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[radionomad]

We got clobbered in Southern New Hampshire today with about 15" of snow. I drove 15 miles this afternoon with the snow almost at white-out conditions. My 325i equipped with the Blizzak snow tires performed excellent. I highly recomend them to anyone considering winter tires. The Steptronic transmission performend flawlessly shifting from M1-M4 handeling the difficult driving conditions very smoothly. I even plowed thru a small snow bank as my car was plowed in in the parking lot. BMW engineers know what they are doing.

[Mark]

blizzak

[jcoo085]

I love my Blizzaks! Although I really don't have any other winter tyre to compare them to, compared to the stock Continental RFT's they're a tad bit noiser (but I just turn the radio/cd up a bit more) and I think they use marginally more gas (maybe 7.1 as opposed to 7.0L/100km or 33.6 mpg). I'm willing to sacrifice that 0.1L and a bit more noise for the added safety in the ice and snow.

[GotanE90]

Glad the Blizzaks worked well. I was in the same storm, got stuck and plowed in on the exit entrance ramp to 93. Got home and ordered some Michellin X-Ice studless snows from Tirerack. The stock Potenzas are the worst tire I've ever driven in the snow... 23 winters, and theis is the first time I have ever gotten stuck.

[radionomad]

That storm was pretty brutal to drive in. Very White nuckle at times . Glad you made it home O.K.. Good experience with the E90 for the future. Your new snows will make the car very solid driving in the future. I now have zero worry's about weather and so will you.

[E90 Enthusiast]

Radio, please check you PM. Thx

[casa7]

I know it is early in the year to be talking about snow tires but I have just bought a 325i with sport package and comes with 17' Bridgestone Potenzas RFT(two different sizes). I will need snow tires in the fall and I am considering going down to 16"(205/55-16) and a separate set of winter rims. I see from this forum that some people have had experience with the Blizzaks. Are they RFT or regular ones? I hear that the RFTs are not as good as the regular ones.There is not a big selection of RFT winter tires.Nokia puts one out but it not brought into Canada.What other ones have people had experience with?I thought of non-run flats but we have high mountains in BC and fair distances between towns(outside the metropolitan areas) and with no spare it could get dicey.Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks

[findtom]

Originally Posted by casa7

I know it is early in the year to be talking about snow tires but I have just bought a 325i with sport package and comes with 17' Bridgestone Potenzas RFT(two different sizes). I will need snow tires in the fall and I am considering going down to 16"(205/55-16) and a separate set of winter rims. I see from this forum that some people have had experience with the Blizzaks. Are they RFT or regular ones? I hear that the RFTs are not as good as the regular ones.There is not a big selection of RFT winter tires.Nokia puts one out but it not brought into Canada.What other ones have people had experience with?I thought of non-run flats but we have high mountains in BC and fair distances between towns(outside the metropolitan areas) and with no spare it could get dicey.Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks

From what I hear blizzaks are great on snow and ice because they are made of a very soft rubber, but that they wear down very quickly. I think it was the tire guy that told me the really soft rubber doesn't even last for the full life of the tire as it is really just an outer layer. The way I drive I know I'd be lucky to get one season out of them.

Anyway, I ended up getting Toyos after asking around and researching on the web and made it through a typically brutal Montreal winter fine. What sold me is that they are known for lasting a good 4 seasons... so I figure on getting 3 hopefully. I still managed to wear through 40% of the rear tires on the first season though!

[findtom]

BTW.. the toyos I got aren't RFTs. I double checked the roadside assistance that comes with my insurance and took a chance. I know some people purchase an extra wheel/tire but I figure in the event I do get a flat I'm not going to be on the side of the road in -20C changing it anyway. The only time I've ever had a flat (previous car) I had to get it towed anyway.

[bavarian19]

While the blizzak's have been noted as one of the best winter tires, I now refuse to buy bridgestone tires. A tire company that allows for the almost 3 month shortage of tires for those of us with 162's seems like a company that is a little out of touch with customer demands.

