Car feels squirrely on winter tires?

[Elkton86er]

I bought the LM-32 Blizzak "Performance Winter" tires for just this reason. We get a LOT more cold/wet than snow/ice where I live. No issues at all with high speeds. Found some black ice this morning on a low curving bridge and felt the back end get a little squirrely. I suspect with regular tires it might have spun on me. Lots of "flash ice" in the mid-Atlantic region this morning. Hopefully things dry out before freezing tonight!

[drewbot]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

What tires?

Blizzak WS60, squirmy when moderately driving on highway and city

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by drewbot

Blizzak WS60, squirmy when moderately driving on highway and city

Are you on oem size rims or 16's? I'm wondering if size plays a bigger part. I went oem size for mine.

[brandonblt2]

Yup its normal mine have gotten better after a few hundred miles. At speed of 75 and higher it's not as hard to maintain control anymore that and you get used to them.

[Kkobe2]

Originally Posted by Agent 86

The literature that came with my brand new tires from tire rack say allow at least 500 miles for the mold release substance on the new tires to wear off.

I experienced similar unstable feeling on my new 245/35 - 265/35 Continental tires.

Good to know, also picked mine up from tire rack.

[Tgionet]

I have X-Ice 3's on and they're not squirrely at high speed, definitely worse than Pilot Super Sports but that's to be expected. I'd describe them as feeling somewhat disconnected though, as if there were a slight delay in steering input.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Tgionet

I have X-Ice 3's on and they're not squirrely at high speed, definitely worse than Pilot Super Sports but that's to be expected. I'd describe them as feeling somewhat disconnected though, as if there were a slight delay in steering input.

The x-ice are considered a performance snow tire though so you don't get as soft a sidewall. I have them on my '14 Accord and my Blizzak's are definitely better in the snow.

[jetsevo4]

I went w/ the Hankook i*cept evo (performance winter), and have been pretty happy so far. The only negative I see is that they can get a bit squirmy in the rain...no issues w/ hydroplaning though. Dry grip seems pretty damn good, although I haven't pushed them super hard.

As far as snow, we've only had a coating on the roads twice this winter and they did well...some wheelspin was present but the car still moved well and was totally predictable. I'm sure non-performance winter tires would do even better, but my town doesn't receive enough snow to necessitate having to deal w/ a non-performance snow tire on my sports car.

[drewbot]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Are you on oem size rims or 16's? I'm wondering if size plays a bigger part. I went oem size for mine.

205/55/16 on 16x6.5 steelies

[kberkel]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

Here's a video I took which demonstrates how even the CAR thinks things are getting squirrely on soft, winter tires. That's what happens when you're driving on tires made of extra soft rubber.

I remember this video, and this still seems outrageous to me. I have Blizzak WS80s and they ride like all seasons. Last year I rode them till the temp hit 60 degrees and they were awesome. Were you on small wheels with big sidewall?

Opposite of mushy, I feel like I could take these to a winter track day. I've had these up to 100mph no issues. Amazing in the snow too.

Soft for sure, but I'd have to mash the throttle in a turn to get TC working. Maybe I'll grab a video tomorrow.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by kberkel

I remember this video, and this still seems outrageous to me. I have Blizzak WS80s and they ride like all seasons. Last year I rode them till the temp hit 60 degrees and they were awesome. Were you on small wheels with big sidewall?

Opposite of mushy, I feel like I could take these to a winter track day. I've had these up to 100mph no issues. Amazing in the snow too.

Soft for sure, but I'd have to mash the throttle in a turn to get TC working. Maybe I'll grab a video tomorrow.

That's surprising to me. Yes, I have them on 16" wheels, so they do have a taller sidewall. However, I had WS70s on my previous vehicle (these are Altimax Arctics) and the Blizzaks were the same thing. Soft, squishy, NO GRIP in warm temperatures. You sure you have the right tires??? Lol. A winter tire like the WS70/80 WILL suck on a 60 degree day by the very nature of the tread compound. It simply becomes too soft and flobbery at those temperatures. They do NOT act like all-seasons unless you had really REALLY shitty all-seasons or something, lol.

[DocWalt]

I have the same continentals. They've worked great in what little bit of snow I've driven in but they definitely squirm around a lot on dry roads.

[BRZerk]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

Here's a video I took which demonstrates how even the CAR thinks things are getting squirrely on soft, winter tires. That's what happens when you're driving on tires made of extra soft rubber.

the slip angle is so high on winter tires due to the deep tread that the tires can actually deflect enough to confuse and set off of the TC w.o actually losing traction

[SkAsphalt]

Originally Posted by drewbot

Squirmy at 130 km/h and above for me

Considering the maximum speed rating for these tires is 170km you are already approaching 80% of their maximum limits when you are going 130. I wonder why they are "squirmy" when you go above that.... also considering the have very poor ratings on dry roads (where I optimistically assume is where you are driving above 130 km/h) it does not shock me in the least that your tread heavy tires have a hard time rotating at high speed