Nokian snow tires

JB007 · 11-15-2013, 12:17 PM

Drove 650km in one day with my new Nokian Hakka R2 RFT tires.
Here are my findings:

- Really quiet and comfy ride
- I can get the traction control light to flash by giving a bit of throttle in 6th gear. The issue is not related with lost of traction, but how soft is the thread.
- In turns, once the tire settle, they hold really well.

So, on dry and sunny days, I'm pushing the Traction Control button located on the centre of the dash so that I don't see that Traction Control light flashing. I did some good pulls in 4th, 5th, and 6th gear, and never lost traction. So, it is definitively the car's traction control being so responsive at highway speed that makes the yellow light blink under acceleration due to the softness of the tire's thread.

That would explain why they are not BMW approved.
Now waiting for some ice and snow, which is where they are expected to really perform.

JB007 · 11-21-2013, 01:15 AM

Update:
Changed my tire pressures, and it made a night and day difference.
Tire still feels soft, but nowhere as bad as it was.
Currently running 38psi front, and 40psi rear, Nokian Hakkapelitta R2 RFT, 205/50/17, square.

IEDEI · 11-21-2013, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB007

Update:
Changed my tire pressures, and it made a night and day difference.
Tire still feels soft, but nowhere as bad as it was.
Currently running 38psi front, and 40psi rear, Nokian Hakkapelitta R2 RFT, 205/50/17, square.

cool. I have mine set at around 36....might increase it a bit and see if it makes things better!

overall the tires feel really good. they feel soft but grippy and very comfortable. I still get the traction control light sometimes but only in 5th or 6th gear when I really get on it. when I hit the traction control button once all of that goes away....will have to modulate that according to the type of weather and temps we get!

JB007 · 12-21-2013, 07:13 PM

After a few snow storms and -30C temperature, i find my 135i to be handling extremely well in cold weather, on snow and on ice.
Those Nokian RS2 tires are the best winter tires I ever had.

No problems going through unplowed mall parking lots.
Never going back to any other tires.

IEDEI · 12-21-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB007

After a few snow storms and -30C temperature, i find my 135i to be handling extremely well in cold weather, on snow and on ice.
Those Nokian RS2 tires are the best winter tires I ever had.

No problems going through unplowed mall parking lots.
Never going back to any other tires.

i 1000% agree, man!! these tires perform AMAZING in the winter. I'm going to stick with Nokians for the long haul!! glad to hear you are enjoying yours too!

barcelona · 02-19-2014, 07:02 PM

Concept: Nokian retractable studs

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...le-studs-video

^^ thanks for your shared experiences with your nok's. I plan to get the WR series,,, some day.

klamchowder · 11-04-2014, 03:36 PM

I know this is an old thread...

Just wondering whether anyone can give their experiences driving the Nokian R2 in wet and dry conditions.

Right now I'm debating between the R2 and WRG3 for a dedicated winter set. I'm in the Chicagoland area so we get a mixture of snow/ice/wet/dry conditions.

MightyMouseTech · 11-04-2014, 03:41 PM

Hope the WRG3 uses a better compound than the WRG2. Had them on my Civic as intermediate tires. They were scary as hell on wet pavement.

IEDEI · 11-05-2014, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klamchowder

I know this is an old thread...

Just wondering whether anyone can give their experiences driving the Nokian R2 in wet and dry conditions.

Right now I'm debating between the R2 and WRG3 for a dedicated winter set. I'm in the Chicagoland area so we get a mixture of snow/ice/wet/dry conditions.

the R2s are good in the wet....great in slush....and soft/squishy on the dry. these tires are made of a very soft compound and you really feel that in the dry-----but as a trade off you are definitely getting THE best stud less snow tires around.

chris82 · 11-05-2014, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZIPNBYE

Nokians are wonderful winter tires...in either studded (Hakkapeliitta 7) or non-studded (Hakkapeliitta R2) versions. Pick based on your winter conditions. In Brooklyn, you may in fact be better off with the WRG3 as you likely have more bare pavement driving than either snow or ice covered.

You'll be better off going square with your tires, but as your wheels aren't, you won't be able to rotate at all without swapping the tires around (dismount / remount).

I'd like to try the Nokians, but I don't know where to find them on the US East Coast. A normal tire shop won't have them, and TireRack doesn't the last time I checked . . .

