Gold Star Award to Cooper Weather-Master S/T2 Winter Tires

Now that we have snow covered roads and temperatures at or below zero degrees, ON is officially into winter driving season. All over Toronto GTA area, as well as other areas in the province, tire shops are flat out busy trying to keep up with tire changeovers from all-seasons to winter tires.

It’s time to remind those who are still shopping for winter tires to take a good look at the Cooper winter tire lineup. I’d like to focus in this post on the Cooper Weather-Master S/T2 which has been a regular staple of ON motorists for more than twenty years. As far as aftermarket winter tires are concerned, it is possible that over the last twenty years or so, more Cooper Weather-Master S/T2 tires have been sold than many other single winter tire design.

I have personally had the Weather-Master S/T2 tires on one of my own vehicles for at least three winter seasons, maybe four, and they performed extremely well each season and provided lots of miles of wear. Cooper advertises their Weather-Master S/T2 as a winter weather performance tire for drivers of coupes, sedans, minivans, crossovers and smaller SUV's. Cooper has utilized their exclusive Snow Groove Design Technology on the S/T2 and has designed for it a computer-optimized tread pitch sequence which reduces any tread noise and increases the ride comfort characteristics of the tire.

This tire has a reputation for delivering outstanding traction and handling on snow and ice as well as in other cold weather conditions. It is a studdable tire which increases its performance on ice when studs are installed. Unique tire polymers also provide superior traction on wet or dry road surfaces.

Notre Dame Tire has awarded this tire the Gold Star Award for Value since the S/T2 performs like a much more expensive winter tire yet can be purchased at a bargain on our website.

Here's how one tire review summed up the Weather-Master S/T2:

• Excellent grip and traction on dry, wet, snow and slush
• Responsive steering
• Above average brake performance
• Long lasting treadlife
• Lower price makes for an excellent value

Overall Thoughts
The Weather Master is underrated among some of the bigger name winter tires. Its performance in deep snow, slush, rain and even on cold dry pavement is on par with the winter tires from Bridgestone, Michelin and others. Steering is very responsive and the ride is good as well.

The tire is studdable, so for drivers who live in an area that sees a lot of snow and ice, you have the option of adding studs. The one area we would like to see improved upon is added grip on ice. Overall, the performance, long lasting treadlife and lower price make this an outstanding value among any winter tire brand.

Winter Tires versus All Season Tires for ON Motorists

It's surprising to find that many drivers in our province still do not act upon the best science in regard to the type of tires they use during winter months. Perhaps it's because of cost that some NL motorists stick with their all-season tires throughout the winter months as well. Or perhaps they find it is just too much of a hassle to get their tires changed over twice a year.

However, these drivers could be making a very big mistake. In terms of safety and general driving control, winter tires far surpass the all-season tires when temperatures go below 7 degrees Celsius.

All legitimate winter tires carry the snowflake symbol and mountain graphic. All-season tires might have the designation M+S, meaning “Mud + Snow” but that designation is somewhat misleading when it comes to the kind of winter conditions which we find anywhere in our province, including GTA Toronto. All-season tires are fine for occasional snow in areas where snow is an unusual or rare event. We all know that in general Ontario does not fall into that category from October through April.

Keep in mind that the typical passenger tire has approximately the same amount of tread contact with the road as a pair of adult feet so when there is snow or ice on the ground you had better be sure that your tires are well matched to what comes in contact with them. That means you really need a winter tire for maximum safety and driving control. In fact, those who actually make it through a full winter season in ON driving on all-season tires without a close call are either very lucky people or their car has been stored in the garage all winter.

As the above video produced by Continental Tires indicates, even the lower winter temperatures, aside from actual snow and ice on the road, makes it very difficult for all-season tires to offer you the kind of safety you'd be expecting on the road.

Giti Tire Produces YouTube Video to Tell Story and to Promote Products

Giti Tire is promoting itself by means of a three minute video on YouTube. This video provides details on the brand's history as well as the types and range of tires which it sells in North America.

Giti Tire produces the GT Radial tire line and these tires are available in the province of Ontario.

These tires are very reasonably priced and make a great alternative to the more expensive top tier tire manufacturer lines like Michelin, Goodyear and Bridgestone.

2012 Tire Brand Study Will Help ON Motorists Shop for Tires

Whether you are a motorist living in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax or Pickereing or elsewhere in ON, understanding the availability and ratings of tire brands will definitely make you wiser in your shopping when it comes time for you to buy tires.

