Hankook IceBear??

GFarra · 10-12-2007, 01:13 PM

Hi Guys and Gals

Anyone have any experience with this tire? I was originally going to garage my e92 for the winter but those plans have changed.

Need a low cost winter solution. These tires are about $100 bucks each....I'm a big beleiver in "you get what you pay for".....but I won't be using the car in snowy/sleet conditions. I will use it in cold conditions and I feel the summer tires just shouldn't be used even in cold dry situations

Thoughts on the tire would be greatly appreciatted.....though the Dunlop winter tire (non-RFT) is only 40 bucks more

Thanks

George

octaveshift · 10-12-2007, 01:17 PM

No direct experience, but allegedly a great value. A lot of Subaru guys run them, and I've never heard any complaints.

Probably the best low-cost solution out there. I'd be running with them if I was trying to keep costs down.

Couch · 10-13-2007, 01:05 AM

Haven't used the icebear's, but I had Hankook Ventus' on my truck (275/40/20).

One of the best tires I've ever ran. Terrific traction in both dry and wet weather.

dougman · 10-13-2007, 12:40 PM

I am considering IceBears myself this season.

I used to work at Ford in ride and handling development. I recently was spending time with an old colleague, who I considered to be one of the best technical vehicle dynamics guys in the industry. We happened to be talking about tires, and their effects on developing ride/handing on new cars, and unprompted he brought up Hankook.

He said that in a Ford study, Hankook had some of the best quality in the industry ("fantastic tires") yet they priced them to OEM's well below any of the competition. They are apparently working hard to get their name out.

He also said that they have been contract manufacturing tires for many more "mainstream" brands for years.

I also called the owner of Precision Imports, the best local shop for Porsche/BMW/Audi/Mercedes, and told him I was choosing between Blizzaks, Dunlop 3D's and Hankooks, and said he was partial to the Hankooks based on his own and his customers' experiences over the past few years.

discounttiredirect.com has them in all the sizes needed for our cars. I don't think tirerack carries them right now, which is too bad because I've had great experiences with them in the past and prefer to buy from them.

wilkoal · 10-15-2007, 05:33 AM

I have got the Icebear 225/45 r 17 last winter. Overall they are a good comprimise between dry/wet/light snow. However, I once experienced getting stuck in 15 cm of snow when I parked the car uphill (in the Alps) and then tried to move over. They could not manage it. Also, when driving down from Alps passes with partially iced roads the grip confidence was mediocre with more than a car passing me by (I told myself they gotta be AWD not to hurt my ego...).

FotiosF90M5 · 11-08-2007, 12:04 PM

any other experiences with this tire.

shipill · 11-08-2007, 02:40 PM

I bought a set of hankook W300 , stagger setup (225 and 255) for my coupe yesterday .the ride is much better and

smoother than my RFT summer performance Stock tires . very affordable . go for it

FotiosF90M5 · 11-08-2007, 07:47 PM

I just wonder how well they do in the snow.Im about to buy them because my rear pirelli 240 snowsport are really worn but the fronts are fine.they dont have the rears in my size so Im thinking I might as well buy 4 of these.Im getting so many mixed reviews though.sorry for the thread jacking.

FotiosF90M5 · 11-09-2007, 11:56 AM

just ordered them, I hope they dont suck. OP, did you end up buying these?

shipill · 11-09-2007, 02:59 PM

dont worry you wont regret it . I am so happy with the purchase

FotiosF90M5 · 11-09-2007, 03:03 PM

cool. thanks for the input.

ALPINE6SPD · 11-09-2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GFarra

Hi Guys and Gals

Anyone have any experience with this tire? I was originally going to garage my e92 for the winter but those plans have changed.

Need a low cost winter solution. These tires are about $100 bucks each....I'm a big beleiver in "you get what you pay for".....but I won't be using the car in snowy/sleet conditions. I will use it in cold conditions and I feel the summer tires just shouldn't be used even in cold dry situations

Thoughts on the tire would be greatly appreciatted.....though the Dunlop winter tire (non-RFT) is only 40 bucks more

Thanks

George

I have had the dunlops and they are OK but the blizzaks were better and I think I will go Nokian next time. I have not tried the ice bear though

lyjw88 · 11-09-2007, 03:54 PM

I installed Icebear today and I really like it!
Like Shipill said, you won't regret it.

