Hey everyone I just purchased blizzack ws60's from Alex at tire rack, they work GEAT and get me up the hills without a problem (snow and ice infested hills) but the problem is, the snow is all gone, and yes we are just entering Jan. I hope more snow falls because I had just did the tire change a couple of weeks ago! Should I keep the tires on until a certain time for sure? Is it bad to ride on the wet/dry streets with the blizzacks :-( Really where i live, they never have had things so clean! And now that I bought those tires, they are clean! Argg, anyway Im concerned and I hope that it'll snow again...I heard I should keep them on until...easter was it? What would you guys do?

 

JMO in the Midwest - I shoot for On for TG, and off for the Ides of March, give or take. If my boat is out of storage my snow tires should be off - another good rule of thumb.

Anytime the ambient air temperature is 55 Degrees F or higher - any winter tire's wear rate is accelerated.

Alex

 

Oh great thanks we've been 0-5-20 F over here, THanks Alex

 

Great to know! I didn't know wear is accelerated during warm temps for snow tires. I would have thought the tire compound would be hard for winter tires.

 

Conversation overheard a few years back at the checkout line in the hardware store.

First guy;

" I just spent a thousand dollars on a new snowblower and haven't used it once this winter. What a waste of money."

Second guy;

"I just spent a thousand dollars on a new snowblower , and If I never have to put gas in it, I'll have gotten my money's worth."


ittle85

Keep your winter tires on,and hope you don't really need them.

 

I have used Blizzaks on a couple cars, though it's been a few years.
When I bought the first set (for one of my kids' cars), the salesman told me that I'd better make sure to remove them before the temp reached 60 degrees, or the tread would be gone within 5K miles.

He wasn't exaggerating. A couple years later, I put a set of them on our minivan, just before a mid-winter road trip from Illinois to Denver.
As it turned out, the weather was unseasonably warm during the trip. I racked up about 2K miles, and the tread was greatly worn.

 

tire wear or not, the worst part about my Blizzaks is how they handle in warmer weather. I have found them to be at their worst in the WET as warm as 40. I know they are called "snows" for a reason but their grip is strictly limited to cold temps. And they are good in snow.
I would leave them on while it's cold but be careful once it starts to get warmer.
Unless you want to test your driving skills.
Watch out for sliding while turning. Feels like massive understeer. Scarier then summer tires in the snow.

 

I'm hoping to only have to run our new generator twice a year, to just make sure it works

Mark

 

i recently got the WS60's for the wife's new FitSport (2009).

she likes them.

thanx again, alex.

ps: the 09 Honda Fits can run 15" wheels... not sure why TR does not list them for
that car?

 

I've got my snow tires on a separate set of wheels so I can swap back and forth as needed. If I head out to Tucson for Spring training and the roads are going to be clear out and back I take the snows off. A friend of mine swears I can make it snow here, though, just by mounting my summer tires. Seriously, better to have them on and wear them out than to drive in Winter conditions with Summer tires. The cost of a tow out of the ditch and some bent plastic is much greater than a set of tires every couple of years.

 

Gee, my Blizzaks sound funner. They introduced easy and massive oversteer in the dry.

 

My $.02

I've had Mich X-Ice snow tires for winter (this is my second season on them) and absolutely love them!!!! I live in Flagstaff AZ at 7,000' elevation and have recently received 34" of total snowfall that is cleared from the road so snow driving is not all the time in winter. What I love most about these tires is, the DRY cold grip is amazing!!!! I can almost pull a full lateral G with these on dry pavement, with a few tenth's added for wet conditions. Tire wear has been VERY good as this is the second season on them with over 7/32nd's of tread left.

 

I bought a set of Pirelli 190 SnowControls from Alex a few seasons ago. I haven't put more than 10,000 miles on them, but I'd guesstimate there's still over half their original tread (and that includes some hard scrubbings at a day-long Winter Driving School that used sand on the pavement for decreased traction in lieu of snow.)

Most of our roads in south-western PA are either just wet or salt-dry for, I'd say, 75-80% of the winter with the other 20-25% being a mix of icy patches, light snow, the odd few inches of snow, slush, or post-plow dustings.

I find these to be an excellent performance winter tire. Others may have slightly better ice/snow traction (we really like the Michelin X-ice tires on my wife's non-sporty car!), although these won't disappoint. The Pirelli's allow you to still enjoy the car all winter without really feeling like you put the galoshes on it. You won't see all-season touring treadwear, butthey are, afterall, snow tires.