Just got my Blizzaks installed Saturday (ordered from TireRack) and had snow come down subnsequently. I drove it on the wet and slushy roads, side access roads, highways, and a parking lot with snow in it. This morning, drove it in to work. Here are the findings:
- car feels VERY secure with very little slipping or SLIP going on. It definitely felt more secure that our van (with a lot of weight on the front end which make traction better).
- the car subjectively feels quieter compared to the OEM Goodyear Eagles. It may just be that the noise signature has changed.
- it feels just a little more sluggish - perhaps because of more rolling resistance
- this is weird - I somehow felt that the wind noise has gone down. Since that is simply not possible, I am guessing that the change in noise signature and reduced road noise are contributing to this perception
- the ride seems more or less similar to before - just a tad more compliant perhaps
- handling - not much on that yet.
Will try and update over next few days
update : the wheel feels a little heavier but the handling (at 5/10ths ) does not seem that much worse.





<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by rajanb on 12/15/03 07:13 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

Which Blizzaks did you get, the WS-50? I was thinking about getting those or the Dunlop Winter Sport M3s.

2003.5 Garnet Fire 5AT
Wishlist: Nismo CAI, Borla Exhaust

 

I wasn't upset about the noise and handling on dry roads at all on my WS-50 215/60-16's. I installed mine on saturday just in time for the second NY blizzard. I felt very secure on the snow with these tires, going up and down hills. I drove from NYC to Poughkeepsie on sunday night (the snow-rain-ice night) on the Taconic Parkway (a skinny road w/ lots of hills and turns) which wasn't fully plowed or salted. I-684 and I-84 are too much of a pain in the ***, and I wanted to get out of the city before everything turned to ice. No problems whatsoever. The only time VDC kicked in was when I gave it too much gas going up a steep hill. Love these tires; and for what I spent to get them on their own rims, I have no regets about AWD. Unless of course, 16's aren't bling-bling enough for you.

Drew
2003 G35 Sedan 6MT / Black / Graphite / Aero

 

I got the Kazera wheels (16") and they look very nice indeed.. better than stock I think. The spokes are thinner so the disks better. I think spending an extra grand for getting close for better than AWD ability is well worth it.

 

My WS-50's on 16" wheels are great.Have been through snow,ice and slush with no problem.Ride is smoother but turning is not as crisp.

2003.5 G35
2003 350Z
2003 Murano SL

 

I just ordered my Blizzaks for my 5at. They were out of the 215/55/17size (everywhere), so I went with 225/55/17. They are only off by about 2.4% because our recommended rotating diameter is 26.5". I will let you know the results.

'03.5 Brilliant Silver AT Sedan
Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter
Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Clear Corners, Alum. Pedals
Polk Tweeters, Clifford RSX 3.5 two-way alarm

 

If I couldn't get the stock 215/55/17 I would go with 235/50/17, it's a closer match...less than 1% I believe.

2003.5 Garnet Fire 5AT
Wishlist: Nismo CAI, Borla Exhaust

 

The 225/55-17s will give you a bit of extra height in the sidewall which is better for grip and rutted icy roads. A 235 increases the width from stock by 20 cm, or almost an inch which may compromise traction a tad more than you want.

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

I noticed that the SLIP engages quite readily when accelarating hard even on dry pavement. Anyone else notice that?

 

Yes. 260lb-ft is a lot of torque, and unless you have good summer rubber on dry pavement, the VQ35 is going to break them loose, and then the VDC will reign it in with traction control.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Actually, if you do the math for the 235/50/17's the rotating diameter comes out to 26.25. If you check it for the 225/55/17's, it comes out to 26.74. So the 225/55/17 is a closer match to 26.5 (.24 vs .25).

'03.5 Brilliant Silver AT Sedan
Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter
Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Clear Corners, Alum. Pedals
Polk Tweeters, Clifford RSX 3.5 two-way alarm

 

Yes, your math indicates it would be a closer match to 26.5, but one hundredth of an inch would be negligible. However, where did you get that number from? We're trying to match 26.3 here.

Width x Aspect Ratio = Section Height x 2 = Combined Section Height + Wheel Diameter = Tire Diameter

17" x 25.4 = 431.8mm rims

215/55R17
215mm x 0.55 = 118.25mm x 2 = 236.5mm + 431.8mm = 668.3mm (26.31")

235/50R17
235mm x 0.50 = 235mm x 2 = 235mm + 431.8mm = 666.8mm (26.25")

225/55R17
225mm x 0.55 = 123.75mm x 2 = 247.5 + 431.8mm = 679.3mm (26.74")



2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Also, different tire designs and especially different manufacturers vary in actual size from one another. The way to actually see the differences is to look at the specs on 'Revolutions per Mile' if available. Tire wear will be a size factor later in a tire's life. This is why tire manufactures usually recommend replacing older tires in pairs.

<font color=green>GG</font color=green>

 

True. Which is why one hundredth of an inch is nothing.. differences in manufacturing between tire companies could reverse small changes in the ideal math. "Real" tires don't come in increments of 5mm/5%, either. your 215/55R17 might be a 217/54R17 or a 214/56R17 if you were to get out a ruler and measure it.

However, the math lets you find out which sizes are close. Anything within +/- 3% of stock is generally considered acceptable, though personally I prefer closer tolerances.

In our case, a 235/50R17 is going to be the closest to the stock diameter of 215/55R17, however the tire selection here isn't much better than the stock size. 225/55R17 or 225/50R17 both give you more tire choices at close-enough-to-stock sizes.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Oh, I fully agree that one hundredth of an inch is nothing. I was just pointing out that the 225/55/17 is a closer match. I got the number from tire rack. According to them, our suspension is based around a 26.5" rotating diameter (they got the specs from Nissan). Also, if you figure the size of the stock 16" wheels and tire combo (205/65/16), it comes out to 26.49. That is what I based my info on. I checked my shop manual, and was not able to find that number, but nonetheless, the 225/55/17 fits right into specs.

'03.5 Brilliant Silver AT Sedan
Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter
Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Clear Corners, Alum. Pedals
Polk Tweeters, Clifford RSX 3.5 two-way alarm