snow tires

[breakdirt916]

are studded tires better at holding traction while accelerating/turning/braking than the bridgestone blizzak?

it's for a fwd '01 corolla

[RandyO]

not necessarily, depends on the tires, studded Hakkapeliittas would be

[richw]

Studs fall out and the last 1/2 of blizzak tread isn't the good ice stuff

[stoinkythepig]

I've tried studded and studless. I'm presently on my third season with a set of Dunlop Graspic DS2s (studdless) and they seem to be lasting a long time while providing excellent grip in my front wheel drive Matrix. I think they are better than the studded tires. Studs are only effective on ice when they are realtively new, IMO. I think you are better off with a tire that has loads of silica in molded into the rubber, and lots of tiny tread edges; the grip does not diminish as the tire wears.

[Ericthejet]

I have Michelin Artic Ice, no studs on a 96 Civic hatchback and they do a very good job. They work very well IMO on the hard packed snow at lower temps. and they really shine on wet roads. I'd buy them again.

[richw]

I am getting Blizzak w60 for wifes Sienna about 270 mounted pair

[amajew]

I have Dunlop M3's that have gone through 2 seasons. Roughly ~18,000 miles and the grip is very good in the snow. They slip a little but lets be realistic, it's snow and it's slippery. I plan on getting 1 more season out of them and they handle pretty well on dry roads as well where I hear the Blizzaks suck ass on the dry roads....

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....inter+Sport+M3

They do well with dispersing the slush to keep good grip on the road.

*edit* BTW, I have a 2004 Mazda 6s, V6 with a 5 speed

[xrocket21]

a good set of snows will out stop studded tires on ice.

[RandyO]

a good set of snows will out stop studded tires on ice.

again, that depends on the tires, there are some good snows that accept studs, studs will make good snows perform even better on ice

[DucDave]

I think you are better off with a tire that has loads of silica in molded into the rubber, and lots of tiny tread edges; the grip does not diminish as the tire wears.

...these are called 'sipes'....and, in today's compounds, the tread remains flexible in subzero temps allowing the 'sipes' to grip on the irregularities on the ice.

good quality snows without studs will perform nearly as well as studded tires except if the ice is so smooth there are no irregularities...pretty rare...ever see 'studs' on a ZAMBONI???

[KillBill]

I'm running Toyo snows and love em'

HUGE difference even in FWD car

[richw]

Racing Zambonis use studs

[xrocket21]

again, that depends on the tires, there are some good snows that accept studs, studs will make good snows perform even better on ice

negative "good" snows with studs will not stop as well as straight up good snows on ice

[RandyO]

negative "good" snows with studs will not stop as well as straight up good snows on ice

I'll go by what Nokian has to say about studded tires, thank you

Studded or Unstudded?

Your choice of studded or friction tires depends on your needs. Both alternatives are wear-resistant and have superb driving qualities. By knowing their special characteristics, you can choose the type of tire that best matches your needs.


Snowy or Icy Roads

If you drive more on icy roads than on snowy ones in winter, studded tires are the choice for you. Studded tires are especially suitable if you live near the coast, where roads tend to be icy during the winter. Friction tires are a good choice for snowy roads.


Wet Ice and Packed Snow

If you have friction tires, you need to be particularly careful at crossroads etc. where there may be wet ice or hard-packed snow. Studded tires are superior to friction tires on wet ice and hard-packed snow.

[Slyder]

If you go with studded tires, don't drive like an idiot down highways or even local roads on dry pavement...or try to hammer around turns. The carbide studs aren't sharp, infact they're flat not pointed. Hammer around a turn or go fast on dry pavement up over a crest and unload the suspension and see where you end up (loss of traction, donuts until you slam into something)

Some pinhead doing 80 up the highway did just that. that carbide is pretty slick on tar.

Also depends on what you have for a cage. I had a WRX (all wheel drive) and with all season tires that car went better than anything I had ever driven. I can only imagine it with snow tires. Now that I've got a front wheel drive sleigh, snows are a must. I'm not using studs though.

[RandyO]

Some pinhead doing 80 up the highway did just that. that carbide is pretty slick on tar.

.

winter tires are not performance sport tires, studs or not

[breakdirt916]

does anyone have experience with the Blizzak MZ-02?

is it worth $100 for all 4, if they've had 1 season of use?

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/pts/936357090.html

I only plan on using it for 3 winters on a corolla/40 mile round trip commute, and I'll have an extra set of steelies to swap them on

the google reviews show that unlike the WS-50 it's capable on ice and it rates well in snow

[breakdirt916]

bump...I'm meeting the seller tomorrow, so unless anyone has some feedback on why I shouldn't get them, I'm picking them up tomorrow

also, the seller says that he had no more than a few hundred miles on these tires before taking them off

[RandyO]

bump...I'm meeting the seller tomorrow, so unless anyone has some feedback on why I shouldn't get them, I'm picking them up tomorrow

also, the seller says that he had no more than a few hundred miles on these tires before taking them off

I never heard anything bad, always raves about blizzacks, I just prefer hakks

[stoinkythepig]

I doubt you'll regret the decision. Even cheap snow tires are superior to all season tires and you're getting higher end snow tires.

[KillBill]

does anyone have experience with the Blizzak MZ-02?

is it worth $100 for all 4, if they've had 1 season of use?

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/pts/936357090.html

I only plan on using it for 3 winters on a corolla/40 mile round trip commute, and I'll have an extra set of steelies to swap them on

the google reviews show that unlike the WS-50 it's capable on ice and it rates well in snow

That's an excellent deal -- go for it

[markbvt]

I never heard anything bad, always raves about blizzacks, I just prefer hakks

Really? I've always heard that Blizzaks are mediocre at best.

And I agree with Randy -- Nokian Hakkapeliittas are the way to go. Very popular here in Vermont. They do a great job in a wide variety of conditions.

--mark

[KillBill]

Really? I've always heard that Blizzaks are mediocre at best.

And I agree with Randy -- Nokian Hakkapeliittas are the way to go. Very popular here in Vermont. They do a great job in a wide variety of conditions.

--mark

I'm running Toyo Observes and have nothing but great things to say.....really a great snow tire.

[ralphs]

I have Hakka 2s on my Infiniti and stepdaughter's Saturn. Very good in the snow, amazing on braking, and they seem to last forever. I had a set of my Saab 9000 for at least 6 seasons, I think they're still going.
That being said, I would go for the Blizzaks. I have heard very good reports about them (except for the snow performance during their second half of life). It's a great price, and they will save your summer tires.
Good Luck