STEAMBOAT TIRE COMPARO

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

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Well, the verdict is in, the haka Q's were the tire to beat this year (and
last as well).  Many of the seasoned veterans running the latest Blizzacks
either had to let us by or block our path...  Here's how I compare the 2.

For sheer ice, hard to beat the Blizzacks.  That said, sheer ice, even on an
ice track isn't the most common, and experience with "finding" traction is
how the Haka Q's dominated.  The advantage to the Blizzacks was slight
traction advantage and some hookup on sheer ice the Q's just didn't have.
However, the Blizzacks softer sidewall, definitely caused more unstable
weight shift during turning, and once too much power was applied to them, the
Q's started to rival in all out point to point shootouts.

The corporate "rental" track at Steamboat is one that rewards smooth
transitions as well as constant Scandinavian Flicks (unloading rear of car
coming into turn, steer opposite the turn, set the car, then rotate it back
in the direction of the turn >accelerate).  The hQ's had a more stable
sidewall (read stiffer), but did have tread squirm on dry pavement.  As with
my past P210 experience, a wide wheel with a narrow tire proved to be a good
combination (I ran 15x7 fuchs with 205/60 15 Haka Q's - non ice).

On the kinks, the hQ's stability on quick transitions, especially during hard
WOT, then full brake, allowed them to take a more direct line into a turn, a
slower entrance than the Blizzacks, but a better line could be maintained,
because the sidewall resisted the energy buildup of the large weight shifts.
.

The Steamboat experience, and continued success in going to a non ice tire
for comparos, certainly can lead to the conclusion that dedicated ice tires
have a very narrow advantage to the newest and latest siped non ice tires.

Other notables:
Michelin Artic Alpins on the TT were a decent tire, but they are loud on dry
pavement.  The quietness of the hQ's were a welcome benefit in 40+ hours of
driving to a fro.  The Graspics are also good, but really squirm on dry
pavement, and have slightly less sidewall stiffness.  A good deal for the
money, these tires, and in all out *snow* a real winner.  Haka 1's felt old,
but familiar, and again a really good snow tire.  My reference tires (now on
a fellow S car listers 44tq) P210 winters have a later generation with the
same siping as the Q's, but no one brought them to the party.  I'd like to
try them, the sidewall stiffness was most impressive in that tire.

SUMMARY:
It's where you drive the most.  If it's mostly snow, get the graspics, they
are tough to beat, especially in price.  The michelins I find too loud in
reference to the others on dry road, you don't need to sacrifice sound for
the decent snow traction.  The Haka 10's, again another really good snow.
The 210 has the widest compromise in terms of common winter conditions, they
do everything well, including the dry, and handle slush and snow (most common
2 conditions for most drivers) with a high level of tractive ability.  The
myriad of Blizzacks:  Great if you live in the ice belt of winter driving.
They squirm *big* on dry pavement (and wet), but have great traction in all
types of weather.  They do wear quicker than most other ice tires (even the
Blizzack school gets fresh tires *every* year), the more non-ice driving you
do on them the faster you will get down to the "all season" compound.  IMO/E
that right now the Q's are a welcome compromise between an all out Ice tire,
and an all out snow tire.  The tradeoffs are so small, that the experience of
the hands dancing the quattro become the biggest factor.

My .02 arbitraged thru the peso

Scott Justusson
'83 urq mit Haka Q's