mybluezoom

I just bought a set of 245/40R-18 Bridgestone Blizzak MZ-03 RFT Runflats. I know it is early in the season for winter tires in St. Louis, but I REALLY needed new tires. The rubber was gone on my S-03's and I was running on the steel belt. I figured I would just get them now and then buy new summer tires in the spring.

I have only had my 8 for about 2 months and the tires were shot when I bought it so I can't give too acurate of a comparison, but here is what I have noticed after the first day.
1. Even though I was told they would be loud with the aggressive tread, they are MUCH quiter than the S-03's.
2. They grip quite well on dry pavement and have not worried at all about taking a turn fast and having the tires break loose.
3. They are not nearly as responsive (duh winter tire) and seem to "float" on the highway or when changing lanes aggressively.

I have had no foul weather yet, but will keep everyone updated with how they work in the rain and snow/ice. Not that worried about snow performance as I have a JEEP Wrangler to play with, but it would be nice to be able to take the 8 so I can stay warm.

hercmafia

You feel like you are floating because the rubber is very soft in warm temps and the sidewall is not as stiff as your other tires.

mybluezoom

yeah, that's what I figured. I was just trying to let everyone know how they are working for me. They don't have very many miles on them yet, about 100, so I know they need a break in time, but they are already getting better. Or maybe I am just getting used to how they handle. Definately can't take the corners as fast or I break loose and get a little sideways. Oh well hopefully this winter I will be glad i got them.

mybluezoom

So winter really hit this week and I had absolutely no trounle getting around in my car. I was very impressed with these tires. Everyone had me terrified that I would be stuck during the winter and not able to go anwhere in my car, but with these tires I got around great. I actually got around better in my RX-8, than in my lifted Jeep Wrangler! Loving these tires.

parkpy

iTrader: (1)

Why did you go with such a wide tire?

Skinnier is better in the snow.

mybluezoom

I wanted to keep the wide tire look, but get a tire that would perform better in the snow. I really wasn't expecting to be able to drive it in the winter and not that worried about it. I have a wrangler that I planned on driving when the weather was bad, but as it turned out I haven't had any weather come up that these tires can't handle.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

real snow tires are like night and day, people who've never used a quality winter tire like the Blizzak have no clue just how much better they really are, they think their all-season or mud/snow tires are just fine, but they're always the ones having accidents and f'ing it up for the people properly prepared with snow tires

word of caution though, you'll chew the tread life off them fairly fast driving them aggressively through the turns on dry pavement, once you burn them down to the snow bars they become all-season tires

04RX8man

blizzaks are great tires should do great in the snow....just whenever spring hits get them off of there or u will wear them down quick like TEAMRX8 SAID

mybluezoom

Thanks guys. Yeah the only things these were bought for, was to get me through the winter and then they come off. I will have decided on my summer tires by then.

mybluezoom

Well with winter over I figured I would update this. I have to say that these tires absolutely rock in the winter. I never worried about getting stuck. I did do alot of fishtailing in the snow and had to do the drive like your in the mud heavy throttle alot, but that was in the really bad snow storm we had. I did get stuck in that one, but the snow was so deep that when I got out the door was pushing snow out of the way. Not much a car that sits that low can do in snow that deep. I must also say that even though they are fantastic in the snow, they really do well performance wise on dry and wet pavement. I never had to worry about traction even during some pretty good rain storms and the "floating" I felt when I first got them went away for the most part after a little wear in period. Bottom line is that these tires were well worth the money spent, if not more.