I've had the TS800's for 5 years and I'm really happy with them (continental says they're "tailor made" for these cars) But they came out around 12 years ago, and I've heard technology has gotten better. I'm considering vikingcontact tires but is there any reason NOT to go with them? Since they have won many awards and are actually a bit cheper too.
Need winter tires, do I get Continental vikingcontact or ts800?
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Personal preference, but I've always had fantastic performance with Bridgestone Blizzak's. Used them on my 451, and now on (the rear of) my 453.
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I have them on another car and wasn't a van. Very loud and the grip seemed worse
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Bridgestone Blizzaks WS80s (on sale at TireRack) or WS90s. Rated among the best.
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In what way did the grip seem worse? On my 451, I've driven on roads that were a sheet of ice with no problem at all.
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Yokohama ICEGUARD IG20 175/60R15
Maybe try four Yokohama ICEGUARD IG20 175/60R15 tires. You can fit them to the standard 4.5J front rims and 5.5J rear rims. There's no need to use four rear rims unless you want to.
175/60R15 fit 4.5J and 5.5J rims as well as 185/55R15 fit 5J and 6J rims, which was a standard fitment on the Smart Roadster 452.
The outside diameter of the tires is slightly bigger than standard, so you will get 12mm extra ground clearance on the front and 8.75mm extra ground clearance on the back compared to the standard 155/60R15 front and 175/55R15 rear tires.
Maybe try four Yokohama ICEGUARD IG20 175/60R15 tires. You can fit them to the standard 4.5J front rims and 5.5J rear rims. There's no need to use four rear rims unless you want to.
175/60R15 fit 4.5J and 5.5J rims as well as 185/55R15 fit 5J and 6J rims, which was a standard fitment on the Smart Roadster 452.
The outside diameter of the tires is slightly bigger than standard, so you will get 12mm extra ground clearance on the front and 8.75mm extra ground clearance on the back compared to the standard 155/60R15 front and 175/55R15 rear tires.
back end would kick out on my other car on corners, never had that happen with contis
Got these new local just before last winter and been very happy with them.
How's the road noise?
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Review of Continental TS800s from TireRack:
Vehicle:
2014 smart fortwo passion coupe
Not Rated
February 04, 2015
Horrible Horrible Horrible HORRIBLE.
Don't waste your money. We only bought these as they were the only tires available for the Smart car.
My son slid - SLID - off the road doing less than 20 mph on a FLAT Surface!!
He got stuck in a Cleaned, snowpacked driveway.
If I could I would return these as they are no better than the all-season's we removed.
DO NOT BUY
The Continental VikingContact7s seem to have better reviews, and are cheaper.
Myself, I've got 3 smarts - 2009 Passion, 2015 Pure, and 2015 Brabus.
I've got a set of 185/55R15 Bridgestone Blizzak WS90s, a set of 175/65R15 Bridgestone Blizzak WS80s, and if things ever get really crazy, a set of 185/60R15 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 Studded Winter Tires.
The Blizzaks are among the top rated, from what I've seen. The 90s are supposed to have better tread life than the 80s, but wet/snow/ice performance looks comparable, and the 80s are cheaper. I haven't had a chance to really test any of mine yet, as we had no appreciable snow last year.
Keep in mind that winter tires have cold weather rubber formulations that summer tires don't have, and that all-seasons have to a lesser extent. The one notable exception seems to Vredestein's Quatrac 5 Grand Touring All-Season tire, which is severe snow rated. I suspect that a lot of winter accidents are attributable to inappropriate tires.
Vehicle:
2014 smart fortwo passion coupe
Not Rated
- Miles Driven on Tires:
50
Location:
GALENA, IL - Driving Condition:
Mostly City
Driving Style:
Average
February 04, 2015
Horrible Horrible Horrible HORRIBLE.
Don't waste your money. We only bought these as they were the only tires available for the Smart car.
My son slid - SLID - off the road doing less than 20 mph on a FLAT Surface!!
He got stuck in a Cleaned, snowpacked driveway.
If I could I would return these as they are no better than the all-season's we removed.
DO NOT BUY
The Continental VikingContact7s seem to have better reviews, and are cheaper.
Myself, I've got 3 smarts - 2009 Passion, 2015 Pure, and 2015 Brabus.
I've got a set of 185/55R15 Bridgestone Blizzak WS90s, a set of 175/65R15 Bridgestone Blizzak WS80s, and if things ever get really crazy, a set of 185/60R15 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 Studded Winter Tires.
The Blizzaks are among the top rated, from what I've seen. The 90s are supposed to have better tread life than the 80s, but wet/snow/ice performance looks comparable, and the 80s are cheaper. I haven't had a chance to really test any of mine yet, as we had no appreciable snow last year.
