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[Ffejeroo]

I've had new 205/55R-16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 on my 128i (w/ sport package) for about a week now.

The temperature is currently above 40F where I live. It won't be for much longer, though.

I'm finding the new tires surprisingly slippery. I know that there is a short break-in period for new winter tires, but I'm really beginning to worry that these tires don't work. I'm also starting to miss my 18" RF OEM summer tires.

Would someone please reassure me that the new winter tires are going to work great on the snow?!?



Thanks.

[Lionel Hutz]

Originally Posted by Ffejeroo

I've had new 205/55R-16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 on my 128i (w/ sport package) for about a week now.

The temperature is currently above 40F where I live. It won't be for much longer, though.

I'm finding the new tires surprisingly slippery. I know that there is a short break-in period for new winter tires, but I'm really beginning to worry that these tires don't work. I'm also starting to miss my 18" RF OEM summer tires.

Would someone please reassure me that the new winter tires are going to work great on the snow?!?



Thanks.

You need to get about 300 miles on the tires before they start driving normally. Especially with such a narrow tire, you are going to have much less dry weather traction. Even my 225 WS60s will light up traction control through third gear in the dry on the 135. But don't worry about the snow... they are phenomenal in bad conditions. We had about 20" of snow in late October. I could plow through it like nothing at all. It was deep enough that I had snow piling up over my bumper onto the hood and the tires didn't skip a beat.

[Ffejeroo]

Thanks a ton!

Anyone else willing to provide a re-assuring testimonial?

[Feyd]

I haven't had mine in snow yet..

But I will concur that my ws-60s were slippery as all hell the first week or so. They have calmed since down considerably. While you still have to be careful when the temps are warmer its safe to say that with 500+ miles on mine they are acting more and more like regular tires.. haha.

[Tom K.]

There are two general types of winter tires - performance (carrying at least an H speed rating) and what are called "studless ice & snow (either Q or no rating). While a performance winter tire like the LM 22 will handle much better on dry pavement at the expense of snow & ice traction, a Q rated (max 99 mph) winter tire will shine on snow at the expense of dry road traction.

Years ago, I made the mistake of purchasing an early studless tire, the Bridgestone MZ-01 - a mistake as my area normally gets only a few inches of snow per season. While the snow performance was great, the rest of the time, it felt like I was steering through jello & a very light foot was necessary to keep the ASC/T from lighting up.

However, if I lived in your area, the prudent thing would be to have bought just what you did. So as others have said, just realize that the tires are behaving as they are designed to and you should be very happy with them when the white stuff begins to accumulate.

Tom

[Ffejeroo]

Thanks for the reassuring posts. I sincerely appreciate it!

[Evice]

I have LM-25s RFT and I am wondering if mines are not working, since they didn't slip or anything weird at all

[Feyd]

your sidewalls are most definitely stiffer than ours being that they are RFT... that's probably helping the no-slip feeling you've got happening.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Evice

I have LM-25s RFT and I am wondering if mines are not working, since they didn't slip or anything weird at all

Your tires are either H or V rated performance winter tires. They have a different tread design and more grip on dry pavement than the OP's WS-60s.

All Blizzaks are not the same!

Tom

[Citizen Z]

I had 215/55 R17 snow tires on my last car, a Mazda 3, coming from 225/40R18 summer tires and it drove like a CHAMP on those snow tires. Dry or wet, it was awesome. That car doesn't have the performance of the 1er, however.

[Ffejeroo]

Okay, today was the first big winter storm of the year in Toronto. I confirm that the tires work beautifully in the snow!

(They needed about 500 km of break-in on dry pavement before they stopped "slipping".)

Thanks to everyone who posted!