Luke@tirerack

I know it's not mid-October but, it is still October so, while not exactly on time I am close enough .....

so, here goes

High Performance winter tires

These tires are designed to meet the needs of winter driving on Performance vehicles and are available in the low profile sizes used as Original Equipment on cars and light trucks. They trade a little ice and snow traction for enhanced handling and high speed capability. Due to their unique tread compounds and handling capabilities these tires must be used in sets of four.

snow and ice traction
Blizzak LM22
Blizzak LM25
Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2
Pirelli Sotto Zero
Yokohama AVS Winter
Pirelli W210 Snow Sport
Pirelli W240 Snow Sport
Winter Contact TS790

dry/wet traction and steering response
Pirelli W240 Snow Sport
Pirelli W210 Snow Sport
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2
Blizzak LM25
Pirelli Sotto Zero
Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Yokohama AVS Winter
Blizzak LM22
Winter Contact TS790

Best blend of winter traction/dry grip and ride quality
Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2
Blizzak LM25
Pirelli W240 Snow Sport
Pirelli W210 Snow Sport
Blizzak LM22
Pirelli Sotto Zero
Yokohama AVS Winter
Winter Contact TS790

Studless Winter tires
These tires feature the latest in tread design and compound technology to provide winter traction for cars and light trucks without the inconvenience of using metal tire studs. They trade a little handling and high speed capability for excellent ice and snow traction. Due to their unique tread compounds and handling capabilities these tires must be used in sets of four.

snow and ice grip
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Dunlop Graspic DS-2
Michelin X-Ice
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice

dry and wet traction
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice
Michelin X-Ice
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Dunlop Graspic DS-2

blend of traction and ride quality
Michelin X-Ice
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Dunlop Graspic DS-2



with all of that said there are a couple of additional notes

#1.) DO NOT USE THE BLIZZAK WS50 ON A MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE WITH TRACTION CONTROL

#2.) same goes for the Dunlop Graspic DS2

#3.) we can team up any wheel to any tire to make a specific winter package to meet your needs

use this link to order on line or call me directly

that is all

mis3

#1.) DO NOT USE THE BLIZZAK WS50 ON A MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE WITH TRACTION CONTROL
#2.) same goes for the Dunlop Graspic DS2

Can you please elaborate on this? Why are these tires not recommended for Mercedes?

Luke@tirerack

they are so soft and flexible the traction control thinks the tires are loosing grip under acceleration and then it applies the brakes to correct the issue ...... causing premature brake wear

HotWheels500

Luke, I'm new to TireRack and I've read some of your comments in various posts. It's obvious you know tires! I need traction on ice, slush and snow, up and down our Connecticut hills. Traction is more importrant than quiet. Have narrowed the winter tire search to Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 and Michelin X-Ice (these were formerly Arctic Alpine, yes?). You can see my car below. Fastest I drive on dry pavement is ~80 mph. Note I have tire pressure monitoring. Tire Rack doesn't seem to list the E500 4Matic Wagon, just the sedan. I plan to mount them on my OE rims. I would value your recommendation?

Luke@tirerack

X-Ice ...... would be the way to go for your car

HotWheels500

Thanks

D i c k

creamypanda

My other vehicles all have 4WD(or in the case of MBs, 4Matic), except my '98 C280. It has ASR, which I believe is some sort of traction control. When I drive on snow/ice in stock summer tires, the yellow ASR light comes on like crazy and brakes the wheels and sometimes retard the engine rpm quite a bit.

I was about to order the Blizzak WS50s for the stock wheels(205/60/15) until I read your recommendation against using it on MBs with traction control.

Would the new Michelin X-Ice be okay? My main objective
is traction on packed snow,(driven snow) on hills. I also
have chains in the trunk for the worst case scenario, but
it takes me 10 minutes to put them on...

Are there any directly comparison reviews between the
Blizzak WS50 and the Michelin X-Ice?

Thanks!

Luke@tirerack

the X-Ice would be a good fit for your car

JohnAMG

Luke,

Will Dunlop M3 snow tire 225/45/17 and 235/45/17 work for my 2001 CLK55. I will be using exising wheels. I live south of Buffalo NY and heavy snow and some ice until April. I will be doing mostly local driving and some highway. Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

John

Luke@tirerack

your vehicles traction control will not like that 1 bit ....

JohnAMG

Can you elaborate on that? And what is your recommendation. Or should I just garage my CLK55 and don't bother taking out in the snow. Thanks.

John

Luke@tirerack

the overall diameter of you current tires is the same and by running a 225/45-17 front and a 235/45-17 rear you are using tires that are a different diameter and they will roll at different speeds confusing the traction control

littlesilvermax

I have been looking for a few months to find out how well the PA2s perform, and hopefully I have found the answer.

I have a lightly moded 2000 Maxima SE. I have used the original Pilot Alpins for the last 5.5 yrs. The originals worked good in all circumstance except for ice. Fairly good in snow, good in dry and wet, treadwear very good as well. I am hoping that the new PA2s don't compromise anything that the originals did well on, but have a significant increase in ice traction. Any comments?

Luke@tirerack

better in every way ... but, only moderately better on ice

littlesilvermax

When will the tirerack have a test report on them? Every time I call they say they don't have personal experience on the tire because they don't have snow yet. The reason I get stuff from you guys all the time is because you seem to know your stuff, vs. somebody just reading what the tires are suppose to do off of a computer screen.

Lafool

Is this the same recommendation for an E-420 sport with 235/45/17? it seems as though I can't get any traction at all. I even got stuck in front of my house a couple of weeks ago with just moderate snow. Thanx

littlesilvermax

We need answers from the tire God.

Are there any tires that stand up to abuse, and perform as well on dry pavement as the original Pilot Alpins while gripping in snow and ice as good or better then the new PA2s?

littlesilvermax

Still patiently waiting for a response.

How do the Dunlop winter sport M3 compare.

Ice traction?
Dry traction?
Tread wear?

Luke@tirerack

read reviews here

littlesilvermax

I have read all of those, maybe I am just too picky! I find it hard to compare from those reviews though, it is much more beneficial to hear from someone who has driven on a few sets of tires to give a more accurate impression. Those reviews are generally just a person describing one set of tires compared to factory tires.

powderhound5

Hi Luke,

I just got a S430 and since I live in the mountains north of Vancouver, I have started to look for snow tires ( sale time in Canada).

I have an extra set of MB OEM 16" rims for the 225/60 tires so I plan to do a wheel swap every November, April.

In Vancouver we get about 3 days of snow and ice a year, but lots of rain. In the mountains we get lots of black Ice and wet slick hardpacked snow.

What do you suggest as a winter tire?

Thanks

Bill

RDD

Hi, I have Yokohama Iceguards (size 225/45/17 and 245/40/17) from my old M3. If I pickup some 17x7 or 17x7.5" rims (non-staggered) for these tires do you think this would work as a winter setup for my 01 clk55? My only worry is that I also have a Movit brake kit and am not sure if I can go down to 17's. I currently have 18's on.