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#1
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Which winter tires for a Bimmer?
I've been winter tire hunting. Every dealer I visit is hawking a different
brand, and I have yet to find a site that rates or reviews winter tires. Then again, more than one carries Bridgestone Blizzaks. I've heard both good: "they're the best winter grip, their technology's way ahead of everybody else", and bad: "the special grip layer is very thin, wears off after just one season, after which they're no better than regular all- seasons". I've also been shown Toyo, Kumho and Michellin. Which brand would you recommend? Kevin |
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#2
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Unless you are expecting conditions where after a snowfall the snow remains
on the roads for any appreciable length of time, AND you are going to be driving on SNOW-not plowed roads, snow tires are a waste of time and money AND actually reduce traction under these conditions. Snow tires are for driving ON SNOW, and for that they are great. Blizzaks are very good because they are grippier, but not on snow, on cold plowed roads. The snow treads are also good in the white stuff. Since they address both issues, they are probably the best around, but as you have found out, they are only effective for one season. "Kevin Oberle" > wrote in message 7.142... > I've been winter tire hunting. Every dealer I visit is hawking a > different > brand, and I have yet to find a site that rates or reviews winter tires. > > Then again, more than one carries Bridgestone Blizzaks. I've heard both > good: "they're the best winter grip, their technology's way ahead of > everybody else", and bad: "the special grip layer is very thin, wears off > after just one season, after which they're no better than regular all- > seasons". > > I've also been shown Toyo, Kumho and Michellin. > > Which brand would you recommend? > > Kevin |
#3
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In article io.net>,
tech27 wrote: >Unless you are expecting conditions where after a snowfall the snow remains >on the roads for any appreciable length of time, AND you are going to be >driving on SNOW-not plowed roads, snow tires are a waste of time and money >AND actually reduce traction under these conditions. Snow tires are for >driving ON SNOW, and for that they are great. Blizzaks are very good because Not true. Winter (not snow) tires are designed to be used in lower temperatures. It means that the material is softer and provides more traction than summer tires which stiffen in low temperatures. >they are grippier, but not on snow, on cold plowed roads. The snow treads >are also good in the white stuff. Since they address both issues, they are >probably the best around, but as you have found out, they are only effective >for one season. > > >"Kevin Oberle" > wrote in message . 97.142... >> I've been winter tire hunting. Every dealer I visit is hawking a >> different >> brand, and I have yet to find a site that rates or reviews winter tires. >> >> Then again, more than one carries Bridgestone Blizzaks. I've heard both >> good: "they're the best winter grip, their technology's way ahead of >> everybody else", and bad: "the special grip layer is very thin, wears off >> after just one season, after which they're no better than regular all- >> seasons". >> >> I've also been shown Toyo, Kumho and Michellin. >> >> Which brand would you recommend? >> >> Kevin > > -- /"\ Jan Kalin (male, preferred languages: Slovene, English) \ / http://charm.zag.si/eng/, email: "name dot surname AT zag dot si" X ASCII ribbon campaign against HTML in mail and postings. / \ I'm a .signature virus. Copy me to help me spread. |
#4
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Blizzaks are very good because
> they are grippier, but not on snow, on cold plowed roads. The snow treads > are also good in the white stuff. Since they address both issues, they are > probably the best around, but as you have found out, they are only effective > for one season. > Rubbish! I have had Michelin Alpins on my wife's Maxima for 3 seasons (soon to be 4th), and they have always performed wonderfully. Besides enhancing driving safety, they save the factory alloys from winter salt. I have Blizzaks on my E39 and they are going on their 4th season. The OE summer tires, Dunlop 2000s, are absolutely banana peels in the winter---if snow is even PREDICTED they start sliding. The Blizzaks allow me to maintain my usual pace without drama in the curves. It is important to note that the Blizzaks have changed over the years. I had the original version when they first came out on my Accord. They were very soft and noisy, and would wear quickly if you drove much over 75 mph, yet I managed over 3 seasons with them. But the latest versions wear better and are rated for higher speeds. I expect about 15-20K miles from mine. Matthew |
#5
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> Unless you are expecting conditions where after a snowfall the snow
