. other tires will develop warps or flat spots under conditions Michelin tires just laugh at

so right there that sounds a little bias sorry. but to say there are the best... you should do some research. i do agree that they have been around for a very long time. and yes they do last a long time. but the biggest thing that bothers me with Michelin is they focus on their high performance and heavy truck applications. it seems like they have almost given up on passenger tires. harmony same design for 30 years. the Michelin mxv series. their ltx series.. the only difference between the 1 and 2 is their siping goes through their tread block instead of half way. and their "winter" version is only a softer rubber... they lack on their r&d, they could be alot better then what they are.

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

e) yes there are a dozen excellent tires and depending on where you live and
how you drive can dictate what tire is best. no one tire will work for everyone.

that is true, i completly agree with that statement.

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

Michelin xice defy physics though...they have insane grip but they look like they don't...appearance-wise. stick them on some rims and stick them on a car and put that car on ice and snow and stand back...they only lack in the hydroplaning department... and on wet tar they can be made to slip if you are extra aggressive.

do they really? it may seem that way, but thats any winter tire compaired to an all season.

Originally Posted by A-Dingo-Ate-My-Baby

and you can certainly drive just fine at normal speeds...but other winter tires let you drive
above the speed limits on crappy conditions if that is your fancy

that is partially true, yes you can drive more aggressive, but also you have the ability to stop faster, accelerate, and maneuver safer when that time comes. because i know we have all been that that situation that we wish be had a little more control, thats truly what they are made for is safety, not so you can drive like an animal.

and lastly im not trying to pick any fights, im just trying to educate. they do make good tires, but so far i have found a better tire option in almost every application for people.