Best Winter tire on the OEM rims?

[Wurf]

Putting snow tires on the stock rims and getting aftermarket rims in the spring. I will run the stock tires on the aftermarket rims next year until they're shot.

For snow tires, I have it narrowed down to either the Blizzaks or Michelin Xice2. The Michelin are higher rated by most sources I have seen on the net, but I see they are t speed rated vs the Bridgestone which is H speed rated. My only concern here is steering response and side wall stiffness since 80 percent of the time in the winter I will be driving on cold, dry roads. My other experience with low speed rated snow tires is sloppy steering response. They just roll over when you turn and you have get used to it.

What do you guys think? Which would you buy, or do you have another tire suggestion? Is the speed rating that big a deal?

TIA

 

[Ohgeez]

Putting snow tires on the stock rims and getting aftermarket rims in the spring. I will run the stock tires on the aftermarket rims next year until they're shot.

For snow tires, I have it narrowed down to either the Blizzaks or Michelin Xice2. The Michelin are higher rated by most sources I have seen on the net, but I see they are t speed rated vs the Bridgestone which is H speed rated. My only concern here is steering response and side wall stiffness since 80 percent of the time in the winter I will be driving on cold, dry roads. My other experience with low speed rated snow tires is sloppy steering response. They just roll over when you turn and you have get used to it.

What do you guys think? Which would you buy, or do you have another tire suggestion? Is the speed rating that big a deal?

TIA

I've heard good things on both tires. In my opinion, the speed rating difference shouldn't be an issue unless you plan on going over 130 mph in the winter.....lol...and I think our cars are governed below that anyway.

The new blizzaks are rated at H (H 130 mph)

 

[Wurf]

I talked to Tire Rack. I'm going with the Michelins and just living with marshmallow sidewalls until March I guess. The rep on the phone explained the Bridgestone is more of an all season performance tire with a snow type tread where as the Michelin is a true snow and ice tire. It has a softer side wall, lower speed rating, and more purpose dedicated construction than the Bridgestone.

I figure go big or go home. Considering how bad Michigan winter was last year, I want the most grip possible. I had 8 foot drifts around my driveway last winter and we had ass-loads of snow ( that's a lot ). I haven't forgotten that crap.

Getting them now as there is a $70 rebate from Michelin for another week.

Thanks guys

 

[Element]

I used the Bridgestone's for the last two winters and loved them. I just switched to the XIce2's this winter and like them A LOT more than the Bridgestone's. They have better initial traction and stopping power. We just had a huge blizzard which resulted in a lot of accidents and vehicles in the ditches, but the Mazda just plowed through the ice, sleet, and snow with no issues.

I don't notice the softer side wall and the lower speed rating is of no concern as I don't plan on doing those speeds in the winter. Already I have noticed the car rides smoother and quieter with the Michelin's.

 

[Wurf]

Exactly what I needed to hear. I just placed the order ten minutes ago for the XIce.

Thanks for that reply!

 

[flomulgator]

Okay specifically which Blizzaks are you referring to? There are many kinds. I am currently debating the Blizzak LM-22's vs. the Xice Xi2's. They are the same price right now. One is "performance" the other is "max winter traction"

 

[Wurf]

The explanation given to me by the Tire Rack rep didn't differentiate which Blizzak he was talking about. I'd say based on the speed ratings and the performance identification given to both Blizzak models, and another alternative, the Pirelli, that they are all similar to each other as far as ultimate winter traction is concerned in comparison to the Michelin Xice.

If you don't encounter deep snow in Seattle very often then you might be happier with either Bridgestone. Knowing what I know about the climate over there, that's the way I would be leaning. You'll have better handling than you would with the Michelin at the expense of reduced, ultimate traction in snow. You might even be better off with a high performance all season but again it depends on where you live.

Michigan and specifically where I live in Michigan, we get hammered with lake effect snow almost every time a cold front sweeps across Lake Michigan. That is unless it's cold enough, long enough to freeze much of it over. I'm driving through slush, snow, ice, and all sorts of in between regularly all winter. Our state budget for snow plowing and salt and sand spreading is pretty significant.

