Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

[BF]

Hiya...

On one of my vans I have studded winter tires and have been happy with them... For my other van (same make/model as the first) I don't yet have a set of winter tires. I came across a local ad for a set of 4 blizzaks of the right size with 1 winter of wear on them for a bit less than 1/2 the price of the tires new (asking $200)...

I specifically didn't buy blizzaks for the first vehicle, because I didn't like that their special tread compound was only for the first 55% or so of their tread (after that their performance is suppossed to drop dramatically).

So what are your thoughts? Blizzaks are great? or should I just go with what I know and by new studded tires? Saving some $$$ would be nice and maybe blizzaks with 1 season of wear off them would do me for another few seasons (I don't put many miles on this vehicle).

The money saved on the used tires could pay for a new set of winter rims.

Thoughts appreciated...

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

I would go for it Blizzaks are an exallent tire

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

They are great. I use Dunlop Digi-tire Studless Ice and Snow winter tires that have the same amount of tread wear design. I have used mine and I am going into my 3rd winter season. I change them out every year and the wear bars are not showing. They have special wear bars to let you know when the compound is worn down.

The blizzaks use the same type wear bars.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

Blizzaks kick ass.
I wish we were allowed studs in Ontario.
Our ministry of transportation is a bunch of idiots.... they do nothing but collect taxes... the no studs law hasn't been looked at since the days of bias ply tires.

 

[BF]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

Hey kjdkjk...

Unless you're in southern ontario, check the rules about studs... I think they're legal now if you live in Northern Ontario. They were changing the legislation last year (not 100% sure that it happened). I was in a Cdn tire last fall in Kenora, and the person beside me asked if they could buy studded tires yet, the sales guy said, "no, but probably within the next week or two."

Thanks for the input(s)... I'll probably see if I can get 'em. (the blizzaks)

 

[AK_Chappy]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

I don't know about the Blizzaks.
I do know about Michelin Alpines (sp). We put them on my wife's Ford Windstar when we lived in Anchorage, AK. She loved the way they handled the winter weather.
Only problem we ever had was when we got too much snow and she got the van stuck in our Cul-De-Sac. Of course, she could've had on Super Stock Big Grabbers and got stuck that day.

AK Chappy

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

I have absolutely no idea about snow, I'm from the middle of Tejas so we see maybe 1/4 " of it a year. I can tell you that I have used the tires you want to buy though. In my racing days we were restricted to a off the shelf DOT tire. The Blizzaks would work wonders with the wet clay. I vote to buy them.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

Hey kjdkjk...

Unless you're in southern ontario, check the rules about studs... I think they're legal now if you live in Northern Ontario. They were changing the legislation last year (not 100% sure that it happened). I was in a Cdn tire last fall in Kenora, and the person beside me asked if they could buy studded tires yet, the sales guy said, "no, but probably within the next week or two."

Thanks for the input(s)... I'll probably see if I can get 'em. (the blizzaks)

Cool - I did not know that....I am in central Ontario, right in the provinces worst snow belt. Studs are not legal here by about 40 miles I discover after visiting the MTO site......
Oddly, I phoned in to a CBC phone in show last year about winter driving and suggested to the OPP officer on the radio that the province revisit this and told them how studs have evolved.... The officer and host of the show basically laughed me right off the air... saying that studs were 30 year old technology and completely unneccessary in this day and age...wtf? haha.. interesting to learn this now...

 

[tommays]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

you have me looking at this tire BUT it looks like its a winter only ?

i take it it will wear out very fast if used year round ?


Tommays

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

One it wears out the silica compound it will wear as a normal tire. The winter compound tire IS NOT rated for high speed and it would be a costly year round tire.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

definitely not year round.
I DID once however, drive through a summer on Michelin Alpins and they seemed to be ok with it.... Alpins a touch harder tire than Blizzak

 

[BF]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

well they were gone by the time I got a hold of the guy. Dang.

Yes, all the new studless ("fancy") winter tires wear quickly in warm weather / dry pavement. They have much softer rubber compound than regular all season tires. Bridgestone now makes Blizzaks of the "performance" variety... but they give up some winter traction.

I have had people tell me how out of date I am for using metal studs... But they are still the best on glare ice. Also metal studs can slow the wear of otherwise soft winter tires. The downside to them is they are noisy, they are not as grippy on dry pavement, and they may or may not be legal where you are. But when you have brand new studded tires they are just plain amazing on ice!

 

[one more cast]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

I put sam's club $50 snow tires (no studs) on our lumina and they have had GREAT traction for the last 3 winters,this would have been the 4th winter on them but I sold the car yesterday.

 

[Pony]

Re: Blizzaks vs. non-premium winter tires?

Here is an old but interesting read. Tire Link I wish it was more recent since I am sure the tres have been improved some since these intial tests.

I have a pretty agressive tread on my truck tires. I have only a year of use on them, but they are wearing really well. They still look brand new, and they provided much better grip in the snow and ice than I had with my old tires. I was short on money so I couldnt get as agressive as I wanted to with the tread, an will probably get some MT's next time around. I have AT's now, otherwise I probably would have some sort of winter only tire. The blizacks do look good though. I wouldnt mind trying them for a winter if I could find a cheap set that would fit my rims.

This is the tread I use year round. For $85 a tire I couldn't be happier.


Its tough to see in this pic, but they dig into the snow fairly well.