Allright northerners, let's talk snow tires on my stock rims

[thekellbeast]

So it's starting to get a little cold up here in Maine, and I wanted to make a decision about snow tires before we actually get snow on the ground. I'm going to be putting them on my stock rims that the previous owner spraypainted black, and are now chipping. So here's the list of tires that Tire Rack has for the stock size. 215/50/17

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compa...ce=W&width=215/&ratio=50&diameter=17&x=18&y=7

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 $134 ea (Performance Winter) 95H Load Rating XL
SPECIAL OFFER:Buy a set of four and get a $50 rebate.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 $134 ea (Studless Ice & Snow) 91Q

Dunlop Graspic DS-2 $109 ea (Studless Ice & Snow) 91Q
SPECIAL OFFER:Buy a set of four and get a $25 rebate.

Michelin X-Ice $121 ea (Studless Ice & Snow) 91Q

Q tires are rated at 99 mph, H at 130. I don't plan on running that fast in the snow anyways, so who cares. The reason I brought it up was the 91/95 load rating. What do our heavy ass AWD cars require for a load rating?

I'm probably putting too much thought into this since I have an AWD, but I just wanted to check to see what most people are running in heavy snow and ice areas. I searched and got a lot of results for the Blizzaks, but on a few other forums I've seen people swear by X-Ice's. The Graspics would end up being the cheapest set with the rebates, and the Blizzacks would be the most expensive. Any takers?

 

[Pro3racer]

I use the blizzaks for winter here in wisconsin, and absolutly love them! Mine are even warn from driving on dry pavement for a couple weeks(don't do this!). I've never had any other winter tires to compare, but i have had regular tires on in the winter, and the difference was amazing.

 

[thekellbeast]

Thanks for the response. I just added a poll in case more people bother to look at this thread.

 

[diablos991]

I ran some studded tires last winter, and they worked really well. You may want to look into those.

 

[jtmcinder]

Blizzaks have the best lateral grip, but the Graspics seem to be equal or a bit better longitudinally.

And then there are Winterforces. Not a bad snow tire and probably the best of the lot when it comes to rallycross on dirt and gravel.

- Jtoby

 

[thekellbeast]

I won't be doing any rallycross, since I think I missed the only rally in Maine last month. This will be just a daily driver, with the occasional stop in an unplowed parking lot, if you know what I mean.

 

[JOEY A]

I dont know but id choose the cheapest one, you have awd what are you worried about

 

[JOEY A]

Ever use dry tires in the snow, makes awd useless

 

[fourreGsixty3]

Ive got potenza G009s on my FWD and have no problem with snow, and I drove 50 miles to school and 50 back without getting stuck once. But since you dont have those I voted Graspics after looking at all the tire profiles on the net.

Dustin

 

[jtmcinder]

I won't be doing any rallycross, since I think I missed the only rally in Maine last month. This will be just a daily driver, with the occasional stop in an unplowed parking lot, if you know what I mean.

You'll be safest on the Bliazzks. But the Graspics aren't far behind, so, as long as you don't do anything silly, you'd be fine on those, too, if money is an issue.

To give you an idea of the longitudinal grip of Graspics, they aren't just my winter/rallycrossing tires; they are also my drag-racing tires.

- Jtoby

 

[underradar92]

I've been a fan of Winterforce's, they ruled the WI snow on my old Integra hooptee, however, Consumer Reports rated them at the bottom of their list! I'm going to try Mastercraft Glacier Grip II's next, as they seem to rate better and list at about $2.00 cheaper per tire. Can't hurt to try 'em, no?

 

[jtmcinder]

Winterforces are incredibly loud on dry pavement, which probably played a role in their getting a low rating. But if you check the results from various rallycross events from this past summer, you'll see that they are great on grass, gravel, and mud. I mentioned them because I, too, am now a fan. But if you're looking for a "street" snow tire, I give it to the Blizzaks (which I can sometimes spell correctly); they are on the cars that carry my children.

- Jtoby

 

[suicidal2af]

I'm probably putting too much thought into this since I have an AWD, but I just wanted to check to see what most people are running in heavy snow and ice areas.

AWD, in the snow, only helps when accelerating. When slowing down or turning, it is more of a hindrance than a help in our case. The added weight and ability to spin the rear tires makes you far more likely to lose it, and the added weight hinders braking.

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

AWD, in the snow, only helps when accelerating. When slowing down or turning, it is more of a hindrance than a help in our case. The added weight and ability to spin the rear tires makes you far more likely to lose it, and the added weight hinders braking.

But you can downshift to slow down with all 4 wheels gradually coming to a stop safely.

 

[suicidal2af]

But you can downshift to slow down with all 4 wheels gradually coming to a stop safely.

Funny, you can do that with FWD too.

 

[wongster]

hmmmm i have Toyo G-02 for snow tires.. and i love them.

They never slide and have good traction snow and slush.. ice is ok.. even on dry pavement they have pretty good grip (of course not like regular all season or winters), but hold pretty when on turns.. they are kinda noisy but i turn up my stereo and dont notice them.

 

[akdsmer]

Up here we run snowtires from October into April, so half the year we are trying to keep the sheetmetal straight. The best snow tires I have run were the Blizzak MZ-01s. They were sweet. Unfortunately, they don't make those anymore and the WS-50 they replace them with are only so-so. Blizzaks soft compound is only on the top 20% or so of the tread, so after a couple of seasons I junk 'em and by new ones. Run these for ANY length of time on warm, dry pavement and all the good sticky stuff is worn off leaving hard compound rubber.

