[JimSchush]

Our new X3 is due to arrive mid December, I am looking for a set of 17 inch non run flat winter tyres and was wondering if anyone had any experience of the Nokian WR suv 3?

[RodHB]

No experience but I've read good reviews about them.

Rod

[oserx]

i had nokian WR for old 3-series sedan and 1series ( E87 ) 3 or 4 years ago. My friend has Nokian WR for his nissan patrol and 3 series ( 330xd ). They are really great tires, silent, Nokian are excellent tyres for snow. Now I have Dunlop Wintersport 4d for my coupe. For my new X3 which will arrive almost the same time as yours, I ordered complete set of winter tyres with Pirelli Sottozero P2. I have no clue about them but they came at good price - about 1900eur/set.

[bagekko]

I just installed the Nokian Hakka R2 RF on the X3 last night and it snowed today although it was just a dusting. They have a crazy tread pattern, suppose to be great snows. My decision was between them and the Michelin PA2s as the only great choices in run flats. I have the Sottozero IIs 240 on my M5 and its a good snow tire, although I wear them out quickly with 500hp.... I think there is a Sottozero II 210 RF.

But I have the 18x8 rims on the X3, so the tire size was 245/50-18

[Rodion]

Originally Posted by JimSchush

Our new X3 is due to arrive mid December, I am looking for a set of 17 inch non run flat winter tyres and was wondering if anyone had any experience of the Nokian WR suv 3?

I have read a lot of reviews and I can sum them up for you in short:

if you have snowy days, or icy days and you know you must drive, Nokian's are good for that (they also have low rolling resistance).

But if you are sure you will drive only wet and dry tarmac and on snowy and icy days you can leave your car home, or you just prefer handling on dry or wet asphalts, then Nokian's are not the best (nor the worst though).

[cadman50]

Originally Posted by bagekko

I just installed the Nokian Hakka R2 RF on the X3 last night and it snowed today although it was just a dusting. They have a crazy tread pattern, suppose to be great snows. My decision was between them and the Michelin PA2s as the only great choices in run flats. I have the Sottozero IIs 240 on my M5 and its a good snow tire, although I wear them out quickly with 500hp.... I think there is a Sottozero II 210 RF.

But I have the 18x8 rims on the X3, so the tire size was 245/50-18

Those are my two choices also. I just called to find out pricing on the same size as yours. I'm waiting to hear. Where did you get your Nokians from and how much were they? I'm in the same general area. Thanks.

[cadman50]

Originally Posted by Rodion

I have read a lot of reviews and I can sum them up for you in short:

if you have snowy days, or icy days and you know you must drive, Nokian's are good for that (they also have low rolling resistance).

But if you are sure you will drive only wet and dry tarmac and on snowy and icy days you can leave your car home, or you just prefer handling on dry or wet asphalts, then Nokian's are not the best (nor the worst though).

I am going back and forth on the R2's and PA2's. I would like to have great grip on plowed or unplowed snowcovered roads in the high country as well as low noise and good handling on highway and backroad non-snowy roads. Seems like you are more inclined to get the PA2's for this type of driving. What is it about the Nokians that make you think they are not the best at what I'm looking for?

[bagekko]

Theres a guy on Ebay that has them, shipped for like $1150. But I went to Tire Pros and they got them for me, mounted & balanced for $1295 + tax. I always get my tires off the net and just get installed, but didnt want any delays or issues with the wifes X3. I believe Direct Tire and NTB can get Nokians, maybe Town Fair too, Tire Pros is only in RI I think. Any place that can get them should be able to match the pricing on them for $1150-1200 for 4. My place got them in 1 day so they are somewhere close in a warehouse.

I mounted them on some E53 X5 18s. I bought the ITM TPMS Sensors & Stems off Ebay for $172 shipped for 4.

Originally Posted by cadman50

Those are my two choices also. I just called to find out pricing on the same size as yours. I'm waiting to hear. Where did you get your Nokians from and how much were they? I'm in the same general area. Thanks.

[cadman50]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Theres a guy on Ebay that has them, shipped for like $1150. But I went to Tire Pros and they got them for me, mounted & balanced for $1295 + tax. I always get my tires off the net and just get installed, but didnt want any delays or issues with the wifes X3. I believe Direct Tire and NTB can get Nokians, maybe Town Fair too, Tire Pros is only in RI I think. Any place that can get them should be able to match the pricing on them for $1150-1200 for 4. My place got them in 1 day so they are somewhere close in a warehouse.

I mounted them on some E53 X5 18s. I bought the ITM TPMS Sensors & Stems off Ebay for $172 shipped for 4.

That's a good price. that's about what I got for a quote on the Michellin's but the Nokians are more expensive. Your right...Direct Tire and Town Fair can get them. Don' know about NTB. I have 4 307 style wheels that I got off craigslist for $500. practically brand new. I also just orderd the TPMS and valve stems from Tire Rack. more expensive than what you paid though. $235 shipped. I just need to get tires. I'm planning on doing a lot of highway driving as well as in the mountains in the western part of the country so want a good tire. What made you pick the R2's instead of the PA2's?

