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STi vs. SUV in the snow

Tires/Wheels 
6K views 43 replies 22 participants last post by  STiMaine 
#1 · (Edited)
This goes out to all of you that have an STi and also have experience with SUVs in the wintertime.

I currently drive an 01 Chevy S10 Blazer (no sport package or wide stance). It has Bridgestone Dueler A/T with Revo on it and 4 wheel. I’ve had it for about 2 years now and been through 2 winters. With the tire and 4 wheel combo.. this thing is unstoppable in the snow in Upstate NY. I have tried to get it stuck in ditches and so on and it just claws its way out. I also enjoy cruising down the highway at decent rate when its covered in snow and everyone else seems to be crawling. The Bridgestone Dueler tires are rated a 9 in the snow on Tirerack.com

My question is how would an STi with Pirelli PZero Nero M&S (Rated 7.5 in the snow) compare to the SUV for traction and performance? Obviously not for clawing out of ditches, but all around drivability in the snow. Id like to have a good all around tire that also performs well in the snow. The Pzeros seem to be the best option for this. I also know that the STi's all wheel drive system is more advanced than standard 4 wheel on the Blazer. My goal is to have a set of tires that i can use year around like the Bridgestone Duelers, because most of my cash is going into the STi and dont think i can afford another set of rims and tires. So what do you guys think? Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
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#2 ·
This belongs in Wheels/Tires

My response:
The STi wont be clawing its way out of any ditches - not big ones anyway. The car is not as high as the S10 so clearence comes into play. It also will most likely not have qiute as much traction as the tires you have on your truck.

I used to own a ZR2 Blazer and I agree - in the winter it was unstoppable :)
 
#5 ·
fourseasonsandles said:
Id like to have a good all around tire that also performs well in the snow.
There's your difference. If you put the same tire (tread and size) on both cars, it'd be a toss-up provided the snow isn't too deep. In snow more than 5" deep, the STi just becomes a plow. And if you put narrow (205's) studded snow tires on the STi, it'll go places neither car will go with normal all-season tires.

The best option is to have a dedicated set for summer, and one for winter. In my experience, all-season tires do neither very well.
 
#8 ·
As far as getting traction in the snow, given equal tires, I'd still give the advantage to the truck/SUV due to the ground clearance. Remeber though that a small protion of winter driving is getting moving. A more important part of winter driving is being able to turn and stop and this is where a lighter STI with a lower center of gravity will have the upper hand over a bulky SUV.
 
#9 ·
STi vs SUV in general(not your S10) STi wins hands down. Since the STi comes with high performance summer tires it is pretty safe to say any owners living in a location that sees snow will buy snow tires.

The STi's lighter weight(faster to stop, better handling),
the DCCD AWD(better than many SUVs esp X5, X3, etc),
the manual transmission (ability to properly engine brake, 99% of SUVs are automatics),
the lower center of gravity(nuff said),
and the snow tires(most SUV owners leave their stock crappy all season or knobby mud/offroad tires on all year round, these tires are also usually wider which doesn't cut through the snow as well) means the STi is better.

The SUV has few pros. Mainly higher clearance(esp compared to those of us who are lowered) and they have a stronger, heavier front bumper rather than plastic front to damage.
 
#10 ·
aspensti05 said:
STi vs SUV in general(not your S10) STi wins hands down. Since the STi comes with high performance summer tires it is pretty safe to say any owners living in a location that sees snow will buy snow tires.

The STi's lighter weight(faster to stop, better handling),
the DCCD AWD(better than many SUVs esp X5, X3, etc),
the manual transmission (ability to properly engine brake, 99% of SUVs are automatics),
the lower center of gravity(nuff said),
and the snow tires(most SUV owners leave their stock crappy all season or knobby mud/offroad tires on all year round, these tires are also usually wider which doesn't cut through the snow as well) means the STi is better.

The SUV has few pros. Mainly higher clearance(esp compared to those of us who are lowered) and they have a stronger, heavier front bumper rather than plastic front to damage.
word, how many suv's (snow tires or not) can take a snow-covered turn at 70+mph? :lol:
 
#11 ·
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#14 ·
never compromise; summer tires for summer and snow tires for winter. i can't recommend blizzak lm-22's strongly enough for everything upstate ny winters throw at us.
 
