Need some help picking a winter tire...
 

I'm on the fence between these two.

Firestone Winterforce - http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....-S&autoModclar=

General Altimax - http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....-S&autoModClar=

I've been using Winterforce tires for years, and I love how they perform in deep snow, but I do sort of trust tirerack, and the Altimax DID win this year's test :(

I read a bunch of customer reviews for both tires (Specifically looking for Miata reviews, figuring that's pretty close to what I should expect in the FR-S), and they seem just about even.

Really though, to the Winterforce just looks like a monster of a tire. Looking at the huge treadblocks and grooves, I can't even fathom getting stuck, or not being able to make it up a steep hill with them. But, that's based strictly on how it looks >.<

Between these two tires, what do we think?

I've run the Altimax on a variety of FWD cars for a number of years and haven't ever had any issues with traction.

Tire Rack Test would finalize it for me:

September 6, 2009

Tires Tested:
General Altimax Arctic (Studdable Winter 205/55R16 91Q)
What We Liked: Excellent snow and ice traction
What We'd Improve: A small improvement in dry braking traction
Conclusion: Even unstudded, this tire delivers excellent wintertime traction in the snow and on ice
Latest Test Rank: 1st
Previous Test Rank: Not previously tested

Pirelli Winter Carving Edge (Studdable Winter 205/55R16 91T)
What We Liked: Solid dry braking traction
What We'd Improve: A modest improvement in ice traction
Conclusion: Delivers good snow performance but can't match the ice traction of the best
Latest Test Rank: 2nd
Previous Test Rank: Not previously tested

Firestone Winterforce (Studdable Winter 205/55R16 91S)
What We Liked: Solid snow traction
What We'd Improve: Ice traction when unstudded
Conclusion: Good snow traction but needs studs for the best traction on ice
Latest Test Rank: 3rd
Previous Test Rank: 4th (October '07)

Vehicles Used:
2008 BMW E90 320i Sedan, 2008 BMW E92 328i Coupe

i mean the tirerack surveys have the general above the firestone.. i think i'm going to go with the generals for the fr-s..

How many seasons were you able to get out of them?

It looks like the Generals are going to be worth a try regardless, I just worry about all the hills (Namely my driveway) around me :(

Those tests are from 2009.

Here's a 2010 test:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=135

Ranked by score:

1: Continental ExtremeWinterContact
2: Michelin X-Ice Xi2
3: Bridgestone Blizzak WS70
4: Dunlop Graspic DS-3

I've used the Hankook I-Pike, the older Blizzak 50, and Dunlop Wintersport 3D tires. Since I need new winter tires for the BRZ I'm going to try the Conti EWC this year.

I've heard great things about all of those, but, the thing is, in the customer reviews, the Winterforce and Altimax trounce ALL of those tires (At least when it comes to deep snow, which is my primary concern) :(

all those tires are "studless", while the altimax and the firestone are classified as "studdable"..

That only means that they can be studded. Studless, a tire's a tire's a tire.

We've got one set left in rotation since I sold my other cars. This will be the third season on my wife's Scion xD.

That tread pattern is used by a lot of manufacturers and it works really well. The Hankook I-Pike uses the same design, as do the legendary-but-hard-to-find Hakkapeliitta winter tires.

You must live in a more rural area of NY, most of the states in the northeast are good about keeping roads manageable. While the I-pikes were great in deep snow, they weren't all that good when it wasn't snowing. The Dunlop Wintersport 3D tires were good in snow and excellent (for a winter tire) when it wasn't snowing. The Continentals look like another good moderate winter tire.

As for studs, I haven't needed or wanted studs in my winter tires yet. Frankly, they put my teeth on edge whenever I hear a car with them drive by (especially in the summer!)

But it also means that the General and Firestone weren't included in the test because they were a different class of tire, yet when compared to studless tires they usually do as well or better, usually for cheaper.

Here in WI it's actually illegal to use them on the roads unless you are a mailman. My dad, who is a mailman, used studded tires for one season and was so scared of his increased breaking distances on dry pavement due to skidding he had them pulled off almost as soon as he had them put on.

If you have a hard pack all year round, studded tires are -awesome-. If you're on dry roads for 50% of the time I think they do more harm than good.

It's a bit of that, and a bit of paranoia ;) I'd rather know I've got a tire that is going to get me out of anything the winter can throw at me :)

Ah, I see. Good point :)

In deep snow, possibly. But on cold dry or wet roads (which snowy roads often become) they usually do much worse. That's why it's important to take into account what the roads will be like during the majority of the winter.