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I'm gonna slap some nokian snow tyres on my 84 rabbit this winter. Going with the nokian nordman because I'm on a budget and don't really need all that fancy stuff in the hakkas. Leaning toward studded but wanting to great pros/cons.

My biggest question is size. I'm guessing the stock size or similar for 13" rims will be the cheapest but if I go to a 14 or 15 rim the tyres could be used in other cars and/or have more clearance for upgraded brakes possibly making the bigger size a better bet over the long run.

Your thoughts?

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Welcome along

I'm assuming your from the USA?

Here in the UK we don't do winter tyres as such as we don't usually see temps much below freezing here in the winter and snow lasts days not weeks.

I'm sure some of your countrymen will be along to add their thoughts

Over here it's difficult to get 14 tyres in a range of tyres so most of us go with 15s.

Ian

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I drove my Diesel Rabbit/Golf in the Blizzards of the 80's in Illinois on nothing more than Michelin all Season Radials, I never got stuck spun out or the like.

I drove it over snow covered ice, didn't matter on interstates as well as country roads with high crowns.

I drove it from Decatur Il, to Chicago in a Blizzard behind a Big Rig, where I had to pull over and knock the ice off the headlights as I couldn't see squanto and knock the ice off the wipers as they weren't working well all iced up.  It took me over 8 hours for a 3.5 hour drive.

I Drove it on back county roads from Litchfield Illinois to Decatur as all the State Roads were closed because of snow… All on All Season Michelins.   The only time I ever had any issues with the tires and cold were in Omaha, Nebraska.  It went from 65 degrees to -20 in about 8 hours on Halloween eve. I had taken the diesel in added 2 gallons of Regular to the diesel and topped the tank off, and plugged it in… After shoveling 3 foot of snow drift off the driveway Starting the beastie, and letting it warm up to clean the wind screen.  I got in and put it in Reverse and it wouldn't budge.  Tried 1st wouldn't budge…. It had gotten so cold so fast that the dampness between the tires and the driveway froze those tires like driving in super glue…. I got boiling water to break them free and drove to work 5 miles @ -20F @ 55 with 1 -2 foot of snow.  Never needed any thing but my All Season Radials… Oh they postponed Halloween for 2 weeks till it got above 30F

My Best Friend tells the story of him and I driving my Rabbit in about 8 inches of snow, and there was a large Snow drift where we needed to turn off to, I gunned the thing and plowed the Drift, packed so much snow in the engine compartment the heater turned cold…. We opened the hood and you couldn't see the engine but for the snow….

Now that is the second reason why I don't live in the north no more.  The first is 6 months above Greenland.



 

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Briano1234 said

I drove my Diesel Rabbit/Golf in the Blizzards of the 80's in Illinois on nothing more than Michelin all Season Radials, I never got stuck spun out or the like.

I drove it over snow covered ice, didn't matter on interstates as well as country roads with high crowns.

I drove it from Decatur Il, to Chicago in a Blizzard behind a Big Rig, where I had to pull over and knock the ice off the headlights as I couldn't see squanto and knock the ice off the wipers as they weren't working well all iced up.  It took me over 8 hours for a 3.5 hour drive.

I Drove it on back county roads from Litchfield Illinois to Decatur as all the State Roads were closed because of snow… All on All Season Michelins.   The only time I ever had any issues with the tires and cold were in Omaha, Nebraska.  It went from 65 degrees to -20 in about 8 hours on Halloween eve. I had taken the diesel in added 2 gallons of Regular to the diesel and topped the tank off, and plugged it in… After shoveling 3 foot of snow drift off the driveway Starting the beastie, and letting it warm up to clean the wind screen.  I got in and put it in Reverse and it wouldn't budge.  Tried 1st wouldn't budge…. It had gotten so cold so fast that the dampness between the tires and the driveway froze those tires like driving in super glue…. I got boiling water to break them free and drove to work 5 miles @ -20F @ 55 with 1 -2 foot of snow.  Never needed any thing but my All Season Radials… Oh they postponed Halloween for 2 weeks till it got above 30F

My Best Friend tells the story of him and I driving my Rabbit in about 8 inches of snow, and there was a large Snow drift where we needed to turn off to, I gunned the thing and plowed the Drift, packed so much snow in the engine compartment the heater turned cold…. We opened the hood and you couldn't see the engine but for the snow….

Now that is the second reason why I don't live in the north no more.  The first is 6 months above Greenland.



 
Haha. Michelin all seasons tires are probably a lot better than the Cooper trendsetters on my rabbit. Last winter I tried to drive the rabbit to work on a skiff of snow and couldn't get the thing to start, stop, or turn. I ended up parking it until April and drove my 4x4 truck instead. Sadly, I sold the truck for parts this summer and have not replaced it yet. I like driving the rabbit in snow but it needs good tires.

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You might do better with radial chain sets for the front, they are easy to put on and to take off.  My daughter has a set and she only needs them when it snows like 6-8 inches or Ice and she lives in Oregon.

Studded tires can get you in more trouble, as you place too much confidence in them and over drive them.

Studded Tires when I lived in Illinois had to be changed out by either March1 or April1 so it was always a PITA.

On my Rover3500s I bought in Ohio, I had to Stop in Indiana to Change them over before driving in Illinois.

You can upgrade your rims to 14 by using a set off a Cabriolet.  I run 185/60 14's on my Cabbies, and I think IIRC on my Rabbit which was 155sr13 oem, I took them up to 175 or 185….

I ran a Set of Sears Road Handlers and really enjoyed them for 33K…

I then switched over to Michelins….Same tire more cost.

I have fond memories of being behind cars with rear wheel drive with studded tires on dry nights, and little sparks would fly off the tires…

When I drove my Daughter back to Portland, we got stuck in Salt Lake City with a 6inch dump of snow…. I went to Autozone and got a set of radial chains for her that she still has and uses them occasionally.

https://www.autozone.com/snow-chains/snow-tire-chain?filterByKeyWord=radial+snow+chains&fromString=search&isIgnoreVehicle=false


 

Last edit: by Briano1234


What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?
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