LessIsMore
Veteran Member
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X-ice Xi2 vs. Blizzak WS-60: Someone help me decide
- Thread starter eb2143
- Start date
IndigoBlueWagon
TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
I had WS-50s for the first five winters with my Jetta, and now have WS-60s. I bought them mostly because they were inexpensive. I never liked the dry road performance of the WS-50s, but they were killer in the snow. The 60s don't seem any better to me on dry roads, but I think I've gotten fussier about grip in recent years.
Since I can swap wheels and tires in about 20 minutes I tend to take them off if I'm taking on a long drive and I know there's going to be no snow. That's why the first set lasted so long. I actually haven't put them on yet, but will before going out tomorrow. And I'll have to take them off on Monday for the dyno. I wonder how snows do on the dyno?
EDIT: Oh, and Mag-Chloride is the pits. They've been using it in Denver for years. Very scary, in part because it looks like black ice. I had one unforgettable ride from Golden to the DIA early one morning on that stuff. And it's murder to get off cars.
Since I can swap wheels and tires in about 20 minutes I tend to take them off if I'm taking on a long drive and I know there's going to be no snow. That's why the first set lasted so long. I actually haven't put them on yet, but will before going out tomorrow. And I'll have to take them off on Monday for the dyno. I wonder how snows do on the dyno?
EDIT: Oh, and Mag-Chloride is the pits. They've been using it in Denver for years. Very scary, in part because it looks like black ice. I had one unforgettable ride from Golden to the DIA early one morning on that stuff. And it's murder to get off cars.
Bosley
Veteran Member
Right now they are at 35 as we are expecting another dump of snow in the a/m. But if I take the trip to my daughters home on the other side of the province, a 10 hour drive through two major mountain passes with 7 avalanche shelters I will go lower. I live on the coast and for the most part I use a snow shovel once or twice a yeareb2143 said:
IndigoBlueWagon
TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Brian, I would have bought them anyway. They were something like 25% less expensive than the Michelins. And I barely have a need for snow tires, except when going snowboarding. And I think part of the problem with the WS-60s is that I may be overpowering them a bit.
I agree that Aspen is over the top, but I also am big on reducing light pollution. And the mountains are beautiful at night, you gotta admit. One thing I like about my town is we don't have any street lights. It's a lot easier to see stars because of that, although I've been accused of sitting in the dark a lot of the time anyway. Who else buys 3 watt florescent bulbs for hall lighting?
I agree that Aspen is over the top, but I also am big on reducing light pollution. And the mountains are beautiful at night, you gotta admit. One thing I like about my town is we don't have any street lights. It's a lot easier to see stars because of that, although I've been accused of sitting in the dark a lot of the time anyway. Who else buys 3 watt florescent bulbs for hall lighting?
Abacus
That helpful B4 guy
I can attest the Blizzak WS-60's work great in DEEP snow.
I drove into my driveway last night and plowed snow with the front bumper. Overnight the snow increased, and this is what I woke to. I shoveled out one side of the car, and wanted to see if it would move. It did without any problems and as you can see even the underchassis was dragging in the snow.
I can't tell you how much I really love these tires!
I drove into my driveway last night and plowed snow with the front bumper. Overnight the snow increased, and this is what I woke to. I shoveled out one side of the car, and wanted to see if it would move. It did without any problems and as you can see even the underchassis was dragging in the snow.
I can't tell you how much I really love these tires!
eb2143
Top Post Dawg
Abacus,
Very nice! I must say I just returned from skiing in the great state of Maine, and on the way up got to test the X-ice via 3 hours of snow-covered roads, and on the way back via 3 hours of dry roads.
I think the WS-60 and the X-ice may have some differences.
As I get more time with them, the X-ice's weakest area seems to be start-up/low speed traction in snow.
The X-ice excels at not letting you know it's a snow tire. Most quiet tire that has been on the Jetta in 191,000 miles, hands down. From this tank that has been all the X-ice, I can see no mpg loss and they feel very LRR as promised.
As far as snow performance, braking is excellent and very importantly, slush/water evacuation is also excellent.
Already from WS-60 reviews I have seen, slush and water evacuation may be a "weakness" while chewing snow, especially deep snow, is its strongest point.I say "weakness" because just as the Michelin's snow grip is acceptable and adequate, the WS-60, from what I gather, is not dangerous in slush.
They are both excellent choices! I can't see how $135 Hakkas can be better.
Very nice! I must say I just returned from skiing in the great state of Maine, and on the way up got to test the X-ice via 3 hours of snow-covered roads, and on the way back via 3 hours of dry roads.
I think the WS-60 and the X-ice may have some differences.
As I get more time with them, the X-ice's weakest area seems to be start-up/low speed traction in snow.
The X-ice excels at not letting you know it's a snow tire. Most quiet tire that has been on the Jetta in 191,000 miles, hands down. From this tank that has been all the X-ice, I can see no mpg loss and they feel very LRR as promised.
As far as snow performance, braking is excellent and very importantly, slush/water evacuation is also excellent.
Already from WS-60 reviews I have seen, slush and water evacuation may be a "weakness" while chewing snow, especially deep snow, is its strongest point.I say "weakness" because just as the Michelin's snow grip is acceptable and adequate, the WS-60, from what I gather, is not dangerous in slush.
They are both excellent choices! I can't see how $135 Hakkas can be better.
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Great pics.eb2143 said:
Since I've run Shine suspension, threw on a dieselgeek skid plate and ran front mud flaps ...nothing seems to evacuate slush and snow anymore.eb2143 said:
Below is a picture of the Shine suspension and mud flaps. A snow tire has to throw snow clear away from it's tracks. With the lowered suspension, added weight of the skid plate and mud flaps on the front ...all the snow and ice and slush ricochet back onto the tread path. Tire pressure is 32 psi front and 34 psi rear.
If I had the same ride height and no...mud flaps on the front... it could be better.eb2143 said:
Stock suspension height and all-season's CH95 Continental's best snow traction ever...
Here is the car with Continental CH-95's all season's and stock ride height without mud flaps on the front. Look at how the snow clears out of the wheel wells.
IndigoBlueWagon
TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
I remembered your posts from last year and had removed the mud flaps from my wagon this summer--just couldn't see running it on the track with mud flaps. I purposely didn't put them back on. And I noticed on Sunday there was much less snow accumulation in the wheel wells without the flaps. Good idea.