Vehicles Used:
2008 BMW E92 328i Coupe

Every few years, tire technology & development takes a step forward & resets the st&ards for the category. This time around, Studless Ice & Snow winter tires from several leading br&s have taken that step. New models featuring high-tech tread compounds & new tread designs have rolled out just in time for the 2009 winter season. Our road, ABS braking & glare ice evaluations compared three Studless Ice & Snow tires - Bridgestone's Blizzak WS60 which debuted for the 2007/2008 winter season, & the Continental ExtremeWinterContact & the Dunlop Graspic DS-3, both new for 2009.

We also took the opportunity to compare the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 Studless Ice & Snow tire to the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 Performance Winter / Snow tire, also new for 2009. Both tires share the same winter tread pattern, with tread compounds & internal constructions tuned for their respective categories.

To find out how the group performs out on the road & on winter's glare ice, the Tire Rack team conducted a Real World Road Ride & Performance Drive at our local hockey rink. We also conducted our st&ard 50-0 mph ABS braking test in dry & wet conditions. Our evaluation used 2008 BMW E92 328i coupes fitted with new, full tread depth 225/45R17 tires mounted on 17x8.0" wheels. Tires were broken in by driving over 500 miles on clear roads during our Real World Road Ride evaluation prior to testing on the ice.

Part 1 - Studless Ice & Snow Winter Tires

What We Learned on the Road

Our 6.6-mile loop of expressway, state highway & county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city & highway speeds, smooth & coarse concrete, as well as new & patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality & everyday h&ling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.

For most of us living in winter climates, snow doesn't fall every day. Road crews quickly plow the streets following each periodic snowfall, making clear road manners something to consider when choosing a winter / snow tire you'll have to live with for four to five months out of the year.

While none of the tires in this group would be confused for the h&ling of a high performance summer tire, the Continental ExtremeWinterContact displayed the most responsive & stable h&ling of the group. This tire drove much like an all-season tire would, without the slower steering response that can sometimes accompany winter / snow tire designs. The Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 followed with a smooth, linear steering feel. Right behind the WS60 was the Dunlop Graspic DS-3, feeling much improved over the sluggish h&ling of its predecessor, the Graspic DS-2.

When driving over the harsher pavement along our route, the ExtremeWinterContact was found to offer the best ride comfort of the group doing a good job absorbing the bumps. The Blizzak WS60 & Graspic DS-3 weren't far behind, both also managing to soften most impacts along the route, with just a hint of harshness when encountering abrupt impacts like expansion joints & potholes.

Increased tread pattern noise is a common by-product with winter / snow tires, thanks to the aggressive tread designs that help provide the winter traction people expect when choosing winter tires. The ExtremeWinterContact produced only modest tread noise, with a small but distinct tone when driving over cross-grooved concrete roads. The Blizzak WS60 produced a bit more overall tread noise, as well as a small hum heard at higher speeds. The Graspic DS-3 followed with some additional, but not objectionable, tread noise.

What We Learned at the Ice Rink

In place of our normal test track drive, our team went to a local hockey rink to experience each tire's traction in one of the worst winter conditions - the glare ice often found at slick intersections in the middle of winter.

Our team conducted a measured acceleration test, using the vehicle's traction control system to help manage wheel spin. Aligning the rear tire on the goal line, each driver made several acceleration runs where we measured the time required to travel the final 60' to the center ice line. We recorded the fastest run for each driver, & averaged the top times for each tire.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 provided superior acceleration traction on the polished ice surface. Close behind was the Dunlop Graspic DS-3, again showing a noticeable improvement over its predecessor the Graspic DS-2. Also close was the Continental ExtremeWinterContact.

Tire	60' Acceleration	Percent vs. Best
Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 (Studless Ice & Snow)	3.939 sec.	100.0%
Continental ExtremeWinterContact (Studless Ice & Snow)	4.140 sec.	94.9%
Dunlop Graspic DS-3 (Studless Ice & Snow)	3.995 sec.	98.6%

 

During the subjective cornering exercise we found the Blizzak WS60 again lead the group, rounding our simulated intersection corner with the greatest consistency & ease. Our team found the ExtremeWinterContact to have somewhat better cornering traction than the Graspic DS-3, both just behind the Blizzak WS60.

Part 2 - Performance Winter / Snow vs. Studless Ice &
Snow Tires

What We Learned on the Road

Our team found the h&ling of the Blizzak LM-60 Performance Winter / Snow tire offered some additional steering response & h&ling precision versus the Blizzak WS60 Studless Ice & Snow tire. Much to our surprise, the tread noise of the LM-60 was slightly lower than the WS60, particularly at highway speeds where it virtually disappeared. The one small road penalty paid by the LM-60 for its more responsive h&ling was a slightly firmer ride, likely due to the construction differences required for its higher H-speed rating versus the WS60's lower R-speed rating.

What We Learned at the Ice Rink

What the Blizzak LM-60 Performance Winter / Snow tire gained in clear road h&ling was given back in slick ice traction. Its st&ard winter tread compound which is needed to achieve the H-speed rating & aids responsiveness & h&ling, couldn't match the glare ice traction of the special Link Multicell compound used on the R-speed rated Blizzak WS60 Studless Ice & Snow tire.

Tire	60' Acceleration	Percent vs. Best
Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 (Studless Ice & Snow)	3.939 sec.	100.0%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 (Performance Winter / Snow)	4.715 sec.	80.3%

 

Product Details

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 (Performance Winter / Snow): The Blizzak LM-60 is Bridgestone's Performance Winter / Snow tire developed for the drivers of sports cars, sporty coupes & luxurious performance sedans that are looking for winter driving traction on dry, wet & snow-covered roads. The Blizzak LM-60 is designed to combine the basic tread design of the Blizzak WS60 with a high-silica tread compound blending high-speed durability & dry-road cold weather h&ling with snow traction.

Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 (Studless Ice & Snow): The Blizzak WS60 is Bridgestone's Studless Ice & Snow winter tire developed for the drivers of coupes, sedans, minivans & crossover vehicles looking for traction on winter's slushy, snow-covered & icy roads. The Blizzak WS60 represents the third generation of Bridgestone WinterBiter tires designed to deliver wintertime traction & control that inspires driver confidence by getting the most out of the vehicle's potential.

Continental ExtremeWinterContact (Studless Ice & Snow): The ExtremeWinterContact is Continental Tire's Studless Ice & Snow winter / snow tire developed for the drivers of coupes, sedans & minivans, as well as pickups, crossovers & sport utility vehicles looking for traction on winter's slushy, snow-covered & icy roads. The ExtremeWinterContact is designed to deliver serious performance in winter weather conditions.

Dunlop Graspic DS-3 (Studless Ice & Snow): The Graspic DS-3 represents the third generation of Dunlop Digi-tire Studless Ice & Snow winter tires developed for the drivers of coupes & sedans, as well as family minivans & crossover utility vehicles. Graspic DS-3 tires use Dunlop's Digital Rolling Simulation II technology (computer enhanced design) & premium tread compounding to deliver wintertime traction in snow & on ice.

 

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