Winter Tires

JSHRN

I'm looking for winter tires and after doing some research have narrowed it down to: Michelin X-Ice Xi2; Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3; Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60; Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 and the Winterforce M+S Tire. I live in northeast Pennsylvania and do a combination of city and country driving (where the road conditions can change VERY quickly). I also drive to central New York (into the snow belt area) where the snowstorms are legendary). I'm looking at a set of 4 - 245/65/R17 to put on a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLT. Any advice? I had a set of Winterforce on my Jeep Grand Cherokee last winter and had good luck from them. I've read the pros and cons on some review sites and am still not sure what to buy. I've heard from some people that the Bridgestone Blizzak line is actually "too good of a winter tire and gives the driver a false set of confidence". I've read that the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 is top rated across the board. Suggestions?

heiney9

I have Blizzak LM 25's on my GTi and if I remember correctly they are a "sport" winter tire. Probably don't need the sport designation for your SUV.

I got the sport designation for the GTi because I put them on right about now and they behave a little better on dry pavement. You are paying extra for the "sport" designation.

This is their 5th season and they still have almost 3/4 of full tread left. I avg about 4000 miles or less a season on them.

Great snow tires. My traction control hardly ever kicked in with these nor the ABS. They really grip well and inspire confidence in winter snow driving.

H9

Jstas

For trucks, Pirelli Scorpion AT's did better for me than any snow tire I ever had. They used to be fairly cheap too, about $92 a pop. They had decent on-road manners and grabbed well in foul weather and off-road. Didn't hum real loud at all either. Best part was, didn't have to take them off in the spring!

I've run Bridgestone Blizzaks, Michelin's Pilot snow tires and Continetal's snow tires and none did better than the Pirellis. My dad had a set of Power King snow tires on his truck and they did awesome too but they are hard to find around here.

Joe08867

Jstas, thanks for the description of the Pirelli's. I need new shoes for the GMS Sierra and was looking into the Pirelli or Bridgestone. I think you just made my choice easier.

NotaSuv

I had Blizzaks on a 2002 Camaro for 3 snowy winters in Minnesota and they worked great.....had Blizzaks on a Dodge Dakota RT modded to 375hp to rears and they worked good nothing on that truck worked great in the snow....tried a few others on the RT but the Blizzaks were the best....I had the Scorpions on for one snow storm and got stuck on a very minor incline, and went back to Blizzaks...like anything everyone has "the best" I did find that the skinnest tire that would fit on the truck helped alot....it also helped to have a best friend as the mgr of the Discount Tire so was easy to try a few different brands...have been driving the Jeep the past 3 years so maybe tread designs have changed or improved since I ran the Blizzaks....also has ALOT to do on your driving habits...as I always see alot more soccer mom driven 4X4's in the ditch than anything else...

Jstas

I find that weight has alot to do with it too. Dakotas are light as well as Camaros and everyone I know that has had good experiences with Blizzaks has had a light vehicle. Guys with trucks over 4500 pounds tend to have said the Blizzaks weren't all that great. My truck is 4700 pounds and while light for a full-sized truck, it's a pig compared to most cars.

Heavy vehicles tend to work better with wide open tread blocks with lots of space, basically a mud/snow or A/T tire. My Thunderbird did good with Blizzaks and Michelin Pilot snow tires. My truck suffers with them. Especially with the front weight bias. The Blizzaks got packed with snow real quick and with less weight over the rear tires, they turned in to snow balls back there and packed so hard up front that I had to hit them with a shovel handle to jar the packed snow loose. Didn't have those problems with the Pirellis.

Jstas

BTW, the "sport" designation on the Blizzaks just means that they have high speed ratings, like 130+ MPH. They are meant for cars that came with high speed rubber stock. Usually a lower speed rating tire on a high speed capable vehicle is not safe. So the sport version help preserve stock performance for when it's dry out but gives you good winter weather capabilities when the snow falls.

Lowell_M

heiney9 wrote: »

I have Blizzak LM 25's on my GTi and if I remember correctly they are a "sport" winter tire. Probably don't need the sport designation for your SUV.

I got the sport designation for the GTi because I put them on right about now and they behave a little better on dry pavement. You are paying extra for the "sport" designation.

This is their 5th season and they still have almost 3/4 of full tread left. I avg about 4000 miles or less a season on them.

Great snow tires. My traction control hardly ever kicked in with these nor the ABS. They really grip well and inspire confidence in winter snow driving.

H9

+1 on the LM-25's

mark090852

I would recommend researching at tirerack.com. You can read the reviews and see the ratings of any tire that would fit your vehicle. I've always settled on Blizzaks in the past because of their reviews and ratings and, in fact, am putting on 4 WS-60s tonight. Just got them in from TireRack last week.

heiney9

+1 Tire Rack is a great company. It's been about 12 years since I've bought tires from anyone other than The Tire Rack. I swear by them and their customer service, etc.

I have them shipped directly to my mechanic and he mounts and balances them for me. I run summer tires on aftermarket rims and snow tires on the factory stock rims.

Great system if you know somewhere to have them shipped to and mounted. Much cheaper than buying at a retail type tire shop. But, this method doesn't work for everyone especially if time is an issue or you don't have a shop to send them to.

H9

heiney9

Jstas wrote: »

BTW, the "sport" designation on the Blizzaks just means that they have high speed ratings, like 130+ MPH. They are meant for cars that came with high speed rubber stock. Usually a lower speed rating tire on a high speed capable vehicle is not safe. So the sport version help preserve stock performance for when it's dry out but gives you good winter weather capabilities when the snow falls.

I agree they have the higher speed rating but the tread is "less" aggressive than an all out "regular" winter tire. Less blocky, tighter tread design which translates to a little better drivability on dry pavement less squirming a little more responsive. If I lived in Colorado or Minnesota I probably would have gone for the slightly more aggressive winter tire just because they are better overall in snow and ice which they get more of than we do here in Illinois.

Around here we have many days of clear, dry pavement so it made more sense to go with the "sportier" winter tire.

But the WS and LM Blizzaks are similar with the WS line having the more aggressive, traditional snow tread design along with a lower speed rating.

YMMV

H9

NotaSuv

Jstas wrote: »

I find that weight has alot to do with it too. Dakotas are light as well as Camaros and everyone I know that has had good experiences with Blizzaks has had a light vehicle. Guys with trucks over 4500 pounds tend to have said the Blizzaks weren't all that great. My truck is 4700 pounds and while light for a full-sized truck, it's a pig compared to most cars.




Thanks Jstas I didnt even think about the weight factor..............