Would you buy Blizzaks again?

[street sleeper]

Coming up on my 1yr anniversary with the S5. Drove through last winter on my summer/performance tires. I know, I know. Not smart and lucky nothing bad happened. With that said, this year I decided it was time for some appropriate shoes.

Ordered a set of Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 winter/snow tires from TireRack for about $1200 to run on my stock wheels.

Never owned a set of true winter/snow tires, but decided to go with Blizzaks because it seemed to be the popular choice here on the forums. So just wondering if you have Blizzacks, would you buy them again?

Pros? Cons? Any better winter/snow tire out there?

PS (I hear Blizzack technology was designed after studying polar bear paws. That pretty badass, even if it's just a marketing gimmick.)

[JDillon15]

I assume you have summer wheels and stock wheels? If not, I would get a cheaper set of wheels. Saves the mounting and rebalancing fees. As well as helps to protect those nicer summer wheels.

As for the tires, I haven't personally used them, but all the people I've seen talk about them say they're really good.

[zcspec]

No brainer, Blizzak's are one of the best winter tires you can buy, bar none! They are excellent in snow and provide a firm level of driving confidence. You won't go wrong!

[ryanhmusic]

No brainer, Blizzak's are one of the best winter tires you can buy, bar none! They are excellent in snow and provide a firm level of driving confidence. You won't go wrong!

Nokkian's are better in my experience.

But Blizzaks are damn good.

[AnTarbh]

I ran Blizzak's on my C7 A6 and loved them. There was a huge difference between the stock tires and the Blizzaks and I would absolutely buy them again.

[street sleeper]

I assume you have summer wheels and stock wheels? If not, I would get a cheaper set of wheels. Saves the mounting and rebalancing fees. As well as helps to protect those nicer summer wheels.

As for the tires, I haven't personally used them, but all the people I've seen talk about them say they're really good.

Right now, I just have the stock wheels with summer/performace tires on them. That's what came on the car.

Ideally I'd like to make my stock wheels my 3 month winter wheels and buy a set of BBS wheels for the other 9 months. But those BBS wheels are pricey!

So I was just going to swamp tires on my stock wheels. Probably not the best, huh? Going to be pricey to mount and balance and then mount and balance again in 3 months.

Maybe I should look into buy a cheap pair of winter only wheels.

[HazeMyth]

You only have to do 3 months on a winter setup? Lucky...

[JDillon15]

Right now, I just have the stock wheels with summer/performace tires on them. That's what came on the car.

Ideally I'd like to make my stock wheels my 3 month winter wheels and buy a set of BBS wheels for the other 9 months. But those BBS wheels are pricey!

So I was just going to swamp tires on my stock wheels. Probably not the best, huh? Going to be pricey to mount and balance and then mount and balance again in 3 months.

Maybe I should look into buy a cheap pair of winter only wheels.

I'd look into the cost of mounting and balancing. If you buy new tires or wheels, they'll likely mount or balance for free the first time. If you have bbs, you will definitely want a winter wheel. Maybe use your stockers as winters and plan on buying bbs in 3 months? Not sure of your financials.


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[street sleeper]

I'd look into the cost of mounting and balancing. If you buy new tires or wheels, they'll likely mount or balance for free the first time. If you have bbs, you will definitely want a winter wheel. Maybe use your stockers as winters and plan on buying bbs in 3 months? Not sure of your financials.

After buying a $1200 set of winter tires, it's a bit tighter.

[street sleeper]

You only have to do 3 months on a winter setup? Lucky...

I may only only have 3 months of winter, but you have killer snowboarding for months on end. Jealous!

[JDillon15]

After buying a $1200 set of winter tires, it's a bit tighter.

Yeah, I guess it just depends what makes sense for you. I personally run all seasons as my winters are fairly mild. Plus, I'm in a b7. Can't really justify ~6k wrapped up in wheels and tires for a ~10k car.

[d1amund]

Yes. We have had at least half a dozen sets over the years. And we continue to buy more, when needed.

[Powderhound]

Have run Blizzaks as my winter set up for last ten years and consider to be one of the best snow tires around. That said, I have heard they aren't as good after a few seasons as they begin to lose tread, but have not had that problem as I replace before that happens. Also worth noting is the LM 32 is a "high performance" snow which means it will be better than most snows on dry roads yet not as aggressive in snow and ice as the WS Blizzak which I believe only comes in 18 inch anyhow. Agree that swapping tires every year to same rims is not ideal. Keeping stockers as is and buying 18 beater rims with cheaper WS Blizzaks could be an option. I chose the Nokian R2 this year for snows as I wanted to use the stock 19 rims and preferred a more aggressive snow than LM. However, I haven't tried them in the snow yet so can't really compare to Blizzaks performance. Also, was told by mechanic that the Nokians were some of the worst tires to road force balance he has ever seen, with one tire not coming anywhere close to Audi specs. I have read nothing but great reviews for the LM and think you will really be pleased with them.

[street sleeper]

Here's a question...

Do cheap steel wheels even exist for Audi? 19x8.5

I've been looking online and haven't come up with anything!