As far as AWD is cornering is concerned, these are super stable and you can power out of any corner even on ice (although your tail is hanging out about 4 feet). Sorry, you can't pull that off with FWD. Stopping distance is much improved. You can't effectively execute a a panic stop using your tranny.

I disconnect my ABS for the winter months because on slick roads it adds a couple of lengths to my stopping distances, and if it's glare ice at the end of the stop it will let me just roll at 5mph with the brake pressure all being bypassed. Same with almost all vehicles I have owned or worked on. On wet/dry pavement, the ABS works superb.

Greentire are making tires out of recycled rubber, but more importantly, they have carbide chunks dispersed through-out the depth of the tread. As the tire wears, more of the carbide is exposed. A friend of mine is dealing the tires and I will be watching and experimenting before I call them good.

In the end: Drive defensively, give everyone a couple extra car-lengths of space and remember that if your stopping faster than everyone else, you need to be ready to pull forward for the guy behind you without traction!

 

[lasertim]

I would suggest Blizzaks but not in the WS-50 line up. I would look into the LM-25 series. Same great grip as the WS-50 but with h and v speed ratings available. And if I recall correctly they are not dual compound. I am about due for a meeting with the Bridgestone rep again so I might be wrong.


I had the Winterforce snows on the back of my DD S-10 and couldnt have been more happy. They were cheap and performed flawlessly.

 

[suicidal2af]

As far as AWD is cornering is concerned, these are super stable and you can power out of any corner even on ice (although your tail is hanging out about 4 feet). Sorry, you can't pull that off with FWD. Stopping distance is much improved. You can't effectively execute a a panic stop using your tranny.

Yeah, you're right. I can't ower out of a corner with my tail hanging out 4 feet. However, I'd rather be not moving than wrapped around a pole because the rear slid out.

Stopping distance is not improved at all. Sure, you can't execute a panic stop using your tranny. But FWD's have 4 brakes too -- number of wheels that turn when pushing the gas pedal mean absolutely nothing when you're stopping. Factor in that an AWD weighs more, and you're more likely to slide farther.

My car is more of a pita than my friend's GSX to drive in the winter, and I get stuck way more than he does. However, I've yet to spin out across 3 lanes of traffic because I gave it a little too much gas to try to get it moving.

 

[thekellbeast]

So about them tires...

I guess I'll just go with the Blizzaks...?

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

Funny, you can do that with FWD too.

Funny, you can do it twice as effectively with 4 wheels as 2. Just like having brakes on all 4 wheels is better than just the front. Just like having AWD gives better traction accelerating it also does with engine braking. I mean, what do I know? I've only owned both kinds of cars...

""When slowing down or turning, it is more of a hindrance than a help in our case. The added weight and ability to spin the rear tires makes you far more likely to lose it, and the added weight hinders braking"" I have found that more weight provides better traction. In regard to corners, sure if you punch the throttle when going around a corner, you might fishtail. But who would do that in the friggin snow? Using common sense, the AWD is superior traction in the snow. But that's pretty much well known fact. Which would you rather take skiing?

Kind of old post, but the Dunlop winter sports are better if there will also be dry road. Up here, it's dry more often then snowy in the winter. But you wany the snow traction along with being able to drive on the dry pavement without wearing them out super fast. The DUnlop Wintersports are better for this. Now if it's gonna be snowy all the time you are using them, sure go blizzack.

The winter sports also corner better, more like a performance tire. I think these look like the ultimate snow tire for a dsm, unless you are talking super heavy snow the entire time the snow tire is on the car.

Also with blizzak, when the top 50% of tread is left, the say not to use them anymore

 

[ACM]

I've used Graspics and WS50s. When I switched to Graspics I lasted about 2 weeks before I went back to WS50s. I certainly wouldn't waste time on Graspics again. Worn out WS50s (down to the all-season compound) have more snow and ice grip than fresh Graspics.

Another tyre that I have become impressed with is the Hankook W300(?). Had them on a friend's Evo in 235/45.17; the car had no problems going up or coming down the steepest hills around without the ABS ever kicking in. What surprised us even more was that they actually handle halfway decently - very stiff sidewalls, large (although well siped) tread blocks. We even autocrossed on them once, posting half decent times ! These tyres have been on my other half's 95 AWD since the spring, and survived the summer weather without problems. Can't wait to see how well they work in the snow, based on the Evo I fully expect them to be excellent, and none of that soggy boat handling that the Blizzaks and Graspics force on you.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/d...o?sw=true&tpc=HANSV1&tp=Passenger/Performance
Though not listed here, there is a 215/50.17 size for the OEM 97+ wheels.

Charles

 

[jtmcinder]

It seems that ACM and I are destined to have this disagreement every few years (which those who have good memories or use the search button already know). Before it goes much further this time around, let me remind everyone that the Graspics that I like are the HS-2s, while the Graspics that ACM had some bad experiences with are either DS-1s or DS-2s.

- Jtoby

 

[ACM]

Very good point Jtoby - but I don't think you can get the HS-1/2s any more can you ? I couldn't get HS Graspics, all I could find were the DS variety, supposedly the HS replacement.

Charles

 

[blackbyrd]

If you haven't already picked your tires, you should throw Goodyears Ultra Grip ICE, into the running.
Those got me up and down the snow/ice covered road to my mountain house everyday. Paired with a set of low profile tire chains, I was unstoppable.
But I've probably put 30k miles on the tires, and the treadwear is great, hardly any.