TheSt|G · 11-05-2014, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisar82

I'd like to try the Nokians, but I don't know where to find them on the US East Coast. A normal tire shop won't have them, and TireRack doesn't the last time I checked . . .

You don't want them around where we live. They are pretty terrible in the dry, which is most of our winters. They only really shine in continuous deep snow.

andrey_gta · 11-05-2014, 09:43 AM

I like my Hankooks - nice tire for winter

IEDEI · 11-05-2014, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

You don't want them around where we live. They are pretty terrible in the dry, which is most of our winters. They only really shine in continuous deep snow.

i ran them in nyc and loved them....you're forgetting we get really heavy winters the past few years on the east coast....AND we had lots of slush, ice, light snow, and heavy snow last year. definitely worth the money.....

braking ability in the dry OR wet is amazing with the Nokians.

TheSt|G · 11-05-2014, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IEDEI

i ran them in nyc and loved them....you're forgetting we get really heavy winters the past few years on the east coast....AND we had lots of slush, ice, light snow, and heavy snow last year. definitely worth the money.....

braking ability in the dry OR wet is amazing with the Nokians.

I live on the east coast...

If you don't push your car, sure, they are fine.

IEDEI · 11-05-2014, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I live on the east coast...

If you don't push your car, sure, they are fine.

for me, winter street driving isn't really about being able to push the car.....it's more about being safe and alert. i did push the car in open parking lots and empty spaces.....and had a TON of fun doing so

PA135i · 11-05-2014, 11:30 AM

Comparing last winter to our "usual" winter is false. Last winter was the most snow I have seen since I have been driving. Continuous storms. every other week.
Nokians are overkill for the Philly area. Average snowfall for Philly is 19" a year.
performance winters are fine here.

I owned a pair of Nokians, when I had my 325Ci about 10 years ago. They are great in snow. I had no worries,... in fact I was wanting it to snow.

TheSt|G · 11-05-2014, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PA135i

Comparing last winter to our "usual" winter is false. Last winter was the most snow I have seen since I have been driving. Continuous storms. every other week.
Nokians are overkill for the Philly area. Average snowfall for Philly is 19" a year.
performance winters are fine here.

I owned a pair of Nokians, when I had my 325Ci about 10 years ago. They are great in snow. I had no worries,... in fact I was wanting it to snow.

Spot on.

Sadly Michelin dropped the Alpin PA3s? Bummed about that.

IEDEI · 11-05-2014, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PA135i

Comparing last winter to our "usual" winter is false. Last winter was the most snow I have seen since I have been driving. Continuous storms. every other week.
Nokians are overkill for the Philly area. Average snowfall for Philly is 19" a year.
performance winters are fine here.

I owned a pair of Nokians, when I had my 325Ci about 10 years ago. They are great in snow. I had no worries,... in fact I was wanting it to snow.

i am a physician who works at a hospital 65 miles away from my home....i have to be there night or day on call....for me, i need maximum ability from my snow tires!

last winter....there wasn't a single day i couldn't make it to the hospital. Those Nokians are unbelievably good in the snow....even deep snow.

angler · 11-06-2014, 05:49 AM

Life is about trade off's snow tires included

ZIPNBYE · 11-09-2014, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Sadly Michelin dropped the Alpin PA3s? Bummed about that.

Why bummed...they are truly awful.

TheSt|G · 11-10-2014, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZIPNBYE

Why bummed...they are truly awful.

Not really? They aren't a straight snow tire you realize...

MightyMouseTech · 11-10-2014, 09:18 AM

They made a great intermediate tire.

