bigsl550fan

I have a 2012 c63 amg coupe, and this car is awful in the snow with stock tires. This weekend I was in LI NY, and it started to snow at night coming back into NYC, and my wife and I almost got killed sliding all over the road with the stock conti's. Of course I know they're summer tires but I really need to replace them until its warmer outside.

Doing some quick research it looks like either the Blizzak WS70 or LM-60 would work but tire rack recommended the LM-60.

Can someone please assist me on what size to get all around, and which tire is the better option? I will only use these for the next few months until spring time.

VaclavSV

I would go with the Hankook W310s 235s all-around. Blizzaks are expensive for the money and dont offer much more in winter performance. The Hankooks wont wear as quickly. Im running the Hankooks and after almost 2 winters (Rotated the fronts and rears) they are still great! As much traction as youd expect in the snow on winter tires and the dry performance is almost unmatched. If you can afford the Blizzaks go with them but I dont feel they are worth the extra $$. Good luck with tires, but 235s all round should do the trick.

Multani

Hey I got Blizzaks ws60 on kijiji for $450 brand new. The guy was moving away. They are amazing. The car drives better than my dads old s500 4matic.

bigsl550fan

225 or 235? Tired rack states 225, I've also heard the the Blizzaks are not that great on dry pavement.

Fung63

i have ws70s atm... works beautifully. i have to actively try to spin out the car.

bigsl550fan

Fung63 will 235 or 225 fit all around on the ws70? and what is the size for front and rear?

Multani

I have 225 all around. It was hard finding someone to stretch the back tires. They were all worried about damaging the rim. As for dry pavement, I dont notice anything different. Its only when its above freezing, they get soft and you spin out more on dead stop hard accel. Thats what I experience.

gthal

LM-60 if you want good snow traction and good, for a winter tire, dry pavement traction.

WS-70 if you want the best snow/ice traction at the expense of dry traction.

I would go 235 all around. I'm running 225 but regret it and wish I went 235.

Since you made it this far on summer tires (which is insane if you ask me ), I bet the LM-60 would fit the bill nicely for you.

tuffcalc

I think you will hate the WS70 if you want to do any sort of spirited driving on dry winter roads. They are a very soft compound.

I'm running Pirelli Sottozero Series II in the front and Pirelli Sottozero Series I in the rear in stock 18" sizes (235/40/18 and 255/35/18). They are great tires for anything less than light snow. On cold dry roads they perform like a good performance all-season tire.

I drive the car in Toronto, so I'm assuming your driving conditions are similar to mine in NYC during the winter months. I don't believe in using a narrow tire to cut through the snow since there just isn't much snow on the ground here. When it does snow, it is mopped up within the day. The Sottozero's will get you home when there is snow - but won't perform like the WS-70's in those conditions.

If you are worried about deep snow, the best tire I have ever used for that (without sacrificing dry weather performance like a studless winter tire will) was the Dunlop WinterSport M3. They have replaced that model with the 3D and 4D. Haven't used the 4D, but the 3D is just as good on the dry, less so than the M3 in the deep stuff.

... all that being said, the Sottozero's are the only tires I could find in stock sizes, and even then, I had to mix them with the Series I & II front to back.

Cheers

Jasonoff

x2

I am happy with the W310 as well.

tuffcalc

Jasonoff - totally off topic but I'm an ex-s2000 guy too. Miss that car!

grane

I like the Hankooks but would also consider the Michelins in matched sizes. The latter PA-4s are purpose-built for AMG and SL series cars. (There is also a special Porsche version - the N series.) As the OP said the Blizzaks are better in an area where heavy snow is the rule.

Make sure you follow the recommended OM or gas flap placard inflation instructions.

Folks/tire shops have a tendency to underinflate winter tires. This leads to uneven wear just as overinflation does.

benyl

The only difference between the WS-70 and the LM-60 is the speed rating. Do you really need to go over 190 km/h in the winter?

Right now I have 225 LM-60 on the front and 235 WS-70 on the rear. You can't get the LM-60 in a 235 (which gives a little more rim protection).

tuffcalc

The tread pattern looks the same, but the WS-70 is a different compound (softer) than the LM-60 (harder). Different tires and characteristics.

bigsl550fan

just installed the ws70, 235/40/18 all around, and the car feel weird, like wobbles side to side and a lot of play in the steering feel. Of course these tires are a lot smaller, is this normal?

tuffcalc

Welcome to studless winter tires

bigsl550fan

so i guess its normal? Car feels like a school bus now, but as long as I can move in snow

otakki

As someone had mentioned, make sure to inflate winter tires 3-5 psi higher.

Obviously, if temp is all sub 45 F, I would say go for the WS70. However, your only chance for a spirted drive will be all but evaporated if the temp ever turns warm, like that unusual 60+ degrees last Tuesday around Chicago, followed by a plummet of 50 degress. A spirited drive at high temp will really wear out the WS70 quickly.

Fung63

np bigsl550fan, i have the same setup as you. 235/40/18s on all corners. glad you went for the 235 instead of the 225.. the 225 is really stretched on the rears.

and yes its normal to feel weird. no matter what winter tire you use and you are using a great tire, it wont be the same as a nice meaty performance tire you had on previously. once you get a bit more used to it, you will be able to enjoy it again.. but yea, its the transition period. I guess, it'll make it that much better when you put your performance tires back on later most important now is to make sure we get from point A to B safely right? lol....

gthal

Normal and expected for WS70. The LM-60 would be a firmer (they don't have the squishy ice compound) and more stable tire on dry pavement.

You need to remember that everything is a compromise. Put a set of Sottozero or Alpin PA3 on the car and it will be great on dry pavement... get 10cm of wet snow, slush and ice and you will regret not going with the WS70. It's about what matters more to you and what conditions you drive in.

Wait to the next storm you get and you'll love the WS70 and, in the interim, you get use to the squishy feeling. Winter sucks all of the fun out of driving performance cars on so many levels

gthal

Not quite true... the WS70 have a different rubber compound than the LM-60. Softer and better on ice... therefore, more unstable and not as capable on dry pavement.

noodleman

yup. I'm using the older generation WS60s on my car. you get no dry grip for "fun" drives. It's amazing for snow/ice though. I have to actively try in order to get the tail end to slide out.

bigsl550fan

It supposed to snow here the next few days, I will report back with some feedback on the tires

Jasonoff

Turn TC off

noodleman

lol no thanks :P