> remains on the roads for any appreciable length of time, AND you are going > to be driving on SNOW-not plowed roads, snow tires are a waste of time and > money AND actually reduce traction under these conditions. Snow tires are > for driving ON SNOW, and for that they are great. Blizzaks are very good > because they are grippier, but not on snow, on cold plowed roads. The snow > treads are also good in the white stuff. Since they address both issues, > they are probably the best around, but as you have found out, they are > only effective for one season. Hmmmm................ try to tell that to all the poeple in Scandinavia driving on winter tires winter after winter, i simply cannot get to/ from work in the Scandinavian winter without (or at least my E46 would slide off the road many times every winter) The best winter tires for "real" scandinavian winter is spiked tires (like Gislaved Nord Frost) but they tend to make a lot of noise on dry roads - i drive Gislaved Soft Frost w/o spikes and they normaly last 3-4 winters (i throw them out when they have around 3-4 mm left) A test made in Finland shows that used winter tires are working almost as new ones down to the point where there is 3-4 mm left. Spiked tires can be driven down to 2-3 mm, there where wery (almost none) difference form a new winter tire and one worn 50% down. |
#6
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<<top posting corrected>>
> "Kevin Oberle" > wrote in message > 7.142... >> I've been winter tire hunting. Every dealer I visit is hawking a >> different >> brand, and I have yet to find a site that rates or reviews winter tires. >> >> Then again, more than one carries Bridgestone Blizzaks. I've heard both >> good: "they're the best winter grip, their technology's way ahead of >> everybody else", and bad: "the special grip layer is very thin, wears off >> after just one season, after which they're no better than regular all- >> seasons". >> >> I've also been shown Toyo, Kumho and Michellin. >> >> Which brand would you recommend? >> >> Kevin > "tech27" > wrote in message .verio.net... > Unless you are expecting conditions where after a snowfall the snow > remains on the roads for any appreciable length of time, AND you are going > to be driving on SNOW-not plowed roads, snow tires are a waste of time and > money AND actually reduce traction under these conditions. Snow tires are > for driving ON SNOW, and for that they are great. Blizzaks are very good > because they are grippier, but not on snow, on cold plowed roads. The snow > treads are also good in the white stuff. Since they address both issues, > they are probably the best around, but as you have found out, they are > only effective for one season. Fits off Kevin, don't listen to anything "tech27" above said about not needing winter tires. It's complete rubbish based on the "snow tires" of the 1970's. Modern winter tires should be a *requirement* for driving anywhere that the temps will drop below freezing on a regular basis in winter. They are made from a softer compound that will not harden as much as summer or all-season (some say no-season) tires and will provide superior performance even on dry roads when the mercury dips. Here's the scoop on the Blizzaks. Read for yourself: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Compa re1=yes -Fred Wills |
#7
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Kevin Oberle > wrote in message . 97.142>...
> I've been winter tire hunting. Every dealer I visit is hawking a different > brand, and I have yet to find a site that rates or reviews winter tires. > > Then again, more than one carries Bridgestone Blizzaks. I've heard both > good: "they're the best winter grip, their technology's way ahead of > everybody else", and bad: "the special grip layer is very thin, wears off > after just one season, after which they're no better than regular all- > seasons". > > I've also been shown Toyo, Kumho and Michellin. > > Which brand would you recommend? > > Kevin Take a look at www.TireRack.com. You'll probably find it cheaper to buy your tires in Canada, but the reviews of winter and snow tires are outstanding. Read about the distiction. You probably can use winter tires, and you will get several seasons out of them. Check out the Dunlop Winter Sport M3 in particular. |
#8
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Kevin Oberle > wrote in message . 97.142>...
> I've been winter tire hunting. Every dealer I visit is hawking a different > brand, and I have yet to find a site that rates or reviews winter tires. www.tirerack.com Read about them, call the toll free number and discuss your needs with them, and then buy from them. You won't regret it. > Then again, more than one carries Bridgestone Blizzaks. I spent several years on Blizzaks and, IMO, they ain't the be-all and end-all of winter tires. Fairly low speed ratings and too 'squishy' for my taste. That said, there are newer models out now than when the highest speed rating was a 'Q'. A lot of manufacturers have brought out H- and V-rated winter tires so my selection is much wider than when the only affordable ones were the Pirelli WinterSport 210s. > Which brand would you recommend? Again IMO, the Dunlop M3 offers about the best combination of features for the money. We use them on our Jaguar X-Type. Even with AWD and traction control, it was downright treacherous on the OEM 17" Pirellis. The 'Minus One' 16" Dunlops make it a 'snow monster'. Got them at ... well, you know. -- C.R. Krieger (Not affiliated) |
#9
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One word : HAKKA PELITA!!!
*the* best winter tire bar none. period. no ifs ands or buts. |
#10
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