Snow tires, who likes what?

"Matsayz" (matsayz)
10/26/2017 at 21:43 • Filed to: Tires

Blizzak’s $756 shipped to the house... anyone else? I chose 17’s because more side-wall for these shitty Colorado Springs roads.

DISCUSSION (56)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 21:45

I’m probably going to just order a set of used ones for like $50 a pop.

Nibby > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 21:51

damn tires are expensive

Kinja'd!!!

Matsayz > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/26/2017 at 21:51

Order? Or like Craigslist or something

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 21:55

This place . You can get tires with 70-80 percent tread remaining for half of what they cost new.

Nibbles > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 21:55

WS80s FTW. Had ‘em on the S40, they were perfect.

Flavien Vidal > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 21:58

Nokian Hakkas is the shit...

Textured Soy Protein > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 21:58

Do you want performance winter tires that are semi sporty, or full on best possible snow traction with non-snow handling like glazed donuts? (Blizzak WS series is the glazed donut kind.)

for Michigan > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:00

If you’re going to be driving though significant amounts of accumulation regularly, Blizzak WS80s are awesome. My 06 Mazda3 went through 8" of heavy, wet snow like it was nothing on WS80s.

If you’re just driving in cold weather on clear or icy roads, I was impressed with the Pirelli Sottozeros my brother put on his NB Miata. Much better all around tire than the WS80s at the expense of snow capability.

Matsayz > Textured Soy Protein
10/26/2017 at 22:01

Glazed donuts, really? I’ve heard good things about them

Matsayz > Nibbles
10/26/2017 at 22:02

How long did they last for you? We’re here in Colorado for two snow season then warmer climate!

Nibbles > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:03

Two seasons in Denver plus a spring because we forgot to swap em. Still had 40% or so left when we traded it in.

for Michigan > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:06

Dry-road handling for WS80s is less than good. The massive, soft tread blocks that cut through snow so well don’t lend themselves to precise responses or clear feedback.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:06

Hakkapeliittas. Get yourself the best. Definitely don’t get studs, either.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:07

Toyo Observe GSi5's. I like them, have a set for my Juke.

AestheticsInMotion > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
10/26/2017 at 22:08

If fender modification wasn’t required to get them to fit my car, I’d be all over those.

WRXasaurus > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:08

I have Goodyear Ultra Grips on my WRX. They are not bad for the price though if I were to do it again if go for General Altimax.

Matsayz > for Michigan
10/26/2017 at 22:08

Meh, Colorado Springs doesn’t usually get smacked with snow all day everyday. Headed to the store tomorrow to get local quote and I’ll talk to them about that.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:10

Blizzaks are my go to for snow tires. I have a brand new set of WS80s at home waiting for winter to hit.

Agrajag > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:10

Nokian Hakkapeliitta!

Too bad you’re not near PA because I’m trying to unload the ones I had bought for my GTI.

Nibbles > for Michigan
10/26/2017 at 22:11

The Springs can go from 70 degrees and sunny, to 12 degrees and 8 inches, back to 60, then some hail, all while staying under 30 at night, in the course of a week.

Textured Soy Protein > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:13

Blizzak WS = studless winter tire

Blizzak LM = performance winter

Studless are better in snow, especially deep snow.

Performance give at least some sportiness but not quite as good maximum winter grip.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > for Michigan
10/26/2017 at 22:15

Blizzaks are basically unstoppable. My old Outback on Blizzaks once drove through 7-8 inches of heavy wet snow pulling a Merkur XR4Ti rally car behind it on a tow strap. You could barely walk through the stuff but the Blizzaks just dug in and pulled.

benjrblant > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:18

Bruh, you going into the mountains or something? Most people here (that I know) don’t even run winter tires unless they live on the other side of Berthoud pass.

shop-teacher > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:19

I had Blizzak DM-V1’s on my truck for five seasons, and they were fantastic. I just ordered a set of General Grabber Arctic XLs to replace them today. They’re 35% cheaper, and I was really happy with the last set of Generals I had, so I decided to give them a go.

jimz > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:20

blizzaks are awesome. had a set on my SRT-4, those would let the car get through any snow it could physically push out of the way.

Matsayz > benjrblant
10/26/2017 at 22:20

Yeah we will be doing some skiing this year finally but my all-seasons are almost toast and they sucked last winter. Potenza’s RE970?

jimz > Textured Soy Protein
10/26/2017 at 22:21

“performance” and “winter” are two words which should not be used together.

lone_liberal > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:21

I drove through some pretty tough stuff with pretty crappy cars using WSs. Better dry handling than studs better in ice and snow than “performance” winter tires.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > AestheticsInMotion
10/26/2017 at 22:23

They don’t make them in a size that fits? Surprising.

for Michigan > Nibbles
10/26/2017 at 22:24

Sounds like the weather I grew up with in Michigan. Ohio is a little more mild.

The only time I felt like I actually used my WS80s in the last two seasons was on a mid-February trip to the UP that included that snow storm I mentioned above. This winter I’ll be running a performance winter tire rather than a snow tire. Either the Blizzak LM-series or perhaps those Pirellis.

Nibby > benjrblant
10/26/2017 at 22:26

he needs summer tires

for Michigan > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
10/26/2017 at 22:28

My little FWD hatchback just went through it all like it was nothing. Never gave me reason to worry about getting stuck. Never got squirrely. I was seriously impressed.

Unfortunately, that was the only time over two seasons with those tires that I ever felt like I used them. The rest of those two winters was spent driving around on cold, dry blacktop wishing I’d bought tires that handled better.

