Haida HD617 Review: Why It's Canada's #1 Budget Winter Tire

The Haida HD617 is the single best-selling tire in our entire operation. We move over 24,000 units per year — more than any Atturo model, more than any other Haida model, more than anything else in our 1,400+ SKU inventory.

At $62 per tire in popular sizes, a full set of HD617s costs less than a single Bridgestone Blizzak. That's not a comparison for dramatic effect — that's the actual math. And it's why this tire sells the way it does.

What Is the HD617?

The HD617 is a dedicated winter tire designed for Canadian conditions. It features:

• Winter-specific compound that stays pliable below -30°C, unlike all-season tires that harden and lose grip in cold
• 3PMSF certification (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) — the industry standard that confirms it meets winter traction requirements
• High-density siping across the tread blocks for grip on ice and packed snow
• Directional tread pattern that channels slush and water away from the contact patch
• Multiple size options covering most passenger cars and light SUVs on Canadian roads

The Price Comparison

This is where the HD617 makes its case:

A set of HD617s costs less than one Michelin X-Ice Snow in most sizes. When you factor in rims, installation, and storage, the total cost of switching to winters drops dramatically with the HD617.

Real Winter Performance

I sell these tires in Winchester, Ontario — eastern Ontario, where we get real Canadian winters. Snow, ice, slush, freezing rain, and temperatures that hit -30°C. Our customers drive these tires through all of it, and they come back the next season for more.

Snow Traction

The HD617 performs well in snow. The directional tread pattern channels snow and slush effectively, and the siping provides genuine grip on packed snow surfaces. It's not going to match a Blizzak in a controlled braking test, but for real-world driving — getting to work, driving through unsalted rural roads, navigating parking lots — it does the job.

Ice Performance

Ice is where the gap between budget and premium is most noticeable. The Blizzak's multi-cell compound and the X-Ice's micro-pocket technology give those tires a measurable advantage on pure ice. The HD617 is adequate on ice — the siping helps — but if you're regularly driving on glare ice, a premium winter tire will give you more confidence.

For most Canadian drivers, though, pure ice is a small percentage of winter driving. Snow, cold dry pavement, and slush are far more common, and the HD617 handles those well.

Cold Pavement

This is actually where the HD617 shines relative to the alternative — which for many budget-conscious drivers is just running their all-seasons through winter. The winter compound in the HD617 maintains grip on cold, dry pavement where an all-season tire becomes genuinely dangerous below -7°C. The difference between the HD617 and all-seasons in cold is massive.

Slush

Good. The directional tread channels slush away from the tire effectively. Hydroplaning resistance is solid for the category.

Why 24,000+ Per Year?

Numbers like that don't happen by accident. Here's why the HD617 sells the way it does:

1. Canadian Law

Quebec mandates winter tires. Other provinces strongly recommend them, and insurance companies increasingly factor them into rates. Winter tires aren't optional in Canada — and the HD617 makes compliance affordable.

2. The Budget Reality

Not everyone can drop $800-1,000 on a set of premium winter tires. Especially when you're also buying steel rims ($200-400), paying for installation ($80-120), and arranging seasonal storage. The HD617 at $248 for a set of four makes the total winter tire package financially accessible.

3. Fleet Economics

We supply fleet operators who run 10, 20, 50+ vehicles. When you're equipping a fleet for winter, the difference between $250 and $800 per vehicle adds up fast. The HD617 provides sufficient winter safety at a price that makes fleet winter tire programs viable.

4. Repeat Buyers

Our data shows strong repeat purchase rates on the HD617. Customers buy them, drive them through a Canadian winter, and come back the next year (or the year after, depending on driving habits) for another set. That kind of loyalty only happens when a product delivers on its promise.

5. Direct Import Pricing

Because we import Haida directly from the factory, we're not paying distributor margins. That factory-direct relationship is how we offer the HD617 at $62 — a price point that traditional distribution chains simply can't match.

Who Should Buy the HD617?

• Anyone who needs winter tires and has a budget under $400 for a set of four. The HD617 makes winter safety affordable.
• Fleet operators managing winter tire programs across multiple vehicles.
• Second car / beater owners who need winters but don't want to invest premium prices in a utility vehicle.
• New drivers getting their first set of winter tires. Learn on affordable tires, upgrade later if you want.
• High-mileage drivers who burn through tires faster and want to minimize the cost per winter season.
• Rural drivers on roads that aren't plowed or salted as quickly as urban highways.

Who Should Spend More?

If you drive primarily on icy roads — not snow, not slush, but actual ice — a premium winter tire with advanced ice compound technology (Blizzak, X-Ice) will give you meaningfully better performance. The premium is justified if ice is your primary concern.

If you do a lot of high-speed highway driving in winter, a premium winter tire may also offer better high-speed stability and shorter braking distances.

For everyone else — the vast majority of Canadian winter drivers — the HD617 is more than enough tire for the job.

The Verdict

The HD617 is the most practical tire we sell. Not the most exciting, not the most advanced — the most practical. It puts safe winter tires on Canadian vehicles at a price that removes excuses. No one should be driving through a Canadian winter on all-seasons because they couldn't afford winters, and the HD617 makes sure they don't have to.

24,000+ sold per year. The tire speaks for itself.

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