Yet Another Winter Tire Question

[skistler]

SHORT STORY: WS-80 vs. LM-32 for NOVA?

Longer story: Sorry to dredge this topic up again (and sorry for the long 1st post), but I've searched the forums relentlessly and not really found any solid advice that relates to my situation.

I've had my BRZ since January of 2013 (so heading into winter #3). I live in Alexandria, VA (i.e, metro Washington, DC), which generally leaves me facing periods of cold and dry punctuated by major dumps of powder from nor'easters. The first year, I parked the BRZ over the winter and drove my 25-year-old Saab (on snows). Last winter, the Saab was out of commission, so I soldiered through in the BRZ on what was left of the Primacies (which by that time had 15k miles and two days of SCCA autocross class -- 30+ runs -- on them). The one time I got stuck at work when it was snowing (3+ inches of fluffy stuff on the roads by the time I left, and they never clear the roads here until the morning after), I made it almost-but-not-quite home, failing to get up the last little inconsequential hill to my home. I only made it as far as I did by completely shutting the traction-control off -- it took the pedal dance -- and drifting up hills sideways (I learned winter driving in Western PA in the '80s in big RWD GM iron, though I must admit I was still surprised my right foot could out-traction the computers in the BRZ). I'd rather not repeat that experience (and the resulting walk of shame...)

SO, with my poor old Saab still feeling dodgy, it's time to buy some winter shoes, especially since the BRZ is now running on RE-71s. I will stick with the stock size, mounting the RE-71s on some RPF1s and moving the winter rubber onto the stock wheels.

I am torn between the Blizzak WS-80s and the LM-32s. Keeping in mind that most of my winter driving is on dry or wet roads, it seems to me the LM-32s will have more utility throughout a greater part of the season. But some seem to be pointing folks more toward the "real-deal" WS-080s for snow and ice, although those reviewers often hail from more northerly climes than I. Primarily local driving is the order of the season, but my usage will likely include some incursions north of the Mason Dixon line for skiiing, although only when the wife's 3.6R Outback cannot for some reason serve as the sleigh for those trips.

So what says the Internet? WS-80 or LM-32? Or Sottozero 3?

Many thanks in advance.

[Jfheisenberg]

i was in the same boat as you last week..., if this is going to be your winter set up and you are going to spend some money then go with the ws-80. I feel like its better to be safe than sorry. The ws80 will give you better grip during heavy snow and ice conditions. The lm32 is more of a performance winter tire that will give u grip on cold temperatures but wont b as good in the now as the ws80

I bought the ws80 16inch with 16inch wheels from tire rack a week ago.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ue#testResults