Blizzak Tires

[Diva]

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and we will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy Michelin Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers Blizzak snow tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was $1,075.

I'm a woman in my 50's. I don't have the time or the inclination to buy tires on line and have them sent here and then take them in somewhere. I just want to go to some tire dealer and get 4 new snow tires mounted on new steel rims. My tires are 16" and I'd like to keep that size. Is the price above decent? Don't Blizzaks wear out really quickly -- more so than the Arctic Alpins do? Can anyone tell me anything about Blizzaks? I live near Detroit and will have no trouble going to a tire dealer, but I'll probably have to do some phone shopping to find the right thing. Just wondering about the Blizzaks though.....

June

 

[Jim Stewart]

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and we will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy Michelin Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers Blizzak snow tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was $1,075.

I'm a woman in my 50's. I don't have the time or the inclination to buy tires on line and have them sent here and then take them in somewhere. I just want to go to some tire dealer and get 4 new snow tires mounted on new steel rims. My tires are 16" and I'd like to keep that size. Is the price above decent? Don't Blizzaks wear out really quickly -- more so than the Arctic Alpins do? Can anyone tell me anything about Blizzaks? I live near Detroit and will have no trouble going to a tire dealer, but I'll p

robably have to do some phone shopping to find the right thing. Just wondering about the Blizzaks though.....


Seems a bit high to me. Call a Michelin dealer
and ask him what he can do.

 

[Diva]

I will. Thanks.

June

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and we will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy Michelin Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers Blizzak snow tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was $1,075.

I'm a woman in my 50's. I don't have the time or the inclination to buy tires on line and have them sent here and then take them in somewhere. I just want to go to some tire dealer and get 4 new snow tires mounted on new steel rims. My tires are 16" and I'd like to keep that size. Is the price above decent? Don't Blizzaks wear out really quickly -- more so than the Arctic Alpins do? Can anyone tell me anything about Blizzaks? I live near Detroit and will have no trouble going to a tire dealer, but I'll p

robably have to do some phone shopping to find the right thing. Just wondering about the Blizzaks though.....


Seems a bit high to me. Call a Michelin dealer
and ask him what he can do.

 

[Ned Pike]

In

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and
while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and
we will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy
Michelin Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers
Blizzak snow tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was
$1,075.

I'm a woman in my 50's. I don't have the time or the inclination to
buy tires on line and have them sent here and then take them in
somewhere. I just want to go to some tire dealer and get 4 new snow
tires mounted on new steel rims. My tires are 16" and I'd like to
keep that size. Is the price above decent? Don't Blizzaks wear out
really quickly -- more so than the Arctic Alpins do? Can anyone tell
me anything about Blizzaks? I live near Detroit and will have no
trouble going to a tire dealer, but I'll probably have to do some
phone shopping to find the right thing. Just wondering about the
Blizzaks though.....

June

I just checked www.tirerack.com

For 4 Michelin Artic Alpins mounted on new steel rims and shipped to Detroit
(ZIP 48201), the total bill is $602.28. All you'd need to do once they
arrive is to have someone swap the summer rims/tires for the winter
rims/tires. Your dealer is, to put it mildly, taking you to the cleaners.

Hope this helps,

The Captain

 

[Diva]

Thanks Ned, but one correction: the dealer is TRYING to take me to the cleaners. <s>

I'll check it out. Thank you.

June

In

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and
while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and
we will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy
Michelin Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers
Blizzak snow tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was
$1,075.

I'm a woman in my 50's. I don't have the time or the inclination to
buy tires on line and have them sent here and then take them in
somewhere. I just want to go to some tire dealer and get 4 new snow
tires mounted on new steel rims. My tires are 16" and I'd like to
keep that size. Is the price above decent? Don't Blizzaks wear out
really quickly -- more so than the Arctic Alpins do? Can anyone tell
me anything about Blizzaks? I live near Detroit and will have no
trouble going to a tire dealer, but I'll probably have to do some
phone shopping to find the right thing. Just wondering about the
Blizzaks though.....

June

I just checked www.tirerack.com

For 4 Michelin Artic Alpins mounted on new steel rims and shipped to Detroit
(ZIP 48201), the total bill is $602.28. All you'd need to do once they
arrive is to have someone swap the summer rims/tires for the winter
rims/tires. Your dealer is, to put it mildly, taking you to the cleaners.

Hope this helps,

The Captain

 

[Diva]

Ned,
How does one know that they come mounted and balanced? The way I read the website, they are balanced and mounted if you buy one of their packages. I don't want the package. That's the blizzak with an alloy wheel. I want the steel wheels with the Michelins. <perplexed>

June

In

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and
while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and
we will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy
Michelin Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers
Blizzak snow tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was
$1,075.

I'm a woman in my 50's. I don't have the time or the inclination to
buy tires on line and have them sent here and then take them in
somewhere. I just want to go to some tire dealer and get 4 new snow
tires mounted on new steel rims. My tires are 16" and I'd like to
keep that size. Is the price above decent? Don't Blizzaks wear out
really quickly -- more so than the Arctic Alpins do? Can anyone tell
me anything about Blizzaks? I live near Detroit and will have no
trouble going to a tire dealer, but I'll probably have to do some
phone shopping to find the right thing. Just wondering about the
Blizzaks though.....

