V8_Fan

Anyone have any experiences driving the LS with snow tires? (assume Bridgestone blizzaks). How does it handle on hills? Cornering?

motohide

Bridgestone Blizzaks are one of the BEST stud-less snow tires on the market today.
It does outperform a lot of snow tires out there.

However, traction on snow is dictated by physics to be extremely low, so don't expect anything to handle or grip far better than another, as no tires defy laws of physics. The difference is a safety margin really, and not speed advantage that should be utilized in venues with potential hazards.

LS430 comes with a pretty good traction control system and ABS to prevent you from doing nasty things with the car, but it still is a 3990lbs car (4260 with additional options) and despite having massive brakes, if the tires can't grab the road, its going to take that much longer to stop, slow or turn.



Having said that, it's a blast to open it up and practice your drifting/control skills in a safe open sanctioned environment in the snow!

caddyowner

Based on my great experience last year with Michelin X-Ice winter tires on my RWD Dakota, I plan on buying the X-Ice versions that fit the LS and the Subie.

wildace

iTrader: (1)

i do not trust my LS in the snow. had some bad experiences this past winter.

GLIDESUL

The ls is so so in winter snow its a heavy rear wheeler, compared to my 4matic c300 I don't wanna drive the ls in the snow at all. That 4matic is killer in the snow and rain. Sorry to get off topic. You probly better off with chains on the ls but that would look funky.

warminwisc

Yur soft my friend! I drove this thing out of a 10 inch dump at the hotel in the UP of Michigan on newer Primacys. Just about high centered er though. I take her up in the UP often, no probs drive er fast. Not as much salt more sand. Things bommer, just have to have good sense, you are not 4 wd drive as is the 4 matic? You have traction control,weight, stab track. JMO I cannot wait till I can rip it again in the UP.

Kansas

True winter tires like the X-ice and Blizzak (with the mountain/snowflake certification symbol on the sidewall) are in a completely different league from old style snow tires for which there was essentially no industry standard.

True winter tires should make any 98-up LS (with VSC, advanced ABS and snow mode transmission) fun to drive in snow. I've passed a number of 4WD SUV's spinning their wheels on snowy hills while driving my LS the past seven Winters on Blizzak WS50 tires. More important than traction on hills is that real snow tires allow VSC to work effectively.

If you want to be amazed, buy a set of real winter tires. I ordered a new set of Blizzak WS70 tires at Costco two days ago under their current $70 off per set deal. The WS70 replaces the WS60 in many sizes and became available on July 1.

I've been using the phrases "real snow tires" and "true snow tires" numerous times in this post. My point is ... if your snow tires do not have the mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewalls, they are not worth buying.

warminwisc

How much extra road noise and MPG loss do you notice with the Michelim Ice and Blizzak brand tires?

caddyowner

I can't report on the X-Ice because my Dakota had enough other noises that I didn't notice the tire noise. LOL

My MKZ had more tire noise and harshness with the older Michelin winter tires over the stock tires. It seems to be the price to pay for winter traction.

The MKZ was about 1 MPG lower in the winter, but I attributed that to winter v. summer gasoline blends.

wanderer99

The X-Ice2 in 18" tire size is very quiet during winter once the temperature drops below say 42F or 6C. It's really just like a normally quiet road tire. Once the weather warms up say 60F then it starts to get a little more noisy. The 18" tire size surprised me as it's very soft and comfortable when driving around. Obviously it's not a sport tire!

No loss on MPG at all with these tires. None.

caddyowner

Thanks, good to know about the X-Ice. I'm planning to go 17", but it's good to know 18" would work, too.

Kansas

The Blizzak WS50 tires I've used on my LS the past seven winters has been the quietest snow tires I've ever used - but I am officially in the geezer zone and wife says my hearing is going!

The Blizzaks have an excellent ride for a heavy duty snow tire; my experience is in line with the owner surveys on the Tire Rack website. I only hope the Blizzak WS70 tires I ordered on Wednesday will be as great. The WS70 like the WS60 are directional tires. The WS50 was not.

PRSUIT460

iTrader: (3)

I had the Michelin Arctic Alpin's on my GS400 and I liked them. I am going to be purchasing a set of Michelin snows for my LS come fall. Doesn't matter what car, if you are driving your car in winter with snow, having snow/ice tires is well worth the safety and extra control over all season tires..