[B8 S FOR]

I run the Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds...good to go..no issues. The Blizzak are too noisy and tread wear is terrible.

[Johnhanson]

I run the Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds...good to go..no issues. The Blizzak are too noisy and tread wear is terrible.

I had one set of blizzaks on my old G35 - they were great plowing in a straight line and especially in loose snow and slush, but they were very poor performing on cold dry pavement.

I switched to old Dunlop M3s which were still I would say 90% as good in slop and slow but amazing on cold dry pavement. They actually almost felt like a summer performance tire for winter. Far less sidewall flex and what seems like a firmer compound.

I now am on my third winter with Dunlop 3Ds and perform basically the same, but are incredible combined with the Quattro. Minimal wear, great comfort and the best aggressive winter driving performance. I expect to get at least four winters out of these.

Basically if you want a safe comfortable dependable tire to get you around driving like a gramma - get blizzaks. If you want something that is still very good but lets you have a four season performance car - get the dunlops. Amazing performance winter tire.


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[PedroRS5]

After experiencing pothole-induced rim destruction, I went with inexpensive Rial M10 18x8.5 wheels and Michelin X-ice Xi3 tires for their 6 Years / 40,000 miles treadlife warranty. I don't need high-performance winter tires and got tired of buying winter tires every 2 years.

[mjr034]

Here's a question...

Do cheap steel wheels even exist for Audi? 19x8.5

I've been looking online and haven't come up with anything!

I picked up a winter set off the forums here last year with blizzaks. For our cars - you'll be fine running an 18 in wheel - brakes clear with no issue.
Much cheaper than 19s when buying tires. I'm running an old OEM S4 winter setup (18x8 twisted spokes) - Looks nice for winters and the blizzaks are fantastic performing in our snow conditions around Pittsburgh.

My advice (also what I did), invest in a solid winter set now. Wait until summer next year to pick up some BBS or whatever else tickles your fancy then.

[street sleeper]

I picked up a winter set off the forums here last year with blizzaks. For our cars - you'll be fine running an 18 in wheel - brakes clear with no issue.
Much cheaper than 19s when buying tires. I'm running an old OEM S4 winter setup (18x8 twisted spokes) - Looks nice for winters and the blizzaks are fantastic performing in our snow conditions around Pittsburgh.

My advice (also what I did), invest in a solid winter set now. Wait until summer next year to pick up some BBS or whatever else tickles your fancy then.

I did something a little dumb. I ordered my tires already, arrive today, to fit my stock wheels. Which is fine since my original plan was just to run them on stock wheels.

Of course I didn't really think about what a pain it will be to have the winter tires pulled back off in April and have summer tires put back on those same stock wheels. So I thought some cheap steel wheels for winter would solve that problem! Of course steelies in that size are impossible to find! Maybe I'm start another thread seeing if anyone has found steelies or has a set they're willing to sell.

[DOCEVG]

Also worth noting is the LM 32 is a "high performance" snow which means it will be better than most snows on dry roads yet not as aggressive in snow and ice as the WS Blizzak which I believe only comes in 18 inch anyhow.

This is the most important comment in the whole thread, and something that seems to have eluded a number of posters. While the LM 32 is a "Blizzak" tire, it is night and day different than the "true' Blizzaks like the WS 60, WS 70 and WS 80, both in terms of tread compound and tread design. The WS series will run circles around an LM 32 (which is what I run on an RS4 during the winter) in the snow but in all other conditions the LM 32 is a superior performer, including in terms of sidewall stiffness, lack of mushiness, and tread life. Plus, the nanocell or whatever it is compound in the WS series wears pretty quickly, and you end up with an all-season tire without knowing it until too late.
I can also report that my S4 on Wintersport 3Ds is much more surefooted in snow conditions (and we get those a lot in the Colorado mountains) than the RS4 on LM32s.

[ENV²]

For my S4 I ran Michelin PSS in the summer and Vredstein Wintracs in the winter. First 2 winters I ran Dunlop Wintersport 3d. All of them made the S4 into a tank. Now with the AMG I am throwing Blizzaks on cause it needs a dedicated snow. Quattro can do high performance winter tires. I mean I went up incredible hills in 10 inches of snow in the s4 with the dunlops and vredesteins and they are not dedicated snows.

[Mlaudisa]

I put on 275- 35 Blizzaks LM-32 in the last 4-5 weeks, mounted on 19" VMR rims. It has been unseasonably warm here this fall and winter so far, so I cannot comment on their performance in snow and sleet, but I found a huge difference on how the car handles Vs the factory 275-30 20" P-Zeros. For starters, the steering wheel offers much less resistance, even standing still and even in Dynamic setting. At speed, the car is not as precise and planted as on summers, and when taking corners at speed it looses grip controllably and gradyually but at lower speeds. I noticed these differences most starkly right after the switch, and I would describe these tires as softer and a musher than the Pirellis. I'm sure they'll be excellent in snow and ice however, but I wasn't prepared for that big a change in handling characteristics.