11-15-2013, 12:17 PM	#45
JB007 Private First Class 6 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW135i MSport 6 Speed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Qc, Canada iTrader: (0)	Drove 650km in one day with my new Nokian Hakka R2 RFT tires. Here are my findings: - Really quiet and comfy ride - I can get the traction control light to flash by giving a bit of throttle in 6th gear. The issue is not related with lost of traction, but how soft is the thread. - In turns, once the tire settle, they hold really well. So, on dry and sunny days, I'm pushing the Traction Control button located on the centre of the dash so that I don't see that Traction Control light flashing. I did some good pulls in 4th, 5th, and 6th gear, and never lost traction. So, it is definitively the car's traction control being so responsive at highway speed that makes the yellow light blink under acceleration due to the softness of the tire's thread. That would explain why they are not BMW approved. Now waiting for some ice and snow, which is where they are expected to really perform. __________________ 2013 BMW 135i MSport Edition, Alpine White, 6 speed manual, Coral Red leather, Sound Package, Premium Package, Alarm, BMW Perf black kidneys, Tint (20%rear, 50% sides), XPel Ultimate full front end and side skirts, H8 PIAA Plasma Ion yellow bulbs
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11-21-2013, 01:15 AM	#46
JB007 Private First Class 6 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW135i MSport 6 Speed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Qc, Canada iTrader: (0)	Update: Changed my tire pressures, and it made a night and day difference. Tire still feels soft, but nowhere as bad as it was. Currently running 38psi front, and 40psi rear, Nokian Hakkapelitta R2 RFT, 205/50/17, square. __________________ 2013 BMW 135i MSport Edition, Alpine White, 6 speed manual, Coral Red leather, Sound Package, Premium Package, Alarm, BMW Perf black kidneys, Tint (20%rear, 50% sides), XPel Ultimate full front end and side skirts, H8 PIAA Plasma Ion yellow bulbs
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12-21-2013, 07:13 PM	#48
JB007 Private First Class 6 Rep 107 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW135i MSport 6 Speed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Qc, Canada iTrader: (0)	After a few snow storms and -30C temperature, i find my 135i to be handling extremely well in cold weather, on snow and on ice. Those Nokian RS2 tires are the best winter tires I ever had. No problems going through unplowed mall parking lots. Never going back to any other tires. __________________ 2013 BMW 135i MSport Edition, Alpine White, 6 speed manual, Coral Red leather, Sound Package, Premium Package, Alarm, BMW Perf black kidneys, Tint (20%rear, 50% sides), XPel Ultimate full front end and side skirts, H8 PIAA Plasma Ion yellow bulbs
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02-19-2014, 07:02 PM	#50
barcelona Major 271 Rep 1,417 Posts Drives: X Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Concept: Nokian retractable studs http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...le-studs-video ^^ thanks for your shared experiences with your nok's. I plan to get the WR series,,, some day.
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11-04-2014, 03:36 PM	#51
klamchowder New Member 6 Rep 21 Posts Drives: 135i M Sport 6MT DSB Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I know this is an old thread... Just wondering whether anyone can give their experiences driving the Nokian R2 in wet and dry conditions. Right now I'm debating between the R2 and WRG3 for a dedicated winter set. I'm in the Chicagoland area so we get a mixture of snow/ice/wet/dry conditions.
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11-04-2014, 03:41 PM	#52
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Hope the WRG3 uses a better compound than the WRG2. Had them on my Civic as intermediate tires. They were scary as hell on wet pavement.
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11-05-2014, 09:43 AM	#56
andrey_gta Brigadier General 298 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	I like my Hankooks - nice tire for winter __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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11-05-2014, 11:30 AM	#60
PA135i Brigadier General 967 Rep 3,323 Posts Drives: 08 135i 08 CR-V Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Comparing last winter to our "usual" winter is false. Last winter was the most snow I have seen since I have been driving. Continuous storms. every other week. Nokians are overkill for the Philly area. Average snowfall for Philly is 19" a year. performance winters are fine here. I owned a pair of Nokians, when I had my 325Ci about 10 years ago. They are great in snow. I had no worries,... in fact I was wanting it to snow. __________________ Sparkling Graphite Metallic / 6MT / Terracotta Boston Leather / Sport Package / Comfort Access system / Gray Poplar wood trim / Heated front seats / iPod and USB adapter / HD radio / Premium hi-fi system / OE Tuning / VRSF Intercooler & charge pipe / BMW Performance short shift kit / BMW M Performance Handbrake Handle / BMW Stainless steel pedals / V1 hardwired / rear sun shades *Pennsylvania 20 electoral votes* Last edited by PA135i; 11-05-2014 at 11:42 AM..
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11-06-2014, 05:49 AM	#63
angler love to fish! 46 Rep 649 Posts Drives: 13: SG 135i M-Sport Cabrio 6mt Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: riding in the ultimate tanning machine iTrader: (1)	Life is about trade off's snow tires included __________________ PSS\|PPK\|PE\|LUX H8 V4's\|CDV Delete\|Performance Pedals\|Motorsport Emblem\|
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11-10-2014, 09:18 AM	#66
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	They made a great intermediate tire.
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