In a recent study of North American tire dealers, staff were asked to rate the performance of the tire brands they regularly stock and sell. Take note that no consumers or end users were interviewed about their opinions. Also, the study did not involve any actual testing of tires.

The study analyzed only dealer attitudes and opinions about the various brands they sold to their customers. In fact, those who participated had no opportunity to even rate brands which they did not sell so it makes for an interesting poll. There were 2,00 telephone surveys completed and serious attempts were made to get a representative sampling from all over North America.

Take a look at the study and hopefully it will help to educate you on tire brands.

Click here to see the 2012 Tire Brand Study

Conti PureContact is Continental’s New Luxury Performance All-Season Replacement Tire

The new Continental PureContact has a full package of features which includes patented technologies such as EcoPlus, Comfort Ride and Tuned Performance Indicator. These features are said to “help drivers save money, be kind to the environment, and arrive to their destinations safely.” In addition to these new innovations the PureContact offers great selling points for NL motorists from St. John’s to Port-aux-Basques, specifically an enhanced snow grip, expanded warranty, luxury styling and more.

The unique EcoPlus compoun­ding is made up of special polymers responsive to varying temperatures as well as a compound termed si­lane which extends tread life, contributes to superior wet braking and all round wet grip. As a final bonus, EcoPlus also improves low rolling resistance.

Tuned Performance Indicators are the letters “D,” “W” and “S” molded into the tire’s tread at different depths. As tread wears and tread depth decreases the letters that are remain visible provide the owner with a good picture of indicate the tire’s optimal level of performance in conditions of dry, wet and snow, respectively.

PureContact’s Com­fort Ride innovation constructs the tire in order to ab­sorb vibrations from the surface of the road and thus it makes for a smoother ride. Tread blocks in the tire are also chamfered, resulting in better braking and lateral grip on dry surfaces while engineered traction grooves are designed to improve snow grip, which should be a plus for NL drivers who decide to push the limit and drive with all-season tires throughout the year (not recommended!).

Continental Tire summarizes the tire as “a skillful balance of luxury and all-season performance designed for long wear, a comfortable ride, and best-in-class wet braking.

The PureContact will be available  in 27 H- and V-speed-rated sizes (UTQG rating of 700AA) ranging from 15- to 18-inch wheel diameters, and is due to hit dealer stores in Canada in the Spring of 2013. The Pure­Contact comes with a 60-day customer satisfaction trial and a 70,000-mile or 72-month limited warranty program.

Continental is targeting the owners of 2007 and newer luxury performance vehicles who are looking for a replacement tire with competitive price but with better performance than the OE tire. These owners typically have vehicles that came new with Michelin, Bridgestone or Goodyear tires. Potential buyers for these tires in our province of NL would be owners of Lexus, Cadillac, Infiniti, Buick, Lin­coln, Acura, Toyota, Volvo, and Hyundai.

The PureContact tire is manufactured in Mt. Vernon, Illinois as well as in Mexico. 

Hankook Tire "Be One With It"

Hankook Tire Co. is rolling out its new global TV commercial effort under its "Be One With It" tagline.

“To communicate Hankook’s edge over its competitors, the TV ad illustrates a very dynamic and aesthetic set of sequences with beautiful cinematography and cross-cutting between both the driver and the boarder barreling through the wintry landscape,” the tiremaker said. “Resembling that of a spy movie, the spot was filmed in the snowy mountains in New Zealand at an altitude of almost 4,000 feet.”

 “Since the first launch of our Be One with It campaign in May 2011, we received tremendous commendation from our fans around the world,” said Se Heon Kim, Hankook’s vice president of brand division. “The new winter edition once again seamlessly associates with the Hankook brand by not only symbolizing flawless performance in the most extreme driving conditions, but also illustrating the best driving performance out of our tires without compromising precise control in the most extreme winter road conditions.”

New Falken Ziex S/TZ05 Tire Previewed at SEMA

Falken Tire announced at the Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show that it will introduce the latest generation of its all-season performance tire for luxury SUVs and light trucks, the Ziex S/TZ05, on Dec. 3.

The tire, which comes with a 50,000-mile warranty, features the latest in tread compound and construction technology designed specifically for SUV and half-ton sport light truck applications, according to Falken. Key to the character of the S/TZ05 is its advanced M+S all-season, non-directional tread design, giving the customer the ability to rotate the tire in all directions, thus optimizing tread life.