#15 ·
I was wondering how the PZero would perform as well, so I bought a set M+S rated. When the snow falls and the tires don't work I'll look for a set of blizzaks those worked great on my buddies mustang. I agree with the above, probably best to get a seperate set of winter and summer tires. It was posted before All season tires tend to perform poor in all conditions. I'll let you know how the M+S tires perform when the snow falls.
 
#19 ·
Contrary to Bruce's advice (which I wish I could follow) I compromised.

I have a set of Pzero Nero M&S on my oem wheels. I was looking for a tire that would be adequate in the snow, while giving up as little as possible to the excellent 070s.

I'm happy with my choice. These are NOT snow tires and don't perform nearly as well as snows would. But they also do well on dry pavement.

The difference between these tires and dedicated snows in the snow is truly amazing. My wife has a Miata (rwd, 2500 lbs - about as bad as it could be for snow traction) The Miata is actually a total gas to drive in the snow with its 4 michelin Arctic Alpins mounted to a set of steel wheels. It is nearly impossible to get stuck and lets me play Japan Drifter hero on every trip. Crazy fun. I'd imagine that an STi is an absolute animal with a set of dedicated snows.

So thats your answer, I can say from first hand experience that the Pirelli's are not your answer to creating an unstoppable snow machine.

Another thing, like others have mentioned is ground clearance. You could have the best AWD system on the planet with the gnarliest tires, and if you're high centered in packed snow, you're not going anywhere.

Don
 
#20 ·
SDomain said:
I was wondering how the PZero would perform as well, so I bought a set M+S rated. When the snow falls and the tires don't work I'll look for a set of blizzaks those worked great on my buddies mustang. I agree with the above, probably best to get a seperate set of winter and summer tires. It was posted before All season tires tend to perform poor in all conditions. I'll let you know how the M+S tires perform when the snow falls.
Theyre rated well on Tirerack.com 7.5 out of 10 for snow. my Bridgestone Duelers (all terrain) on the blazer are rated 9 out of 10.. theyre animals.. so im guessing the 7.5 wouldnt be that bad.. especially with the all wheel drive. but thats why i was on here in the first place.
 
#21 ·
I ran the Pirelli PZero Nero M&S last winter and will be putting them on in a week or so. I thought they were great tires. I've never run a true winter tire though. In Maryland we don't get too much snow. In the white stuff I was able to pass Jeeps, pickups, and a variety of SUVs as they were stuck in the show.

Contact Luke at Tire Rack, he was very helpful when I was choosing a tire set up for my car.
 
#22 ·
fourseasonsandles said:
Theyre rated well on Tirerack.com 7.5 out of 10 for snow. my Bridgestone Duelers (all terrain) on the blazer are rated 9 out of 10.. theyre animals.. so im guessing the 7.5 wouldnt be that bad.. especially with the all wheel drive. but thats why i was on here in the first place.
I haven't looked at truck tires vs car tires, but can you compare their ratings like that? To me they are apples to oranges.
 
#24 ·
A rating is a rating when compared to tires in the same class.

For example a summer street tire can have a 9 rating for dry traction and so can a non street legal R compound track tire.

This does NOT mean the street tire has anywhere NEAR the same grip as the track tire.
 
#25 · (Edited)
aspensti05 said:
A rating is a rating when compared to tires in the same class.

For example a summer street tire can have a 9 rating for dry traction and so can a non street legal R compound track tire.

This does NOT mean the street tire has anywhere NEAR the same grip as the track tire.

Ah alright, i understand.. good to have you guys around.
 
#26 ·
Regardless of what they're rated on tirerack, I can tell you they are adequate in the snow, while giving up minimal wet/dry traction to the excellent 070 bridgestones.

But they don't even get close to what a real open tread, soft compounded snow tire can do.

They will get you home safe. If you want to go out "playing" after a 10 inch snowfall, they're not the tire for you.

Don
 
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