Americas Winter tires: Michelin X Ice or Blizzaks?

[Marmota788]

I wasnt planning to get winter tires but now really thinking about it since i might need to teavel decent distances in upstate NY

I see there is only 2 options really for 255/70/18. The Michelin X Ice or the Blizzaks.

My biggest fear would be icy roads, it really concerned about deep snow. Which ones work better you think? Studded tires are not really an option for me

Any other options? I am completely ignorant about all this…..but do they have to be 255/70/18 as my all weather tires that i have right now?

Thanks!

 

[Pat]

I wasnt planning to get winter tires but now really thinking about it since i might need to teavel decent distances in upstate NY

I see there is only 2 options really for 255/70/18. The Michelin X Ice or the Blizzaks.

My biggest fear would be icy roads, it really concerned about deep snow. Which ones work better you think? Studded tires are not really an option for me

Any other options? I am completely ignorant about all this…..but do they have to be 255/70/18 as my all weather tires that i have right now?

Thanks!

Hi Marmota,
I am running now the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 for two winter seasons (total of 25k km) - going to snowboarding every weekend and already on wet tarmac there is a huge difference to the Bridgestone Dueler. Ride is very smooth and gives you much more confidence going downwards a hair needle pin at zero degrees Celsius (freezing point) when wet, icy or snow covered. The grip on snow covered street is excellent and no need to lock the central diff. Of course not the ideal tyre to go off road.

 

[Marmota788]

Hi Marmota,
I am running now the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 for two winter seasons (total of 25k km) - going to snowboarding every weekend and already on wet tarmac there is a huge difference to the Bridgestone Dueler. Ride is very smooth and gives you much more confidence going downwards a hair needle pin at zero degrees Celsius (freezing point) when wet, icy or snow covered. The grip on snow covered street is excellent and no need to lock the central diff. Of course not the ideal tyre to go off road.

Hi Pat

Thanks a lot for your reply. Winter tires definitely seem like a great option to me, glad to see the Michelin are working out for you. Cant wait to try the grenadier in a proper winter storm

 

[TMpetrol]

Hi, Iam running 275/70 18 Nokian LT3 studded. Excellent tires

 

[Marmota788]

Hi, Iam running 275/70 18 Nokian LT3 studded. Excellent tires

Hi

Heard great things about the Nokian (the non studded). The 275 fit well in the fieldmaster 18” rim? No issues?

 

[TMpetrol]

Hi

Heard great things about the Nokian (the non studded). The 275 fit well in the fieldmaster 18” rim? No issues?

Hi again, i have the original 18 inch steel wheels. I ordered 265/70 but as there was a temporary shortage, I got the 275:s instead. Fits fine. No rubbing in extreme suspension moves.

 

[Marmota788]

Hi again, i have the original 18 inch steel wheels. I ordered 265/70 but as there was a temporary shortage, I got the 275:s instead. Fits fine. No rubbing in extreme suspension moves.

Thanks a lot, thats fantastic to know because i heard those are great tires…i would be looking at the non studded ones. Thanks so much again

 

[CrazyOldMan]

I wasnt planning to get winter tires but now really thinking about it since i might need to teavel decent distances in upstate NY

I see there is only 2 options really for 255/70/18. The Michelin X Ice or the Blizzaks.

My biggest fear would be icy roads, it really concerned about deep snow. Which ones work better you think? Studded tires are not really an option for me

Any other options? I am completely ignorant about all this…..but do they have to be 255/70/18 as my all weather tires that i have right now?

Thanks!

I’m running the Blizzaks in Wisconsin, both ice and deeper snow (go offroad for fly fishing through the winter). HUGE difference from the stock K02’s. I really wanted the Nokians but it was just harder to find. You don’t have to stick to that size - there’s a lot of info here about what sizes you can run without rubbing - but yes. Dedicated winter tires make a big difference.

 

[Marmota788]

I’m running the Blizzaks in Wisconsin, both ice and deeper snow (go offroad for fly fishing through the winter). HUGE difference from the stock K02’s. I really wanted the Nokians but it was just harder to find. You don’t have to stick to that size - there’s a lot of info here about what sizes you can run without rubbing - but yes. Dedicated winter tires make a big difference.

You are right, its not easy to find the nokians here…sold out in the usual places. Totally agreed about winter tires difference……sometimes my wife picks the car early in the morning and gives me a complete peace of mind if she is got the winter tires

 

[CrazyOldMan]

You are right, its not easy to find the nokians here…sold out in the usual places. Totally agreed about winter tires difference……sometimes my wife picks the car early in the morning and gives me a complete peace of mind if she is got the winter tires

So you will just need to pick a separate set of wheels - either for the winter tires or use what you have and use different wheels for rest of year. Discount Tire does climate controlled warehouse storage and swaps for $120. That’s a great deal.

