Results 151 to 175 of 380
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11-28-2018, 09:43 AM #151
I've never seen a broken down Subaru on my commutes. And I live in Subbie country. I drove a 3.0R Subbie, fully loaded for 12 years. Had to replace the rear wheel bearings at 120k miles, probably due to the deicer they use and not being more diligent in washing off the road grime. Otherwise it was oil changes, and the usual maintenance. That car was a mountain goat with winter tires. I guess some people got lemons, and understand why they wouldn't want to buy another one. I wouldn't hesitate to get one if I were in the market, but the wife wanted something different and went with the Mercedes ML250 Bluetec. Great vehicle for long trips. Get's about 36 MPG in HWY driving. No issues driving in winter weather either. (With winter tires of course!)
"We don't beat the reaper by living longer, we beat the reaper by living well and living fully." - Randy Pausch
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11-28-2018, 09:47 AM #152
Agreed. There are plenty of very good snow tires out there. With compounding and tread design where it's at today, there's very little performance margins between major brand snow tires. Heck, even the tier 2 tire brands like Hankook, Falken, Sumitomo all build decent snow tires.
"We don't beat the reaper by living longer, we beat the reaper by living well and living fully." - Randy Pausch
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11-28-2018, 09:49 AM #153
If we want to really nit pick 4wd or awd cars do actually stop a tiny bit faster on snow with similar tires than a 2wd version of the same vehicle. Something to do with the additional rotating mass on the extra axle or maybe just the extra sprung weight down low. Kind of slicing the dice close to the skin though.
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11-28-2018, 09:57 AM #154
Yup. In fact, I *prefer* the Michelins significantly. Dry performance is good and they are way quieter than the Blizzaks. And they wear much better. Which is a good combo, since almost all of our "winter" driving ends up being on dry roads, but when we need snow tires, we really need snow tires.
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11-28-2018, 09:58 AM #155Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2018
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- 656
i really want an Audi but two nightmarish summer roadtrips in a Passat wagon with endless electrical and mechanical problems make me squeamish about vw/Audi.
the Blizzak thing is personal bias based on 1000’s of miles of very excellent performance with never a single issue. Ymmv.
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11-28-2018, 10:01 AM #156
It only takes one drive in a Subaru/AWD from Bellingham to Mt Baker (or Enumclaw to Crystal on 410) on all seasons when the "snow" is at sea level and the road is just glazed over the whole drive... to make you go buy snow tires the next day. After you clean the poo off the drivers seat that is.
This is something that you can never, ever convince anyone, they have to experience it first hand.
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11-28-2018, 10:06 AM #157
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11-28-2018, 10:09 AM #158
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11-28-2018, 10:10 AM #159
Read up on the new Nokia’s wrg4 AS using better winter style rubber temp I believe
I need to go to Utah.
Utah?
Yeah, Utah. It's wedged in between Wyoming and Nevada. You've seen pictures of it, right?
So after 15 years we finally made it to Utah.....
Thanks BCSAR and POWMOW Ski Patrol for rescues
8, 17, 13, 18, 16, 18, 20, 19, 16, 24, 32, 35
2021/2022 (13/15)
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11-28-2018, 10:17 AM #160
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11-28-2018, 10:20 AM #161
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11-28-2018, 10:32 AM #162
All ice tires (e.g., Blizzak, X-Ice, Hakka, Conti WinterContact) are snow tires. But not all snow tires are ice tires.
We have X-Ice xi3 on one vehicle, Blizzak DM-V2 on the other vehicle. I've had older Blizzaks on 2 other vehicles. X-Ice are wee better for all-around driving, although the DM-V2s are much better all-rounders than my older Blizzak models. Blizzaks seem a wee better on ice. Both are much better on ice than non-ice snow tires. Overall performance score where we drive Dec-March is a tie. Research suggests X-ice ice compound may last longer than Blizzak. If that's true, that would be the tie breaker.
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11-28-2018, 10:35 AM #163Registered User
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- Sep 2010
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- SW CO
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- 5,597
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
photos
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11-28-2018, 10:35 AM #164
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11-28-2018, 10:37 AM #165
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11-28-2018, 10:41 AM #166
Blizak DMV2 only has special compound for the first 55% of tread so by the time you're at 5/32 you don't have the nice compound, but 5/32 is not enough tread for me in the winter. Unless it's the end of the season I'm going to replace my blizzaks at 6/32. If it is the end of the season then I can probably get the summer out of the tires.
I've driven dunlop's, pirelli, bridgestone's, and good years. None of them have impressed me with tread life. However if a Michelin Xi is truly a near equal of a DMV but with more tread life that's pretty cool.
A major reason I keep choosing the blizzaks is not just all the miles I have on them with excellent performance and their great reviews, but they were available in the height and section width that advantage slush traction and fit the vehicles I have. That's why I've never driven a Nokian, not just the cost, they don't make narrow tall tires for the vehicles I have.Last edited by Summit; 11-28-2018 at 11:17 AM.
Originally Posted by blurred
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11-28-2018, 10:47 AM #167
Performance is close: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests...y.jsp?ttid=205
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11-28-2018, 10:49 AM #168Registered User
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- SW CO
- Posts
- 5,597
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
photos
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11-28-2018, 10:52 AM #169
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11-28-2018, 12:05 PM #170
Comparison by reviewers/testers, not me personally, otherwise yes. I may have a personal opinion in the 5 years.
Yeah, that's pretty much my strategy, although IME older Blizzak model performance sucks in warmer weather.
I've read numerous places that warmer ambient temperatures (even if wet) accelerates ice tire wear more than cold dry. The key is to switch to summer tires as soon as temps start to warm up. That's early March around these parts most years, although last year I switched out in late February due to warm long-range forecast. I also delay installing ice tires as late as long term forecasts indicate.
Ice tires are strongly indicated on the E side of the Cascades, where in a typical winter roads are either snow-covered or icy nearly every day and ambient temperatures usually stay low day-to-day throughout the winter. Ice tires are less indicated for those living W of the crest, where temps are mild many days in winter -- but they are nice for icy days in hilly Seattle.
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11-28-2018, 12:32 PM #171
RE: East/west side of cascades
I'm happier driving in the cold zones at elevation. I feel like it's drier & more predictable at elevation, rather than the transitional wet/icy zone that I invariably need to cross coming up from the lowlands.
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11-28-2018, 12:34 PM #172
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11-28-2018, 12:36 PM #173
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11-28-2018, 12:42 PM #174
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11-28-2018, 01:01 PM #175
Loving the Mich xi3. On my second pair, one on a Forester, now on a pilot
Day Man. Fighter of the Night Man. Champion of the Sun. Master of Karate and Friendship for Everyone.
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