blizzak tires?
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
Likes: 6
From: Midwest
blizzak tires?
anybody here running blizzak tires as year round tires? I know they are good in the snow and ice,but how would they wear as a year round tire? I need something better in the slick stuff for my DD front wheel drive car. I really don't want to change tires every year. thanks for any ideas/opinions.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Winter tires like the Blizzaks use a very soft rubber compound so they will wear very quickly if used all year round. The manufacturer recomends they be removed when the temps get above +10C consistently. I have similar tires on my Subaru and can verify they get really greasy in warm weather, I bet you would almost wear them out in 1 summer. As a result I have mine mounted on a set of steel rims that I change to in the fall.
Moderator
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 158,688
Likes: 12,084
From: Greenfield, MA
I've never run Blizzaks...but I have run Dunlop Graspics. As con and wiz said...they have a very soft rubber compound that will wear very quickly on dry roads. After the aggressive soft rubber is worn off...they handle about as well as all season tires. This is the 4th winter and I will continue to run them through the spring/summer/fall as all seasons. Next winter...new Graspics.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
I recall the recommendation was about 5,000 miles of driving. After that point all the special soft grippy rubber would be worn out and the rest of the tread was regular tire compound and would work and last like a normal stock tire.
So you won't wear the tires out to no tread, but you will wear out the "winter" part of the tire in about 5,000 miles. And then you have narrow stock looking treads thereafter.
The Blizzaks work OK in snow and ice, but I preferred my studded snow tires over the Blizzaks for slippery roads. But Studs don't work well on rainy or dry roads.
You might also consider SIPPING normal tires. This gives them much better ice handling and a bit better in snow. Sipping is where they cut hundreds of narrow slashes in the tread. Kind of looks like someone took a razor blade to all the tread. This gives normal tread a lot more gripping edges as the tread blocks wiggle around. Tire wear is not a lot greater than normal. Snow performance depends on how "Blocky" the original tread is so it can throw off impacted snow. Costs something like $5 per tire.
It has been about 5 years since I had to worry about mud and snow so prices may be different now.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
So you won't wear the tires out to no tread, but you will wear out the "winter" part of the tire in about 5,000 miles. And then you have narrow stock looking treads thereafter.
The Blizzaks work OK in snow and ice, but I preferred my studded snow tires over the Blizzaks for slippery roads. But Studs don't work well on rainy or dry roads.
You might also consider SIPPING normal tires. This gives them much better ice handling and a bit better in snow. Sipping is where they cut hundreds of narrow slashes in the tread. Kind of looks like someone took a razor blade to all the tread. This gives normal tread a lot more gripping edges as the tread blocks wiggle around. Tire wear is not a lot greater than normal. Snow performance depends on how "Blocky" the original tread is so it can throw off impacted snow. Costs something like $5 per tire.
It has been about 5 years since I had to worry about mud and snow so prices may be different now.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
I have a set of Blizzaks for my Subaru and only run them in the winter (swap to the Blizzaks when average temperatures are 45 degrees F). The tires have gone through 4 winters so far and work just great.
That Subaru with Blizzaks will drive on ice and snow *far* better than my F-350 could ever do. The only problem is in deep snow because of the low ground clearance of the Subaru.
If there were E rated 18 inch Blizzaks available, I would buy them tomorrow.
They are strictly a winter tire and will wear fast if run through the summer.
Lou Braun
That Subaru with Blizzaks will drive on ice and snow *far* better than my F-350 could ever do. The only problem is in deep snow because of the low ground clearance of the Subaru.
If there were E rated 18 inch Blizzaks available, I would buy them tomorrow.
They are strictly a winter tire and will wear fast if run through the summer.
Lou Braun
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Likes: 45
From: Central NY
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 1
From: Duluth, Mn.
I've run both Blizzaks, and Firestone X-Ice year round on a 98 Pont GP.
The fronts will wear pretty fast, but the rears lasted 2 full seasons.
The fronts will wear pretty fast, but the rears lasted 2 full seasons.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 0
From: Saratoga, NY
Instead of doing the tire swap twice a year how about you go to tirerack.com buy a set of cheapo steel wheels and mount your snow tires on them. Now you can easily swap your tires at home, or just pay a shop to do it for the price of a tire rotation. By the way the best snow tires are Nokian Hakkapeliitta.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 1
From: Duluth, Mn.
Instead of doing the tire swap twice a year how about you go to tirerack.com buy a set of cheapo steel wheels and mount your snow tires on them. Now you can easily swap your tires at home, or just pay a shop to do it for the price of a tire rotation. By the way the best snow tires are Nokian Hakkapeliitta.
I believe the Nokians are made in Norway?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 0
From: Saratoga, NY
If you cant afford gas and you need to get to work in the snow try these.....http://www.suomityres.fi/winter.html
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
makattack
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
12
Feb 28, 2024 01:03 AM