BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK W965

[White_Whale]

I've run Blizzak tires on my passenger cars here in Alaska in the winter and found them remarkable for traction on both snow and ice. I always ran studded tires on my truck.

I was wondering if anyone had personal experience with these tires on their truck especially with a camper aboard.

Cheers
Jim

[Uncle_Dot]

Let me clarify my previous post - the cars run regular Blizzaks and the vans run the W965's. The W965 being a LT tire. We ran the Ford with the 265/75-16 LR E W965. These have about a 3400 lb capaicity. Yes it is a slightly harder compound but they still wore much faster than a summer tire in warm weather.

As I said that thing was great in the snow. Even empty it was OK. With some weight very good. I know we well overloaded those tires and then some. They did not feel very soft or squishy compared to summer tires. Of course they are nowhere near as stiff as a true commercial tire.

I would run them on my truck in an instant if they made them in a 19.5 LR H.

[White_Whale]

MORSNOW wrote:
I've ran Blizzak tires on my cars and 1500 truck since 2005 (WS & DM series). The W965 is not like the car tires, it has a much harder rubber compound which provides less traction than the lighter tires and very few sizes are available for modern HD trucks. I run studded Goodyear tires on my 2500 due to the unavailability of a Blizzak.

The soft rubber was an issue for me, not from a tire wear standpoint, but from a soft sidewall "cushy" feel while under heavy load with the camper on board.

Sounds like there may be a traction trade off with the "stiffer" W965.

Anyone else running W965's and what is you experience.

Thanks to everyone
Jim

[gbw]

MORSNOW wrote:
I've ran Blizzak tires on my cars and 1500 truck since 2005 (WS & DM series). The W965 is not like the car tires, it has a much harder rubber compound which provides less traction than the lighter tires and very few sizes are available for modern HD trucks.

I was unaware the W965 was harder compound than the lighter car blizzaks. Carry on. Thanks for the added clarification!

[MORSNOW]

I've ran Blizzak tires on my cars and 1500 truck since 2005 (WS & DM series). The W965 is not like the car tires, it has a much harder rubber compound which provides less traction than the lighter tires and very few sizes are available for modern HD trucks. I run studded Goodyear tires on my 2500 due to the unavailability of a Blizzak.

[Geewizard]

I've run Blizzak tires on my Tundra since I bought it (2004). With and without the TC. Great tires for Interior Alaska. I used to live in Fairbanks.

Now living in Spokane and I still put the Blizzak tires on every winter.

I recommend them.

[gbw]

Northerner chiming in! I run Cooper winters on my 3500 and love them. Blizzaks have come highly regarded online and users, especially in cars, smaller SUV's. I've heard and read about them wearing really really fast on a heavier truck (ex. think 3/4T plus). They're a really soft compound (thus making them so good in snow) but are really prone to wearing very fast.

[whizbang]

Im running Blizzaks on a car and a truck too. Excellent tires.

[camp-n-family]

This year I bought Goodyear ultra grip winter tires from Sam's Club w/$60 off. Haven't tried them yet, but they are directional, whereas the Blizzaks are not.

I think it depends on the line of Blizzaks. I have 2 different sets and they are both directional tires.

[Ski_Pro_3]

I bought a set for a Subaru Forester a couple years ago from Costco w/$60 off. They worked pretty good, especially since I used them to go in the mountains skiing. They take hard pack and ice on steep hills without slipping.

This year I bought Goodyear ultra grip winter tires from Sam's Club w/$60 off. Haven't tried them yet, but they are directional, whereas the Blizzaks are not.

[dhull]

I ran them on my 4WD Tacoma in the winter to go 100 miles to work & back each day. They are an awesome tire and never let me down, like having chains on. They have a special rubber compound on the outer tread that suction cups ice on the road to grip better. I never used them off road but for the highway they are great!

[Reddog1]

camp-n-family, I did not know that, thanks.

Wayne

[camp-n-family]

Reddog1 wrote:
Who makes the Blizzak tires?

Wayne

Bridgestone. I have them on my car and truck. Best winter tires out there imho.

[Reddog1]

Who makes the Blizzak tires?

Wayne

[Uncle_Dot]

I can't say on the truck as I've always run studs on my POV's but all the vehicles in our company fleet have always run Blizzak's including the cargo vans. Got them on 10 cars and 2 Sprinters now.

Nothing is worse in the snow than an empty Econoline but those Blizzaks made them seem like 4 wheel drive. With some weight in there they would climb mountains. We overloaded the van greatly and the tires had no problem.

I do recall that we had to special order them in the higher load ranges.
They do wear fast if the outside temp is to warm. Get them off early in the spring.