vanos

Shopping for a set of winters for the Touring. I've been accustomed to Nokian winter tires but would like peoples comments/feedback on Gislaved winter tires, more precisely the NordFrost 5.

Thanks.

obiwan

I have used the gislavids nordfrost 3 on an xc90 thru 5 winters, 2 different sets.
In my opinion for a pure winter tire, they are better than any winter tire.
In QC?

vanos

Thanks. Yes, currently reside in QC.

obiwan

I used the gislavids extensively in the TO to Montreal and up to ottawa corridor. and back roads there.
You may have already noticed the wagon does not do well with the all season tires in winter.
I think QC requires winter tires on all vehicles now ?

vanos

^^ Yes we do. It will be my first winter with xdrive after 8-years of quattro.

Lotus99

Here's APA's winter tire ratings:

http://www.apa.ca/tire_wintertireratings.asp

They reviewed the Nordfrost 5's.

Maybe check out Tire Rack's too.

obiwan

That is good summation

my opinion on having used the contiice and the blizzaks
blizzaks are great, they really are, but they wear out their soft compound way to fast, you are left with a stiff tire with tread left ie not that useful.

conti, not a fan, just a feeling, no facts

i am a big fan of the nokian, that is a really great winter/summer tire especially where you live. no need for another set of rims with that one.

Spartan335i

Vanos I have the Nord Forst 5's on both our cars the E61 and the B8 Avant.

If you are looking for a sporty tire the Nord Frost isn't the tire for you. If you are looking for a good overall winter, city drviving, going to the ski slopes tire you can't go wrong with these.

We had the Nord Frost 3's on the XC70 for 5 years and the tires were still in great shape, will be on our third winter with the E61 and first for the Audi. I don't count the 2 weeks of winter drving when we picked up the Audi in March.

narvselius

First big tyre test made in Sweden; shows a big difference between non-studded winter tyres of Nordic version and Central europe version, as it is called up here. Not sure if they sell the Nordic version in Canada?

Top three Nordic version
Continental ContiViking Contact5, 105 points
GodoYear UltraGrip Ice+, 102 points
Nokian Hakkapellitta R, 99 points

Top three "Central europe" version
Continental ContiWinterContact TS830, 104 points
Nokian WR D3, 103 points
Goodyear Ultragrip 8, 98 points

Although the sum of points looks pretty much the same, there is a hugh difference in behaviour on snow and ice where the Nordic versions are superior and on wet tarmac where the opposite occurs.