Snowshoes

[Bonzai]

Yea think they will be good, ordered from oemkiasuperstore.com and will install when I swap the wheels over. Fingers crossed I don't mess up the plastic plugs

 

[Revvdmedia]

I went to Kal Tire since I'm certain they're the only place in Canada authorized to sell Nokian tyres (I hate tires spelled with a "y"!). I had Nokian Hakka R2 on my 2015 Mustang GT that I drove year round in all weather conditions. They were so much better than cheaper winter tires I used in the past. My wife has a Santa Fe AWD with Goodyear Nordic winter tires in the winter and my RWD Mustang with the Nokians were so much predictable and confidence inspiring than the Goodyears even though her vehicle had the benefit of AWD.

I went with Nokian Hakka R3 this time (they're newer, better and the same price as I paid for the R2's 3 years ago) in 225/45/R18, along with the TPMS Kal Tire provides, and 18" Street Gear Element in titanium color. One wheel (not tire) had a pinhole leak from day 1 so that was warrantied for free. The location near my work is conveniently close, but they suck to get warranty work done same day, pretty much impossible. So much for their good warranty?

The Nokians are much louder than the Pilot Sport 4's obviously, but I know how good the traction will probably be so it's a worthwhile tradeoff. Also, the Nokians don't have great traction in the dry when it's warm, as one would expect. I took a left hand turn a bit quickly and maybe howled the tires...whoops lol.

FYI the cost of my setup was 2350. I could have saved about 250 with other option online but I preferred to have the warranty aspect, just in case.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Yea think they will be good, ordered from oemkiasuperstore.com and will install when I swap the wheels over. Fingers crossed I don't mess up the plastic plugs

No need to worry about your plugs, I got my set of mud guards yesterday and they come with all new self tapping screws and plugs to replace the ones already on the car. My plan is to 3M wrap the location under the guard and a little behind them and install the guards over top of that. I think I'm only going to run the guards in the winter and remove during summer months.

 

[SteveCo]

I think I'm only going to run the guards in the winter and remove during summer months.

I considered that, but I actually like the look of them on the car - they are a relatively small and subtle addition, and blend nicely with the overall look.

Also, they provide some added protection in the summer from small rocks, gravel and other road debris picked up and flung by the PS4 tires, which are relatively sticky at warmer temps.

 

[BBB]

Im considering blocking the air vent through the slushy/winter crud season. Would save having all the gravel and crap being spewed through the vent.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Im considering blocking the air vent through the slushy/winter crud season. Would save having all the gravel and crap being spewed through the vent.

Hmm. You are braver than I am. That smacks of tampering with the design. If anything goes south the warranty could be voided. Kia tested this car in the winters of Sweden. Surely "crud" going into the brake vent is a known quantity.

 

[BBB]

Hmm. You are braver than I am. That smacks of tampering with the design. If anything goes south the warranty could be voided. Kia tested this car in the winters of Sweden. Surely "crud" going into the brake vent is a known quantity.

Not sure how that would be a warrantyissue? Nothing will go south. Driving through wet snow/slush the vent would get jammed anyway. The vent is meant to displace the heat created by braking. In the winter months, this is a non issue....serves zero purpose. I’m more concerned with the crud that gets pushed through the vent. Think about all the ice buildup and such that will occur. At the very least, blocking the vent will keep the vent cleaner

 

[BIGRED]

I’m on the process of looking for a winter package now. I’ve read on other threads here that offset should be around +40 (18 inch with brembos). How flexible is this number?

+40 offset won’t clear the Brembos in the front with 18 inch wheels. +30 works

 

[SteveCo]

+40 offset won’t clear the Brembos in the front. +30 works

I think that depends on the wheel design. Some manufacturers state that for certain models +40 works with the Stinger.

 

[BBB]

I think that depends on the wheel design. Some manufacturers state that for certain models +40 works with the Stinger.

