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Old 08-15-2016, 07:12 AM   #6551
krzyss
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Do you guys know that there are Blizzaks that are comparable to 4Ds?
They are LM series and are performance winter just like Sottozero or 3D/4D.

WS are studless and different category (similar to Hakkapellitta R/R2, Michelin X-Ice Xi3).

As n2oiroc mentioned, performance winter tires are better in snow than AS but their selling point is comparable performance to AS in dry and wet.
If you drive a lot on unplowed roads or be ready for the worst then studless (or studded, where legal) cannot be beaten.

Krzys
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Old 08-15-2016, 10:27 AM   #6552
mrgf8sti
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My wife bought some blizzaks ws60 brand new from tire rack 6 or 7 years ago. She probably only put 30000 kms on it and has lots of treads left. I'm wondering if these tires are still good being 6+ years old?
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Old 08-15-2016, 12:02 PM   #6553
left footed whooten
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The rubber isnt remotely in optimal shape just on time alone. I personally wouldnt use them or expect great performance from them. They shoudl have at least a safety check for condition.
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Old 09-20-2016, 08:29 AM   #6554
renefreina
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Default Winter tires needed in Park City UT

If there is anyone in PC who wants brand new high performance summer tires 8k on them let me know. I need something for the winter 245/40/18.

Thank you
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Old 09-23-2016, 07:55 AM   #6555
Bluefoton
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Here in Canada, we can buy Hakkas 8 unstudded - how would they compare to Hakka R2s?
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Old 09-24-2016, 11:25 AM   #6556
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefoton View Post
Here in Canada, we can buy Hakkas 8 unstudded - how would they compare to Hakka R2s?
Much, much better on ice, especially around 0 degC, when it is studded. But of course, much noisier than the R2.

If you want an unstudded tire, get the R2.

Last edited by SubLGT; 09-24-2016 at 11:38 AM.
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Old 09-24-2016, 11:28 AM   #6557
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Here is a preview of the test results (overall score) that will soon show up online at the NAF website.

Continental ContiVikingContact 6 **, 7,6
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 **, 7,5
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice 2 **, 7,4
Michelin X-Ice XI3 **, 7,4
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 *, 7,0
Sava Eskimo Ice *, 6,9
Hankook Winter i*cept IZ2 *, 6,9
Pirelli Ice Zero FR -, 6,7
Landsail Winter Lander -, 6,5
Yokohama Ice Guard ig50 Plus -, 6,5
Nankang Ice Activa Ice-1 -, 6,3

Above data sourced at:
http://www.btcf.fi/forum/showthread.php?t=132099&page=5

As was true last year, the WS80 did not make it into the top 3.
I was expecting to see a new Michelin XIce Xi4 this year, but looks like I was wrong.
Goodyear looks good, with the UGI-2. Has anyone seen it available in the USA?

Studded tires:
Continental IceContact 2 ****, 8,6
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 ****, 8,6
Bridgestone Noranza 001 ****, 8,4
Pirelli Ice Zero ****, 8,3
Hankook Winter I*Pike RS+ ***, 8,2
Goodyear Ultragrip Ice Arctic ***, 8,1
Gislaved Nord Frost 200 **, 7,7
Michelin X-Ice North 3 **, 7,7
Toyo Observe G3-Ice **, 7,4
Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi31 *, 7,1

Last edited by SubLGT; 09-25-2016 at 07:03 PM.
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Old 09-24-2016, 01:04 PM   #6558
bassler
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Wish they had sottozero 3s or serie 2s. Think that's what I'm going with for the Audi. Will report back on R2s vs Pirellis.
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Old 09-25-2016, 08:42 PM   #6559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bassler View Post
Wish they had sottozero 3s or serie 2s. Think that's what I'm going with for the Audi. Will report back on R2s vs Pirellis.
The test is Norwegian, if I am not mistaken. Apparently land of fiords is not place for performance winter tires.
Soon there should be ADAC and CR results.

Krzy***347;
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Old 09-26-2016, 03:41 PM   #6560
PlanB
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I know I might be stirring up a hornets nest (studded vs. non-studded), but I was wondering people's real-world experiences with the two following tires:

General Tire Arctic Altimax (Studded)
vs.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 (Non-Studded)


I can get both with rims and installed for within about $150.00 of each other. One from Canadian Tire (up north obviously) and one from Costco. Vehicle is going to be a 2017 Forester 2.5.

