Winter tires/rims

[Blackbird]

Oh my, this is a long thread. Newbie GV70 owner here. Here being Portland, Oregon, where we spend a great deal of time driving on wet roads and a smaller, but pretty hair-raising, time driving on ice and snow. Hair-raising because there are few snow plows, deicer trucks, etc., and many drivers who have no flaming clue about the basics of winter driving.

For my other cars I usually have a set of winter-only tires and rims. Tire Rack does not yet have an "official" tire/wheel package for my 2023 GV70 (Sport Prestige w/21" OEM wheels), but their "unofficial" suggestion is 19" Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2s on MSW 19" wheels with appropriate spacers.* Sounds good to me -- I've had Blizzaks before and they rock in the snow; ditto for Tire Rack service, they have been quite reliable -- but I'm wondering if there is any Genesis-specific wisdom to share here. Thanks in advance.

*In -2 sizing, of course. The OEM Michelin Primacy A/S tires are 255/40-21 and the Blizzaks would be 235/55-19. The Michelins are pretty darn good, but my guess is Blizzaks are much better on ice, deep snow, or standing water.

 

[NeutronQuasar]

Oh my, this is a long thread. Newbie GV70 owner here. Here being Portland, Oregon, where we spend a great deal of time driving on wet roads and a smaller, but pretty hair-raising, time driving on ice and snow. Hair-raising because there are few snow plows, deicer trucks, etc., and many drivers who have no flaming clue about the basics of winter driving.

For my other cars I usually have a set of winter-only tires and rims. Tire Rack does not yet have an "official" tire/wheel package for my 2023 GV70 (Sport Prestige w/21" OEM wheels), but their "unofficial" suggestion is 19" Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2s on MSW 19" wheels with appropriate spacers.* Sounds good to me -- I've had Blizzaks before and they rock in the snow; ditto for Tire Rack service, they have been quite reliable -- but I'm wondering if there is any Genesis-specific wisdom to share here. Thanks in advance.

*In -2 sizing, of course. The OEM Michelin Primacy A/S tires are 255/40-21 and the Blizzaks would be 235/55-19. The Michelins are pretty darn good, but my guess is Blizzaks are much better on ice, deep snow, or standing water.

If you don't want to use spacers, the OEM 19's are 19x8 et39 5x114.3.

Not to get on my soap box (again) but there's a widespread misconception about winter tires and their capabilities. You're correct that winter tires outperform all-season tires in snow and ice. Good all-season tires (Michelin, Continental, Hankook, Goodyear, etc.) will always outperform winter tires in any wet conditions, even when the temperature is cold. Obviously they outperform them vastly in dry conditions. Unfortunately, tire technology doesn't allow tires that work well in snow to also excel in dry and wet conditions. As much as I would like to have my cake and eat it too, one has to choose snow and ice performance or wet and dry performance.

 

[Lionorion]

Oh my, this is a long thread. Newbie GV70 owner here. Here being Portland, Oregon, where we spend a great deal of time driving on wet roads and a smaller, but pretty hair-raising, time driving on ice and snow. Hair-raising because there are few snow plows, deicer trucks, etc., and many drivers who have no flaming clue about the basics of winter driving.

For my other cars I usually have a set of winter-only tires and rims. Tire Rack does not yet have an "official" tire/wheel package for my 2023 GV70 (Sport Prestige w/21" OEM wheels), but their "unofficial" suggestion is 19" Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2s on MSW 19" wheels with appropriate spacers.* Sounds good to me -- I've had Blizzaks before and they rock in the snow; ditto for Tire Rack service, they have been quite reliable -- but I'm wondering if there is any Genesis-specific wisdom to share here. Thanks in advance.

*In -2 sizing, of course. The OEM Michelin Primacy A/S tires are 255/40-21 and the Blizzaks would be 235/55-19. The Michelins are pretty darn good, but my guess is Blizzaks are much better on ice, deep snow, or standing water.

The Primacy’s are shite compared to the capabilities of the GV70. The GV70 deserves UHP tires IMHO.

 

[dhuhtala]

Oh my, this is a long thread. Newbie GV70 owner here. Here being Portland, Oregon, where we spend a great deal of time driving on wet roads and a smaller, but pretty hair-raising, time driving on ice and snow. Hair-raising because there are few snow plows, deicer trucks, etc., and many drivers who have no flaming clue about the basics of winter driving.

