Snow tire help

[LL - NY]

I was all set to go for the Hakka R's until I priced them out. Couldn't
swing them.

I've been through the rounds on the General Altimax Artics, that they
*may*be Nordfrost 3 clones (they certainly
*look* the part, but I couldn't get confirmation) or not, and then I read
the reviews on both TireRack (not one single complaint in the 11 pages of
reviews I read) and Consumers Report and concluded that they are probably a
safe bet. There were was also a meager $25 rebate on them at TireRack,
although that expired right after I purchased them.And at half the price of
the Hakka R's, and at better than $60 less than the Xi's.  I did get
convinced possibly against my better judgement (based upon Kneale's
argument) by my local friend to go for the studs, from what I've seen in the
reviews, that'll make them unstoppable. Not sure I needed that, particularly
with the amount of highway travel I do. Nonetheless, I live in serious snow
country (like Kneale, and Bob Myers and all of the Coloradans). Mounting
them up on the Saabaru tomorrow, so no on the road experience yet. If they
work on the Saabaru, they'll be awesome on the the UrS, which overall has
proven a much more stable winter beast.

On Sun, Oct 18, 2009 at 7:22 PM, Ben Kwan <1.8tquattro at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm looking for a new set of snows and I've narrowed it down to two based
> on
> reading the archives.
>
> General Altimax Arctic (Nordforst 3 Clone?)
>  or
> Michelin X-Ice Xi2
>
> The General's are going to be the cheaper of the 2 but Michelin is offering
> a $70 rebate on the Xi2's.  The difference in price is going to be about
> $60
> after I get the rebate money back.
>
> How's the treadwear on the Xi2's for those of you that purchased last
> season?  I've read that the tread depth isn't as deep as other snows but
> they are still an excellent performing tire.
>
> Which one would you choose if you were in my shoes?
>
> Thanks,
> Ben
>
> Current:
> 01 A4 1.8tq
> 99 Honda Accord V6
>
> Past:
> 90 100
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