The new S/TZ05 features double-tapered tread blocks and staggered shoulder lug grooves, facilitating a smooth, quiet and dynamic tire and sporting a state-of-the-art look. The tiremaker added the tire’s all-season performance comes from its double taper-cut tread blocks that intensify noise reduction and water evacuation. A solid center rib improves lateral handling and highway stability, while wide shoulder blocks increase tread stiffness and performance and provide for an even wear throughout the tire’s life, according to Falken.

The S/TZ05 will be released in popular SUV and LT wheel fitments ranging from 20 to 24 inches.

Shelby Chooses Michelin Pilot Super Sport

The new Shelby American wide body cars - GTS, GT350 Super Snake and Shelby 1000 - and the GT500 Super Snake standard body all come fitted with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

Michelin North America said the tire, “designed for the sportiest cars and ultra-high-performance vehicles,” uses a full range of expertise gained from endurance racing, in particular the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  

“A demanding vehicle requires a tire capable of delivering optimum performance. The Michelin Pilot Super Sport tire is at the top of the Michelin ultra-high performance range and provides a level of handling and braking demanded by the outstanding vehicles from Shelby American,” said Doug Brown, MNA brand category manager.

Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. Launching Three New Winter Tires

Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. is launching three new winter tires for the 2012-13 winter season. 

New are the Hercules HSI-S, Hercules HSI-L and the Ironman Polar Trax. All three include silica-based winter traction tread compound, Hercules said.

The Hercules HSI-L features a directional tread design with deep grooves and “intricate siping” for traction, water drainage and snow removal. The HSI-L is available in 10 V-rated sizes covering 16- through 18-inch wheel diameters. There also is a pair of 8-ply commercial sizes, Hercules said.

The studdable Hercules HSI-S features a directional tread pattern with a center rib and heavy siping for steering response, and wide lateral grooves for water/slush removal and grip. The HSI-S is available in 13 sizes in 14- through 17-inch wheel diameters, with six commercial sizes.


Ironman Polar Trax is also studdable, with a directional tread design and high silica compound for traction. It is available in 22 sizes covering 13- through 17-inch wheel diameters for with passenger, SUV and commercial fitments

Mickey Thompson Releases New Street Comp Ultra-High Performance Tire

Mickey Thompson gives us a look at their new Street Comp ultra-high performance tire. This tire was designed for cars with higher horsepower and torque, especially Detroit muscle cars. The Street Comp is available in 18 sizes and is said to excel in both wet and dry conditions thanks to its unique tread design. UTQG treadwear rating is 300 AAA.

Here's what the Press Release says:

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Mickey Thompson) is proud to introduce the new Street Comp ultra-high performance (UHP) tire. This newly developed tire utilizes Mickey Thompson's legendary race tire technology in a street tire that's perfect for late model American muscle cars and more.

"The Street Comp was designed with American muscle cars in mind," said Ken Warner, VP Sales & Marketing, Mickey Thompson. "These cars have higher horsepower and torque and need a UHP street tire with superior response and ride comfort. The Street Comp delivers it all, as well as the ultimate style you'd expect from Mickey Thompson, giving discerning enthusiasts a top-shelf performance product at a competitive price."

The Street Comp, scheduled for availability in September 2012, has a UTQG 300 AA A treadwear rating and a unique tread design for superior performance and responsive handling in both wet and dry conditions. The Street Comp is available in 18 popular sizes.

·        Asymmetric Tread Design

·        Superior Wet and Dry Performance

·        Delivers Crisp and Tight Steering Response

·        UTQG 300 AA A

Notre Dame Tire is Your One Stop Shopping Source for Tires and Wheels

First posting!

Here we go:

Notre Dame Tire is your one stop shopping source for tires and wheels! Shop for all the major brands of tires and custom wheels in one great online shopping portal. And what a bonus: Notre Dame Tire offers more tire and wheel product than some of the largest online retailers anywhere in Canada or the US! No longer do the residents of our great province have to order tires and wheels online from far distant suppliers in the US or Canada and wonder who they are dealing with and whether their products will arrive as promised. Not to mention what does the NL customer do in such cases when products don't show up or aren't as promised? We can all imagine what a frustrating nightmare
that could be.

It's time to put all those worries behind! Notre Dame Tire is a division of MyShop Inc. a 100% Canadian incorporated and owned company. We are local! And we have a real and a live presence
in our great province in the Oshawa area, within Toronto GTA. Like never before, online ON customers can now have the greatest confidence shopping for tires and wheels at Notre Dame Tire. Connect with a local ON business!

Why not start your worry free shopping experience today?