Any real-world experiences and feedback is appreciated. I currently have the Arctic Altimax on my Impreza and am very happy with them. However, I've heard nothing but good things about the WS-80's.

Thanks for your input.
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Old 09-26-2016, 07:59 PM   #6561
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PlanB View Post
I know I might be stirring up a hornets nest (studded vs. non-studded), but I was wondering people's real-world experiences with the two following tires:

General Tire Arctic Altimax (Studded)
vs.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 (Non-Studded)


I can get both with rims and installed for within about $150.00 of each other. One from Canadian Tire (up north obviously) and one from Costco. Vehicle is going to be a 2017 Forester 2.5.

Any real-world experiences and feedback is appreciated. I currently have the Arctic Altimax on my Impreza and am very happy with them. However, I've heard nothing but good things about the WS-80's.

Thanks for your input.
if you ever drive on bare pavement, studded tires are awful. they have terrible traction unless you have a packed snow or ice base.
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Old 09-27-2016, 04:30 AM   #6562
left footed whooten
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If you live where you get real winters and ice along with it, studs will be fine. If you live where you dont have much ice needs, the studs might not be the best tool for the job. Modern studless tires have narrowed the gap between needing studs and not.

Ive ran both off and on for 22 years and Ive never noticed bad traction on dry pavement with them. It will definitely increase the speed at which they come out of your tires, but then again, I wasnt ever going for those 1g turns on my winter tires anyway. Ive had good luck with pirelli, general, and nokian studded tires.

That said, we dont get much ice per se here in the sierra, so studless is a great choice here. All winter tires are noisy, but studs can be the noisiest, especially when you start losing studs one by one.

I wouldnt get fixed on the blizzaks either. The competition has caught up quite a bit since they were the new hot thing. I stopped at the ws 70, as I felt that the others were just as good overall. The goodyear UGIWRT for instance, and even the altimax general unstudded were mighty fine. We get tons of snow, dry powder, wet sierra cement, etc. They all did well.

If I dont sell my WRX in time for winter, I will be trying the new conti.

I just got rid of 15 forester, I ran the Goodyear UGIWRT on those with great success. got 3 winters out of the set on my WRX and I never get 3 winters out of any of them.

The blizzaks are always great when new, but they wear through the winter compound portion after 1-1.5 winters and theyre just heavily lugged A/S tires at that point. Many are.

Look into the GY UGIWRT, the Continental studless for this year, and even the altimax without the studs. Blizzaks are good, but not as head-and-shoulders-above as they were several years ago. The competition is also good.
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Old 09-27-2016, 11:12 AM   #6563
SubLGT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bassler View Post
Wish they had sottozero 3s or serie 2s. Think that's what I'm going with for the Audi. Will report back on R2s vs Pirellis.
The Winter Sottozero3 scored 2nd overall in the most recent ADAC testing of 17" and 15" performance winter tires. The Dunlop Winter Sport5 scored 1st place overall.

https://www.adac.de/infotestrat/test...cePageId=31821

https://www.adac.de/infotestrat/test...cePageId=31821

For reasons unknown to me, ADAC did not test any winter tires from Continental.
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Old 09-27-2016, 11:30 AM   #6564
bassler
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SubLGT View Post
The Winter Sottozero3 scored 2nd overall in the most recent ADAC testing of 17" and 15" performance winter tires. The Dunlop Winter Sport5 scored 1st place overall.

https://www.adac.de/infotestrat/test...cePageId=31821

https://www.adac.de/infotestrat/test...cePageId=31821

For reasons unknown to me, ADAC did not test any winter tires from Continental.
interesting, thanks. cant get the 5s in the US it would seem after a quick look. I just ordered up the Sottozeros to be installed in 6 weeks or so depending on temps/weather.
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Old 09-27-2016, 12:04 PM   #6565
wrxnh
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Soon my Altimax will be going on (well hopefully not too soon).

I've driven in a complete blizzard to mix of ice/snow here in NH. I've stopped in middle of very steep hill known in this area and had no issues. I mean sure, if we had less plowing and lived on the back roads maybe I would try out other tires but it's been great so far

I was probably the only idiot to be driving in this condition other than the plow trucks lol


On the back road, nothing crazy.

