Other good choices
According to the experts consulted, there are other good products on the market, at varying costs. Among these are Cooper with its Evolution Winter or True North, Hankook with its winter-approved Kinergy 4S and I*Pike, Kumho with its studdable Wintercraft Ice Wi31, Falken with its Eurowinter HS449 (Falken belongs to the Japanese group Sumitomo) and even Nexxen WinGuard (a South Korean brand with factories in China).
One of the lesser known but very recommendable brands is still GT Radial with its Ice Pro 3 which, despite its reasonable price, surprises many people with its effectiveness. Of Indonesian origin, the company even has factories in South Carolina.
Chinese tires!
Finally, there’s still the thorny subject of Chinese tires. Of course, these continue to be the target of some criticism but the fact is several brands are beginning to show signs of delivering higher-grade products. After all, several large, well-known manufacturers now have factories in China.
For the moment, we’re receiving encouraging feedback on the Minerva, Sailun (which we will be testing this winter), Goodride and Westlake brands. The prices are very attractive, but the quality remains uneven. Beware as well of some private labels that may come from Chinese factories (which together manufacture more than 65 million tires a year, distributed around the world). Try to get the origin of these tires carrying names that are sometimes... unusual!
Most of the common tires mentioned here have been observed while they were mounted on private cars or press vehicles. However, always keep in mind that a winter tire is a compromise. A tire with an aggressive tread design can be very effective in deep snow on a road leading to the cottage but may not perform as well on icy roads. The opposite is also possible. And don't rely on the fact that you're driving an all-wheel drive car to get you out on the road in winter. More than anything, the tires are what will impact handling in curves and braking power!
(Advice and information from the manufacturers, tests on closed circuits, personal notes and the help of Stéphane Parenteau of Pneus Premier Choix in Laval, Quebec, as well as Marc Racine of Groupe Touchette).
