Help me pick some snow tires for my 82 911 with 15x7 wheels

[QueWhy]

I'm looking to pickup a set of 15"x7" cookie cutters and getting some snow tires to go with. I figure a couple feet of snow is no excuse for me not to drive my favorite car.

I'm looking at the Nokia Norman 5 studded (tire info here) for less than $400 shipped. It looks like 205/60r15 is a good size for this wheel and will have no problem with rubbing with the SC flares.

Is there something else I should be looking at? What about size? Can a narrower tire be fitted on the cookie cutters?

Thanks for the help.

[DanielDudley]

If you like studs, and will drive on ice, get those. Nokia makes good snow tires.

[darrin]

What's your intended use? I run Nokian WRg2 tires on my daily driver '86 targa here in denver. They handle the snow we get here surprisingly well, but are also very competent tires in the dry weather they mostly see -- Not going to come anywhere near the ice traction that studded tires provide, but leaves me FAR more comfortable than ordinary all season tires. Nokian has replaced these with the wrg3 -- see https://www.nokiantires.com/all-weather-tires/nokian-wrg3/

[QueWhy]

Originally Posted by darrin

What's your intended use? I run Nokian WRg2 tires on my daily driver '86 targa here in denver. They handle the snow we get here surprisingly well, but are also very competent tires in the dry weather they mostly see -- Not going to come anywhere near the ice traction that studded tires provide, but leaves me FAR more comfortable than ordinary all season tires. Nokian has replaced these with the wrg3 -- see https://www.nokiantires.com/all-weather-tires/nokian-wrg3/

I don't need to drive it everyday but I prefer to drive it when I can and would like to take it up skiing on days when more ground clearance isn't needed. We get a lot of snow where I live but they don't salt the roads and rarely plow anything but the highway. Variable road conditions with plenty of ice. I've always used studded tires and have no problem giving up performance in the dry.

I guess I'll order up these tires. Now I just need to find a ski rack...

[Arne2]

I'd consider going with 195/65-15 instead. A touch taller for better ground clearance, and a bit narrower for better traction. Will still fit your 7" wheels.

[Jesse16]

Agreed to go narrower/smaller rim (if possible) always the way to go for snow tires. While I don't use snow tires on my P-car as my mountain county uses salt to excess, my Subaru and VW both have separate snow tire/wheel combos that I put on and both are narrower/smaller wheel than the summers. VW runs a 2" smaller rim, and both are monsters in snow. Got General Altimax Artic (german mfg.) on the sube and Goodyear somethings on the VW. The Altimax's are more aggressively treaded and louder but they can really dig in. The VW being FWD will never climb hills like the sube but its much safer driving around and fine headed downhill. The Altimax's are highly rated and cheap on Tire-Rack. Studs are optional on the Alti's, I don't have. They do come in your sizes.

[3literpwr]

I've rally raced on many snow tires and Nokian is my only choice.

[QueWhy]

Thanks for the help guys! I wend with the Nokian Norman 5 tires in 195/65r15 all 4 for about $350 shipped seemed fairly painless.

Now I'm just waiting for a shipping quote on a set of cookie cutters from a guy in Seattle. If that doesn't work out there are some in the classified section that I can get for less than $100 each shipped.

[rywats]

Do they make hankook I pikes in that size? Highly recommend them.

[suckho]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 is the latest and the best version. Nokian Nordman 5 is basically Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 from few years back now manufactured in Russia. Not sure if all Hakkapeliittas are still made in Finland nowadays (or if there is any difference)..

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by Arne2

I'd consider going with 195/65-15 instead. A touch taller for better ground clearance, and a bit narrower for better traction. Will still fit your 7" wheels.

+1 This gets to the heart of what you need for snow.
The most important attribute is narrow to increase the lbs per sq inch so it "cuts" down to the hard surface below the softer snow above. Next important is the tread, and finally the compound. You want to run the pressure on the high side to reduce compliance (just like in rain).

Studs are very overrated as they only add something on glare ice at speeds under 30 MPH. Learning to not slip your tires and to look for unpolished areas to drive on will serve you much better then studs.
(Grew up in Alaska and we never paid extra for studs. It just damages the roads.(Hello Oregon!))

AND!
In an automatic transmission car when stopping at below 10 mph on very slick surfaces put it in neutral. The transmission is still pulling the car forward and you will lock the undriven wheels while the drive wheels are pulling you forward.
(Not much use in a 911 with a stick...)

[Tremelune]

Just remember that while these things go great in the snow, they don't stop or turn particularly well. Very easy to out drive the front tires compared to something like an M3.

[QueWhy]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

+1 This gets to the heart of what you need for snow.
The most important attribute is narrow to increase the lbs per sq inch so it "cuts" down to the hard surface below the softer snow above. Next important is the tread, and finally the compound. You want to run the pressure on the high side to reduce compliance (just like in rain).

Studs are very overrated as they only add something on glare ice at speeds under 30 MPH. Learning to not slip your tires and to look for unpolished areas to drive on will serve you much better then studs.
(Grew up in Alaska and we never paid extra for studs. It just damages the roads.(Hello Oregon!))

AND!
In an automatic transmission car when stopping at below 10 mph on very slick surfaces put it in neutral. The transmission is still pulling the car forward and you will lock the undriven wheels while the drive wheels are pulling you forward.
(Not much use in a 911 with a stick...)

I know narrower is better for snow but I wasn't sure what would fit best on the 15x7" cookie cutter wheels. I went ahead and ordered the 195/65s, I'm sure they will do great.

Say what you want about studs but I've driven the same vehicles with and without studded winter tires and found the studs were way better in the situation you described. Think single lane road leaving a ski resort, tons of cars creeping along at low speeds polishing the snow into a hockey rink, add some afternoon sun and it gets slick. I don't mind some extra road noise and giving up performance in the dry, I have other tires for that.

I don't give a damn about the roads, we have plenty of tax revenue that can pay for repairs. The local .gov tried to hold our feet to the fire and impose a new gas tax saying it was the only way to pay for the roads, once it got voted down they stomped their feet and then fixed the roads anyway.