June

I just checked www.tirerack.com

For 4 Michelin Artic Alpins mounted on new steel rims and shipped to Detroit
(ZIP 48201), the total bill is $602.28. All you'd need to do once they
arrive is to have someone swap the summer rims/tires for the winter
rims/tires. Your dealer is, to put it mildly, taking you to the cleaners.

Hope this helps,

The Captain

 

[Father Guido]

Your dealer is, to put it mildly, taking you to the cleaners.

Oh my lord, that's never happened before, has it?


Father Guido
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
I plan on living forever... so far, so good

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
Even if it costs little more. Buy from your reputable local tire shop.
They will look after the tires for life time. Fixing flats free, free
rotation, etc. You deal in person when you have trouble. If you buy on-
line and have a problem, it'll be a headache.
Tony

 

[Ned Pike]

In

Ned,
How does one know that they come mounted and balanced? The way I read
the website, they are balanced and mounted if you buy one of their
packages. I don't want the package. That's the blizzak with an alloy
wheel. I want the steel wheels with the Michelins. <perplexed>

June

Starting from the home page and clicking through to the appropriate
"package" page, there's an option to create your own package by clicking on
the rim size (16") on the left side of the page. You then get a page with
tire & rim choices. Selecting the Arctic Alpins and steel wheels, I then
clicked on "Proceed to Checkout." The confirmation screen says in bold red
letters that these tires will be mounted & balanced.

 

[Gina S]

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and
while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and we
will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy Michelin
Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers Blizzak snow
tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was $1,075.

from what i've read, the blizzak's are great tires for winter...even
better than studs (which i'm allowed to use in colorado). although, i
think $1000 is way high. i just ordered a set of winter duelers
(they're the same tire as the blizzak but in truck sizes) for my
4runner and including steel wheels they were $650. truck tires are
usually more expensive than car tires (at least for me they've always
been), so i think that the dealer is about 80% too high.

you may not actually need winter tires for your car though. i have a
'99 legacy sedan and i have the goodyear eagle hp uni directional
tires. they're a really good all weather tire. i've had them for a
little over a year and 15k miles and they show no signs of wear. i
had them for last winter which was really snowy/icy in colorad and
they performed great. i never wished that i had winter tires. in
fact the snow was so deep once that i was using the bumper of my
legacy as a plow while driving 50mph on the highway and felt perfectly
stable. they were in the neighborhood of $130 a tire mounted and
balanced, but they are great in winter, and even better on long 85mph
road trips. i can honestly say they're the best tires i've ever used.

mike

 

[BKS]

I have to agree. I have a 2001 Subaru Forrester with the original tires in
Massachusetts. We just had a horrendous winter and the AWD had no problems
with stock Yokohamas. Steep driveway, 2-year-old in the back and the control
was great.

I have no doubt snow tires are better, but careful driving and good
seasonals were great for us.

B.

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
But for extra margin of safety, if you put on a set of snows, you'll
notice marked improvement on traction/stopping in snow/ice.
I don't use snow tires, but I put them on my kids and wife's cars.
(that is 3 sets of tires/rims)
There is difference between motor vehicle operator and driver.
Operator=turn the key and just drive
Driver=knows what's going on with his/her car. Controls the car.
Tony

 

[Diva]

Gotcha. Thanks again!

June

In

Ned,
How does one know that they come mounted and balanced? The way I read
the website, they are balanced and mounted if you buy one of their
packages. I don't want the package. That's the blizzak with an alloy
wheel. I want the steel wheels with the Michelins. <perplexed>

June

Starting from the home page and clicking through to the appropriate
"package" page, there's an option to create your own package by clicking on
the rim size (16") on the left side of the page. You then get a page with
tire & rim choices. Selecting the Arctic Alpins and steel wheels, I then
clicked on "Proceed to Checkout." The confirmation screen says in bold red
letters that these tires will be mounted & balanced.

 

[Diva]

Thanks, Gina, but I need winter tires. I went through the first winter on the all-weather tires, and they are fine for non-winter, but too scary on the Outback for around here in winter. I've read a lot of reviews and asked lots of people about winter tires, and I just want to go with the Michelins.