I just pulled the trigger today and ordered FC04 18s running Conti Winter Contact Si’s. +30 was confirmed to work. The tire shop mounted a rim on my car to show me the gap between the Brembos and the rim. Honestly, there ain’t much room, but they insured me the +30 will be just fine.

 

[SteveCo]

I just pulled the trigger today and ordered FC04 18s running Conti Winter Contact Si’s. +30 was confirmed to work. The tire shop mounted a rim on my car to show me the gap between the Brembos and the rim. Honestly, there ain’t much room, but they insured me the +30 will be just fine.

Fast lists both offsets as acceptable for FC04 on the Stinger. I went with +30 as they push out a little further toward the fender, which I find more appealing visually.

 

[Silverghost]

A quick update:
Had my winter tires on switch rims installed on the car today.
Absolutely no issues with fit.
Drove about 3 km and the car registered the tpms readings.
Running a square setup 225 45 18 and pressure set at 36 psi front and 39 psi rear.
Cleaned the summer tires and drying them before storing them in the basement for the season.
Happy driving everyone.

 

[SteveCo]

Had my winter tires on switch rims installed on the car today.

Looks good - it's an attractive wheel.

 

[atomiccow]

A quick update:
Had my winter tires on switch rims installed on the car today.
Absolutely no issues with fit.
Drove about 3 km and the car registered the tpms readings.
Running a square setup 225 45 18 and pressure set at 36 psi front and 39 psi rear.
Cleaned the summer tires and drying them before storing them in the basement for the season.
Happy driving everyone.

I just bought those rims and shipped them to my shop. Glad to see they look great. Going to put Continental Wintercontact SI on them. Was surprised to see a Continental tire that is actually affordable.

 

[Appl2noe]

Had my 19" Hakkapeliitta r3's installed yesterday on the factory rims. I'm noticing that the ride is substantially smoother and louder of course too. Unfortunately the weather decided to warm up drastically here so no snow results to report yet. We went from the threat of substantial blizzard warnings to plus 17C here in the span of a week. Mother nature has other ideas I guess.

Overall they still handle decently, but not quite a summer tire ha!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Had my 19" Hakkapeliitta r3's installed yesterday on the factory rims. I'm noticing that the ride is substantially smoother and louder of course too. Unfortunately the weather decided to warm up drastically here so no snow results to report yet. We went from the threat of substantial blizzard warnings to plus 17C here in the span of a week. Mother nature has other ideas I guess.

Overall they still handle decently, but not quite a summer tire ha!

Okay, I am more intrigued than ever over this noise issue. All my driving career I have assumed, and thought I noticed, that aggressive tread patterns are noisier than smoother tread. So it is a given that winter tires are noisier than summer or even A/S tires. Someone said, just before I bought mine, that Nitto Motivo A/S UHP would be quieter than the Michelin PSS summers. The reviews/comments on the Motivos tended toward "quieter" as well. I bought a set. And the first drive I noticed they were quieter. Well, dog my cats! I loved it. The Pirelli winter tires are reported to be quieter than the summer tires they replaced (this was just said here in the last two days). So which is it: quieter or noisier? And if both are true, what is making the difference here?

 

[Appl2noe]

Not really sure ho to answer that - but the tread depth on the Hakka's is extremely deep to cut thru snow, almost like an aggressive offroad tire. I know the principles are different (mud tires designed to fling mud off where as winters are designed to pack and use the snow for friction). Maybe someone with a little more education can answer?

 

[NS_Stinger]

The level of road noise a tire emits is based on so many different variables, temperature, tread depth, compound, tread design etc. etc. etc. I fully expect my Ice X3 winter tires will be a lot quieter than my pilot sport 4 tires.

 

[Ucinn]

And road surface is also a factor on noise..blacktop, concrete, etc..etc..

 

[MerlintheMad]

And road surface is also a factor on noise..blacktop, concrete, etc..etc..

I noticed this dramatically on my last road trip, which included surfaces down through central OR, across NV and into UT. Noise ranged from almost imperceptible to howling like mad. Obviously the car didn't change; the only factor in varying road noise was the surface.