Keep in mind that winter tires have cold weather rubber formulations that summer tires don't have, and that all-seasons have to a lesser extent. The one notable exception seems to Vredestein's Quatrac 5 Grand Touring All-Season tire, which is severe snow rated. I suspect that a lot of winter accidents are attributable to inappropriate tires.
Didn't notice any difference from the old origional 2008 Blizzaks, but I don't hear as well anymore and I'm more concerned about traction than sound. I did leave them on all summer and they seem to be wearing well.
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For winter, I'm a big fan of Nokians:
Four 'All Weather' 185/55/15 Nokian WR G4s (never have to change tires in the winter).
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On the cars that have separate Summer and Winter wheel sets, my choice is four narrower, studless Nokian 165/60/15 Hakkapeliitta R3s (quieter than the stock all season Conti's....)
Four 'All Weather' 185/55/15 Nokian WR G4s (never have to change tires in the winter).
On the cars that have separate Summer and Winter wheel sets, my choice is four narrower, studless Nokian 165/60/15 Hakkapeliitta R3s (quieter than the stock all season Conti's....)
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You could not pay me to run another set of Continentals. Maybe I'm unlucky but they always wear out so fast.
Like @Mailman I run Nokian Hakkapeliittas in the winter.
My favourite winter tire is the Firestone Winterforce 1. These are loved in parts of the autocross community because they're snow tires that are so hardcore that they're good in dirt and mud, too. But the Winterforce 1 has been discontinued so you're pretty much only going to find them second hand.
Like @Mailman I run Nokian Hakkapeliittas in the winter.
My favourite winter tire is the Firestone Winterforce 1. These are loved in parts of the autocross community because they're snow tires that are so hardcore that they're good in dirt and mud, too. But the Winterforce 1 has been discontinued so you're pretty much only going to find them second hand.
2009 451 Rally Red, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40, Wix XP 51356, 185/55R15 tires, 44 psl
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The Vredestein Quadrac 5's are snow rated, and this would save you having to swap tires each season...
OK, folks, I need some advice. The Contis suck, IMO. I had them only when I could no longer get Blizzaks and Oh My, do I miss my Blizzaks.
So, here's the question: I have a 2013 451 in the US. I want to buy Blizzaks and I'm willing to buy junkyard rims to mount them so I don't need to have them mounted every spring and fall. Oh, I'm lousy with understanding this size rim will mount this size tire.
So, spell it out for me: What size rim and tire for the front and what size rim and tire for the rear? And thanks in advance.
So, here's the question: I have a 2013 451 in the US. I want to buy Blizzaks and I'm willing to buy junkyard rims to mount them so I don't need to have them mounted every spring and fall. Oh, I'm lousy with understanding this size rim will mount this size tire.
So, spell it out for me: What size rim and tire for the front and what size rim and tire for the rear? And thanks in advance.
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227 Posts
wdsmguy wrote: "So, spell it out for me: What size rim and tire for the front and what size rim and tire for the rear? And thanks in advance. "
With these smart cars, I always start with the tire and work backwards to the required rim size.
A 23" diameter tire is the stock size.
And you 'want' Blizzaks; well the only Blizzak at 23" is the WS90 in 185/55/15.
To fit four of these, you would need 4 Rear smart rims, 5.5" wide since tire places mount winter tires in sets of four.
$380, plus mount and balance and tpms if you have them.
My personal preference for winter tires is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 at 22.9" in 165/60/15.
$436, but you don't have to buy any junkyard rims; they will mount right up to stock rims.
Running a winter tire year round is perfectly fine in a smart; it's not like it has a lot of power and doesn't need a performance low profile tire to drift...
With these smart cars, I always start with the tire and work backwards to the required rim size.
A 23" diameter tire is the stock size.
And you 'want' Blizzaks; well the only Blizzak at 23" is the WS90 in 185/55/15.
To fit four of these, you would need 4 Rear smart rims, 5.5" wide since tire places mount winter tires in sets of four.
$380, plus mount and balance and tpms if you have them.
My personal preference for winter tires is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 at 22.9" in 165/60/15.
$436, but you don't have to buy any junkyard rims; they will mount right up to stock rims.
Running a winter tire year round is perfectly fine in a smart; it's not like it has a lot of power and doesn't need a performance low profile tire to drift...
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603 Posts
It seems like the only thing going for the Continentals is that they are the OEM tires, available in both front and rear sizes. Their performance ratings are awful. They hold the car up, and allow it to roll, but that's about it. You'd have to look hard to find a tire with poorer ratings.
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I have continentals on a couple of my small cars. They get really noisy around 30k miles. Since their pretty cheap, to replace. I keep on buying them. There good for all weather driving. Dry, wet, and snow. I wish there were more tire brand offerings, It’s a niche car, that been discounted here. That will never happen.
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