OT: Winter Tires?
 

I bought a 2nd set of rims for my wife's Grand Prix and I am looking for a really good set of winter tires. If I do this right, I won't have to buy her a Pathfinder, so please help!:D I read an article in consumer reports on winter tires and I'm considering the following:

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50

Dunlop Winter Sport M2

Dunlop Graspic DS-1

Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice

I'm looking for something good in the snow and ice. Does anybody have an opinion on these tires or other suggestions?

Next question, who can get me a good deal on a set of (4)? I need 225 60 R16's

Hi Brian! Buy the Blizzak, you'll thank me. I have them on both cars. I've had the Goodyears you listed, not as good. Call me tomorrow, I will get you a price for them. www.tirerack.com has them cheap, until you add up the shipping. 195/60R15's cost $75+$15 in shipping. I paid $90 at work.

Thanks Chris, I'll call you tomorrow.

Yea, I've never used them, but I believe that the blizzacks are the absolute best out there. The micro cells are only half of the tread depth though, so after that they'll only behave like a regular radial. Realize that these tires are truly winter only, they'll burn up rapidly in the summer. If she absolutly has to go out in the ice and snow, consider some cable chains. You tension them with a bungie cord and they stay on at resonable speeds. You don't want to drive them on dry pavement though as it will chew the cables up. The traction improovements are absolutly phenominal.

I just bought Blizzaks for the car. Haven't used them in the snow (yet), but was advised to go with the LM-22 over the WS-50. If you call the tire rack, they are helpful.

One of the tire rack owners (76 years old) was out in the install area helping out when I went to pick up my summer "dubs". That's always nice to see. It's not the best route if you have to put them on your wheels, but if you're buying them mounted on wheels, it's not a bad way to go.

If anything, check out their site and read the reviews. That is free info and worth the time to read. Jsut have to filter through the BS stuff from guys just screwing around.

Mark

Or you all could just move to FLORIDA where is never snows(or VERY VERY VERY VERY seldom)... Then you could save all that money for gas and other cool toys. hehehe

Snow Tyres
 

Buy the Blizzaks. Im coming up on my 5th year with the same set and they are great!

ChrisK - I tried moving to FL once already, but I wasn't married at the time. That definitely would be the best choice! :D

Now, back to being realistic, who has the best deal on Blizzaks? I will check tirerack.com.

I VOTE FOR FLORIDA

The BLIZZAKS are great tires. I would however, reccommend that you look at the NOKIAN HAKKAPLITA. Good luck.

Shane

The blizzaks are very good tires. I sold and installed many sets when I worked in the automotive world. I ran 4 studded snows on my TDI Jetta and never had a problem. They were a little noisy but not as bad as you would think. That car was great in the snow and ice up to about 6 to 8", then it ran out of ground clearance.

TireRack has great package deals with rims, sometimes you can get steel rims for the winter tires so you just swap them out. Makes it easier when it comes time to change them back.

I still have the tires 185/75/14 (I think) if any one is interested....

I am a service director at a BMW dealer and we sell alot of Blizzaks and Michelin Artic Alpin. Either one is awesome in the snow compared to regular tires.

I bought a set of the Dunlop Graspics for my Mustang G.T. This is the 3rd year and the car is very good in the winter. We have a 4 wheel drive but I use the GT. all winter!!! A set of 4 tires is necessary so the car will also stop and turn in the snow. The only trade off is the car doesen't handle as well on dry roads.

I have Dunlop Winter Sports on my car. I would highly recommend them!

They are excellent in the snow and fun (for snow tires) to drive on when it's dry.

In a snow storm I would rather take out my rear wheel drive BMW with snow tires than my wifes 4wd SUV.

Having snow tires also allows you to buy higher performance tires for the summer!


The some of the softer Blizzaks grip the snow really well. But they are an extremely soft compound that is not that much fun to drive when it is dry. They also wear out quicker.

It depends how your wife likes to drive.

Steve

Snow what the hell is that ?? :D

Blizzak WS-50!
I normally run a 225/60-16 summer tire.
For winter, I run a 215/65-16.
Slightly narrower and a smidge taller.
Just clears the struts.
1997 Dodge Intrepid

We put Michelin Pilot Alpin tires on my wife's Lexus SC430. They did fine last winter. The Blizzak's are also very good but I was told they do not wear nearly as well.

Steve

Nokians Rule!!!!
 

NOKIAN WR's.
The best set of treads I've ever driven on, BY FAR.
I have to drive 60 miles each way to work , and all I can say is these tires make the commute a lot less stressful. Try a set of these and you won't even look at another tire. It certainly is good to find a product once in a while that exceeds your expectations. They're a bit more than most($350 for 4 - 185/65 R14's), but well worth the dough:
http://www.nokiantires.com/newsite/homeF.cfm

Snow tires? I lived in frozen snowbound f--ing northern Utah for years... I never bought one pair of snow tires... If I couldn't get there on regular tires... it was time to put on the CHAINS! Chains, baby, chains... chain chain chaaaaaaaain!

Get her a set of stud's :D

do they still make studed tires?

If I were in the market (I'm waiting until next year to buy rims and tires for my Jetta TDI), I would by the Nokians. I've researched it as thouroughly as I care to, and none of the others come close to these tires for snow and ice traction. They also have rated much higher in wear than the Bridgestones or Michelins.
Not that those are bad tires either, but I like to buy the best out there. In items such as this, price is usually secondary to me.:)

Just to clarify, I started this thread in NOVEMBER 2002.

Anyway, I did end up buying a set (4) Dunlop Graspic's from the Tire Rack. This is my second season with them and they worked GREAT! They were also not as pricey as the Blizzaks, the Graspic's were $300 for all 4 tires - 215 60R 16's.

Nokian Hakka Q's are dedicated snow and ice - the WR's are a year round all season snow and ice tire.
They cost more than all the others, but they are the best.

www.etires.com