I was wondering who drives their R in the winter. Can anyone recommend which one is the best out of these three choices? Or, any other brands or models?

1. Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 (Winter)
2. Dunlop Graspic DS-1 (Winter)
3. Michelin Arctic-Alpin (Winter)

And, these are ok to drive from now 'til March, right? (with or without snow on the road). TIA.

-Sean


Modified by Cosworth at 9:58 AM 10/2/2003

 

i purchased michelin artic alpins in 2000. used them for 3 winters and they still have a ton of life left in them.

i've taken the car out in snow storms where there was no one on the road but me, some 18 wheelers and all the SUV's were in a ditch on the side of the road.

i highly recomend the michelin's though i haven't tried either of the others. didn't need to.

you could probably roll on them all year. in fact i've been on them for 2 weeks already cause i'm out of other tires. they hold the road well even in warm weather.

 

I've used the Blizzaks on another vehicle and they were pretty decent too. I was amazed a Civic coupe could make it as far as it did. Unfortunately, I have no other basis for comparison having only tried the Blizaaks

 

I use Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22's for winter. They have a higher speed rating than the ws-50, and actually handle fairly well in dry conditions. Their snow/ice performance was fantastic and i could drive through the worst. I live near Cleveland, so we get plenty of lake-effect snow.

 

I have arctic alpins. They've been through 4 winters and have tons of life left on them. They work fine in warmer temperatures. I take mine off around the middle of april usually. In fact, a local guy autocrossed his R on his arctic alpins (MikeD) and did pretty well. My brother has WS-50's and they did better in deep snow but those are on a prelude.

 

I have no basis for comparison either, but I do have the Blizzaks that I've used on my R for two years.

They worked great, especially last winter. Even when 4wd's were slippin & sliding in 4-6 inches of snow I'd just drive right on by. The only problem I had was "pushing snow" in places where it was so deep the chin spoiler was actually plowing snow for me. I got through without any trouble, but if it were much deeper I'm betting I would have had trouble.

 

I use artic alpins. They work really good in snow, handle well on dry roads, and are quiet. Ive heard that blizzaks are better in ice and deep snow. but overall i have no complaints about the michelins. Anyone have experience with yoko snow tires?

 

Cool, thanks for the info! So, it seems that either Blizzak or Artic Alpines are a fine choice.

One last question to those with Blizzaks... I noticed that there are four different models of Blizzaks. Which model do you guys have? LM-22? WS-50? etc.? Is there a huge difference between Blizzak models? TIA.

-Sean

 

i have the arctic alpins and will buy them again (there will be a sale middle to end of october and beginning of november, this could be a costco only sale, or michelin rebate, I'm not sure)..got through some pretty tough canadian winters and the lame american ones (although i was 'impressed' by the lake affect on my long drives home)..
back when i was deciding between blizzaks and arctic alpins, the blizzaks were known to wear down into an all-season tire.. but since then they've changed their design.. i believe the differences in blizzaks are in their use.. i think 1 of them is more oriented towards the dry and performance.. the same goes for the pilot alpins that michelin has..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by R134 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have arctic alpins. They've been through 4 winters and have tons of life left on them. They work fine in warmer temperatures. I take mine off around the middle of april usually. In fact, a local guy autocrossed his R on his arctic alpins (MikeD) and did pretty well. My brother has WS-50's and they did better in deep snow but those are on a prelude.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You're very generous; I remember sucking bigtime that day (even more than I could blame on the tires)! But yeah, the Arctic (NOT Pilot) Alpin is the only snow tire I have used that is great in snow and ice AND great on dry roads too. I wish I could get them for my Porsche, but they only make Pilot Alpins in my size, and they have a different compound that sucks in the snow and ice.

Mike D.

 

I used Pirelli Ice Assimetricos, and they were money. Now they don't mke them, they replaced them with another tire... I've always wanted to try Bizzaks, and that'll be my next tire.

 

I have used Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q for 3 years now, the last winter on my R and they are excellent on snow and ice, thes gets from me.
I will by another set for this winter as the ones i had last year were worn out ( well the fronts anyway, too lazy to rotate tires during the winter) in April Had them on the car from end of october with 11000 kms on them, the roads around here are very twisty and generally not too good, and I also have a heavy right foot so they should be able to last two seasons.

Regardless of car and tire I'm never able to get good mileage on my tires,my F1's are almost bald now and i got only 12000 kms out of them.

 

i used the Graspic's last winter on my R(ight)WD nissan without incident.

just downsized a wheel size and setion width paired with some sKillZ and it was all good.

 

had the bridgestones for almost three winters now excellent.

 

I had Pilot Alpins.

Worked fine here. I don't care to argue with diehard snowy R drivers on this topic. But, I strongly feel a cheap beater car is a better option.

Sold the Alpins to another member here for his Wifes Si, they're still going strong and she never had any issues or got stuck from what I know.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slain &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">had the bridgestones for almost three winters now excellent. </TD></TR></TABLE>
I have no idea how you guys can drive so long with these things.. keep in mind that once the tread is low (not even at wearbars) they are useless in snow.. still useable in the dry and cold.. but you'll get stuck in snow.. obvious I know, but something to think about for those guys who think they can run their winter tires down to the wearbars like summer tires..

 

i have the alpin's,,,,,,,nothing but excelltet reviews!!!!!!! i love them highly recommended!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lanceh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i purchased michelin artic alpins in 2000. used them for 3 winters and they still have a ton of life left in them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm buying this f00ls tyres, Hopefully they are g00t.!


Modified by Chris N at 10:26 PM 10/2/2003

 

Sean YOU live in Atlanta. What do you need winter tires for?

 

If you live in an area where there is a lot of snow covered roads you can not beat the Blizzaks, However they wear faster than some of the other winter tires on dry roads. If I lived in an area that got more snow I would use Blizzaks.

I have most recently been using the Dunlop Graspics. I have used the same pair of Graspic on 3 different cars over four years. and they have at least 50% tread left. We have about 3-5 deep snow/sloppy days a year in the Detroit area and the rest are just dry on light snow no need for the Blizzak here.

I have my wife on Artic Alpines, ....but thats in a AWD SUV.

My .02
Mattj

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sil &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I have no idea how you guys can drive so long with these things.. keep in mind that once the tread is low (not even at wearbars) they are useless in snow.. still useable in the dry and cold.. but you'll get stuck in snow.. obvious I know, but something to think about for those guys who think they can run their winter tires down to the wearbars like summer tires..</TD></TR></TABLE>

still have plenty of tread left. dont drive too much in the winter i guess &lt;shrugs&gt;

 

I've heard nothing but great things from Blizzak owners.

I would get some myself, but I have the WRX so no need for that.

 

Actually Sean I was on Arctic Alpines when I met you at P1, pretty good the few times I drove them in the snow and actually gripped pretty well in the warm weather (mid 70's). I'd say you'd be fine running them Oct.-Mar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Yellow Dragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would get some myself, but I have the WRX so no need for that. </TD></TR></TABLE>
no need cuz u have a wrx??.. 4 wheels spinning without traction instead of 2 is somehow better??..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nathanic69er &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">pirelli winter ice </TD></TR></TABLE>

YEA A PIRELLI GUY!