Advice on snow tires

[Don Quixote]

I am considering snow tires for my wife's car this winter. She mostly cares about traction and stopping on ice, more so than heavy snow. I was impressed with the Blizzak demonstration on the ice rink at the Denver GP, and I saw on another thread that SOG35 likes them. My question is: are they worth the hefty pricetag? I also wonder if anyone has used them for a long period of time, enough to get a feel for how long they last. The tiny splits in the tread indicate to me that they would be used up pretty quickly on dry, hot pavement. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Turn7]

My advice.....

Move further south.

[FRANKY]

www.tirerack.com

[mapguy]

As much as this kills me to say it, Sean O' is right. The Blizzaks are killer. Me, I got a set of Hawaiian snows on my bitchin' Escort.

[Joelski]

Just make sure they're Bridgestones.;)

[Sean O'Gorman]

I don't know too much about Blizzaks, the ones I have (MZ-02) are discontinued, but they got very good reviews from everyone I know who tried them. Unfortunately mine are the wrong width and aspect ratio for my application, but they were free, so they do the job.

It looks to me like you will want the WS-50 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS-50). I think they are about $50-120 a tire, depending on what size. Unless that is, you have a truck, then there is another model on the site you'd want. Stay away from the LM-22s, in all reality, they aren't really good for anything.

Snow tires typically last about about 15,000 miles, which could be as many as three or four winters. Plus if you get them as a package with steel wheels (mine were $27/each from Tire Rack for 14 X 5.5, I can't imagine larger sizes being that much more expensive), when you have to replace them a few years down the road, you don't need to make as much of an investment as you did initially.

I highly recommend snow tires. I drive lots of cars every day, every winter, and this is the first time my personal vehicle has been equipped with them. The difference is amazing, even a mid-engined RWD car like mine has very controllable steering, braking, and accelerating in slick conditions like the first falling of snow, and can dig through the deeper stuff too.

[nz_climber]

Originally posted by Turn7
My advice.....

Move further south.

Rusty tried that one, didn't really work though, who would have know when downunder the further south you go the colder it gets !

:gomer:
;)

[XFT]

snowtires are vastly overrated, you don't really need them.

[Audi_A4]

Bridgestone make great snow tires so do Michelin. Really any snow tire is ok.

[Sean O'Gorman]

Originally posted by XFT
snowtires are vastly overrated, you don't really need them.

And Alfa Romeos are crap.

[Don Quixote]

Thanks for the responses. As for XFT's comment about not needing snowtires, my wife thinks she needs snow tires, nuff said. I hope the poster of the crapwagon on the wall at the Firestone store is gone, I hate looking at that thing.

[Methanolandbrats]

Snow tires are NOT overrated. The margin of safety is huge using a proper winter tire. Good tires are Michelin Arctic Alpin, Blizak and Nokian. The Nokian 2 is currently the best winter tire if ice grip, snow traction, dry handling and wear are all considered.

[XFT]

Originally posted by Don Quixote
As for XFT's comment about not needing snowtires, my wife thinks she needs snow tires, nuff said.

Cool - just my opinion man :)



And Alfa Romeos are crap.

No, nuff said. :thumbup:

[mapguy]

Originally posted by XFT





No, nuff said. :thumbup:

Yup, I never thought I'd see the day that some car made old Jags look bulletproof. They are crap. Ever wonder why they don't sell Alfa's here anymore?

[XFT]

actually my milano is the most reliable car i've owned (next to a chevy pickup :eek: ).. If you take care of Alfas they last. My car has never failed to start, and has never left me stranded, and no i havent rebuilt the engine in or the gearbox in a parking lot either. Its the stupid people who don't change the oil and timing belts, and dont follow service guidelines that have problems with their cars.

[Sean O'Gorman]

Originally posted by mapguy
Yup, I never thought I'd see the day that some car made old Jags look bulletproof. They are crap. Ever wonder why they don't sell Alfa's here anymore?

Wow map, agreeing with me twice in one thread, are you sure you are okay? ;)

[Dirty Sanchez]

Hey, I have Blizzak LM-22s and I don't have any complaints... although I'm running 235/40-18s so my choices were kinda limitied ;) Still waiting on some really heavy accumulation to see exactly how they handle, but they are doing just fine in the cold damp conditions so far.

Don't be afraid to drop the extra coin on tires, they are the only thing in contact with the road... I'm actually suprised they don't cost more sometimes.

[Sean O'Gorman]

Originally posted by Crapus
Hey, I have Blizzak LM-22s and I don't have any complaints... although I'm running 235/40-18s so my choices were kinda limitied ;)

Yeah, I'd imagine thats a pretty limited range of tires. Its my understanding that the LM-22s aren't all that great because they aren't very good at handling deeper snow, but also can't touch the dry road performance of a normal tire. I may be mistaken though...I'd imagine with AWD, you aren't going to have too much of a problem. ;)