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Old 10-01-2016, 10:39 PM   #6566
YethThir
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I have had blizzaks on my 14 passat and they've made it through 2 winters with plenty of tread and traction left. They've treated me amazing.
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Old 10-04-2016, 09:42 PM   #6567
spaniard82
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Question First WRX, Winter on LI, NY

year: 2016
model: WRX
location: Long Island, NY
tires only or winter package: winter package

Trying to decide between the Conti WC SI, or Pirelli WS3 specs are same 235/45R17 for my area. Winter can dump some snow around here but typically it's 3 - 6 inches turns to slush quick cause of salting and plowing.

Another question is that the OEM offset of the stock 18" wheel is +55 I believe (from here) so should I pick a 40, 45 or 53 offset onto a 17x7.5 wheel? I think that the 53 would be better cause it stays closer to the OEM, but what effects would I see on speedo, gas consumption and such?

Package from tirerack I was thinking of is either tire above on the Sport Edition CS3 17x7.5 (stupid link changes to nissan, but it's listed for this 16 WRX as well)

Tirerack recommends the Blizzak WS80 on Sport Edition F7 17x7.5 40mm offset. Would I just be better off saving money and going with that wheel and either tire above?

Any feedback on these tires and offset for the wheels would be greatly appreciated. I've had a regular Impreza before and never had to worry about this before. I apologize ahead of time if the offset question was posted before, but I didn't see it as I searched, but I also didn't read thru all 124124905 post. lol Thanks!
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Old 10-05-2016, 01:03 AM   #6568
SubLGT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spaniard82 View Post
year: 2016
model: WRX
location: Long Island, NY
tires only or winter package: winter package

Trying to decide between the Conti WC SI, or Pirelli WS3 specs are same 235/45R17 for my area. Winter can dump some snow around here but typically it's 3 - 6 inches turns to slush quick cause of salting and plowing...
If ice traction is your #1 priority, get a studless ice&snow tire, like the Conti SI. If traction on cold dry/wet roads, and resistance to hydroplaning/slushplaning are a high priority, get a performance winter, like the the Pirelli S3.
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:38 AM   #6569
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I just bought the conti si's because they stop as well on ice as the ws-80 but handle better and are supposed to be about the best in slush.
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Old 10-05-2016, 07:17 AM   #6570
krzyss
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Studless winters are usually worse in slush than performance winters.
If I am not mistaken only Russian tests measure slush performance and it was the general rule.

Krzys
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Old 10-05-2016, 09:44 AM   #6571
spaniard82
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SubLGT View Post
If ice traction is your #1 priority, get a studless ice&snow tire, like the Conti SI. If traction on cold dry/wet roads, and resistance to hydroplaning/slushplaning are a high priority, get a performance winter, like the the Pirelli S3.
Quote:
Originally Posted by krzyss View Post
Studless winters are usually worse in slush than performance winters.
If I am not mistaken only Russian tests measure slush performance and it was the general rule.

Krzys
Quote:
Originally Posted by n2oiroc View Post
I just bought the conti si's because they stop as well on ice as the ws-80 but handle better and are supposed to be about the best in slush.
Thanks so much for the input! Looks like Pirelli S3s it is. Long island doesn't see a lot of ice and even when we do, I won't be out there venturing off to "test" it. I'm too old for that crap lol. Now just to find the answer to the offset thing. I think I'm gonna go with the 53 offset just to stay as close to OEM as possible...any thoughts gents?
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Old 10-05-2016, 10:54 AM   #6572
left footed whooten
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I like to stay stock, with winter tires especially. Why complicate things?
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Old 10-05-2016, 11:14 AM   #6573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by left footed whooten View Post
I like to stay stock, with winter tires especially. Why complicate things?
I just want to have a separate set of wheels for winter so that the swap is easier, plus 18" rims in pot hole city doesn't sound like fun.
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Old 10-05-2016, 11:24 AM   #6574
left footed whooten
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No I meant with offset
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Old 10-05-2016, 11:44 AM   #6575
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Quote:
Originally Posted by left footed whooten View Post
No I meant with offset
Oh, well that makes the way I read that totally different! Thanks for the feedback good sir!
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