I think I found my next of winter tires for next winter, that is if the Hankook name still means good value.

http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/tire_detail.asp?pid=84

Those look good. Higher tech but still studded. It's about time for a new set on my car; I may be trying these, too. With luck, they will be quieter than the W404's.

Thanks for the post.

Agreed, they do look good, and they may turn out to be quieter than the 404's.

If inexpensive, they may be on one of the Subarus next winter.

But summer's coming! Summer tires! ;)

Good find! I currently have the W404s and quite impress with the durability. W404s might make it for its 4th winter... The Winter IPike W409 has an almost similar tread pattern as the Hakkapeliitta 2.

I think I drive to hard. I don't think my W404's will make it next season..
BTW this was my first season with them.

The Winter IPike W409 has an almost similar tread pattern as the Hakkapeliitta 2.

That's exactly what I was thinking! Yep, mine are on their 3rd winter (with many more to go). They are really holding up well.

I bumped this thread because the more recent winter tire thread was a bit fiesty. ;)

Looks like we'll be looking at the W409's for the Fit, the W404's are gone, and the W401's don't have the right size. I'll have to keep my eyes open for fall tire sales, and maybe stop by Conti Honda and see if they're going to stock the W409's. Hopefully take advantage of that SCCA discount.

I like the look of the W409's. My W404's have gone through 2 winters and still look pretty good. One broken stud, the rest look decent. I touched up the paint job on the rims, so my car is ready for winter.

Sucks that I'm thinking winter already. :(

I'll be gettting W409's, too. Unfortunately the SCCA discount only applies to selected DOT competition tires :(

D'oh! Thanks for the heads-up.

I got these 215/45/17 for my sti:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS-50&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=145R7BZWS50&fromCompare1=yes&place=3

-Jay

I got these 215/45/17 for my sti:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS-50&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=145R7BZWS50&fromCompare1=yes&place=3

-Jay

I would have went with 205/50R17 for the Blizzak route.

I got these 215/45/17 for my sti:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS-50&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=145R7BZWS50&fromCompare1=yes&place=3

-Jay

Jake, Good deal in the Classifieds.... Latest post.....http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=706271&page=2

hakka 3's are available in other countries, maybe they will be realeasd here soon as well.

Oooh. I'm all for good deals!

Agreed, they do look good, and they may turn out to be quieter than the 404's.


We got these put on the Fit on Saturday, and I'd say they're about as loud as the old 404's are. When I put my winter tires on, I'll be able to compare better, but they seem to have the same noise levels as the older Hankooks.

Of course, by getting studs on early, we've probably condemned Anchorage to a wet, 40 degree winter.;)

akoutback mentioned to me last week that they are pretty loud. I've got mine mounted up on my OEM wheels and just waiting for the first significant blanketing of white or put them on late Oct whichever comes first.
I'm curious how much traction they'll generate on the snow compared to the old W404's.

I hate the huge noise of the 404s I have on. But after 8 winters on nearly silent all seasons I should have known.

I tryed to "test" them at hatcher pass but the foot deep slush was thrown aside so easily It didnt seem that fair a test. Seem to pick up a huge amount of pea gravel but manage snow and water wonderfully.

i think the 409's might actually be louder then the 404's, just so you all know... :D

I didn't realise they were suppose to be quiet. I mean you'll rip your hand open running it across the tire tread. Those studs stick out.

I guess I was hoping that the center portion of the tread would make them quieter than the 404's. Yes, the studs are loud on the 409's, but you still get the winter tire whirr noise at speed, which I account to tread noise.

The noise is annoying, but the 404's have been great for me, and I expect the 409's to perform the same. I'll sacrifice noise levels for safety. Especially for a California-born cellphone-addicted driver who loves her car.

Been running the tires bout a week now (the 409). Thats probably why the weather warmed up. I have had experience with the BFgoodrich winter slaloms as my previous winter tire. All I can say is these things are VERY LOUD, eveyone keeps saying "its stud noise", nope not correct it is a lug noise like running a mud tire on a truck. The wet weather traction is crap to. makes you feel like you are on ice when driving on wet roads. (yes some of this could be because of the studs). I am just hoping the tires redeem themselves in the snow, because right now I can't stand them and wish I would of spent my $$ on a different brand.
225/55R17 409 I-pike
on 06 OBXT man. trans.

If this winter is as warm as some people are suggesting, maybe the 409 will prove to be a good slush tire.:p

We decided to put the tires on now because we wanted to beat the rush, and also because she didn't want to get caught without them after the first snowfall. Now it's balmy out there, and she's miffed we did it so soon. You can't win.:lol:

They should be great on snow and ice. Soon enough.

I'd be getting a set of these, but, I can't afford a brand new set of tires. I'm trying to find a good deal on a used(or cheap new) set of rims and tires. That way I don't have to buy Auto-X rims in spring--although I probably will anyway. :D

*Minimaul nudges Winslow....Still got those tires/rims?

What size do you need? There are some in the for-sale thread.

What size do you need? There are some in the for-sale thread.


5x100 bolt pattern, 17" rims by, um, 7" i think.

are they that loud? I was about to place an order until I came across this thread...

are they that loud? I was about to place an order until I came across this thread...

What part of NY are you from? (I'm from Buffalo originally)

I drove on these tires last night, on dry pavement because we still don't have snow. Yes, they're loud. Part of that is the studs, which I'd guess you wouldn't have. Part is the aggressive tread. If I was in Buffalo, where they use a lot of salt and do a decent job of plowing streets, these tires would be overkill. If you're more rural, and a winter tire is needed, these would be good, but you'll have some decent tread noise. What other winter tires have you had?