Are snow tires worth $600 (Bridgestone Blizzaks)

[vi edit]

Specific tire: 185/55HR15 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 - $100 a piece at tirerack.com

Had the first "snow" of the year yesterday. Wasn't really a snow, but it was enough to cover the roads in places. Incidently, it was also the first time I had the opportunity to take my new car out in crappy conditions as well. Needless to say, my GTi is less than competent on ice and snow . If there had been any more snow on the ground, I doubt I would have made to where I wanted to go.

The tires on it are some low profile Firestone SVX's. I don't think they are even rated as an all weather tire. I've heard people talk about snow tires, but I don't know if I can justify $600 for them. The tires themselves are $400 for a set of 4, but I'm ordering another set of junk steel wheels so that I can just do an easy swap at the beginning and end of the winter season. They'll also be nice so that way if I accidently slide into a curb, I don't destroy the $150 a piece BBS alloys that are on there right now.

Any personal experience and advice on winter tires? Are they worth it? Are the Blizzaks pretty nice?

Thanks!

 

[Infos]

Only if you like stopping and being able to steer through snow and ice

 

[vi edit]

Do they really make *that* much of a difference? All my cars in the past were either 4x4 pickup trucks or cars that handled very well in the snow.

 

[iamwiz82]

bliazzaks are good and they last. You wont need to be buy new ones for a few winters, so its really only $200 a year.

Thats if you dont drive 30000 miles a winter, though

 

[Insane3D]

Yeah, the Blizzaks are really, really good tires. Like someone else said, if you only use them during the winter, you should get at least a few winters out of them. They are really good performers in winter condintions, and they even stick to ice pretty well...

 

Snow tires are great if your current tires are not all season radials.

 

[Vegito]

I have the yoko avs db and they're bad in snow and I"m just thinking of getting a second set of rims and snow tires for the winter season and swap them out in the summer...

My boss just told me to get snow tires cuz they really help a sedan if you have some snow problem... and I dont like to hit the guy in front of me either... that would sux

 

[cjchaps]

I plan on getting the Nokian Hakkapelitta 1's for my Subaru as winter tires. They are about the same price as the Blizzaks and I heard they wear and handle better. You can't get them at tirerack though...

 

[yakko]

Get some Blizzaks and an Audi AWD and your snow needs are met.

 

[vi edit]

cjchaps, I've read about the Nokian @ edmunds, but unfortunately I've got a bit of a "rare" car for here and nobody carries a snow tire for it. If they were to special order anything for me, it would run at least $150 a tire

Tirerack is really one of my only choices that is cheap & reputable.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<< Had the first "snow" of the year yesterday. Wasn't really a snow, but it was enough to cover the roads in places >>


just read that ^^^^ and reminded me of the weather here, then i checked your profile and you're in cedar rapids! well i'll be damned, another iowan on AT i'm in davenport btw, its cold as sh!t here lately!!

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

oh and about the tires....well....those cost 2/3 of what my car costs, and that car probably doesnt have 2 matching tires on it!! (well, maybe 2, but thats it)

 

[vi edit]

<< its cold as sh!t here lately!! >>



Hehe, it's a balmy 15 degrees over here in CR with a refreshing windchill of -20

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

it was 12 degrees earlier this morning!

i heard that in cedar rapids you buy bread in cubes and ride unicycles everywhere!! is it true??????

one time i went to a "mall".......

 

[vi edit]

<< i heard that in cedar rapids you buy bread in cubes and ride unicycles everywhere!! is it true?????? >>



No, but I saw some poor bastard tank a bicycle yesterday on the ice. OUCH! I'm certain he's feeling that one today

 

[cjchaps]

As a rule of thumb, almost every snow tire is better in the snow than almost every all-season tire. I've heard lots of good things about Blizzaks, so that is probably a good choice. A nice thing Blizzaks is that if you shred it somehow, everyone carries them.

 

[CurtOien]

My wife and I each have new cars with good all season tires.
We both got Blizzaks for winter driving.
I could not understand the big difference they make until I tried them.
You have to make sure you do not drive them in warm weather or you will ruin them quickly.

 

[Maetryx]

Maetryx here,

I live in the middle of Alaska. It gets so cold that the packed snow becomes a second pavement. So I never bother with studded snow tires. I stick with all season radials year round. During breakup (spring thaw) and first snow (September usually) the roads can be pretty slippery. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is really just fine in these conditions, with or without studded snow tires. Front wheel drive vehicles do fine on stopping distances, but can have a little trouble getting started after the light turns green. Only people silly enough to drive rear wheel drive pickups and cars would see a significant benefit to switching tires every season.

But a LOT of people do switch to studded snow tires. I personally think they are wasting their time and money. I've lived in Alaska for 12 years. I stopped switch tires back and forth about 5 years ago, and I can't really tell the difference.

 

[CurtOien]

Maetryx,
I must disagree.
I have front wheel drive and I think it is worth it.
Firestone has a deal when you get Blizzaks that they change your tires and balance them every spring and fall.
They also offer a lifetime alignment deal that we use each time.
The biggest plus is not for taking off or for getting stuck but for stopping and handling.
They have a very soft rubber almost like broomball shoes.
I can't tell you about studs because they were outlawed in MN years ago.

 

[Pabster]

BingBongWongFooey:

I'm in Waterloo and its colder than sh!t also... Not much snow, but still very, very cold.

There's more Iowans on the forums than you realize

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

the iowans is taken ova!!!!!!!!!!!

death by CORN!!!!!

and cows....