Blizzak performance on a FWD Hybrid?

[Lovejoy]

It snowed heavily in Chicago yesterday and my FWD hybrid Lariat, with brand new Falken Wild Peaks, was disappointing in its ability to move quickly from a start. It slid around from side to side and made me question my decision to go with a FWD. So I am considering putting true winter tires on, vs the Wildpeak AT’s which, while they have a 3 Peak rating, are NOT winter tires. The sales person at Discount Tire feels Bizzak’s will help significantly with traction due the softness of the Bizzak tire compound.

Does anyone have any experience before I drop $900 on another set of tires?

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[dadd75]

I rode Blizzak's for years with my FWD Chevy HHR in Traverse City, the northwestern part of Michigan's lower peninsula, right on Lake Michigan. With all the lake effect snow's I always got to work in the morning! My wife had a Buick AWD Encore, the first winter she rode the tires that came with the car, then the next winter she put on Blizzaks, and she could not believe the better traction, stopping performance of the tires.

 

[jeffrol48197]

After the first 2-3 inch wet snow when I first got my Maverick 3 winters ago, I bought Blizzaks and have run them the past 2 years - I would rather drive a FWD with winter tires, than wife's Explorer with Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires - I love winter tires, we just don't get much winter in SE MI anymore...

 

[dadd75]

After the first 2-3 inch wet snow when I first got my Maverick 3 winters ago, I bought Blizzaks and have run them the past 2 years - I would rather drive a FWD with winter tires, than wife's Explorer with Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires - I love winter tires, we just don't get much winter in SE MI anymore...

My brother lives in St. Clair Shores and a cousin in Bevery Hills, so I understand how much less snow there is in SE Michigan.

 

[flipd4mavs]

I just bought a set of WS90s. No snow yet but can't wait! Only comment I can make so far is that subjectively the rolling resistance is higher than the ProContacts. No surprise there since the Contintentals weren't designed for traction.

 

[colinl]

did you use slippery drive mode?

 

[Tim d]

It snowed heavily in Chicago yesterday and my FWD hybrid Lariat, with brand new Falken Wild Peaks, was disappointing in its ability to move quickly from a start. It slid around from side to side and made me question my decision to go with a FWD. So I am considering putting true winter tires on, vs the Wildpeak AT’s which, while they have a 3 Peak rating, are NOT winter tires. The sales person at Discount Tire feels Bizzak’s will help significantly with traction due the softness of the Bizzak tire compound.

Does anyone have any experience before I drop $900 on another set of tires?

We love the blizzacks on our fwd caravan. However we leave them on and they wear quickly.typically about 20 thousand miles.

 

[dadd75]

We love the blizzacks on our fwd caravan. However we leave them on and they wear quickly.typically about 20 thousand miles.

I was told the softer rubber compound for better winter traction will wear faster if you leave them on year round.

 

[colinl]

I was told the softer rubber compound for better winter traction will wear faster if you leave them on year round.

absolutely true for ice and deep snow traction. by the time a winter specific tire is at half tread depth, it has lost a lot more of its original winter performance than when an all-season or all-terrain tire is half worn. again, comparing original performance vs current performance.

 

[Headbanger]

Jon it won't be a waste of money. Those are very dependable tires, albeit pricey..

 

[pawalsh610]

It snowed heavily in Chicago yesterday and my FWD hybrid Lariat, with brand new Falken Wild Peaks, was disappointing in its ability to move quickly from a start. It slid around from side to side and made me question my decision to go with a FWD. So I am considering putting true winter tires on, vs the Wildpeak AT’s which, while they have a 3 Peak rating, are NOT winter tires. The sales person at Discount Tire feels Bizzak’s will help significantly with traction due the softness of the Bizzak tire compound.

Does anyone have any experience before I drop $900 on another set of tires?

I live in Colorado and the performance of the factory tires on my 2022 FWD Hybrid was unacceptable in the mountains. As you described it was a particular issue getting started on an incline with any snow or ice. I have driven FWD in snow all my life so I was surprised how bad it was even with slip mode.

Based on recommendations on this site and from Discount Tire I bought four Blizzack tires and the improvement was dramatic. I returned to the same hill with similar road conditions and the truck had no issues whatsoever.
My only regret is that I didn’t mount them on a second set of wheels so I need to get them mounted every year. Consider buying wheels when you get the tires.

 

[Derwood]

It snowed heavily in Chicago yesterday and my FWD hybrid Lariat, with brand new Falken Wild Peaks, was disappointing in its ability to move quickly from a start. It slid around from side to side and made me question my decision to go with a FWD. So I am considering putting true winter tires on, vs the Wildpeak AT’s which, while they have a 3 Peak rating, are NOT winter tires. The sales person at Discount Tire feels Bizzak’s will help significantly with traction due the softness of the Bizzak tire compound.

Does anyone have any experience before I drop $900 on another set of tires?

ANY winter tire will definitely help. Seeing as you get about as much snow as I get here in Hamilton ON I'd go for something inexpensive. I didn't even bother with winter tires last year and I was ok FYI.

 

[Lovejoy]

These comments are very helpful. We have not gotten much snow in chicago for the last 20 years, but we’re due for a big year.

This week’s snow may be an indicator of more to come. So I decided to put the Blizzaks on, and will report on the improvement.

This said, once I spend the dough, I am pretty sure the snow we would have gotten will divert around us! Which is sort of a win either way…

 

[atomguy245]

I've used Blizzaks as winter tires for decades. They work. Just remember to take them off in the spring or they will wear quickly as the pavement heats up.

 

[Optimus]

Blizzaks are fantastic. I have owned many sets over the years. I am currently running Nokian snow tires on our Mav, but they are on par with the, and it came down to sale pricing at the time. We average 90 inches of snow a season where I live, with as high as 144” just a couple years ago.

Maybe shop online (for local delivery/installation). You might find better deals.

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