[Magneto]

For those of you that use them, which brand are you running and what size?

For my XLE I am downsizing to a 17 inch rim and probably looking at tire size 215-60-17. 225-55-17 is closer to the original but is more expensive.

I've used a lot of brands over the years and thought I would try the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80.

Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[zx10guy]

I've run WS80 winter tires on my BMW 135i since I've owned it back in 2014. The tires have never failed me in various winter weather conditions. They do seem to wear out pretty quickly. The tire size I use on the 135i are 225/50/18. Because of the deep tread block design, the traction control on my 135i is always intervening even with small throttle applications. This was when I had the car stock at 300HP/300FT Lbs to 320HP/317 FT Lbs (with the PPK tune), and now with 355HP/401 FT lbs (with the Dinan S2 tune). I suspect there wouldn't be any problems with the traction control going off with the C-HR.

When I get around to it, I will be looking at a second set of wheels to facilitate mounting winter tires. I'd probably go with the WS80s again and keep the stock size I have on my LE at 215/60/17. It's actually better to get a narrower tire for better traction in the snow.

 

[Magneto]

Glad to hear they do well in all conditions. I'm not worried about tread wear as the commute is about 10 minutes. And then on weekends.

On dry pavement in the winter, did you find them too soft?

 

[zx10guy]

Yes. I felt the warmer it got, the "greasier" things got. Hard to explain. Also with the tall/deep tread blocks, cornering on the things gets kind of squirrelly. It's not the intent of the tires but I have pushed them and some times felt as if the car was going to slide or roll over. There was just a lot of body roll I wasn't used to with the summer performance tires I run on the BMW. Again, this isn't the intent of these tires. And I'm comparing them to Michelin Pilot Super Sports and now Pilot 4S tires of which I run 225/50/18 front and 245/40/18 rear. The hottest air temp I've run the WS80s was 60F.

Here's a story about running the WS80s. I was driving around in a pretty big snow storm that blew through the Mid Atlantic states a few years ago. I was driving around in my 135i with the WS80s. I rolled past a WRX stuck spinning his tires and here I am blowing by him with my rear wheel drive car.

 

[Magneto]

Thanks again for the feedback! That bimmer sounds like a beast!

And I know exactly how you feel, blowing by SUVs with All Season tires during a snow storm in my Corolla with winter tires! :grin2:

 

[scorpiole]

Does anybody went for winter tires without installing TPMS on it. Besides the annoying light in your dashboard. What else have you notice.... if ever. And putting back your Summer tires did it go away (the light) without calibrating it? i hope somebody can answer my question. How many of you drive without it during the winter months? Off course this only relate to the winter part section of the country.

 

[Magneto]

Does anybody went for winter tires without installing TPMS on it. Besides the annoying light in your dashboard. What else have you notice.... if ever. And putting back your Summer tires did it go away (the light) without calibrating it? i hope somebody can answer my question. How many of you drive without it during the winter months? Off course this only relate to the winter part section of the country.

My father did this with his 2014 Toyota Sienna. We didn't bother with the sensors on his steel wheels. He hasn't had to re-calibrate the sensors when putting the summers back on. The light went away.

 

[scorpiole]

Thanks for your response....I decided to go without it for my winter setup.... Winter tires on another toyota model used alloy rims....I like the car still dressed up even in winter....

 

[Magneto]

***update***

I had the Blizzak WS 90 installed 2 weeks ago, just in time for the snow that hit Toronto. Used rims from my old car.

So far, no complaints. Drove through 4-6 inches of slush/snow and the traction light never came on.

 

[zx10guy]

I didn't even know Bridgestone released the WS90. I just read Car and Driver's initial write up/impressions of the WS90. Seems to be a decent upgrade to the WS80 I have currently. The mention of stiffer tread blocks is a good thing. If I had a gripe about the WS80 is the squishy feeling I would get when driving on the tires in the dry at high speeds. The traction control on my BMW would constantly trigger with any throttle application beyond a light application.