Hi Guys

Does anybody know if the Blizzak tires are really good for snow and ice weather or they are just better than the all season ones?! I was thinking about buying an old car just for snow days but then I'll get stuck with 2 insurance costs. Alternative is to install winter tires on my 528.
Appreciate all answers...

Dompa

Hi Guys

Does anybody know if the Blizzak tires are really good for snow and ice weather or they are just better than the all season ones?! I was thinking about buying an old car just for snow days but then I'll get stuck with 2 insurance costs. Alternative is to install winter tires on my 528.
Appreciate all answers...

Dompa

Blizzaks are fantastic in the snow and ice, but the sidewall is very stiff so your handling will suffer. They also tend to be very noisy. I went from Blizzaks to Pirelli snowsports (235/45R17) on my 540i6 and I love them. Much quieter, handle almost as well as my summer tires, and get me through the snow almost as good as the Blizzaks. Check out the reviews on tirerack.

I think you should be careful in choosing the type and brand of snow tires for your car. There is a difference between the Blizzaks and the Pirelli Snowsports.

One is a studless ice/snow tire...and the other is a performance winter tire. Just as high performance summer tires perform differently than high performance all-season tires...the same applies to winter tires.

To be the most affective...choose winter tires that meet the needs of your winter driving conditions. TireRacks website does a really good job in breaking down the performance characteristics of the various types of winter tires. For example, a performance winter tire works better for those that live in larger metropolitan areas and drive at higher speeds (like on urban highways) that get plowed on a continuous basis. Studless ice/snow tires are better for suburban/rural areas where roads may be snow/ice/slush packed and perhaps plowed infrequently...and temps remain low or near freezing which makes all-season tires hard like blocks of wood. Studless ice/snow tires remain grippy even when temps drop below 0 degrees (F) which helps maintain traction in these severe conditions. Performance snows & all season tires (respectively) begin to loose there ability to maintain road grip as temps go lower and frozen precipitation falls and remains on the ground in its various forms.

Just remember to choose your tires accordingly. Personally, my daily commute does not involve any highway driving. I drive secondary and primary city/suburban roads...and can have many days near freezing temps. I run Michelin Arctic Alpins (studless ice/snow tires) and they perform great for me. It's not until ambient temps get up in the mid 50s that they begin to get squishy and handling suffers....but by that time...it's usually spring and I remove them. BTW, I haven't put them on yet...that will probably happen sometime around Thanksgiving. :)

Just my .02

...DOMPA...you really should consider going back and giving us more car information (at least the model & year).

It really helps others help you better when they know which vehicle they are being asked about. For instance, if you ask particular questions and forgot to type info about what BMW you had...we wouldn't know if you were referring to a V8 or in line 6...or if you have an automatic or manual transmission...or if you have ASC+T or DSC.

Please help us help you better by either updating your car info...or creating a permanent signature with your car's info included.

Thanks. :)

I had Blizzak's and the first EVERYONE said when they got in my car was WTF is all that noise, what's wrong with your car?

Ans: Blizzak tires.

Hella noisy!

Blizzaks are excellent with snow and ice, but if you drive on dry pavement on a warmer day, you could see chunks of multi-sell rubber flying around behind your car.

I had decent luck with Michelin Arctic Alpins several years ago, but the technology has progressed since then. The X-Ice is supposed to be good, as are Goodyear's line of winter/snow tires.

Qsilver7 is right, though, you really should assess your needs before buying the tires. Where are you located? Do you get a lot of slush and snow?

Thanks man!... This info will help a lot since I have never put winter tires on my car.
My car is a 1997 - E39 528 With ASC. Sorry for the lack of information! I have 17" wheels with 245xZR45x17 in t he back right now but could install the winter tires on my 15" wheels.

I live in Minnesota and our winters are typically very cold with the occaisional snowstorm every other week or so. The temperature here is starting to dip below 32 degrees F and I can already feel the summer tires get rock hard.

If you want the best snow/ice traction possible, get the Blizzak WS-50. The difference between the WS-50 and an all-season tire will be night and day. These tires have a rediculously deep tread (13/32") and an aggresive tread pattern to chew through snow. It also has a "multi-cellular" rubber compound that is supposed to enhance traction on ice. Some people complain that this special compound lasts only until 6/32", but you're supposed to stop using a snow tire at 6/32" anyways since the tread depth is too shallow for snow. The downside to these tires is they're Q-rated and handling on dry roads is not good.