10-12-2007, 01:13 PM	#1
GFarra Enlisted Member 10 Rep 37 Posts Drives: 2007 e92 335 in Space Grey Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (0)	Hankook IceBear?? Hi Guys and Gals Anyone have any experience with this tire? I was originally going to garage my e92 for the winter but those plans have changed. Need a low cost winter solution. These tires are about $100 bucks each....I'm a big beleiver in "you get what you pay for".....but I won't be using the car in snowy/sleet conditions. I will use it in cold conditions and I feel the summer tires just shouldn't be used even in cold dry situations Thoughts on the tire would be greatly appreciatted.....though the Dunlop winter tire (non-RFT) is only 40 bucks more Thanks George __________________ 335 Coupe, Space Grey, Black Dakota with Dark Walnut Trim, Sport, Cold Weather, Premium, & Step-tronic
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10-12-2007, 01:17 PM	#2
octaveshift Checkraising with air.... 6 Rep 66 Posts Drives: '07 335xi Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boulder, CO iTrader: (0)	No direct experience, but allegedly a great value. A lot of Subaru guys run them, and I've never heard any complaints. Probably the best low-cost solution out there. I'd be running with them if I was trying to keep costs down.
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10-13-2007, 01:05 AM	#3
Couch Colonel 146 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Haven't used the icebear's, but I had Hankook Ventus' on my truck (275/40/20). One of the best tires I've ever ran. Terrific traction in both dry and wet weather.
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10-13-2007, 12:40 PM	#4
dougman Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 228 Posts Drives: '07 E92 328 --> 2010 E92 M3! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I am considering IceBears myself this season. I used to work at Ford in ride and handling development. I recently was spending time with an old colleague, who I considered to be one of the best technical vehicle dynamics guys in the industry. We happened to be talking about tires, and their effects on developing ride/handing on new cars, and unprompted he brought up Hankook. He said that in a Ford study, Hankook had some of the best quality in the industry ("fantastic tires") yet they priced them to OEM's well below any of the competition. They are apparently working hard to get their name out. He also said that they have been contract manufacturing tires for many more "mainstream" brands for years. I also called the owner of Precision Imports, the best local shop for Porsche/BMW/Audi/Mercedes, and told him I was choosing between Blizzaks, Dunlop 3D's and Hankooks, and said he was partial to the Hankooks based on his own and his customers' experiences over the past few years. discounttiredirect.com has them in all the sizes needed for our cars. I don't think tirerack carries them right now, which is too bad because I've had great experiences with them in the past and prefer to buy from them.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-15-2007, 05:33 AM	#5
wilkoal Private First Class 13 Rep 130 Posts Drives: E92 335i Msport Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	I have got the Icebear 225/45 r 17 last winter. Overall they are a good comprimise between dry/wet/light snow. However, I once experienced getting stuck in 15 cm of snow when I parked the car uphill (in the Alps) and then tried to move over. They could not manage it. Also, when driving down from Alps passes with partially iced roads the grip confidence was mediocre with more than a car passing me by (I told myself they gotta be AWD not to hurt my ego...).
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11-08-2007, 12:04 PM	#6
FotiosF90M5 ///M Specialist South Shore BMW 800 Rep 7,109 Posts Drives: 2021 M5 Comp BHG/Silverstone Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Shore, MA iTrader: (62)	any other experiences with this tire. __________________ 2021 M5 COMPETITION LCI Brands Hatch Gray on SIlverstone, carbon roof, comp wheels, Mperf splitter, carbon pro spoiler, carbon diffuser , carbon paddles, executive pkg. Dinan HAS, RaceChip, dinan spacers, FC stud kit, etc
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11-08-2007, 02:40 PM	#7
shipill Major 432 Rep 1,292 Posts Drives: F10 528 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: East iTrader: (7)	I bought a set of hankook W300 , stagger setup (225 and 255) for my coupe yesterday .the ride is much better and smoother than my RFT summer performance Stock tires . very affordable . go for it
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-08-2007, 07:47 PM	#8
FotiosF90M5 ///M Specialist South Shore BMW 800 Rep 7,109 Posts Drives: 2021 M5 Comp BHG/Silverstone Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Shore, MA iTrader: (62)	I just wonder how well they do in the snow.Im about to buy them because my rear pirelli 240 snowsport are really worn but the fronts are fine.they dont have the rears in my size so Im thinking I might as well buy 4 of these.Im getting so many mixed reviews though.sorry for the thread jacking. __________________ 2021 M5 COMPETITION LCI Brands Hatch Gray on SIlverstone, carbon roof, comp wheels, Mperf splitter, carbon pro spoiler, carbon diffuser , carbon paddles, executive pkg. Dinan HAS, RaceChip, dinan spacers, FC stud kit, etc
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-09-2007, 11:56 AM	#9
FotiosF90M5 ///M Specialist South Shore BMW 800 Rep 7,109 Posts Drives: 2021 M5 Comp BHG/Silverstone Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Shore, MA iTrader: (62)	just ordered them, I hope they dont suck. OP, did you end up buying these? __________________ 2021 M5 COMPETITION LCI Brands Hatch Gray on SIlverstone, carbon roof, comp wheels, Mperf splitter, carbon pro spoiler, carbon diffuser , carbon paddles, executive pkg. Dinan HAS, RaceChip, dinan spacers, FC stud kit, etc
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11-09-2007, 02:59 PM	#10
shipill Major 432 Rep 1,292 Posts Drives: F10 528 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: East iTrader: (7)	dont worry you wont regret it . I am so happy with the purchase
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11-09-2007, 03:03 PM	#11
FotiosF90M5 ///M Specialist South Shore BMW 800 Rep 7,109 Posts Drives: 2021 M5 Comp BHG/Silverstone Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Shore, MA iTrader: (62)	cool. thanks for the input. __________________ 2021 M5 COMPETITION LCI Brands Hatch Gray on SIlverstone, carbon roof, comp wheels, Mperf splitter, carbon pro spoiler, carbon diffuser , carbon paddles, executive pkg. Dinan HAS, RaceChip, dinan spacers, FC stud kit, etc
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11-09-2007, 03:54 PM	#13
lyjw88 Major 237 Rep 1,414 Posts Drives: C63S & X3MC Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (6)	I installed Icebear today and I really like it! Like Shipill said, you won't regret it.
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