Just get Blizzaks, by far the best bang for your buck winter tire, they will need to be swapped for your regular tires every year, but they are awesome in anything this state will throw at you. I have used them for years through several iterations on multiple vehicles.
I've run everything from the cheapest of cheap to high-end and can tell you there is a difference in performance. I drive a lot, so i now by all weather tires (Bridgestone currently) that are 4 season (incl snow rated).
Approaching 15.000 km with them, (225 50 r15), thought that may be interesting to refer my impressions. They are perfect off road and on road at 200km/h +, never detecting slippage under rain or in sharp turns. EDL and ABS rarely engaged, (both working perfectly). There are no signs of premature wear, neither they are loosing pressure.
I got a great deal on Bridgestone Weatherpeak at Costco. I felt very confident driving them in torrential rains last week.
The CRS tires hold there grip very well thru out the life of the tire. They can come to heat cycled from the shop but these do work better if you heat cycle them per their instructions before your track day.
I've been on CRS V1's all year and commute to the track about 130 miles in one direction. I'm getting 20 lapping sessions out of these tires before they start to degrade.
Bought these tires for my Mazda 3 after one of my OEM Bridgestone EL440’s got pregnant(sidewall bulge), and I plugged a puncture in the other one. Decided to just replace the tires completely.
So far I’m happy with them.
Pros:
- Severe snow rating so they are legally snow tires in my state(for mountain passes and stuff), and I’m guessing the snow traction is way better. They are still all season tires though.
- Seems to be a softer ride overall even on the stock 18” side.
- XL sidewall strength, vs the stock tires being standard. Should help with those sidewall issues.
- They seem fairly quiet as far as noise.
- $150 rebate in addition to being fairly cheap
Cons:
- These are definitely not for those people who want sporty handling, they don’t really feel like a sport tire, and are more of a touring road tire.
- I’ve heard the treadwear isn’t the best(makes sense with the snow rating)
I ran a set of NS2's years ago, they came on my B5.5 Passat. Grip wise they were acceptable in the dry, and pretty poor in the rain. Alot of my customers also ran them back then. I've never seen anything akward happen to one, no sidewall bubbles, blowouts, or failures. They aren't unsafe or bad tires, they were just always at the bottom of their category in terms of performance, refinement, grip, so I never considered buying a set. If my hands were tied in terms of availability, I would feel perfectly comfortable running Nankangs, especially on an application like a Figaro. I would go for it.
Just chiming in here from Wisconsin also with a PP GTI. I also have the ****ty stock Bridgestone AS and they are completely useless in the snow. I don't blame the diff at all as it can't make a ****ty tire magically increase its friction coefficient or change its design pattern.
My car has RE97AS's on it. Basically rated 2.6 on ice traction...no wonder I slid down the entire off ramp. Ordered some blizzak LM-32's and some new rims.
Write your review
Help others - share your experience with this part.
Voted AGAINST engine oil RAVENOL on the rating page
The brake discs FEBI got the first review!
The power steering pump OEM Volvo got the first review!
The brake pads OEM Infiniti got the first review!
In the rating best shock absorbers already 13 brands participate!
In the rating best fuel pump already 5 brands participate!
In the rating best windshield already 14 brands participate!
In the auto rating oil filter for Volkswagen Passat already 5 brands participate!
In the auto rating battery for Volkswagen Golf already 5 brands participate!
In the auto rating brake pads for Mazda 5 already 10 brands participate!
For headlights OEM Volkswagen already 50 reviews.
For brake caliper OEM Volkswagen already 25 reviews.
For tires GISLAVED already 25 reviews.
Voted AGAINST engine oil RED LINE on the rating page
Voted AGAINST engine oil PENNZOIL on the rating page
