So I got my snow shoes installed last friday. First impressions are not the best. I have only put 100 miles on them so far. So I hope they will break in a bit more.

They are the most mushy and least responsive tire I have ever used. I sure hope they make up for in the snow. I knew a full dedicated snow tire would be way different than what I am used to driving on. In the past on my evo, I have used pirelli 210 snowsports and the dry road handling was still top notch. So good they were driven through two summers..


Will have see how LM-60's progress... a few pics of my mini and blizzak tires

 

Well they are a compromise for sure. What they give up in dry road handling they will make up in spades in winter conditions. In the snow & ice you will be happy with your choice.

 

I just put on my Blizzaks today. Had them on previous cars, loved them.

 

I have them also, it does make the car alot less fun to drive, but I bet once the snow hits the ground you will feel differently. They are decent for a performace snow tire. If you really want to feel mushy try a regular set of ws-60's/70's or the hankook ipikes I have on my 335i make it handle like a ford taurus.

 

it's natural that you will feel difference from a dedicated winter tire and so it happens that you picked the best one this season. Yes it is crappy in the dry, especially compared to your neovas but this tire is not indended to be good in dry. It's supposed to be only decent in the dry as this is the condition you should least see during the winter.
It will show it's strong side in fresh snow and ice, I guarantee it

 

I'vee been very seriously thinking of getting the Blizzaks this winter, but after reading this I'm a little put off... Here in PA we don;t get gobs of snow, so maybe a cheaper all-season will do alright in snow, but still be live-able on the dry days?

Side note: How do you like the Neovas? I've heard horror stories about road noise as they wear. If it wasn't for that, they'd be in pole position for next spring's tires.

 

you may still want to look into winter tires, just not fully dedicated snow tire such as Blizzak. Dunlop M3 or 3D may be a good option for you, or anything that is considered "performance" winter tire by TireRack's standards as those tires tend to have stiffer sidewall than the regular snow tires and are generally more suited for wet and slushy winters with still pretty decent snow traction that is way better than any all-season tire.

 

Don't forget that any winter-specific tire will be able to handle cold temps and wet roads much better than all-seasons. It's not only ice and snow where the winter tires shine.

Eric

 

After much hassle with the local Big O, they realized they simply could not get the Konig 15s on my car. It was already on the hoist and basically a hostage, so all they had in stock was a set of Mille Miglia Sports (which are a pretty thugged out looking wheel, kind of funny.) and some Falken Espia snow/ice tires. I got the package for the same price, so that's something. It took some bitching and haggling.

Took it out for a spin today, about 90km. They felt pretty slippery at first, and very mushy, but after awhile I started to get used to it. They handle decently, even pushing through corners a little quicker than I should. Definitely don't feel as stiff as my RFTs and there is some "lag" in power delivery but once up to speed the car feels responsive enough and pulls hard on the highway and through the wet twisties.

If the winter is as snowy/icy/wet as they say it will be, I will be happy to have them.

In the summer I will probably put summer tires on these wheels, be more prepared next year and find some suitable winter wheels and switch the snows onto them, and then I'll be set.

 

Don't forget to check the tire pressure. They may be way off the recommended 38 psi.

Drive easy on the tires until you get used to them. They are what they are, but the car will feel normal after a few weeks.

 

Just got my LM60s as well but not installed yet. Mine are 205/45/17 RFT models rather than the 215s shown in the OP. Hopefully, the RFT version's sidewall will alleviate the mushy problem.

I was seriously considering a 215/45/17 non-runflat winter tire as they are more readily available and cheaper. But then I figured the thinner (albeit slightly) tire would get better snow traction and I really didn't want to deal with a flat during snow season.

 

I have the LM60 runflats in the 205/45-17 and think they handle pretty well for performance winter tires. Turn in is not nearly as crisp but they actually grip pretty well. You're never going to get the handling from that heavily siped, squirmy tread compound but then winter only lasts for another 4 months or so!! Already looking forward to swapping back to my summer wheels and tires.

Eric

 

[quote=HRM;3168043]They may be way off the recommended 38 psi.

quote]

huh, who recommends 38psi in winter tires ??

 

I was wondering that myself. I'd start at 32 pounds & adjust from there. Depending on the tire & what you like you may go a pound or so up or down.

The makings on the side of a tire are max inflation at max load. Not what you would normally run in the tire.

 

Well still awaiting for some snow, none has arrived yet. Im getting used to the handling of the blizzaks. They are still a bit squirmy. I have noticed they are much less squishy 35* and below.

As for the Neovas they are pretty amazing. They almost give me the steering response and quickness of my evolution. I put about 3,500 miles on them and they are still not that loud in my opinion.

There is more grip than you will ever need on the street, that's for sure