 

[flomulgator]

I've driven from Traverse City down the west side though I-94 in January before so I am familiar with those conditions (even got caught in a snow squall on the edge of the lake). Can be treacherous for sure, but at least there is some consistency. I ski a lot so out here that means 90% wet freeway / highway driving and 10% terrifying unsanded ice with water on top or 8" of heavy to slush to plow through, all on a 15% grade. The few times it snows in the lowlands, it is 1 or 2 days of that 15% grade horror everywhere. So it is a real toss up. I have owned the X-ice 1's and they were soft, and they Yoko Ice Guards too which were atrociously mushy. If I lived back in Montana or somewhere that was consistently icy I would just throw on the Xi2's and call it good, but as it is I still drive 90% wet pavement in the winter and don't want to abandon all performance again. A conundrum to be sure.

 

[Wurf]

I'm just going to live with them and enjoy as much hook up in the snow as I can get when it happens.

I will be looking forward to the end of March though. New rims for me as well as putting the Bridgestone summer tires back on.

Off topic but wow - 40 degrees today and my car feels strong like bull! I've been having a great time driving today. Put 150 miles on it driving all over Michigan and the car has been really strong with all this cold air. Me likey.

 

[Ajburr]

I have the Xice, they are awesome, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Saskatchewan17]

Blizzaks are "performance winter tires" meaning that they have more dry road grip and a performance aspect about them. They sacrafice a little bit of deep snow and ice traction but give you a closer feel to that of your summer tires on dry roads.

XICE are "studless snow tires" which means they are, simply put, godly in the deep snow, ice, cold and all that. They do sacrafice some "sport" and handling in the dry to really give all they can to grip the snow/ice.

I went with the XICE as I don't drive my car all that hard, especially in the winter time.

 

[06zoom]

No Tire Pressure Sensor

I asked for a quote for a local tire place and they indicated 'no tire pressure sensor'. Do I need to worry about this when getting new rims and winter tires installed on my 2010 Mazda3 Sedan?

 

[Wurf]

I asked for a quote for a local tire place and they indicated 'no tire pressure sensor'. Do I need to worry about this when getting new rims and winter tires installed on my 2010 Mazda3 Sedan?

That's because they are not run flat tires, which are required when using the TPMS. I will be removing mine and saving them for my summer wheel and tire combo and just running the car without any TPMS during winter. No big deal.

 

[Oneurt]

I ran some Xice's on my old car and I didn't mind them. I have WS-60s on my 3 and it feels that these have better performance and grip than my Xices... unless the Xice2's are much better I'm going to be biased and say blizzak is my preferred choice. Mind you my first choice is always Nokians just can't afford them

I drive in the canadian winters so its probably very similar to Michigan

 

[Wurf]

Two things:

1. I had the XIce2 mounted on the OEM wheels today. So far so good and they ride great. The Speed overpowers them easily in first and second so I have to watch the throttle. It doesn't take much to spin them. They make a little noise and the car understeers a lot more going into corners - no surprise. I'm ready for anything mother nature wants to throw at me now.

2. If you ever have the desire buy tires and then also have them mounted by Tire Rack, reconsider the mounting part. That is unless you have nothing better to do with your entire ******* day but hang out in a lobby looking at magazines and wheels in the showroom. I arrived at around 11:30am and they said about a two hour wait. My car wasn't in a bay until 2:20pm. They didn't touch it for a half hour. It was done at 4:45pm. I was ready to freak the **** out and start yelling at people but..... that's not my style. They just blew a hole in half of my day. Plus I didn't eat anything because well... they had my car. I plan to file a complaint later. Lesson learned - I will have them shipped in the future, or just go with Discount Tire from now on locally.

Oh...and they put the TMPS on the factory rims with the tires, which are not run flat, and the tire tech said that's OK. I wanted to have them removed but it took SO LONG for them to get to them, I was in the waiting room and totally missed it. Not sure what I'll do about it next spring when I get new wheels.

 

[flomulgator]

Our stock tires are not run-flat; I have no idea where all that business came from. TPMS mounted on your rims with the winter tires is a good thing, not a bad one. Most people who buy winter wheels don't run them simply because a set of 4 costs $360.....so they just keep the OEM set in their summers and live with the light in the winter. Thanks for the drivability update Wurf.....but I'm still indecisive as all hell!