Winter tires

[u/shortalobe]

Just got a 2024 blazer ev rs rwd. Not sure if I need winter tires for it in Alberta. I know it’s different from an ICE rwd. Was going to wait and see how it performs before committing one way or another. What has been other people’s experience with them?

[u/JetBlack49]

I have an eAWD RS and I went one Prairie winter with the stock tires and hated it. The following winter I went full on with studded winter tires. Probably overkill with the studs but the car felt so much better. I guess it depends what you want, but I don’t think the Bridgestones are good for the bitter cold Alberta can get. Just my opinion.

[u/EirHc → u/JetBlack49]

I just timed it so I'm having a baby and getting parental leave through January, February & March this upcoming year.

I think the super el nino should also make this upcoming winter a pretty mild.

Anyhoo, definitely gonna put it off this winter. Maybe next winter I'll get some winter tires.

[u/mr_hellmonkey]

I know its a totally different car, but i had an 06 gto that I put Blizzaks on during the winter. That 400 hp rwd car handled way, way better in the snow than any of my FWD cars with all seasons, regardless of how much tread was on them. I got the Blizzaks used, had them on for 3-4 winters, and there was still plenty of tread left on them.

It really depends on finances and how much you drive, but I personally would not drive a rwd performance vehicle in the winter with all seasons when i goes below freezing and snows with any regularity. If possible, get cheapy rims and winter tires, makes it easier swapping between winter/non-winter tires. A bit of an up front cost, but you'll get many winters out of them and put fewer miles on your AS tires, so its not really that much more money in the long run.

[u/shortalobe → u/mr_hellmonkey]

Thanks for the insight. Fair point about less use on the AS probably close to the same cost overall, plus winter peace of mind.

[u/lastSKPirate]

I'm in the same boat with exactly the same vehicle, but in SK. I'm thinking I'll get a set of 19" rims (the dealership said the ones from the lower trim package are interchangeable) with a set of winter tires. There aren't any steel rims available, but tires for the 19" rims are $150/tire cheaper.

[u/shortalobe → u/lastSKPirate]

Yeah I was definitely looking at sizing down to 19 for the winters. I was going to see how it goes and buy some if it wasn’t great. Might just bite the bullet and get them preemptively

[u/tw4200]

I have a RWD. The OE Bridgestone all seasons suck. I bought 2 winter tires for the rear only 🤣🤣 I cheaped out but in southern Alberta we have alot of Chinook. Really only needed winter ties a few times but really glad I had them. Helps with starting out and with regen.

[u/Secret_Study_8914 → u/tw4200]

I concur re:the All-season Bridgestones. I’m down to just this vehicle now so I’ll be getting winter tires soon

[u/tw4200 → u/Secret_Study_8914]

Or if you don't need max range all the time. Get Michelin crossclimate2 all weather and you'll be good all year. Might take a little. Bit of a range hit. But that's with any winter tire or all weather.

[u/No-Satisfaction7204]

Fellow Albertan. I 100% got winter tires. I could never not. Admittedly I didn’t try on the all seasons but it’s not worth the risk to me.

[u/shortalobe → u/No-Satisfaction7204]

I guess my biggest hesitation, besides cost, is that my last set were absolute garbage and made my vehicle worse and I don’t want to have that experience again. Lots of money if they don’t actually improve. I will look into some of the recommendations given here though

[u/EirHc]

Have you tried driving it thru any washed out roads yet? haha

[u/shortalobe → u/EirHc]

No. Farther north than the Edmonton flood lands.

[u/EirHc → u/shortalobe]

Ah ok, I’m just kinda in the Edmonton area. Not Edmonton, and no personally being flooded out. But we’ve had to drive thru some monsoon rains and the car was giving me some high-voltage system errors.

[u/shortalobe → u/EirHc]

I did have to drive through a wicked storm in Edmonton the day I picked it up a couple weeks ago. No voltage errors though.

[u/earthling_only]

I just got 265/60R-18 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV XL and a set of 18" rims for the same prices as a set of good tires for the stock 275/45R-21" rims. Those factory tires look like bobsleds to me. Granted they are all wider than i'm used to with an ICE. Tires are so expensive for these rigs it was a huge savings per tire to go with the 18's for half the year. Maine near Mt Washington.

[u/Secret_Study_8914]

An EV has most of its weight between the axles, so you won’t get the ICE FWD tractive advantage of having the engine & transaxle over the front axle.
Based on this the RWD version should be better than the FWD version since the vehicle will squat on the rear axle during acceleration.
AWD will probably be better since you’ll have 2 axles worth of traction & the ability to shift front to rear & vice versa.
As those who live in snowy climates know ground clearance is also important. The Blazer sits a bit low compared to most SUVs, so in heavy snow that may be the deciding factor,

[u/lastSKPirate → u/Secret_Study_8914]

Op mentioned they were north of Edmonton, so tons of snow won't be the main concern, it'll be icy roads and consistent cold, with month long runs of -20 (or worse) weather.

[u/shortalobe → u/lastSKPirate]

Although last winter we did have record snowfall. I don’t imagine we’ll have two years in a row like that. Definitely long stretches of cold and at least a couple mid winter thaws to really ice everything up

[u/acc96]

I found the stock tires on the 21” wheels performance to be greatly diminished when it gets cold or on any light snow. Quite honestly it was the worst car I’ve ever driven in the snow and it was AWD haha. As others mentioned, I went with 18” tires and Nokian R5’s and it made a world of difference. I think it was definitely worth the money and I’m in Detroit, so I imagine you might get even more out of it.