So I have a chance to acquire a brand new set of 225/55/17 Bridgestone Blizzaks for my stock Enkei's for $600 dollars instead of the original list price of $900.

Any input from people who have run winter tires before? Pros? Cons? Was it worth having the winter tire over a set of all seasons? I do plan to purchase wider summer wheels and wider summer tires, later on.

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'04 GP CompG - 2.6" junk

I run Blizzaks on my GTI in the winter and it's hands down the best thing ever. Put's all season tires to shame. I've never driven a GP with dedicated winter tires before, but have driven other cars with Blizzaks and other brand tires and it's still a night and day difference IMO. After driving others and my own car with winter tires, I'll never go back to an all season tire for the winter months. Downside is they wear crazy fast if you drive them during warm days or bare asphalt, but I have 35,000 miles on my Blizzaks and they are only half worn due to the fact that I'm not like some idiots I see who run winter tires in the dead of summer. Road noise is also usually increased with winter tires due to the bigger treads, but it's not something like a lifted truck with mudders howling down the roadway. Steering response is also slightly decreased due to the softer rubber, but it's not like you're going for skidpad numbers on dry road in the middle of winter haha. Modern all seasons have gotten better about winter traction and flexibility of rubber in cold temperatures, but from what I've experienced they still can't meet a dedicated winters tires grip in deep snow and ice, flexibility, and overall safety improvement. I also like that you can have 2 sets of wheels and tires and swap them and not have to rack up the miles on just one set of tires and you don't have to trade off performance in either summer or winter since you'll have the best tire for both instead of a middle ground compromise.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

From what I hear, the Blizzaks are great, but they are expensive. I run Firestone Winterforces on my stock 17" Comp G wheels and they are absolutely amazing. I actually wrecked my car in the snow the first year I owned it with all season tires. With the winterforces on, I only lose traction in the snow when I want to . They are less than half the price of the Bizzaks as well (you can buy them around $100 per tire) and they will last longer. As an additional testiment to the winterforces, by best friend runs them on his 06 Cobalt SS S/C on 16" steelies. The first winter he had that car, we had to push in out of a parking spot with less than a 1/16" of snow on the ground with the stock tires. He now goes whereever he wants in the winter. I would probably pass on the expensive Blizzaks and go with the winterforces, but thats just my $.02.

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2005 GTP Comp G (Best E.T. 13.93 @ 98.8mph)
(SSC Lowering Springs, GMPP STB, SSAC Headers, 1.9 Mod Rockers w/ LS6 Springs, Wizaird, 180* T-Stat, AL104's, 3.6" MPS, Dyno Tune)

I should be pulling the trigger on this soon.
TireRack has the WS70's for $550 a set
They also have the LM-32 run flat tires for $790 a set.

WS70: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS70&partnum=255TR7WS70
LM-32: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+LM-32+RFT&partnum=255HR7LM32RFT

Does anyone else who runs or have ran winter tires, have any input on why they prefer winter tires over a good set of all season tires? Has anyone ran WS70's or LM-32's on their own vehicle? What did you think about one or the other? Do you think it is worth the extra cash for run flats? Which do you prefer? Discuss.

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'04 GP CompG - 2.6" junk

No need for run flats if you car has a spare tire. What a lot of people don't realize is that once you drive on a run flat "flat" it needs to be replaced....its not something you can do over and over again.

The biggest difference with snow tires is that they are more flexible in lower temperatures. regular all seasons only stay pliable to 45 degrees then they start getting more rigid. Also, snow tires use softer rubber which allows them to grab the road better. they also have a LOT more sipping in the tread which allows then to grab ice a lot better.

I work at 2 tire stores and have run snow tires on my grand prix and impala for 3 years now and will never go back to all seasons during winter again. It's a night and day difference.

I personally use Michelin X-Ice on my grand prix and have General Altimax Arctics on my impala. The Michelins last the longest in the industry but the grabbers have better traction. The blizzaks are nice but are too expensive and have lost their "advantage" in the snow tire industry.

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2005 Grand Prix: SPO Spoiler, SE Front Extenion, Painted rear extension white, SPO Grills, Body Color painted Tails, 6000k HIDS
2006 Grand Prix: SPO Grills, Painted Body Color Tails, 10000k HIDs

I see them on craigslist all the time. Makes me wonder. I don't see enough snow to need them myself, the DWS do great for me, plus I have a 4x4 suv if needed. But I've thought about it, and I've heard lots of good things about them. They will be loud as hell and pretty rough ride when its dry out, so keep that in mind.

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http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3882088

So put it simple they are better in the snow.

As for the noise, there may be a little bit I have run them in dry and there is not that big a difference. ( with the difference between the all seasons and snow I was running) as for the ride it should be softer and " squirmier " due to the SOFTER rubber and MORE flexability from the tread and carcus. Not rougher ( again, my experience )

sent from my driod x, via my fingers through tapatalk

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2001 white gt coupe with enough crap to make it run mid 13's with 3 bad pistons
2002 40th GTP sedan mostly stock