For my other cars I usually have a set of winter-only tires and rims. Tire Rack does not yet have an "official" tire/wheel package for my 2023 GV70 (Sport Prestige w/21" OEM wheels), but their "unofficial" suggestion is 19" Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2s on MSW 19" wheels with appropriate spacers.* Sounds good to me -- I've had Blizzaks before and they rock in the snow; ditto for Tire Rack service, they have been quite reliable -- but I'm wondering if there is any Genesis-specific wisdom to share here. Thanks in advance.

*In -2 sizing, of course. The OEM Michelin Primacy A/S tires are 255/40-21 and the Blizzaks would be 235/55-19. The Michelins are pretty darn good, but my guess is Blizzaks are much better on ice, deep snow, or standing water.

I live in Canada (Edmonton) so lots of experience with ice and snow. I've had a few types of winter tires - Blizzaks most recently. I find the Blizzaks are best in the snow and the Michelin X-ice are best on ice. As the weather gets colder, they perform even better. Neither are great in wet conditions around 0 degrees C or warmer. I'm actually going to just go with the stock Michelins this winter and see how they do. I agree that the 19s would be better in the winter.

 

[dhuhtala]

OK, so it snowed all night. The stock tires are probably not going to cut it. I'm fine accelerating and going up hills on very icy/snowy roads but the braking is a bit scary. Of course, now that I've waited this long, there's very little chance I'll be able to find a place to mount winter tires! I think it's great in the snow but the ice is the problem.

Also really hate that you can't jump out of your vehicle to clean ice off the windshield wipers...you have to turn it off, hold the wiper lever up, etc...doesn't work well in these conditions. I would also appreciate a heated portion of the windshield at the bottom for the wipers like my Optima has.

 

[Amtip]

OK, so it snowed all night. The stock tires are probably not going to cut it. I'm fine accelerating and going up hills on very icy/snowy roads but the braking is a bit scary. Of course, now that I've waited this long, there's very little chance I'll be able to find a place to mount winter tires! I think it's great in the snow but the ice is the problem.

Also really hate that you can't jump out of your vehicle to clean ice off the windshield wipers...you have to turn it off, hold the wiper lever up, etc...doesn't work well in these conditions. I would also appreciate a heated portion of the windshield at the bottom for the wipers like my Optima has.

Yeah they're definitely not good enough for real winter. Funny how we got over a foot a snow a week ago and now it's 70F here and you're getting the snow now.

 

[Blackbird]

OK, so I pulled the trigger and ordered a wheel/tire package from Tire Rack. MSW50 19*8 wheels in black with gunmetal accents. I went with the V speed-rated Blizzak LM005 tires (Mercedes OEM spec) because they are top-rated for wet weather traction while having the "3Peak" snow rating. And, because, who knows when the desire to drive 130mph in the snow might strike? Total mounted and balanced $2000US. Delivery possibly as soon as Friday (!). Will post a picture when they are on the vehicle.

 

[Lionorion]

OK, so it snowed all night. The stock tires are probably not going to cut it. I'm fine accelerating and going up hills on very icy/snowy roads but the braking is a bit scary. Of course, now that I've waited this long, there's very little chance I'll be able to find a place to mount winter tires! I think it's great in the snow but the ice is the problem.

Also really hate that you can't jump out of your vehicle to clean ice off the windshield wipers...you have to turn it off, hold the wiper lever up, etc...doesn't work well in these conditions. I would also appreciate a heated portion of the windshield at the bottom for the wipers like my Optima has.

I tried to tell you, but you never responded. :-(

 

[Blackbird]

OK, so it snowed all night. The stock tires are probably not going to cut it. I'm fine accelerating and going up hills on very icy/snowy roads but the braking is a bit scary. Of course, now that I've waited this long, there's very little chance I'll be able to find a place to mount winter tires! I think it's great in the snow but the ice is the problem.

Also really hate that you can't jump out of your vehicle to clean ice off the windshield wipers...you have to turn it off, hold the wiper lever up, etc...doesn't work well in these conditions. I would also appreciate a heated portion of the windshield at the bottom for the wipers like my Optima has.

I wouldn't be too surprised if the KDM model has such a feature. Winter in Korea can be pretty stiff. Not Yukon or Siberia stiff, but still.... On an unrelated note, a moment of silence for everyone killed or hurt in the Seoul Halloween tragedy. On top of everything else bad happening in the world, losing a bunch of mostly-young people to something so senseless is totally heartbreaking.