If you want a tire that performs decently on dry/wet/snow/ice, get the Blizzak LM-22 or LM-25. Performance in snow will be better than an all-season tire due to a silica based rubber compound and aggressive siping that adds more biting edges. Definitely not as good as the WS-50 in a snowstorm, but handling at high speeds on dry roads will be on par with good all-season tires.

Like a Qsilver7 mentioned, pick the snow tire that meets your needs.

If you live where there really is winter (i.e. snow and ice for at least 4 months) then the best tires are Nokian. they rule. Alpin's are good for winter in California.

I second the nod for Nokian. I have one of their more aggresive tread patterns in the Hakkapeliitta 2's, and they run pretty damned quiet for a full-out snow tire.

Also, I consider them better than Blizzaks becuase of the through & through compound used. Blizzaks, OTOH, only have the "multi-cellular" compund halfway through, so they're original traction is compromised early in their overall life.

I've driven on both, and there will never be anything but Nokian snows on my cars!

I have Alpins, Blizzacks and Nokian tires on my three vehicles right now. It has been below zero all week and there is snow and ice on the ground. The Nokian tire wins by a country mile. The Blizzak is second and the Alpin is a distant third. My rating scale is based on the amount of grip/traction/stick while starting, stopping and turning on snow and ice. If it were above zero and the roads dry the Alpins would win.

My experience with Nokians has been far different from the folks here. I had a set of Nokian RSI tires from TireFactory.net on my previous car (Subaru Forester) and was not impressed at all. The RSI is Nokian's dedicated snow tire that replaces Nokian's older Hakka Q. I was quite shocked actually since the siping on the tire looks very impressive. In deep snow the tire easily clogged up, causing my Forester to slide around. The last Consumer Reports issue that rated them jives with my experience. Nokian tires are probably the most expensive snow tire on the market, so I guess my expectations were too high. I must say that they were very quiet though. On the plus side, it was fairly easy to regain control when the tires initially lost their grip in deep snow and the treadwear was pretty good too.

I live in New York (Long Island) and I am looking at snow tires. Mavis has great prices on the Pirelli and Blizzak tires...how do you feel about Pirelli snows for Long Island?

The Nokians are available at STS Tires...but they are pricey.

Thanks.

I live in New York (Long Island) and I am looking at snow tires. Mavis has great prices on the Pirelli and Blizzak tires...how do you feel about Pirelli snows for Long Island?

The Nokians are available at STS Tires...but they are pricey.

Thanks.
Here's a link to TireRack's tire decision guide...remember to select "dedicated snow tires" when you get to that part: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/dg/MenuServlet?search=tdg

When you decide whether performance winter tires or studless ice/snow tires fit your need...TireRack has a list of dedicated snow tires that they've tested. Click on the links and read thru the "survey results", "reviews", and "test", etc...and from there you can determine whats best for you...by the roads and conditions in which you drive...instead of depending on a recommendation from others that don't really know the winter conditions and roads in which you drive. :)

TireRack's list of winter tire reviews, tests, surveys, etc: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/snows.jsp

What is the difference between the Bridgestone Blizak LM-25 and the 22?

Also, I've read that BMW approved tires have a "star" on the side and are directional. My dealership told me that ONLY tires with the imprinted STAR could be installed on my car. Which means that BMW has approved them. Which has something to do with the sidewalls on the inside being thicker due to the camber on the car. I drive a 99 540i6 and I'm worried about putting snow tires on the car without a star.

I live in Wisconsin....
Right now I'm leaning towards the Conti Contiwinter for the rear and keeping my new pilot sport II's on the front. I"m thinking that my deep treat on the ps'2's will equal the agressive tread on the snow rear. YES I have read the warnings about doing this....but does it really matter?

So yeah, my priorities are jacked up....I'm worried about a star on the side, but not about mixing tires:help

Great thread by the way..

[QUOTE=RND1;7835110]Blizzaks are fantastic in the snow and ice, but the sidewall is very stiff so your handling will suffer. QUOTE]

A stiff sidewall is what makes a good handling tire.

I think what you wanted to say was that a stiff sidewall makes a hard riding tire.