Headlight Restoration - Removing Yellow Tint

Ever wonder what the cheapest and the easiest way is to remove that yellow tint from your headlights?

The answer is toothpaste and a bit of elbow grease. 

Sure there are other options, baking soda and lemon juice or WD-40 lubricant.

I have found toothpaste is the fastest, cleanest and easiest way to clear headlights. Please note that none of the above mentioned techniques including toothpaste will last forever. Although you will have about two months of clear headlights before having to reapply. With no mixing no mess and at minimal cost with common items found in your house. 

Just dab a penny size amount of toothpaste on the headlight, wet it with water and scrub with a slightly used scrubby sponge (that way it won't scratch the plastic).

Below are the results on a 2010 Toyota Corolla Sedan, the results are clear 😁 (joke)

Right lens cleaned, the left side is original

Left

Right

Finished product

What was used and all you really need

Don't spend your money on expensive lens cleaning products, when it can be done for pennies.

What??? Second mountain symbol on winter tires?

Yes there's actually a second mountain symbol available now for winter tires servicing extreme winter conditions.

Guessing the majority of drivers in winter climates are familiar with the M+S symbol and the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

This three peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF) tells you that a tire has passed third-party testing to prove that it can perform in winter conditions.

Here is the new second mountain symbol:

Courtesy of Nokian Tires

Courtesy of Continental tires

This new mountain symbol is called an ice grip symbol, indicating tires that are made for harsher and icier conditions. This new ice grip symbol tells you that the tire has passed third party testing to prove that it's better on icy roads. According to the testing it's at least 18 per cent better than a reference tire against which it was tested.

The ice grip symbol was first introduced in Europe in 2021, currently in North America it's available on only two tires the Nokian Hakkapeliita 10 and the Nokian Hakkapelitta R5.

The Nokian Hakkapeliita 10 generally come studded and are not legal in certain regions. 

While the Nokian Hakkapelitta R5 are only available as non-studded and can pretty much be used in any winter region.

Since the ice grip symbol is only making its way to North America this year I'm pretty sure we will be seeing it on more winter tires next year.

My educated guess ... Michelin X-Ice Snow, Continental Viking 7 and Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 will be displaying the ice grip symbol as well.

Both Nokian winter tires as well as the three mentioned above will serve you well for extreme winter conditions. Pick whichever is cheapest and don't forget to include those mail-in rebates in your decision.

Source: The US Sun -- https://www.the-sun.com/motors/9650015/secret-symbols-tires-confirm-winter-ready-brands-label/

2023 Winter Tire Test review (extreme winters)

Well I'm back from the dead.

Just before another harsh 2023 winter is about to hit Canada. Most of the winter bound countries have changed or are on the verge of changing their tires once again.

As my Nokian Hakka 8's are at 6/32" currently by next year it may be time to replace them. Currently all four tires have been worn evenly on the full-time AWD system and the tire size is 225/60/17. Currently I'm leaning towards the Continental Viking 7 as the future winter tire replacement selection. I was a bit displeased with the Nokian company as they had never replied back to an inquiry e-mail which I had sent them back in 2019 concerning these tires. Thus I have decide to spend my money elsewhere this time around.

Below I have listed both the studded and non-studded highest ranked extreme winter tires.

Experts at the Finnish test organization UTAC Ivalo conducted a large test of winter tires both studded and non-studded. The tests were conducted on ice, snow, as well as wet and dry pavement, noise emission and fuel consumption were also taken into account.

Best Studded Tires (overall score):

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10

Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 W429

Continental IceContact 3

Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2

Michelin X-Ice North 4

Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-03

Falken Winterpeak F-ICE 1

Nokian Nordman 8 (old Hakkapeliitta 8)

Antares Grip 60 ice

Best Non-Studded Tires (overall score):

Continental VikingContact 7

Michelin X-Ice Snow

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2

Hankook Winter i*cept iZ 2 W616

Falken Winterpeak F-Snow 1

Bridgestone Blizzak Ice

Kumho WinterCraft ice Wi51

Continental WinterContact TS 870

Continental AllSeasonContact (All Weather tire -reference)

Dynamo Snow-H MWH01

Source: tiresvote.com -- https://tiresvote.com/articles/utac-large-r16-winter-tire-test-2022/

That is a detailed test to say the least, but there are several very good tires missing from that list. These non-studded winter tires below have done very well in tests but have been left out. Could be a year or two older technology or not available in the European region, you may be able to get them at a fairly good discount in your area.

The number one price to performance tire I can think of is the Pirelli Ice Zero FR. Does very well in tests and is heavily discounted currently as it has been replaced with a newer model.

Bridgestone WS90 or even the older WS80 should be up there in the top 5 for sure. They sell for roughly as much as the Michelin X-Ice Snow and are actually slightly better in North American testing.

We can't forget the previous non-studded winner the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3, if you can still find them, but only at a discount.

Here are the test links for the above tires: 

alltyretests.com -- https://alltyretests.com/pirelli-ice-zero-fr-test-review/

tyrereviews.com -- https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/The-Best-Winter-Tyres-for-2020.htm

The APA in Canada has a slightly different rating for its top winter tires. They rate tires from A to E, of course A being the best. Depending on the variables during the test the results come out slightly different. Results are for testing done between 2020 and 2021, so they are slightly older. 

Below you will find the APA test results, for the full list the link is provided below.

A) BEST

1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 et 10 SUV
2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV
3. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
4. Toyo Observe GSi6 / GSi6 HP / GSi6 LS
5. Michelin X-Ice Snow

B) VERY GOOD

1. Continental Viking Contact 7
2. Bridgestone DMV-27
3. Yokohama iceGuard G075
4. Nordman 7 SUV
5. Pirelli Ice Zero FR
6. Goodyear WinterCommand Ultra

C) GOOD

1. General Tire Altimax Arctic 12
2. Toyo Observe G3 ICE
3. Dunlop WinterMaxx SJ8

apa.ca link -- https://www.apa.ca/en/infos-and-tools/winter-tires-ratings/ratings-of-winter-tires-for-compact-suvs-and-cars-and-intermediate-sedans/

Happy shopping, stay safe on the roads.

Nick