Given
75%
while driving a
BMW M3
(225/45 R17)
on
mostly motorways
for 5,000
spirited miles
These tires have been quite satisfactory, especially considering the price. They are quiet, comfortable, and actually handle well on dry pavement without feeling too squidgy.
My vehicle is RWD, but I haven’t had any issues in 3-4” snow. Deeper snow poses a slight challenge, and I haven’t tried them on straight up ice. Up hill starts a standstill are perfectly doable with careful use of the throttle and clutch.
Dry grip and handling is actually very impressive for a winter tire. I chose these partially because I didn’t want to lose 100% of my car’s sporting nature during winter, and they haven’t let me down. Wet grip is very good as well, in my experience. I don’t push my car to the limits in cold and wet conditions, so this may not match the experiences of professional tire testing organizations.
Noise level and comfort are very good, with only a very slight hum on warmer days. They absorb and dissipate bumps and impacts well.
Wear is difficult for me to comment on. I’ve only used them for maybe 5,000 miles of daily/spirited driving, and so far the tires have worn noticeably but not excessively. Most drivers probably won’t be using these in a spirited manner on dry pavement, so I don’t foresee any wear issues after many miles of relaxed daily driving.
The price is very good, and mostly makes up for any shortcomings this tire has, seeing as I don’t drive this vehicle much during winters, and rarely use it on snow covered roads. These are good tires for someone who lives in an area that gets occasional snow, doesn’t want to lose the sporty feel of their car, and doesn’t want to spend $800 on a set of winter tires.
TL;DR- They are much, much better in the snow than any all-season tires, somewhat sporty (for winter tires), won’t break the bank, and aren’t annoying in any way.