[ICU2]

After experiencing pothole-induced rim destruction, I went with inexpensive Rial M10 18x8.5 wheels and Michelin X-ice Xi3 tires for their 6 Years / 40,000 miles treadlife warranty. I don't need high-performance winter tires and got tired of buying winter tires every 2 years.

Please PM me as I have some ? about what tires you had. Don't want to hijack the thread. Thanks

[adbender]

If you want to keep handling... STRONGLY suggest PA4s. They feel almost as good as my summers.

[01northernS4]

+1

I'm running LM 32 in 255/35/19 and I wasn't impressed with the snow performance... felt all season-ish... my tire guy tells me it has more to do with the size than anything else... I suspect the Dunlop 3d or any ws blizzak would be better if you want great snow performance... along with a downsize to 18's.

I was so displeased with the LM 32 in the snow that I'm in no rush to swap out my dws on 20's this year just to see how much they differ in snow performance... the LM 32 for me didn't feel surefooted at all in snow conditions... very disappointed.

my 2 cents

This is the most important comment in the whole thread, and something that seems to have eluded a number of posters. While the LM 32 is a "Blizzak" tire, it is night and day different than the "true' Blizzaks like the WS 60, WS 70 and WS 80, both in terms of tread compound and tread design. The WS series will run circles around an LM 32 (which is what I run on an RS4 during the winter) in the snow but in all other conditions the LM 32 is a superior performer, including in terms of sidewall stiffness, lack of mushiness, and tread life. Plus, the nanocell or whatever it is compound in the WS series wears pretty quickly, and you end up with an all-season tire without knowing it until too late.
I can also report that my S4 on Wintersport 3Ds is much more surefooted in snow conditions (and we get those a lot in the Colorado mountains) than the RS4 on LM32s.

[ak_siberian]

For the money, Blizzaks are the best you can buy. The wife's V6 FSI Touareg rides on that in winter and Toyo A/T in summer. My V8 FSI Touareg rides on Hakka 5s in winter and Toyo A/T in summer.

If money is no object, Hakka 8 studded from Nokian is the definitive tire which is what I have on the RS5 (285R30x20). But then I live a couple of miles from the arctic circle...

siberian

[jrabakker]

I did something a little dumb.

You could also call it a little smart: now you'll gave to go out and get some awesome new summer wheels!


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[FamousLastWords]

I've been running Blizzaks on my stock 18's for two seasons now, dealing with up to a foot of snow and slush various times. I can't speak highly enough about them, but especially about how the car stops; truly makes me excited to drive in the snow each winter.

(I do appreciate the irony of my last sentence and my username, btw. )

[DinB]

They are ok in straight line, but I experience slippage even when making gentle turns.

[01northernS4]

+1

again, maybe it's the size I'm running, lm32 on 255/35/19... what are size are you running DinB and are they LM32?

They are ok in straight line, but I experience slippage even when making gentle turns.

[ians]

I have been running 245/40/18 LM60 for the past 2 season and I have no complaint at all! This year I got a set of 255/35/19 LM32 because of the RS brake I put on so now you made me worrying...

[RVJ]

Just drove mine for the first time in snow (put them on Sunday) and very happy. Used to use 3D's and I didn't notice any performance loss. Maybe it is the size I'm running...255/35/19.

Wasn't much snow so I can't comment on heavy snow traction yet but so far so good.


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[ENV²]

I mounted my blizzaks on the AMG yesterday. It has been raining here. They absolutely are terrible in the rain. I guess next time Ill do Wintersports or Wintracs.

[Johnhanson]

I mounted my blizzaks on the AMG yesterday. It has been raining here. They absolutely are terrible in the rain. I guess next time Ill do Wintersports or Wintracs.

Rain is a non issue for the Dunlops. Probably all-season type performance in rain.


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[ENV²]

Rain is a non issue for the Dunlops. Probably all-season type performance in rain.


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Yea that I know, I had Dunlops on the s4 for a couple of seasons and vredesteins for the others

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[Johnhanson]

Yea that I know, I had Dunlops on the s4 for a couple of seasons and vredesteins for the others

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I imagine an AMG would be suboptimal in the rain regardless of tire as well


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[ians]

I mounted my blizzaks on the AMG yesterday. It has been raining here. They absolutely are terrible in the rain. I guess next time Ill do Wintersports or Wintracs.

I have LM32 on for ~ 3 weeks, never face heavy snow but it did ran through heavy rain and feel the same as my summer PSS

[Wilbur]

I imagine an AMG would be suboptimal in the rain regardless of tire as well


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Thats what I was thinking. Need Hakkas probably but NOT a performance winter tire for sure IMO

[Tpca789]

have had blizzaks in past and currently on RS5 have 245/40-19 LM-32 They are very good in snow. definitely softer feel than the P-zeros obviously. Last car S4 had Michelin PA4's which were maybe a little firmer feeling, also good in snow but I would give the edge to the Blizzaks for really bad weather

[jrabakker]

I have a set of zottozero's and from what i can tell they do great. Nice grip in snow (but havent seen too much yet) and good handling in rain. Very suitable for the PNW.


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