 

[Marmota788]

So you will just need to pick a separate set of wheels - either for the winter tires or use what you have and use different wheels for rest of year. Discount Tire does climate controlled warehouse storage and swaps for $120. That’s a great deal.

Thank god storage is not an issue where i am right now. I guess i will run the winter tires from tksgiving to march

 

[Brad@SuperiorCO]

I wasnt planning to get winter tires but now really thinking about it since i might need to teavel decent distances in upstate NY

I see there is only 2 options really for 255/70/18. The Michelin X Ice or the Blizzaks.

My biggest fear would be icy roads, it really concerned about deep snow. Which ones work better you think? Studded tires are not really an option for me

Any other options? I am completely ignorant about all this…..but do they have to be 255/70/18 as my all weather tires that i have right now?

Thanks!

We run both Michelin X-Ice and Blizzak on our 2 V10 Touaregs here in Colorado. I don't notice a difference between them, both work well. I will say we were just up in the mountains in the snow yesterday, and the Mickey Thompsons got us up some real steep snowy parts on the trail. But that is trail running, not street.

 

[Marmota788]

We run both Michelin X-Ice and Blizzak on our 2 V10 Touaregs here in Colorado. I don't notice a difference between them, both work well. I will say we were just up in the mountains in the snow yesterday, and the Mickey Thompsons got us up some real steep snowy parts on the trail. But that is trail running, not street.

You guys know how to handle the snow in colorado….i went from vail to estes park last winter and was the scariest drive i’ve ever had

 

[MileHigh]

Interstate 70 truly is a different beast. I grew up in Chicago and Buffalo so I know Snow, but the inclines add a couple levels of difficulty. Plus people drive on I 70 like there’s no snow. Nothing like low visibility low traction and going 70 miles an hour with traffic, next to some guy in a rental car from Florida. I’ve literally passed people in their rental cars, and I can hear them screaming.

Right now I’m thinking about some LT3s that are studied because I’ll need to do birthed pass a few times a month.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

The screaming in the rental car - thank you for that visual. What a great Monday

 

[Rusty_hombi]

Hi

Heard great things about the Nokian (the non studded). The 275 fit well in the fieldmaster 18” rim? No issues?

I am running 285/17R17 Nokian Hakkapeliita LT3 non studded (but predrilled) and they did just amazing last winter in Norway and Sweden at -25°C, snow and ice.

 

[Marmota788]

Interstate 70 truly is a different beast. I grew up in Chicago and Buffalo so I know Snow, but the inclines add a couple levels of difficulty. Plus people drive on I 70 like there’s no snow. Nothing like low visibility low traction and going 70 miles an hour with traffic, next to some guy in a rental car from Florida. I’ve literally passed people in their rental cars, and I can hear them screaming.

Right now I’m thinking about some LT3s that are studied because I’ll need to do birthed pass a few times a month.

I dont have the best memories of i-70 and Eisenhower tunnel let me tell you that…..i guess i need more practice!

Ineos store recommend me getting the Ko3 that apparently are much better in snow than the previous KO2’s…not so sure really..l

 

[Marmota788]

I am running 285/17R17 Nokian Hakkapeliita LT3 non studded (but predrilled) and they did just amazing last winter in Norway and Sweden at -25°C, snow and ice.

View attachment 7911974View attachment 7911975

Those are awesome pictures let me tell you that….

 

[MileHigh]

The screaming in the rental car - thank you for that visual. What a great Monday

Kind of makes me feel like the people in the lifeboats from Titanic..

I dont have the best memories of i-70 and Eisenhower tunnel let me tell you that…..i guess i need more practice!

Ineos store recommend me getting the Ko3 that apparently are much better in snow than the previous KO2’s…not so sure really..l

I’m sure the KO3s would be fine. You can get the most awesome cold-compound, sipped and studded tire and then be run into by some dumbass that drove up from Florida on all-season tires. My wife’s X5 with standard Perellli Scorpions (?) was wayward Zamboni machine with any kind of tread wear…

Right now I’m leaning towards some Nokian LT3 with studs in

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Kind of makes me feel like the people in the lifeboats from Titanic..



I’m sure the KO3s would be fine. You can get the most awesome cold-compound, sipped and studded tire and then be run into by some dumbass that drove up from Florida on all-season tires. My wife’s X5 with standard Perellli Scorpions (?) was wayward Zamboni machine with any kind of tread wear…

Right now I’m leaning towards some Nokian LT3 with studs in

@MileHigh is having none of your Florida nonsense. Leaning all in. Next winter, I would love to see you go full combat mode