[DonC]

I have the PA2 on my TL-S and like them. I have the Sottozero IIs on my winter wheels (18 in) but have yet to really test them. I prefer PA2 on the X3 and will most likely change next winter.

[JimSchush]

Thanks for all your advice, plenty of pros and cons and plenty of choice. The deal on the Nokians WR SUV3 looks good at £424 for the set so it looks like this will be going with when the car finally arrives.

[Rodion]

Originally Posted by cadman50

I am going back and forth on the R2's and PA2's. I would like to have great grip on plowed or unplowed snowcovered roads in the high country as well as low noise and good handling on highway and backroad non-snowy roads. Seems like you are more inclined to get the PA2's for this type of driving. What is it about the Nokians that make you think they are not the best at what I'm looking for?

At least on the tests I have read (Finnish, Swedish and German), Michelin's are a bit better on dry and wet asphalt.

On the other hand, on ice, snow and regarding noise and rolling resistance, Nokian's are better.

I can't really say which would be better to you. Neither are bad choice I would say, it just depends do you want best handling and traction on ice and snow, or on wet and dry?

I would say that imaginary stats for these:

Nokian / Michelin

Ice: 10/8
Snow: 10/8
noise: 10/9
rolling resistance: 10/9
dry asphalt: 6/7
wet asphalt: 6/7

E.g. I have Nokian R2 (yes, these are different) and I have driven and accelerated quite fast, but I haven't had any traction control messages for slip even on wet asphalt.

[bagekko]

The wife is afraid of driving in the snow and I wanted the best tires for all snow conditions. When it snows I am not afraid to go out even in the worst, so the Nokians seemed best for that. I've had Michelins in the past and have been dying to try Nokians. Dont really drive the X3 that aggressively and my wife babies it, if its dry during the winter with no chance of snow, will be driving the M5.

[drlukas]

Great tires, second year with snow, traction ok, price tag super, suggested

[cadman50]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Theres a guy on Ebay that has them, shipped for like $1150. But I went to Tire Pros and they got them for me, mounted & balanced for $1295 + tax. I always get my tires off the net and just get installed, but didnt want any delays or issues with the wifes X3. I believe Direct Tire and NTB can get Nokians, maybe Town Fair too, Tire Pros is only in RI I think. Any place that can get them should be able to match the pricing on them for $1150-1200 for 4. My place got them in 1 day so they are somewhere close in a warehouse.

I mounted them on some E53 X5 18s. I bought the ITM TPMS Sensors & Stems off Ebay for $172 shipped for 4.

Bagekko, now that you've had the snows on for a while how do you like them? Have you driven them on the highway? I see that there's a dealer in N. Smithfield which isn't too far from me.

[bagekko]

I've only driven it a few times and they feel good, quiet on the highway. I asked the wife how her new tires felt and she said good/fine, which means they are good because the slightest difference and she'd be complaining.

The Melvins Tire Pro's I got mine at is in North Smithfield on George Washington Hwy.

Originally Posted by cadman50

Bagekko, now that you've had the snows on for a while how do you like them? Have you driven them on the highway? I see that there's a dealer in N. Smithfield which isn't too far from me.

[barcelona]

I had 3 sets on non BMW's looking to get another set on my X3 when replacement time comes. Great in the snow if you do not need a dedicated snow tire.

Nokian invented the snow tire.

[lbjgh]

best winter tires (in order) based on my past purchases...

1. Blizzak
2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta
3. Michelin IceX
4. Nokian WR
5. Pirelli Sottozero II

[cadman50]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

best winter tires (in order) based on my past purchases...

1. Blizzak
2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta
3. Michelin IceX
4. Nokian WR
5. Pirelli Sottozero II

Ibjgh how did you like driving on the Nokians when it was just cold dry pavement? on the highway was it very noisy and squirmy? They are a great snow tire. I don't think that Consumer Reports gave them a great rating. I think they said they were noisy too.

[lbjgh]

I don't recall the Nokian tires being particularly squirmy or noisy. Regardless, they were selected for winter duty so I wasn't too worried about slightly less performance or a little noise.

When new the Nokian WR were better in the snow than the IceX but they didn't perform as well as they got a few miles on 'em.

The Hakka's had the tread depth built into the tread blocks... as the tire wore down the larger depth number wore off... neat concept.

Winter road conditions up here are likely very close to the Massachusetts area... snow storms but primarily clear surface asphalt in the winter.

[barcelona]

^ Cadman50

Nokian post from 1 series: maybe of interest to you.
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=905766

[G_M_S]

Had Nokian's on my wife's X3 (E83) last year, and whilst they where excellent in the actual snow and when the weather was at it's coldest. On damp, milder days 0 to 5 DegC they where aweful with the DTC lighting up all the time.

This year have swapped to Michelin Alpin's and so far the performance has been excellent - and non of the problems experienced with last year Nokians.

Hope this helps