Incredibly Impressed With Bridgestone's New Blizzak DMV1

[SUMOTOY]

...
Again if you think for one fleeting second I'm going to listen to someone running 10 year old tires through steamboat or badly bald tires through steamboat for a fee you are insane.

Have you been to the Steamboat Ice Track, with or without an 80, or been to the Corporate Track, or done any driving/testing there?

I challenge opinions all the time, especially when they contradict my baseline understanding, research and experience. I become interested in threads that interest me here. I'll personally *invite* you to bring all your current skillsets to Steamboat Ice Track and demonstrate your knowledge and opinion. Since you have no experience at the Steamboat Ice Track, it might help you understand my perspective.

I would still advise you try the Bridgestone Corporate or our Jan 20-31 Event first, these events are directed at those with no prior Steamboat Ice Track experience. You might even have some fun and learn something!

Cheers

Scott J
94 FZJ80 Supercharged
Eventmaster
Gruppe-q Steamboat Winter Driving Event 2010
USAudiClub

 

[SUMOTOY]

Sumo,
I think it's hard to get past this statement: "In fact, I still run 10 year old (dedicated Steamboat track) WS50, and find the 'newer' designs of any flavor still don't best the 'original' compound in any significant test." because there's no question the newer designs are better than yours. None. In addition, a tire molded in 1999 would have significant degradation and hardening which would cause a soft winter compound tire to suffer greater traction loss on its specialty - ice - than even a normal tire does after 10 years of aging. So, I think it may be a bit of a stretch and calls your impartiality into question.
Also, I'll have to check, but I heard that TireRack's testing or Consumer Reports testing gave the advantage to the Michelin over the Bridgestone winter tires.
DougM

Doug
Let me explain further... I bought a set of WS50 10 years ago, put them on a set of wheels, and haul them in my back seat to the steamboat track every year. I run *only* the 4 miles to the track, and *at* the track with these tires installed. I then remove them, and take them back home and put them in storage, for the next year. They are still nearly full tread, only recently lost all the molding nubs, still have the ink line within the tread, and have retained their gummy-bear-like grip without issue. I routinely compare them to 'new' tires at my event (objective and subjective tests) and the tread appears as soft and squishy as the ones another bought 2 days prior to my event this past year.

I claim the "new" technology really hasn't given a measurable gain in 'traction' to differentiate it beyond the driver skillset. In fact, the Nokian Rsi has none of the 'new' blizzak tech, and it will perform as well as the Blizzak with the new tech. WRT the Michilen x-Ice, we have a couple sets of those at the track, and they perform well. Better? Again, I just look at skillset. The guys that run the x-ice don't have the skillset to demonstrate any measureable difference over any other 'ice' tire.

My subjective 1300 miles on a set of the x-ice Michelins... IMO, they sound and feel brutal when not on ice. When I do demo drives in others cars, I don't ask which ice tires they have, because they all feel and handle the same. I can not tell any flavor Blizzak from any other or from the Rsi . I can usually feel the sidewall difference of an x-ice as it makes more noise and feels stiffer.

In our advanced skillset group running Steamboat, we have every flavor/generation of Blizzak represented, as well as, the Rsi and the x-ice. IME/O any of these ice tires puts the level of difference at the driver skillset, not the latest tire 'technology'. Several guys try to gain this 'tech' advantage every year, and I'm happy to be the baseline with the WS50's.

Again, I'll invite anyone that wants to understand my perspective, experience and opinion, to join me at the Steamboat Ice Track Jan 30-Feb 2.

HTH

Scott J
94 FZJ80 Supercharged
Eventmaster
Gruppe-q Steamboat Winter Driving Event 2010
USAudiClub

 

[HntWhtTail]

I am currently thinking about picking up a set of 18" wheels to throw dedicated snow tires on. The reason Is my wifes vw jetta with blizzaks is far superior in 90% of the on road winter driving conditions here, in Montana. Every time it snows I pass 5-10 cars in the ditch on my 7 mile commute to work. I will admit any tire I mount will be better than the pro comps I am running currently. I have not slid off the road but have had a few close calls. Blizzaks come in a 255/70 18 If I did my math right that is about 32x10.5 I have not looked at the other options yet the wheels I am looking at are in another post I started before I found this one.

 

[aclos3]

My rig is equipped with Michelin LTX ATs (OEM), and did pretty well in the snow we had in Seattle last year. I realize snow/ice specific tires would be an improvement, but how much are we talking about? Seattle is an area that usually has snow on the roads for 2 to 10 days per year, do any of you in moderate climates like this one bother with snow specific tires in the winter? What do you think, snow tires worth it for a skiier who lives in Seattle?

 

[turbocruiser]

My rig is equipped with Michelin LTX ATs (OEM), and did pretty well in the snow we had in Seattle last year. I realize snow/ice specific tires would be an improvement, but how much are we talking about? Seattle is an area that usually has snow on the roads for 2 to 10 days per year, do any of you in moderate climates like this one bother with snow specific tires in the winter? What do you think, snow tires worth it for a skiier who lives in Seattle?

I once had LTX ATs and while they are all around admirable tires, both my Bridgestone Revos and especially my many various Bridgestone Blizzaks would run circles right around them on the ice. The difference is dramatic, especially with the Blizzaks that I've had. Again the LTX is an all around terrific tire, but it isn't a dedicated winter tire. If you prefer the Michelin line they too have some absolutely awesome winter weather tires apparently and IdahoDoug can add much more to that conversation than I can.

 

[aclos3]

Oh, I am not doubting in anyway that the specific snow tires are superior ice/snow grippers than the all around LTX ATs. I am just looking for some opinions/experience from moderate climate folks about whether they believe owning a dedicated set of winter tires is worth it. Of course, I expect the answer to my question will be something along the lines of "run what you are comfortable with and what makes sense for the way you use your rig."

I went through my first winter with an 80 last year and was blown away by the snow driving performance of my stock truck. That being said, I know it could be better and stopping distances still aren't great with these tires. I use the truck for skiing and driving around the Seattle and Portland areas during the winter. I carry one set of tire chains which I would likely install on the rears if needed.