Bridgestone Blizzak - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

martyp · 11-21-2008, 06:47 PM

Hey Yall;

I just installed my 16 inch Blizzaks today (non-rft) and my god does the car ever have mushy steering now! It freaked me out at first, but got used to it after a while. I know now why we have RFTs. Quite the difference! I know it's due to the softer sidewall but I didn't know there would be THAT much difference.

Anybody else?

CirrusSR22 · 11-21-2008, 08:14 PM

The mushy steering is mostly due to the rubber compound that winter tires have. The difference between my summer and winter tires (both non-RFT) is night and day. When I mount the winter tires the steering effort is greatly reduced, the self-centering characteristics are greatly reduced plus tramlining is gone. It's like driving a totally different car.

And yes, you do get used to it. Every winter for the past five I've mounted Blizzak WS-50s and now WS-60s and every time I think, "my god these are squishy". After about a week or two I don't notice it.

E30M3Driver · 11-21-2008, 11:57 PM

Blizzaks are squisher than many winter tires, which is why I don't run them. Where I am is mostly dry except for the handful of days of snow and of course 20-40 degree days. WS-50s are the worst in terms of dry squishyness. If you want a better handling snow tire in the dry, go with a higher speed rated tire from Pirelli, Michelin, etc. I am using Alpin Pilots now, pretty nice in the dry and ok in the snow.

If you get a lot of slow you'll appreciate the blizzaks.

As you mentioned, the runflats magnify the effect that much more.

halB · 11-22-2008, 03:45 AM

That's the trade off between good ice/snow traction and sporty handling. Unfortunately you can have more of one and less of the other either way, not both.

mmm def · 11-22-2008, 05:52 PM

Try the LM25's next time. You will get used to the blizzaks soon though, nice tire.

kyleb350 · 11-22-2008, 07:11 PM

I felt the exact same way when I put the Blizzak LM25s on. If you feel the knobs in the tread, you'll see they're very flexible.

If you're driving around 20 mph and steer back and forth fairly aggressively you'll feel the car roll a little extra due to the tread.

BMdblU · 11-22-2008, 07:33 PM

Try a 'performance winter tire' if you are concerned with dry handling. My LM25's are a perfect combination of dry and snow performance, love them. The Dunlop wintersport M3 is also a good choice.

11-21-2008, 06:47 PM	#1
martyp Canada Eh! Drives: 2006 E90 - 325i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Posts: 194 iTrader: (0)	Bridgestone Blizzak Hey Yall; I just installed my 16 inch Blizzaks today (non-rft) and my god does the car ever have mushy steering now! It freaked me out at first, but got used to it after a while. I know now why we have RFTs. Quite the difference! I know it's due to the softer sidewall but I didn't know there would be THAT much difference. Anybody else?
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11-21-2008, 11:57 PM	#3
E30M3Driver Captain Drives: E92 335i, 89 M3, 08 Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Here, there Posts: 736 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [4.00] 1989 BMW M3 [4.10]	Blizzaks are squisher than many winter tires, which is why I don't run them. Where I am is mostly dry except for the handful of days of snow and of course 20-40 degree days. WS-50s are the worst in terms of dry squishyness. If you want a better handling snow tire in the dry, go with a higher speed rated tire from Pirelli, Michelin, etc. I am using Alpin Pilots now, pretty nice in the dry and ok in the snow. If you get a lot of slow you'll appreciate the blizzaks. As you mentioned, the runflats magnify the effect that much more. __________________ 2007 E92 335i Space Gray 6MT Sport, Premium, Coral Red, Gray Poplar \| BMW Performance Software \| BMW Performance Exhaust \| BMW Performance Shift Knob \| BMW M3 Trunk Lip Spoiler \| CDV Delete \| 19" VMR CSL/Hankook EVOv12 \| 18" Beyern Mesh/Pilot Alpin PA2

11-22-2008, 03:45 AM	#4
halB Colonel Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto Posts: 2,388 iTrader: (0)	That's the trade off between good ice/snow traction and sporty handling. Unfortunately you can have more of one and less of the other either way, not both. __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels

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11-21-2008, 08:14 PM	#2
CirrusSR22 Captain Drives: E36 318ti, E46 323it Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 737 iTrader: (0)	The mushy steering is mostly due to the rubber compound that winter tires have. The difference between my summer and winter tires (both non-RFT) is night and day. When I mount the winter tires the steering effort is greatly reduced, the self-centering characteristics are greatly reduced plus tramlining is gone. It's like driving a totally different car. And yes, you do get used to it. Every winter for the past five I've mounted Blizzak WS-50s and now WS-60s and every time I think, "my god these are squishy". After about a week or two I don't notice it.

11-22-2008, 05:52 PM	#5
mmm def Colonel Drives: 07 Accord 6-6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,535 iTrader: (0)	Try the LM25's next time. You will get used to the blizzaks soon though, nice tire.

11-22-2008, 07:11 PM	#6
kyleb350 Brigadier General Drives: '13 ST Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: LoMbard, IL Posts: 3,913 iTrader: (6)	I felt the exact same way when I put the Blizzak LM25s on. If you feel the knobs in the tread, you'll see they're very flexible. If you're driving around 20 mph and steer back and forth fairly aggressively you'll feel the car roll a little extra due to the tread.

11-22-2008, 07:33 PM	#7
BMdblU Brigadier General Drives: with no destination Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: 416 Posts: 3,797 iTrader: (2)	Try a 'performance winter tire' if you are concerned with dry handling. My LM25's are a perfect combination of dry and snow performance, love them. The Dunlop wintersport M3 is also a good choice.