tcole
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Travis
- Joined
- May 30, 2023
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 156
- Reaction score
- 137
- Location
- Carnelian Bay, CA
- Vehicles
- 2023 Rivian R1T, 2022 Ford Bronco, 2022 Zero FXE
I had the Sottozero 3 on a Volvo V60 a few years back and I was pretty unimpressed with them for actual snow performance. They were quite good for dry pavement though. I think their design compromises were a bit more on the side of dry performance on the way to the mountain, vs actual performance In the snow.Can you share some more insight into your winter driving and winter tires experience?
I have Pirelli Sottozero 3 winters on my Tesla MYP. While I have not taken any long winter trips, at least locally, those tires seem to handle quite well in snow. Not good for ice?
What about studded tires, have you tried them? How do they handle in snow?
My old ICE SUV, which I use only in winter here, has Nokian, well, Nordman studded tires. It does very well in ICE. Seem fine in snow also. Looking at what winters there might be out there for my Rivian 21s. Thank you.
I've had a much better experience with Blizzaks and Nokian. Though Blizzaks tend to be quite good for the first half of the tire life, and then snow performance gets a lot worse. I've also heard good things about Ice-X but haven't tried them yet.
I have had at least one scary situation with Blizzaks on nice in an old Subaru Outback, I was coming down a hill that I realized was nearly a sheet of ice. Just tapping the brakes I had all 4 wheels lock up on me and I could feel the backend start to come around a little. I let off the brakes and downshifted to do engine braking instead, and I was fine.
Maybe studs would have helped in that situation, but I don't ever run studded tires because around Tahoe you're driving with your winter tires on from November to May, and lot of the times the roads are just bare. But sometimes they are packed snow, or deep loose snow. Usually not ice.
As for winters for your 21" rims, I'm not sure there are any. You only really have 2 tire choices.
See here:
link to the above spreadsheet.
Sponsored