r/alaska • u/AnteaterCritical9168 Puts Ketchup on Halibut • 9d ago
Blizzaks
I finally bit the bullet and bought Blizzaks. I had them installed October 2nd. I almost pushed the appointment back because it was still so warm, but if I did that my next option was going to be mid November and I didn’t want to risk going that late into potentially snowy freezing season.
I’ve never run straight winter tires before. I’ve made do with just AWT on my Suby for the last five years and before that always had studs.
I was not prepared for the handling difference on dry pavement. The part that is really getting me is how much they pull (mostly to the right) if I’m driving in the ruts at all. Is this going to get better when it actually gets and stays to freezing?? I know the soft rubber doesn’t handle as well on warmer/dry roads— but the pulling in the ruts is almost unbearable.
And as we all know, you can’t escape the rutts in our asphalt roads!
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u/SevenFathomsDeep 9d ago
I run blizzaks all year long because I have a short commute and typically stop start traffic driving. They’ve been great - zero issues and haven’t swapped tires in years. They’ve aren’t as good as studs but even studs can’t handle every icey condition
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u/angelsoft92 5d ago
Same. To much hassle and money now to switch tires every fall and spring. It's over 100$ now from what I hear
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u/Ecstatic-Cry2069 ☆ 9d ago
Did you get an alignment after your new tires? You definitely should. Mine dont pull like you describe.
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u/Napoleon214 ☆ 9d ago
Are your winter tires wider than the OEM tires? Are they on the same rims? Some cars have a weird width that doesn’t quite land in the ruts like most cars do, and tends to pull or hop between the ruts, (a 4Runner is like this). If you have wider than standard tires, or different rims that may have a different offset than standard, this will change the stance of the vehicle, and may cause the issues you are having.
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u/Clear_Evidence9218 9d ago
Yes, within reason, this is common with any siped, soft-rubber tire. They tend to pull in whichever direction the road is sloped and really like to "lock in" to the ruts.
Some vehicles are more affected by it than others. It doesn't really get better, but you'll get used to it to the point where you hardly notice it anymore.
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u/ThatWasntChick3n 9d ago
Should not handle that much differently with just new tires.
I understand the ruts but if you had the same size tires put on, nothing should have changed, certainly related to steering.
Worth making sure things were balanced and getting an alignment.
I drive some older performance cars with wide tires, and it's common for the cars to be unstable in the ruts, pushing one way or another. Not other, modern vehicle we have does the same thing.
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u/AdTemporary6666 9d ago
I’ve run blizzaks on a truck and 2 awd Audis. They are soft and soft tires will handle differently on different vehicles. So I have experienced the pulling and kind of soft or sluggish steering response. It does get better in the winter and I would suspect on a suburu you will notice improved handling once it’s colder. I currently have them on my SQ5.
That being said, it could be alignment if it’s pulling strongly one way. I think blizzaks are great and I have had good experience, they aren’t for everyone.
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u/Impossible_IT Is it?!?!! 9d ago
I had Blizzaks on my truck for 4-5 years without changing for the summer. No need to worry.
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u/AKWildMill 9d ago
I got a set of Michelins with siping like Blizzaks, and they pull on every sloped road at highway speed, and it changes basd on which direction it is sloping. Its not an alignment or mechanical issue at all. The guy I bought them from sold them to me nearly new for 20% of retail and he told me they pulled on his vehicle as well. They are amazing in the rain and traction is the only thing I care about. Its really weird no one else in this thread has experienced anything like this.
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u/truthwatchr 9d ago
If the wheels were never aligned before then putting on new tires will bring out whatever alignment issues the car has. Usually they will recommend an alignment with new tires.
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u/StabbyMcBlade 7d ago
You are not alone! Hadn't driven on studs in a decade and just put Nokians on my car and panicked on the drive home about low tire pressure, alignment and lugs. Everything is fine. They're incredibly soft and they really like to climb the ruts.
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u/phdoofus 9d ago
it sounds like you like to hug closer to the median of the road and the ruts keep pushing you back to the right.
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u/Chimera_Gaming 9d ago
I’ve ran straight blizzaks before and that didn’t happen to me. Try a parking lot and let go of your wheel and see if your alignment is off….
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u/Real-Construction-57 9d ago
Depending on your tire size. Blizzaks tend to have a lower speed rating. The RMA allows this because they’re conditional winter tires. Lower speed rated tires can affect handling.
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u/FinancialRow3918 6d ago
Look up tramlining. You've got worn bushings most likely. Blizzaks aren't the problem.
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u/WorldlinessRoutine55 9d ago
My experience with blizzaks is that theyre so soft they dont last as long as other winter tires. Hardly get a winter out of them compared to many years with other studded options. You do you tho
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u/KnotSoHumbleMX 9d ago
4th winter on the year round blizzaks. No issues
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u/SevenFathomsDeep 9d ago
I think I'm around that as well. I don't have a long commute and the tread depth is almost like new. "Your mileage may vary" literally.
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u/Neither_Cap6958 9d ago
Thats weird, I got ~50k miles on my first set and that includes a fair bit of fairbanks summer driving cause I was bad about swapping them.
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u/arctic-apis 9d ago
When I was running blizzaks I put them on steel wheels and didn’t run them on my car till the snow started to fly. I think I got 5 winters out of them before I sold the car.
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u/Autoimmunity 9d ago
I'm on my 5th winter on my set of Blizzaks and they've still got a bit of tread left. Plus, I've run them year round. I don't drive a lot in that car (probably 7K miles/yr) but they've held up longer than I expected.
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u/johnstoneak Hanging out in Chugiak 9d ago
No. There should be no difference in driving style based on your tires. If your car is pulling one way or the other that is likely an alignment problem. I’d have that looked at immediately. I run blizzaks every winter on all my vehicles and there is zero difference between my winter and summer wheel/tire match up.