Because of their shortsightedness, I will not buy another tire from them.

[casa7]

The reason for the extra wheels is so I can preserve the original BMW wheels during winter driving.Crossing some of the BC mountains can be hairy in winter and not much room to stop on the sides and in some cases more than 100Km from the nearest town( could be very small ones), so I thought of RFT .I will also look into the option of running regular tires .Where the comments about the Blizzaks for the RFT?

[bimmer90]

We're having a similar discussion over at Bimmerfest. I'm in the market for a new set of snow tires for my 330i, non-sport. What do people think of the following winter tires?

BridgestoneBlizzak

ContinentalContiWinterContact

DunlopWinter Sport M3 DSST

MichelinPilot Alpin PA2


From what I've seen/heard, the Blizzak's and Alpin's garner the most praise.

Any feedback would be appreciated. And I can't believe we're talking about this when the temp is 100F!! :rocks:

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by bimmer90

We're having a similar discussion over at Bimmerfest. I'm in the market for a new set of snow tires for my 330i, non-sport. What do people think of the following winter tires?

BridgestoneBlizzak

ContinentalContiWinterContact

DunlopWinter Sport M3 DSST

MichelinPilot Alpin PA2


From what I've seen/heard, the Blizzak's and Alpin's garner the most praise.

Any feedback would be appreciated. And I can't believe we're talking about this when the temp is 100F!! :rocks:

I would assume that you can get some great deals on winter tire setups this time of year...

I think I am going to go with the conti's and test them out on my winter wheel setup...

[jjhan85]

Good to hear these tires work well! How much do they cost?

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by jjhan85

Good to hear these tires work well! How much do they cost?

www.tirerack.com

[benoitch]

Originally Posted by casa7

I know it is early in the year to be talking about snow tires but I have just bought a 325i with sport package and comes with 17' Bridgestone Potenzas RFT(two different sizes). I will need snow tires in the fall and I am considering going down to 16"(205/55-16) and a separate set of winter rims. I see from this forum that some people have had experience with the Blizzaks. Are they RFT or regular ones? I hear that the RFTs are not as good as the regular ones.There is not a big selection of RFT winter tires.Nokia puts one out but it not brought into Canada.What other ones have people had experience with?I thought of non-run flats but we have high mountains in BC and fair distances between towns(outside the metropolitan areas) and with no spare it could get dicey.Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hi caza. Like findTom mentioned the Toyos are really good (I've used them for at least the last 6 years, and FindTom drives like ... well, fast !) but are not RFT's. However, the possibility to get a flat in winter is really dim especially if your daily roads aren't that bad. Here in Quebec they are. I had a flat 2 years ago when I hit a potthole. Toyo replaced the tire and it only costed me 60$ (I have had that tire for 2 seasons already and they still had something like 60% worth of thread !! Now that is good). Furthermore, they are designed here in Canada, specifically in Quebec so they are designed for our kind of winter. Unlike the Blizzak's which are made for winter without snow ore ice. Why? They are great, but the compound is so soft they last approx. 3 months with NORMAL driving ! A friend had them on his Lexus IS300.

Another choice are the Hankook. The same friend bought these and was pleasantly satisfied.

If you absolutely need or want the RFT's, then my take would be the Dunlop M3. More durable and just as good (so I've read and heard).

Good luck and welcome.

[casa7]

Here is a reply from a tire store of Blizzaks RFT vs. non-RFT Blizzaks.

"The rubber compound is not the same. It will be a harder compound to
> hold up to being flat if that does happen. The tire it self is stiffer
> which will affect how the tire performs in snow conditions. The LM22 RFT
> is the only run flat in that size at this time."

I am considering going with 205/55-16 instead of 17". Another tire that is supposed to be very good in winter id Nokia RSI( Finish tire manufacturer)
but again is not an RFT. They make one but is not brought her to Canada so far.

[casa7]

Forgot to ask which Toyos where these?