Snow Tires and Rims

Initial Review, 750 Miles on Tires
February 22, 2011

To start off, I know alot about cars and tires, natrually it comes with the territory (i sell services to buy cars at vrious auctions) the tire has a good over-all tread pattern which makes it great for snow and wet traction which has really helped me (living in massachusetts this winter we have had lots of snow) however I drive a Lincoln MKZ which is a VERY heavy car. With the tires filled to the recomended pressur (33PSI) I was actually scared to drive, the tires felt as though they were going to roll under the rim, I now have them over the recomended pressure (40PSI) to make them stiffer, which even at that they are still very "floaty". Having the tires over the recomended pressure naturally has affected the ride quality making it much harder. Going from the stock michelins which arent the best rated tire (according to tire rack) I find the General Altimax (owned by Continental) a rather noisy tire, which i basically got stuck with because Continental haulted production of the ExtremeContact DWS which is the highest rated all season tire. I have also had problems with the tires losing air, i had the the mounting redone (rims reground, bead checked, new valve stems, alignment, the whole 9 yards). Overall I am very unhappy with this tire. unfortunately because the tires are so new i can not comment on tread life but i will post updates of the treadlife and if anything has changes with how the tires are. Honestly I cant wait to get out of these tires, any will not try to save money by going with a tire like this again. if i had the money id just take them off now and get new tires. But im not rich and cant afford that. Hope this helps

Initial Review, 10,000 Miles on Tires
November 09, 2012

my 2011 335d w/sports pkg shipped with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP rft summer tires, an amazing tire (my favorite rft for summer) but harsh on the ride quality in terms of impact when hitting bumps and such. it was time for new tires and i wanted an all-season tire that i could use in cold conditions (35F-60F), rain, and possibly light snow. i also needed an rft tire as my car does not have room for a spare. i got very frustrated in my search and was close to just buying non-rft tires, Continental ExtremeContact DWS to be exact, because i couldn't find any high performance all-season rfts that had a softer ride and positive reviews. the only tire i could find were the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A RFT, which i read had harsh ride quality and they were not all-season.

i hesitantly ordered these Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT tires hoping that i would not have wasted $1200. they were very new and i couldn't find any specific reviews concerning these tires on an E90 335d. boy was i pleasantly surprised when i drove away with these tires. they honestly feel/act like non-rft tires!! the ride is just perfect, not too soft, not too harsh. with the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP, every time i hit a bump, i clenched my teeth and my body would tense up because of the impact on my car...i felt like every bump was damaging my rims or suspension...i hated it.

i have driven in rain and cold ( 34F-104F wet and dry) at both city and highway speeds, and these tires have done great. i don't feel like i have compromised the awesome performance characteristics of my car, yet i get a little bit softer rft ride quality. honestly, these tires don't ride like other rfts. again, they ride like non-rft tires. i gotta hand it to Bridgestone….fantastic engineering with these tires. the only thing i have not done is drive in snow with the new tires, and i'm not sure i feel safe doing so with 425 lb of torque at the rear wheels. i highly recommend.

Initial Review, 70,000 Miles on Tires
November 11, 2012

I drive 35K+ per year, 365/24/7. I have had these for just over 2 years, shy of 3 full winters and they are by far the best tire I have ever had on the car (RWD, 1 1/2-ton roadster). They are so good in wintry conditions that I am half-tempted to de-sandbag the rear axle in snow/ice, were I only not so totally petrified of death/dismemberment...

Here's a thing:
These tires actually track better in wet conditions than they do in dry. On dry roads -- specifically, when doing a 'moderate' takeoff from a left/right signal light -- they tend to break loose the tiniest little bit; not enough to be dangerous, but enough to make your heart skip a beat. A lot of that has to do with the car, too; you can find a lot of video of Skys pulling an unintentional doughnut on a right or left turning takeoff; the center of gravity is right below the driver's seat. But, when you get this tire into wet conditions, it seems to get tackier and the grip is very nearly unbreakable, within the confines of any *reasonable* driving technique.

I highly recommend this tire for its longevity, price, and superior winter- and wet-handling (which is when you really need the best performance, imho). I bought these from Tire Rack and was very pleased with the prompt service and best pricing I received. It's just a shame I won't be able to buy from them this time, as they are out of stock (and listed as 'New' item?) and I am in fairly immediate need. Thank you, Winter Storm Brutus.

When I do find some of these in stock somewhere, I intend to mount the four new ones on my stock rims and keep the outgoing pair on their current non-OEM rims, and then ride the old ones for another spring-autumn season. If you can find these, buy them!

Initial Review, 8,000 Miles on Tires
October 22, 2012

The first thing I should mention is that about 99% of my driving is on highways, and about 1% occasionally off-road.

I really wanted to like this tire. However it has sorely disappointed me.

