Nokian Vatiiva Tires...?

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:14 pm

It turns out, the day I had the tires mounted we got our first major snow storm of the season so I was able to test out the Nokians sooner than expected! WOW! These tires ROCK! I had them mounted on Thursday and ended up driving home in snow and crappy roads, but I never felt out of control. On wet and dry pavement they feel like gecko feet gripping at the road. Today I drove to work and the roads were completely covered again after our second major storm; so much so that the plows couldn't keep up. Again, the tires were gripping like claws in and out of 4Hi. The ultimate test was my driveway, which is about as steep as a ski slope. With my old Firestone Destinations, I would slip and slide in 4Hi wiggling my way up the driveway if there was any more than 5 inches of snow. With my Nokians I was able to get up it in 2 wheel drive - 3 times in a row! Needless to say, I am more than impressed with these tires! I may never buy another brand, provided they live up to their 60,000 mile warranty.

Pote · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:09 am

SavageUrge wrote:

It turns out, the day I had the tires mounted we got our first major snow storm of the season so I was able to test out the Nokians sooner than expected! WOW! These tires ROCK! I had them mounted on Thursday and ended up driving home in snow and crappy roads, but I never felt out of control. On wet and dry pavement they feel like gecko feet gripping at the road. Today I drove to work and the roads were completely covered again after our second major storm; so much so that the plows couldn't keep up. Again, the tires were gripping like claws in and out of 4Hi. The ultimate test was my driveway, which is about as steep as a ski slope. With my old Firestone Destinations, I would slip and slide in 4Hi wiggling my way up the driveway if there was any more than 5 inches of snow. With my Nokians I was able to get up it in 2 wheel drive - 3 times in a row! Needless to say, I am more than impressed with these tires! I may never buy another brand, provided they live up to their 60,000 mile warranty.

Savage...I knew it!!! They do rock dont they? That was one of the stories my tire guy relayed to me also. While they grip everywhere he could take them he had the same test in his neighborhood. He had a hill that led up to his driveway. He would slip slide and wiggle up that road anytime it was snowy in 4x4 with other tires. He got the Vatiiva AT's and said the same exact thing. That first day, he 2W up that hill 4 or 5 times without ever having to go into 4x4. No matter how many times he tried, going slow; going fast: no matter, he crawled up that slippery slope in 2WD no problems and couldn't believe it. I drove home an hour last night in white out conditions. Never a slip, never a loss of traction. I too love these. They do everything they tout and then some. I think they might be the best all around AT on the market...for snow, wet, ice....they might be the best ever, period.

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

I think 16s perform better than 17s, for some reason, maybe? Mine are OK, but they still slip and slide here and there.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:06 pm

These tires were definitely one of the best purchases I have made for the Jeep so far. I recommend these to everyone! Yesterday, I got plowed into my parking spot at work. At the end of a 12 hour shift with freezing temps and more snow all day and huge mounds of heavily packed snow surrounding the Jeep, I pulled out of my spot effortlessly. I reached down to take it out of 4WD, when I realised I was in 2WD!

I LOVE these tires!With a little research online, you'll find that Nokian holds more patents on tires than any other tire manufacturer. In a country where it snows 6 months out of the year, they've got to know a thing or two about tires! Take a look at http://www.nokiantires.com and check out their M/T! Wow, what a beast!

Pote · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:23 pm

awesome!!! I'll second EVERYTHING you said again...I like this little page on their website...what a killer testing ground!

http://nokiantires.com/en/dna.aspx

you have to read a bit of literature in various locations about their testing, but their tires crush just about everything out there bar none for stopping, cornering, speed, maneuverability, steep grades, etc for bad weather conditions. couple that with a AT design for offroading and you might just have THE perfect tire. Now throw in the fact that these big beefy tires are almost 15 pounds lighter PER TIRE than KO's or Grabbers...thats an extra 75 pounds of weight savings for 5 of these tires over using those ....and the biggest thing for me??? 100% Hakka siping in an incredible multi-compound rubber that does not get hard in subzero conditions...they just get grippier in the cold...can't say that about most rubber on most tires...most get downright hard when it gets cold which means lots of slipping and sliding. Annnnd, those with adequate siping will find that in their 2nd and 3rd year of driving, after the treads have worn past 50%, that they have NO siping left!!! Yikes!! to me...that's a scam by the other tire makers... they give you grippy siping the first year, then wear away any traction by the second or third year...not for me thank you...I like paying for a tire that stays grippy with siping throught the ENTIRE life of the tire. not one that's only good for 50% treadwear. It's just a fact of the siping world.

crazy canuck · **Joined:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:34 pm **Posts:** 2

1 month and a half later and not a single problem. We have had a major snow storm and several smaller weather problems and I felt like I could go almost anywhere. I went out in the major snow storm without a single hickup, drove around cars that were stuck and had people looking as I drove through almost impassible streets. I guess time will tell, but as of right now I love these tires.

Nokian Vatiiva Tires...?

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