 

[dhuhtala]

OK, I've been driving on the stock tires in snow and ice for a week now and I can say that they are not great all season tires. They do have the "M+S" designation, but they aren't even as good as many all-seasons I've used in the past. I was hoping that with AWD, they would be good enough, but they aren't. I have the 19" wheels. I would rate them like this for winter:

Acceleration: 8/10 (very little slippage even stopped on an up-slope on ice)
Cornering: 6/10 (often slips around corners and the back-end tends to break out once in a while)
Braking: 4/10 (this is the biggest issue - they just slide over ice and do very little)

They are a bit dangerous as they are great at acceleration, which might build your confidence - but when you have to stop on that same surface, they are very poor.

So I COULD use them over the winter knowing that these are the limitations, but I'm finding it's a stupid idea to take that much risk with such an expensive vehicle.

I ordered Blizzak DM-V2 tires from Costco - with coupon, they're only about $1,100 including tax, installation, etc. Definitely worth the investment. The trick now will be to find a place that can install them. Costco won't schedule an appointment until they have shipped - and I'm guessing they will be 6-8 weeks behind for appointments. I'll find another place to mount them on my stock wheels.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[Blackbird]

OK, I've been driving on the stock tires in snow and ice for a week now and I can say that they are not great all season tires. They do have the "M+S" designation, but they aren't even as good as many all-seasons I've used in the past. I was hoping that with AWD, they would be good enough, but they aren't. I have the 19" wheels. I would rate them like this for winter:

Acceleration: 8/10 (very little slippage even stopped on an up-slope on ice)
Cornering: 6/10 (often slips around corners and the back-end tends to break out once in a while)
Braking: 4/10 (this is the biggest issue - they just slide over ice and do very little)

I'm curious if the center console infographic display on your Prestige that graphs how torque delivery is split between the four driving wheels shows the eLSD at work by distributing power to wheels with best traction.

I'm also hoping you keep eyes on the road in slippery conditions and are not too distracted by the infographic!

P.S. The "M+S" designation on a tire is apparently the equivalent of "All Natural" on food, i.e. pretty much meaningless. The "3peaks" designation, which your Blizzaks have, is apparently a meaningful indication the tires are designed for winter driving.

 

[dhuhtala]

I'm curious if the center console infographic display on your Prestige that graphs how torque delivery is split between the four driving wheels shows the eLSD at work by distributing power to wheels with best traction.

I'm also hoping you keep eyes on the road in slippery conditions and are not too distracted by the infographic!

P.S. The "M+S" designation on a tire is apparently the equivalent of "All Natural" on food, i.e. pretty much meaningless. The "3peaks" designation, which your Blizzaks have, is apparently a meaningful indication the tires are designed for winter driving.

I don't have an eLSD - this is the 2.5T Prestige but I have noticed that infographic. If roads are dry, the rear wheels definitely get more power but in these conditions, it's usually distributed evenly between front and back - more to the front as it loses traction. If I put it in Snow Terrain mode, then all four tires are always evenly distributed.

Yeah, there was a time when M+S actually meant a "winter tire" - dating myself now. Not anymore. You can tell just by looking at a tire if it's designed for winter or not. I had the Blizzaks on my Kia Optima before this. I don't think they're quite as good on ice as the Michelin X-Ice but they are better in snow. And Costco has no Michelins in stock but a $125 coupon for Blizzaks, so that's what I ordered. After 4 days of waiting, they have not been shipped though.

 

[NoGravity]

OK, so it snowed all night. The stock tires are probably not going to cut it. I'm fine accelerating and going up hills on very icy/snowy roads but the braking is a bit scary. Of course, now that I've waited this long, there's very little chance I'll be able to find a place to mount winter tires! I think it's great in the snow but the ice is the problem.

Also really hate that you can't jump out of your vehicle to clean ice off the windshield wipers...you have to turn it off, hold the wiper lever up, etc...doesn't work well in these conditions. I would also appreciate a heated portion of the windshield at the bottom for the wipers like my Optima has.

I wholeheartedly agree.