There must be horrible quality control and consistency with the manufacture of this tire because some reviewers are reporting good wear, but I have been closely monitoring mine and at the current wear rate they will be bald at about 28,000 miles. Remember, Kuhmo claims a 60,000 mile warranty on these. This rapid wear rate is occurring despite the fact that my vehicle gets regular alignments to the preferred specs. and is kept at the preferred tired pressures. And it is not the very few off road miles that have caused the wear. The vehicle had only 17k miles on it when the tires were first put on and all suspension components are tight, so that is not the problem either.

Initially they balanced as smooth as glass, however upon the first rotation, an intolerable imbalance appeared that can't be cured despite repeated road force balancing on calibrated equipment. The rims are true. I simply can't wait for these to wear out, which looks like sooner than later, so I can get something different.

I have driven in various mountain snow conditions all my life and how these got the mountain snowflake symbol (thus implying something special) is a mystery to me. They are nothing special in the snow and perform about the same as the basic all-season tire they replaced.

Here is a warning to those with 4 cyl. cars. These tires have very high rolling resistance. Mine is a 4 cyl. and once I switched from the stock tires to these it felt as though 10 horse power suddenly disappeared.

I've got over $900 tied up in these, but they are behaving like 30K tires that cost a fraction of this. Frankly, IMHO these tires are either way overrated, or Kuhmo must get their act together and focus on consistancy and quality control of their product.

Initial Review, 155 Miles on Tires
October 21, 2012

I got Lexus Dealership to put the Bridgestone DM-V1 tyres on separate rims based on research and feedback from other owners at Tirerack. I have only driven about 250km (155.342798 miles) on these winter tyres and they are First Class with top marks, with no slippping or sliding. In Calgary we have many hills like Bow Trail and Sarcee Trail and these tyres perform very well indeed. As a previous owner mentioned that they are like velcro to ice and snow. I hope to get at least 3 winter seasons out of them. Well done Bridgestone

Initial Review, 30,000 Miles on Tires
November 04, 2012

This tire has all around great traction for 3 of the 4 seasons... this is not a winter suitable tire, especially when dealing with excessive amounts of snow or ice. in any case, if you have a second set of rims, get a good set of winters.

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
October 13, 2012

I used to run Yokohama tires on all my BMWs. This was my first General tire based upon tirerack reviews and surveys. Highly recommended! They handle great, ride quiet and affordably priced. With only 5,000 miles to date, I can not comment on tread wear. I have Hankook winter tires on separate rims, so no info on snow or ice performance.

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
June 06, 2011

I have had these on 20 inch rims for 5000 miles..and am very impressed. They grip very well..very secure in turns etc, great over small and large bumps. I also had them through the New England winter this crazy year, and just for fun after 1 foot snowfalls i would go out driving. Not sure what the guy above is talking about, but i ran these though unplowed roads, up hills etc. and through 1 foot plus of snow. The thing will go through anything. The Mercedes 4matic is pretty advanced, yes, but the tire certainly did its job as well from my perspective. Was not sure what to expect with this tire, but am happy with it an i am very discerning when it comes to my tires. I've also driven them at 120 mph on open road..smooth as can be.

Initial Review, 25,000 Miles on Tires
September 25, 2012

Although these tires came stock on the car I kept them when I switched to a 7" wide MB Boost rim. They hardly ever saw any city driving unless it was one I was traveling through on the way to the V.A. Hospital or to visit my Children/GrandChildren. I dive offensively, having learned in Europe. These tires barely made 25,000 miles before they were down to 3/10" and showing the wear bars. The did a fairly decent job in summer driving but in rain they dropped off dramatically and in light snow they were very iffy. In 4-6" of snow they were dangerous. I will never buy a set to put back on my car

Initial Review, 4,000 Miles on Tires
October 06, 2012

I bought these after reading many reviews. They are mounted on extremely light 15x8 rims. I was astonished with the dry grip these tires have, even when they are cold. They are good in the rain, but not as good as the Toyo T1-R were. They ride well and are surprisingly quiet, something I didn't expect. I won't be using these in the winter, so I cannot comment on their abilities in the snow. The reviews were correct. These are without a doubt the best tires I have ever had on my 1994 Supercharged Mazda Miata.

Initial Review, 40,000 Miles on Tires
September 23, 2012

Have run these tires for last three winters in Vermont, mounted on separate rims for easy change over and less damage to bead by remounting. Very good traction in deep snow, have worn very well and evenly. Had previously driven AWD Subaru so was looking for a tire to help turn a FWD car into a reliable winter ride. Very happy and will keep using this tire for as long as it's available. Clearly best snow tire for the money.

Initial Review, 35,000 Miles on Tires
September 07, 2012

I purchased these tires when upgrading my 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer to the 20" rims. I have used Yokohama in the past and am consistently happy with the price/performance factor.

These tires are wearing wonderfully, I do rotate them every 10,000 though. They are quiet, and not harsh riding, the sidewall has some give.