June

I had my 02 Outback Ltd in to the dealer for an oil change today, and
while there I asked him about snow tires. I live in Michigan (SE) and we
will definitely be getting snow soon. I had my head set to buy Michelin
Arctic Alpins or Nokian Qs, but the dealer only offers Blizzak snow
tires. Mounted on steel rims, the price he gave me was $1,075.

from what i've read, the blizzak's are great tires for winter...even
better than studs (which i'm allowed to use in colorado). although, i
think $1000 is way high. i just ordered a set of winter duelers
(they're the same tire as the blizzak but in truck sizes) for my
4runner and including steel wheels they were $650. truck tires are
usually more expensive than car tires (at least for me they've always
been), so i think that the dealer is about 80% too high.

you may not actually need winter tires for your car though. i have a
'99 legacy sedan and i have the goodyear eagle hp uni directional
tires. they're a really good all weather tire. i've had them for a
little over a year and 15k miles and they show no signs of wear. i
had them for last winter which was really snowy/icy in colorad and
they performed great. i never wished that i had winter tires. in
fact the snow was so deep once that i was using the bumper of my
legacy as a plow while driving 50mph on the highway and felt perfectly
stable. they were in the neighborhood of $130 a tire mounted and
balanced, but they are great in winter, and even better on long 85mph
road trips. i can honestly say they're the best tires i've ever used.

mike

 

[Diva]

Yep! I'm a very careful driver. I try to gauge the feel of the car on different surfaces and don't just hit the pedal. I drive in to work in the dark in an area where starting out in my county the roads are always treated and slushy (unless it's just started snowing) to where there is no salt at all and often is icy and slick. On an icy road last year, with the AWD and stock Potenza tires it was unreal scary and was slipping all over the place. I need winter tires, and will be getting the Michelins.

June

Hi,
But for extra margin of safety, if you put on a set of snows, you'll
notice marked improvement on traction/stopping in snow/ice.
I don't use snow tires, but I put them on my kids and wife's cars.
(that is 3 sets of tires/rims)
There is difference between motor vehicle operator and driver.
Operator=turn the key and just drive
Driver=knows what's going on with his/her car. Controls the car.
Tony

 

[Diva]

Just bought from Tirerack.com the 4 steel wheels, 4 wheelcovers, and 4 Michelin Arctic Alpins. Total was $632.85. My husband says he can easily put them on. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

June

Yep! I'm a very careful driver. I try to gauge the feel of the car on different surfaces and don't just hit the pedal. I drive in to work in the dark in an area where starting out in my county the roads are always treated and slushy (unless it's just started snowing) to where there is no salt at all and often is icy and slick. On an icy road last year, with the AWD and stock Potenza tires it was unreal scary and was slipping all over the place. I need winter tires, and will be getting the Michelins.

June

Hi,
But for extra margin of safety, if you put on a set of snows, you'll
notice marked improvement on traction/stopping in snow/ice.
I don't use snow tires, but I put them on my kids and wife's cars.
(that is 3 sets of tires/rims)
There is difference between motor vehicle operator and driver.
Operator=turn the key and just drive
Driver=knows what's going on with his/her car. Controls the car.
Tony

 

[Diva]

YIPPEEEEE!!! Just got notice from Tire Rack in my confirmation that there is a $40 dollar rebate coming from the purchase of the Michelins too. YEA! So the dealer markup (and installer fee) was 45%????? RIPOFF.

June

Just bought from Tirerack.com the 4 steel wheels, 4 wheelcovers, and 4 Michelin Arctic Alpins. Total was $632.85. My husband says he can easily put them on. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

June

Yep! I'm a very careful driver. I try to gauge the feel of the car on different surfaces and don't just hit the pedal. I drive in to work in the dark in an area where starting out in my county the roads are always treated and slushy (unless it's just started snowing) to where there is no salt at all and often is icy and slick. On an icy road last year, with the AWD and stock Potenza tires it was unreal scary and was slipping all over the place. I need winter tires, and will be getting the Michelins.

June

Hi,
But for extra margin of safety, if you put on a set of snows, you'll
notice marked improvement on traction/stopping in snow/ice.
I don't use snow tires, but I put them on my kids and wife's cars.
(that is 3 sets of tires/rims)
There is difference between motor vehicle operator and driver.
Operator=turn the key and just drive
Driver=knows what's going on with his/her car. Controls the car.
Tony

 

[Peter Berkey]

I have no doubt snow tires are better, but careful driving and good
seasonals were great for us.

I usually mount studded snow tires on my OBW in winter for frequent drives
to the mountains, however this year I'm trying something different. My
tire shop recommended siping my Toyo Ultra 800's (all-season radials) .
From what they explained, siping makes tires behave better on snow & ice.
Don't know how this will compare to studs, however.

--Pete

 

[Diva]

So what is siping?

June

I have no doubt snow tires are better, but careful driving and good
seasonals were great for us.

I usually mount studded snow tires on my OBW in winter for frequent drives
to the mountains, however this year I'm trying something different. My
tire shop recommended siping my Toyo Ultra 800's (all-season radials) .
From what they explained, siping makes tires behave better on snow & ice.
Don't know how this will compare to studs, however.

--Pete

 

[Diva]

Nevermind. I saw your other thread, and went to the site. Very interesting stuff.

June

So what is siping?

June

I have no doubt snow tires are better, but careful driving and good
seasonals were great for us.

I usually mount studded snow tires on my OBW in winter for frequent drives
to the mountains, however this year I'm trying something different. My
tire shop recommended siping my Toyo Ultra 800's (all-season radials) .
From what they explained, siping makes tires behave better on snow & ice.
Don't know how this will compare to studs, however.

--Pete