Am looking at the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 as a winter tire for my 2005 4.4i. Anyone have real world experience or feedback using these tires? Found a nice set of 18" X5 wheels from a fellow member and want/need some snow tires since the 19" Michelin Damaris Summer tires will not cut it this winter. Have run the Nokian WR's on other cars/trucks with great results, but the prices for the 18" sizes are crazy. These Blizzaks seem to be reasonably priced. Thanks for any feedback.
Blizzak DM-Z3 snow tire Jeff, I currently have those same ones mounted on the standard 17 in X-5 wheels, since I have the 3.0 with the sport package 18" wheels. The blizzak's are great in the snow but the side walls are very weak which when first put on the car requires a little getting used to. When you go into a corner expect the response to be slower than normal so you need to drive a little different on the dry. Overall these are great for snow - non better and I would still recommend them even though the dry handling is weak. Hope all is well with you and hope to see you sometime in the future. Jay Hayes Boise Idaho (Formally of SD and MN)
MY own feedback..... Ended up mounting a set on some BMW OE 18" non-sport wheel another member was selling....thanks Gary.. What can I say....great tires, so far. Almost unfair in the snow with these mounted. Some friends wanted to meet in a large parking lot that was closed for the winter holidays to practice some winter handling techniques with wives, etc. Even with the traction control off, I was having no fun. I could not get the back to come around much less really get it out of sorts. Had to go home and get the 1992 Nissan Pathfinder the new Michelin LTX A/T's, left in 2wd mode, to really have some fun and attain some prolonged drifting. That said, from a stand still on snow or ice, this thing accelerated like it was shot out of a cannon. Like I said, it was not fair to any other 4x4's trying to get the jump at lights...and there were a few. I think the "X"-drive played a big role in this but the tires are certainly worthy of praise. Noise - Very little on the dry pavement and once the temps dropped well below freezing, these tires really came on. They do not like temps above 40deg, and were not designed to run there either. Did find some delayed turn in characteristics, as expected, but that went away as well with lower temps. Wear - Well, only have 1500 miles on them and the nipples are still on the tread. So far so good. Will check in another month or two when them come off. Ride is a bit softer and the look of the much narrower tires takes some getting used to, but, form and function before looks is fine with me. I think for the price they are great tires. Found myself looking fwd to foul weather....
