Riding on Nokian LRR winter tires: R2

[brucepick]

I recently did my first tank fillup after driving on my new Nokian R2 winter tires. I'm very pleased. The sidewall imprint is max 47 psi; I'm running them at 50 psi on my 2000 Honda Insight. I went a tad narrower than stock, because the stock 165/65-14's aren't made. I got 155/65-14, and I compensate for the slightly smaller diameter when I calculate and report my fillups and mpg.

The R2 line is a winter tire, using both low rolling resistance and Nokian's most advanced ice traction technologies. I'll summarize both briefly.

Low Rolling Resistance helps the tire roll more easily. Good for mpg. In the US market, NO standards are in place for tires claim to be LRR. Nokian is a European brand (Finland), and Europe DOES have a standard for LRR, with a 5-letter grading system. The R2s aren't sold in EU, so there's no rating letter -but - my point is, Nokian seems to sell mostly in Europe and truly does know how to build a LRR tire.

Ice traction. Tire makers seem to be onto something good now. These are my first Nokians, so I haven't had a chance to test them yet on snow or ice. HOWEVER, I drove on Michelin X-Ice 2 and then X-Ice 3 tires for several years. They claim excellent ice traction (as well as LRR), and I was very impressed. On those slick spots in parking lots, they always gripped better than I expected of snow tires. And one day on the highway, driving to work - I passed several box trucks that had pulled off the road. I had no idea why. Then I realized they'd hit black ice and had no control. My Honda on Michelins was fine - I think I was driving the Accord that winter. I pulled into a commuter lot to see what the road surface was like. Like a skating rink. I almost fell, getting out of my car. Car handled fine.

Yeah, I suppose good winter tires with studs would outperform the X-Ice tires, or the Nokian R2s, with a real cost in mpg. But the Nokians should outperform "regular" winter tires that don't have the newer ice-gripping technology.

And the R2s are LRR. What could be better?

My gas log:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/em-fuel-l...vehicleid=9520

[Ecky]

When my Nordmans need replacement, I may go with the R2's as you've done. There were no Hakkapalitas for sale in the Insight's stock size when I got mine.

[Daox]

I don't believe they make the hakkapalitas in the stock size. You have to go 175 or 165/65.

[NeilBlanchard]

We have Hakka R2's on our Leaf, and they are excellent winter tires and they have very low RR, too. I got an oversize model, to compensate for the odometer error on our leased car.

[Fingie]

Hakkapeliitta (sic) are good winter-condition tires.

they introduced a new dub system, if I recall.


And Hakka are a line of ok-class summer-condition tires.