Textured Soy Protein > jimz
10/26/2017 at 22:31

I have Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 performance winters. They’re no match for summer tires but they do a halfway decent impression of sporty all-seasons.

benjrblant > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:34

FWIW, I hear that blizzak’s are killer in the snow, like second to none. I’ve also heard of a coworker that runs all-weather tires (not all season) which has a snow rating but isn’t as soft therefore doesn’t wear as rapidly when temps spike above 50 degrees which seems like every other two days in the winter here. I think the Nokian WRG3 might be your only option though.

benjrblant > Nibbles
10/26/2017 at 22:36

Or in the course of an afternoon.

benjrblant > Nibby
10/26/2017 at 22:36

You just need tires. Period.

benjrblant > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:45

Alternatively, if you’re only trekking up there just a handful of times, have you considered something like a Z-chain tire chain or a snow sock?

Traction law requires your passenger car to have at least snow tires, snow chains, or AWD/4x4.

gettingoldercarguy > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 22:45

I’m going to go with Continental snow tires. I’ve been a Bridgestone person for decades, but their sport tire is just amazing and I read their snow tire has caught up to Bridgestone, who is the pilot super sport of snow tires.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 23:00

Had blizzaks before and they rocked but I got continental snow tires in a near identical size for 107/tire plus an 80$ rebate card. Rebate came in just a week or so and I’m using it to pay for the mount and install.

Nibbles > benjrblant
10/26/2017 at 23:02

Lol too true

Dusty Ventures > for Michigan
10/26/2017 at 23:06

+1 for Blizzaks being unstoppable. Ask Stef about our 75 mph drive to Vermont during the biggest blizzard of the season. 8 inches on the road and it gripped like dry tar

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 23:09

I put Nokian nordman 5 tires on the daily. From what i understand they’re the old version of the hakkas. they’re a bit more aggressive than the hakkas so they are louder and a little less dry road performance. I didn’t mind much as at the time I was living about 5 miles from civilization on roads that were shitty plowed. other bonus is they were 70% of the cost of hakkas, being the older style.

Dusty Ventures > jimz
10/26/2017 at 23:10

ORLY

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 23:19

I would not put WS80's on a Golf R, those tires are very, very, very squishy. You will eat through the tread very quickly. They are more suited for a Subaru Outback or similar type slow car.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 23:30

I’m putting mine on my LS either tomorrow or Saturday.

Textured Soy Protein > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 23:33

Since you have a sporty awd car, I’d look at performance winter stuff like Blizzak LM, Michelin Pilot Alpin, Dunlop Wintersport, Pirelli Sottozero. I’ve had good luck with the sporty awd car + performance winter combo. I have Michelin PA4 on my 335xi and had Blizzak LM25 on my Mazdaspeed 6.

Really the limiting factor with your car is it’s Haldex so in deep snow it’s not going to necessarily always keep all 4 wheels churning and you’re more likely to get high centered. I experienced that a couple times with my MS6 and a more wintery tire wasn’t going to solve that problem.

JEM > Matsayz
10/26/2017 at 23:55

Unpopular opinion probably but Firestone’s Winterforce series are great, affordable, and will get you through 4 winters. Also studdable and if you want to turn heads sometime, drive around Brooklyn on studded snows in a hatchback sounding like a tank chewing up pavement.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Matsayz
10/27/2017 at 00:07

I just use Nokian WR series 4 season tires.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Textured Soy Protein
10/27/2017 at 00:08

If they handle like glazed doughnuts, that must mean they stick really well, right? RIGHT?

Textured Soy Protein > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
10/27/2017 at 00:18

Like glazed donuts, they’re a little sticky at first and then they disintegrate when they come into contact with heat.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Textured Soy Protein
10/27/2017 at 06:49

+1 for Dunlop Wintersports. Have used them for years, surprisingly good deep snow and ice performance, genuinely non-sucky dry road performance.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Matsayz
10/27/2017 at 08:07

never needed them.

so my opinion is worthless.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Matsayz
10/27/2017 at 08:44

Last winter I put those WS80's on my STi and they are phenomenal winter tires. Where I live we see a ton of snow and the road I live on is generally snow covered from some time in December to some time in March. If you are driving on snow covered roads or in deep snow frequently the WS80's are an excellent choice.

Prior to the WS80's I had been running Pirelli Wintersport 3D’s. Those weren’t as good in snow, but were better on bare roads than the Blizzaks. It doesn’t look like they offer the Wintersport 3D’s anymore, but I assume the Wintersport 4D’s are just an evolution of that tire. Those would be a solid choice if most of your driving is on bare roads but you want the ability to drive when it’s crappy out. For reference the Wintersport 3D’s got my STi home one night when we got so much snow the bottom of my car was dragging the whole way and I was blasting through deep snow drifts on the road, so they are definitely capable when the snow gets deep.

Matsayz > pip bip - choose Corrour
10/27/2017 at 09:13

I appreciate your honesty

red014 > Matsayz
10/27/2017 at 10:51

Been thru 2 New England winters on Michelin X-Ice Xi3 on my Miata. Very squishy on dry roads compared to the summer tires, but after the first snowfall I came away thinking Quebec has the right idea, snow tires should be mandatory. This is coming from someone that had a Subaru with all-season tires for almost 10 years. My only problems now come from a lack of weight.

Something the all-season people tend to forget is that snow tires in the winter allow you to have significantly stickier tires in the summer.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > red014
10/27/2017 at 22:30

I am a firm beleiver once you go snow tires, its impossible to go back.