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Snow Tires

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08H3

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We've had a lot of snow here this year and I've been doing my best to get a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks on every vehicle around. I'm not really passionate on too many products, but this is one of them. I hear a lot people on here talk about how well their Duratracs, KM2s, etc do in the snow. Trust me. They suck. Virtually every other tire you can put on your car in the winter sucks compared to these things. I'm not encouraging anyone out there do repeat this. In fact, I'm outright telling you not to try it, but this video is a 0-60-0 run on hard pack snow/ice. These are very impressive tires, and that comes from living with them for 4 years. It's not one those quick posts that we all sometime make after a new purchase just because we're excited with a new toy. [video]http://s726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/08H3/?action=view&current=MVI_3889.mp4[/video]
 
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08H3

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MaxPF said:
I just wish they made 'em in something larger than pizza cutter sizes :(
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Pizza cutters are better on ice than a wide tire. The problem is getting a large enough diameter. The ones on the Hummer are 32's and that's as large as they come, at least on a 16". I honestly thought about going down to a 235/85, and would have if there was never a chance it was going on a dry interstate. I just didn't think that was enough rubber on the road at interstate speeds for an H3.
 
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08H3

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Big Mike said:
How much snow do you have on the ground ??

I haven't been thru Indiana all winter.
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Right now, about 20 inches. We had a big snow in early Jan, but most of that melted two weekends ago with rain and near 40 degrees. Since then, we've had a 9inch snow, an 8inch snow and a 3inch and it hasn't been warm enough to melt any of that. It has varied a lot though. My office is only about 20 miles away and there hasn't been as much there.
 
MaxPF

MaxPF

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08H3 said:
Pizza cutters are better on ice than a wide tire. The problem is getting a large enough diameter. The ones on the Hummer are 32's and that's as large as they come, at least on a 16". I honestly thought about going down to a 235/85, and would have if there was never a chance it was going on a dry interstate. I just didn't think that was enough rubber on the road at interstate speeds for an H3.
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I was actually referring to diameter. I guess "pizza cutter" wasn't the best term to convey that. Anyway, yeah, I wish they made 35" Blizzaks for winter mountain use.

The narrow tire being better thing only applies to packed snow and ice, and even then I think it only seems to apply to "all season" type tires. Deep powdery snow required BIG WIDE tires with aggressive tread (were talking snow wheeling stuff here). OTOH, a true snow tire should work better in wider widths, just like a street tire. It's the compound and sipes that give you the traction, and the bigger contact patch=more sipes biting into the snow and ice. In theory, anyway...
 
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08H3

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Mb30sdl said:
^^ what he saying. There is a reason Arctic Trucks run BiG and Wide tires.
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You're talking a different topic. I'm talking streetable tires in which case I maintain skinny is better. In fact, I asked that very question to Bridgestone before I bought my first set, and they confirmed what I thought. What you guys are talking about requires flotation, and yes wider is better.
 
MaxPF

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08H3 said:
You're talking a different topic. I'm talking streetable tires in which case I maintain skinny is better. In fact, I asked that very question to Bridgestone before I bought my first set, and they confirmed what I thought. What you guys are talking about requires flotation, and yes wider is better.
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I'm sure wider=better for a true ice/snow tire like the Blizzak. Otherwise why would they make them in section widths up to 11.7"?
 
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08H3

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MaxPF said:
I'm sure wider=better for a true ice/snow tire like the Blizzak. Otherwise why would they make them in section widths up to 11.7"?
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I guess I would counter with asking why Bridgestone would have stated that generally narrower is better when asked directly. I would think they would at least have a passing knowledge of tire design. Not trying to be a smarta$$ but I didn't really post that video to start some 14 page debate. Just look at it. If you disagree and think any old set of bologna skin AT's can do the same thing, then I would save my money and avoid a dedicated set of winter tires. I'm just giving my personal experience.
 
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08H3 said:
I guess I would counter with asking why Bridgestone would have stated that generally narrower is better when asked directly. I would think they would at least have a passing knowledge of tire design.
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Did you ask anout tires in general, or Blizzaks in particular? BIG DIFFERENCE!

Not trying to be a smarta$$ but I didn't really post that video to start some 14 page debate. Just look at it. If you disagree and think any old set of bologna skin AT's can do the same thing, then I would save my money and avoid a dedicated set of winter tires. I'm just giving my personal experience.
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Where did I ever say some ATs could do the same thing :confused: Mb30sdl and I were discussing the width of SNOW TIRES like the Blizzak, not ATs or all season tires. I've been saying is that I believe a wider Blizzak is better than a narrower Blizzak. That is all.
 
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08H3

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MaxPF said:
Did you ask anout tires in general, or Blizzaks in particular? BIG DIFFERENCE!

Yes, Blizzaks in particular. Edit: The particular model was the DM-Z3 if that matters.



Where did I ever say some ATs could do the same thing :confused: Mb30sdl and I were discussing the width of SNOW TIRES like the Blizzak, not ATs or all season tires. I've been saying is that I believe a wider Blizzak is better than a narrower Blizzak. That is all.
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You didn't. That was a general comment. It was not addressed directly at you. Sorry if there was some confusion and you felt it was.

Look, bottom line is we can debate the width factor until this thread degrades into another pointless mess. I believe skinny is better. I disagree, but respect that you (and others) feel that wide is better. Even if we can't agree on that point, will you at least give me that Blizzaks are a hell of a lot better in the winter than an all season? You take your steamrollers, I'll take my pizza cutters and let's be friends.:thumbs:
 
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skeptic

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Winter tires on the wife's Subaru Legacy are Blizzaks, and I agree with all the pro-Blizzak comments. Short of studded tires I don't think there is a better mass produced consumer tire for packed snow and ice. On my T I was running Duratracs. Also good in the snow and ice, but not as good as Blizzaks. Where Duratracs get the nod is in the deep stuff as well as being a good year round tire you can wheel with.

Now that I have an H2 I don't know what I'm going to do. I'd like to step up to 37" tires, but Duratracs don't come in that size. I have 35" BFG ATs right now, and they are OK but don't seem to be as good as Duratracs in the snow, and my past experiences tell me the BFGs are not going to be as good offroad either.
 
MaxPF

MaxPF

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08H3 said:
You didn't. That was a general comment. It was not addressed directly at you. Sorry if there was some confusion and you felt it was.

Look, bottom line is we can debate the width factor until this thread degrades into another pointless mess. I believe skinny is better. I disagree, but respect that you (and others) feel that wide is better. Even if we can't agree on that point, will you at least give me that Blizzaks are a hell of a lot better in the winter than an all season? You take your steamrollers, I'll take my pizza cutters and let's be friends.:thumbs:
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No worries :)
 
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