It's an SUV- so as you could expect, I don't corner like a corvette. But on more than one occasion, the grip has surprised me, and the tires don't protest- no squealing through corners.

I rated these low on Hydroplaning and Deep Snow. I believe the cross section has more to do with that than the tire, but on a 5000# truck, I shouldn't have hydroplaning problems, at reasonable speeds. Also I HAVE to use 4WD now in any snow over 3"- once again, I'll attribute this to the width of the tire (mostly).

Overall I'm happy, but when the snow flies, I find myself wishing for some snow tires.....

Initial Review, 31,000 Miles on Tires
September 14, 2012

The o.e.m. tires on the car when delivered will probably last 35,000 miles when the wear-indicators are flush with the tread. While I would consider this unacceptable for a "general use all-season radial," this is the best tire I've owned for performance driving while still getting around in rain and snow. I was so impressed with it that, now that replacement time has arrived, I re-upped for the o.e.m. tire on a set of OZ Alleggerita HLT rims (25% + lighter than Honda's Si alloy).

Steering feel, turn-in, and lateral grip are excellent. The car is used for track days and to "do" the Tail of the Dragon about twice a year (each). It gets around fine in light snow. It sees regular rain use on Interstates with no aquaplaning at above-legal speeds. I have not noticed the noise that some other reviewers complain of. it is as grippy as the Goodrich T/A's I upgraded to on my Mazda RX-7, quieter, and has a more supple ride.

Initial Review, 20,000 Miles on Tires
September 06, 2012

Very impressed with these tires. Needed an all terrain for a 20 inch rim and these have been great. Great tire for a daily driver that spends time off road on the weekends !! Smooth,quite,and good handling with peace of mind when in the gravel or snow!

Initial Review, 29,000 Miles on Tires
August 13, 2012

OEM tires on my car. They will probably last 40,000 miles, but I want to upgrade wheels/tires before my next trip to Tail of the Dragon. The o.e.m.'s have done two Dragon runs and two HSAX track days. Have been shopping Tire Rack for a grippier 4-season tire based on UTCQ rating (300). Can't find one. This confirms my subjective experience: the best 4-season sporting tire I've driven. They stick and stick with excellent feedback about the slip angle.

I will re-up for these o.e.m. tires mounted on OZ 15-lb. rims from Tire Rack in September. The negative reviews astonish me. I can back through 4" of new snow in my driveway. Winter traction is average for a 4-season performance tire, a small price to pay for summer fun.

No hydroplaning problems. In fact, they track better through deep water than other high-performance tires I've owned. Superb on rainy Interstates at high speeds. Can spin 'em from a dead stop at a greasy intersection. Would be disappointed if a Civic Si couldn't!

Noise and ride harshness not a problem; no worse than other high-performance 4-season radials I've owned. But the grip is better. Seems to me that if these factors are more important to a user than dry/wet summer grip, should not be on these tires in the first place.

Initial Review, 12,000 Miles on Tires
July 10, 2012

Mounted on separate rims, so they will only be used in winter. Expect several season's use from them. First time I have used snow tires (all 4 wheels) on this car. Don't rightly know how to compare them with any other experience, but I am pleased.

Initial Review, 10,500 Miles on Tires
July 19, 2012

I have these on my 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. I expected some pretty poor snow peformance and rideability because they are on 20" rims, but they are surprisingly great tires. I only have just over 10k miles on them so I still dont know how they will wear ultimately but so far they are wearing pretty evenly and the road noise is low. I did have to have one balanced about a month after buying the vehicle, but I chaulk that up to it not being balanced properly from the factory because its fine now. If they last a while I will likely buy again.

Initial Review, 30,000 Miles on Tires
August 27, 2012

Overall, a great tire. Dry performance is fantastic! I have pushed this tires to there limits both in cornering and top speed, the tires never let me down. Wet performance, well this is why I got this tires. After replacing my Bridgestone Petenza because of wear issues and wet traction, these tires where incredible in the rain. In the snow, the performance of these tires in snow is what has sold me on these tires and why I will continue to use them on my other cars. I tried after a 6+" snowfall in Chicago to see if I could get the tires to break loose, and they would not! Not once did the traction control or stability control on my Volvo R kick on! Rock solid control and traction!

I have a couple of negatives with these tires. First is ride comfort. The ride is pretty stiff with these tires. But this is something I will live. I bent 3 rims on my old set of Bridgestones, which had much better ride comfort. So a $1000 for new rims vs. ride comfort? Ride Comfort will have to be sacrificed. These is a lot more noise from these tires as well, the fix, turn the radio up a little loader.

I had an issue with treadwear as well, but I am not really doing to blame the tires for this. I had the tires for less then a year and I had to replace them. Granted, I had nearly 30,000 miles on them, I figured I would have had a little more life out of them. Never-the-less, these are some great tires!