Guys, if you live in any climate where you get regular snowfalls (I'm in Calgary) that get hardpacked down to ice... I can tell you right now the Primacy's are actually complete trash and not going to be good enough for winter. I had them on for a few days before I could get an appointment to mount my winters and I am not exaggerating when I say I had zero confidence in the handling of the car during our first snowfall. Now that they've been swapped its night and day.

The primacys really are terrible on snow/ice.

 

[Bicster]

I upgraded from the Primacys this summer to the Michelin Cross Climate 2 (I also live in Calgary). Although, it's still too early to make the final judgment.. the Cross Climate 2 has been "good" to "very good" for snow/ice. For the best winter tire - it's Blizzak, they are excellent when I had them in my Lexus ISF , but they don't last long.. after 3-4 seasons you can't really trust them..

 

[Rubycat]

I upgraded from the Primacys this summer to the Michelin Cross Climate 2 (I also live in Calgary). Although, it's still too early to make the final judgment.. the Cross Climate 2 has been "good" to "very good" for snow/ice. For the best winter tire - it's Blizzak, they are excellent when I had them in my Lexus ISF , but they don't last long.. after 3-4 seasons you can't really trust them..

I am considering the Cross Climate 2 as I live in Calgary and do not drive a lot (less than 1000 km/year) so it is rare to have to drive on snow - maybe more slippery/ icy conditions. For 50 years I have only used All Seasons and driving much more than now with no major problem in Ottawa and Calgary. But a Genesis is a more expensive car than the others I have had. In my case, I do not see the need for pure winter tires with the changeovers and mostly bare pavement in winter when I drive. It is discouraging that the tires that come with the Genesis would just be stored probably forever. Selling them would not be cost effective. I am interested in your experience with these tires after using them fo a while.

 

[Amtip]

I upgraded from the Primacys this summer to the Michelin Cross Climate 2 (I also live in Calgary). Although, it's still too early to make the final judgment.. the Cross Climate 2 has been "good" to "very good" for snow/ice. For the best winter tire - it's Blizzak, they are excellent when I had them in my Lexus ISF , but they don't last long.. after 3-4 seasons you can't really trust them..

Blizzaks are FAR from the best winter tire.

 

[Bicster]

I am considering the Cross Climate 2 as I live in Calgary and do not drive a lot (less than 1000 km/year) so it is rare to have to drive on snow - maybe more slippery/ icy conditions. For 50 years I have only used All Seasons and driving much more than now with no major problem in Ottawa and Calgary. But a Genesis is a more expensive car than the others I have had. In my case, I do not see the need for pure winter tires with the changeovers and mostly bare pavement in winter when I drive. It is discouraging that the tires that come with the Genesis would just be stored probably forever. Selling them would not be cost effective. I am interested in your experience with these tires after using them fo a while.

I just finished going out for lunch... I purposeful tested the All-Weather Michelin Cross Climate 2 with the GV70 2.5T on terrain mode set to Snow.

I drove up/down hills which are about 30% angle and were covered in snow and maybe some ice. I also purposely turn slightly hard on some corners and had decent acceleration/stop hard in straights when it was safe.

The Cross Climate 2 is "very good". Never once did the traction control lights go on, and never once did I feel unsafe or marginally out of control... it was not perfect but more than manageable...

Note: Tirerack gives the Cross Climate 2 an 8.9 (Excellent) for Snow/Winter.

I see no need to switch to a winter tire... If that changes... I will let everyone knows.

In your case, IMHO Cross Climate 2 is more than enough for your need... and having one rim set saves time, money, and the headache of storage and changing every season... I got my installed by Spec R Motorsports in Calgary.. they were great people to deal with and are truly passionate car people.

 

[Bicster]

Blizzaks are FAR from the best winter tire.

My experience with them has been great but after 3-4 seasons and about 10-15K km (6-9K miles).. the tires and my Lexus ISF became unpredictable and dangerous when there was snow/ice.

 

[Amtip]

My experience with them has been great but after 3-4 seasons and about 10-15K km (6-9K miles).. the tires and my Lexus ISF became unpredictable and dangerous when there was snow/ice.

Oh don't get me wrong, Blizzaks get the job done, there are just far better options. I used to run Blizzaks until I discovered Nokians.

 

[dhuhtala]

Oh don't get me wrong, Blizzaks get the job done, there are just far better options. I used to run Blizzaks until I discovered Nokians.

Yeah, I went with Blizzaks just because they were available. I haven't found any Nokians in stock every year I go looking...I need to start earlier, I think.