Well I finally found two Nord Frost 3 195 65 R15 for $115 CDN each plus $18 for the studs at Pneus et Mécanique Papineau in Montreal, a full $27 less per tire (excluding our beloved 15% sales taxes) than at my 'nearby' Volvo dealer.

Why is it so difficult to find them? Apparently, distributors do not stock Gislaved tires in Quebec anymore. Many tire shops hadn't even heard of them! The tires I'm getting have to be brought in from out of province, and it's going to take 10 (yes, ten) days to arrive at the tire shop!

Total cost installed and balanced: CDN$311.72 (US$ 250 at the going rate).

Expensive? You bet! Safety First, Folks! Why Gislaved? Because the car came with 4 month old studded NF3s in great shape. Come to think of it, I got the car practically for free when the winter tires are counted in (I don't like the Gislaved Speed 516s, great at speed on the highway (literally) but with too little siping and grip for the speed I usually drive at on the rough bumpy roads we have here.

Oh, and I've been running Nokians on my Land Crusier since the time they used to be called Nokia. My first set of Hakkas were great for 4 winters and I noticed a loss of grip only at the fifth winter, after driving over 50,000 km with them. The new generation is quieter and feels even grippier and cost just a tad more, in 235-75 R15, than the Gislaved I just bought for the Volvo.

Winter is setting in here, the ground is already frozen a good 4 inches, the lake is freezing over as I write this and I'm anxious to get the winter tires on. Last weekend I went into an overteer slide I didn't like on a curving highway access ramp that appeared to be just wet.

I'll report back on this thread after testing the tires when I finally get them on the car.