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Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 9:29 pm
by timucin
i dont know if its the brand name or type name , will go and check them tomorrow. 225-45-17
do you know this tyres?
not winter-snow tire

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 8:13 am
by lskov
On my car I use Michelin tires. (Michelin Pilot Alpin - 255/40 R 17 94V)

These tires are the best tires that I ever have used.

So whatever kind of tyre You are thinking of purchasing, do condsider this kind of tyre.

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:09 am
by timucin
thnx for info
is that for winter or snow?
cause i need snow spesific.

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:09 am
by Jani
Nokian is a Finnish tyre brand, the only one. Good winter tyres at least. Viking could be Continental Viking / Gislaved, scandinavian brand of Conti winter tyres. They also do well in tests generally.

If you want proper traction on snow, any tyre with speed rating above Q (160 km/h) is useless. At least Bridgestone seem to have Q-rated Blizzak in 17", considering these for the next tyre.

The downside is of course behaviour on tarmac, Q-tyres are soft, and overheat easily.

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 10:17 am
by timucin
i almost became an expert last night about tires [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
yep i know bridgestone qr is the best;
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare2. ... NOWSPXL_=4

here is a comparison test

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 11:42 am
by lskov
Well... I live in Norway and during the winter here, there are a lot of snow for time to time. My tyres behave extremely good on dry snow, wet snow, hard snow, loose snow, tarmac etc... And You can also drive fast with these tires without being afraid that the tires will break in high speeds... I have read many tests before, but nothing is like Your own experience. All tires behave differently from car model to car model. I have worked in a VW/Audi car dealer for 13 years, and there we sold mostly COntinental vinter tires. These tires are very good in "normal" sizes, but when You need something a little bigger than that (that for instance fit's on my RS) You will need another brand.

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:11 pm
by Jani
Hi Iskov,

nice to hear there may be a decent snow tyre with V-rating.

My comment on the Q-rating is based on experience with RS2. Had Bridgestone Blizzak WS01 215/50-17Q, these were very nice on snow. Got worn out due to use on tarmac in the spring, got only 2 winters out of them. Heavy right foot was maybe one reason [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Then I switched to Nokian NRW 225/45-17 H, these are OK on tarmac in the winter at least. But on snow the grip is poor, slides long and wide...fun as long as you enter corners very carefully. [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] If you don't then it is really scary.

A magazine tested different speed rated winter tyres against each other, same brand: the difference in snow / ice traction is huge, much larger than in same speed category with different brands. Only Q-tyres were rated to be useful in Finnish winter, which is quite similar to Norway I suppose, a little colder maybe? Can't compare to Turkish winter though, I think they have warmer, except maybe in the mountains -so H- or V-rated tyre may be better there, since it can take the heat better.

I'll never again buy H/V-rated winter tyre for Finland, that is for sure.

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 1:32 pm
by markcanderson
Viking tyres are a Dutch brand. They are at the cheaper end of the market over here.

More info (if you speak dutch) http://www.vikingbanden.nl/vikingbanden/index.html

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:29 pm
by s6plus
Last week I mounted viking winter tires under my car. size 225/45/17 (my normal tire size is 255/40/17). My first impressions are [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]. Those tires give me loads of grip during bad weather days(below 7 degrees,lite snow etc)and the size feels stable.
Before these tires I had 205 winter-tires. They were excelent in deep snow, but on dry, cold days they were to narrow. I know that wider tires don´t offer me that much grip in deep snow so I´ll take extra care.
Viking tires are worth the price! I paid 115 euro each, incl mounting (holland)

one thing is for sure: you should drive you´re car carefully through the corners with wintertires [img]images/graemlins/033102scull_1_prv.gif[/img]

Re: Viking snow tires from finland

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 9:12 pm
by timucin
winters are not very strong here but i go skiing etc. thats why i am looking for winter tires.
first i also decided to get QR-BLizzak but they dont import it here.
all i can get from the stock is viking i supposed to go there today but i coulndt will see them on wednesday..