+1 on the Hakkas. Have them on our X3 and my son's subby. Great winter tire, has become my go to if they have the size. We are up in Huntsville a lot during the winter though, so the snow and ice performance is important. Didn't notice any floating, but I don't try to drive them like a summer tire.

 

Where is the best place to get Nokian in the GTA ?

 

Gregster - maybe I was a little aggressive on my dates. I’m just suggesting you know the date before you buy and pay.
I'm fine with an 18 month old tire. 50 months, I’de be upset, when I got home and checked the next day.
Snow on the ground in Singhampton this afternoon. It’s getting chilly 🥶

 

I'm getting a set of Conti vikings for my wife's Q5 next week from tires 23. really good shop with great prices and excellent tire changing equipment. They work on high end German cars regularly.

 

Yeah we love Hakkas too! Had R3s on our previous X5d, and now another set on our new XC90. Best winter tires by far.

 

Nah non-issue taken. I've returned stuff with 18/17 dates.

 

Viking Contact 7 are up there with Nokians IMO. Great tire.

 

I put a set of the Conti Viking Contact 7's on my girlfriend's Lexus last year. They were great in the snow (we live in Barrie) and the they were quieter than her Michelin AS3+ that we use in the summer.

I just put them on my Q5 yesterday. Drove it to Markham and they were very quiet. Hope that it will be a while to see how they are in the snow on the Q5.

 

Ah Barrie. Lake Simcoe Monaco

 

 

I concur on the Nokians, and I have them on all my cars. On my Targa4S 2009 in the first years I was running Sotto on 18 in.
I was never happy with them. Switch to Hakka 9 on 19 in and they have been great. A bit soft on hot tarmac, but I prefer the snow performance over it. Being in Quebec City it matters with the amount of snow we get. But I will be due for some new ones eventually and I cannot get my size in 19 in anymore...
After 10 winters my Targa is holding up ok. Sure a lot more wear and tear than my Boxster S 2004 that I store in winter (no traction whatsoever in my winters) but I will just repair what has to be repaired and continue my winter driving as it is actually a blast to drive in winter. I think I actually do more km in winter than summer with it as my Boxster and GT4 are stored in the winter and I used them more in the summer than my Targa. And the Targa roof is so nice to take some sun in the winter. :-)

 

There are lots of options in Hakka R3 for 19. Largest is a 275/35/19 which will work on the rear 11inch rim. 11.5 should be fine as well, very small stretch. You might have to play around with sizing but it will work

 

Just an update to this! I ordered the Nokians Hakka R3s and they turned out to be completely the wrong size. I got 235/40/18 front and 255/45/18 rear. The rears had a huge sidewall. Worried about the diameter difference negatively affecting my AWD diff, I ended up getting a set of Michelin Pilot Alpins PA4s in the correct sizes 235/40/18 and 265/40/18. So far they’ve been great in the dry, I’m heading up north tomorrow so I’ll see how they are in some snow!

 

To me, sporty winter tires are all seasons with better marketing.

I have Nokians and love them. But I've also had Wanli's on an sti, and they were fine. So take my opinion with a grain of salt.