[Mastodon]

Hey everyone!

I'm considering getting a set of snow tires for the winter. i'm in Northwest Ohio and we get a mixed bag of winter conditions. I'm thinking of switching back to my stock suspension and stock rims (18") for winter, and relowering (Eibach sport plus) and going back to my 19" rims in the spring.

Has anyone used Blizzak WS80s on their mustang? If anyone has a preferred winter tire, please let me know!

 

[JerryZ]

I have been using Michelin X-Ice on my Toyota Echo DD. They are the best winters I have ever used and tread life is super good. I'm sure the Blizzaks are very good as well. You may already know; narrower is better with plenty of fender clearance.

 

[scottydsntknow]

Have a garage for the stang? Consider a winter beater? You can get a 5 speed Honda with 200k on it for like $1500 that'll get your through multiple winters.

 

[Mastodon]

Have a garage for the stang? Consider a winter beater? You can get a 5 speed Honda with 200k on it for like $1500 that'll get your through multiple winters.

Sadly, I do not have a garage.

I also have a 2005 Jaguar X-Type (3.0L AWD 5-spd manual) for the winter but it is constantly needing attention. If the opportunity to sell it comes up, I likely will. If I do, then I'll just take the mustang through this winter, too. It's already been my daily for two winters (without winter tires :doh and I might end up replacing the Jaguar with a challenger (not sure I can live with the idea of an AWD CHallenger GT since they only come with the V6...) or just getting the one I want (392 TA). Whatever I do, the mustang stays! I'm at 118,000 miles with it and it's got some wear on it already so I'm not worried about keeping it pristine, though I do try to take care of it and keep it clean!

 

[kipschitz]

Winter tires

I purchased Blizzaks for my 2004 GT several years ago (now have a 2012 Mustang). Anyway, the Blizzaks are phenominal! I had fun "dragging" front wheel drives in the snow. My car was helpless without them.

 

[TomcatSTL]

Michelin x-Ice 3’s are amazing.

 

[dmw_4814]

I'm assuming your stock tires on your '13 GT are Z speed-rated? If so, I wouldn't put any snow tires on it that don't at least have an H speed-rating (not entirely sure you can get snow tires that are speed-rated HIGHER than H, for that matter), and I'm not sure the Blizzaks are H speed-rated. When I search Tire Rack's site for snow tires for a 2013 Mustang GT with 18" tires, it returns only one result - Michelin X-Ice X13, which I'm sure are EXCELLENT snow tires. Any snow tires also made by Continental; Pirelli; Goodyear or Dunlop (have personal experience w/Dunlop snow tires) that are available in your size with an H speed-rating would also, I'm sure, work well for you.


I used to own a 1988 Mustang LX with a 302 V-8/automatic, and it had those Goodyear "Gatorback" tires on it. It was virtually undriveable in snow (I also live in OH; near Cleveland), and downright dangerous. I bought Dunlop snow tires for it (don't remember which ones; they might've been called M2), and they COMPLETELY transformed the car's driveability in snow - it went from the WORST car I ever drove in snow, to the BEST!

 

[JimC]

For winter driving it isn't likely someone 'needs' H speed rated tires. It's not like they are going to drive 130 mph in the snow.

I have a set of Blizzaks mounted on 2011 Mustang wheels that I picked up for my2013 Mustang. Last used them on my SHO and drove back and forth from Michigan to North Carolina with them. Definitely a difference in snow and ice from the all season tires. (they are available if someone wants to buy the set of tires mounted to wheels - not going to need them in North Carolina now that I live there full time and they won't fit the 2017 Mustang anyway)

 

[dmw_4814]

For winter driving it isn't likely someone 'needs' H speed rated tires. It's not like they are going to drive 130 mph in the snow.

I have a set of Blizzaks mounted on 2011 Mustang wheels that I picked up for my2013 Mustang. Last used them on my SHO and drove back and forth from Michigan to North Carolina with them. Definitely a difference in snow and ice from the all season tires. (they are available if someone wants to buy the set of tires mounted to wheels - not going to need them in North Carolina now that I live there full time and they won't fit the 2017 Mustang anyway)

I never said he "needed" H-rated (or, higher) tires, but even here in Ohio, there's not snow on the ground from, say, Nov 1st all the way through, say, Apr 1st. There's plenty of time spent driving on clear, dry roads, so why would you want to go from a Z-rated tire to, say, an S or T-rated tire? Besides, a tires speed rating ISN'T simply about how fast the tire can go; it's also about how a tire handles, too (sidewall stiffness; tread compounds, even the whole way a tire is constructed - they all contribute to a tire earning a certain speed rating).


To each his own - if you're happy running S or T-rated tires on your Mustang or Taurus SHO that was factory equipped with Z-rated tires, then more power to ya'! Not for me, though (and, I know of tire shops in this area that, for liability reasons, would flat out refuse to install S or T-rated tires on a car factory equipped with Z-rated tires).

 

[stanggtcs]

I would never consider driving a performance car with rear wheel drive in the snow, regardless of the tires.

 

[dmw_4814]

I would never consider driving a performance car with rear wheel drive in the snow, regardless of the tires.

Well, I can see you've never driven a performance car with rear wheel drive in the snow, with snow tires!

Sent from my Phone 2 using Mustang Evolution mobile app

 

[dgc333]

I would never consider driving a performance car with rear wheel drive in the snow, regardless of the tires.

A rear wheel drive vehicle with proper winter tires is much better than front wheel drive on all seasons and is even better than all wheel drive on worn all seasons.

Here are my Mustang winters.

Dave

 

[crjackson2134]

One Word...

Blizzaks

 

[dmw_4814]

One Word...

Blizzaks

LOL! I'm sure Blizzaks are great tires, but they're not the best. Michelin high-performance snow tires would (in my opinion) be better for Mustangs, as would Dunlop snow tires (which, I can personally vouch for). Pirelli & Continental also make great high-performance snow tires.

Again; nothing wrong with Blizzaks. Just think those other, higher-performance type (and, of course, costlier) snow tires would be a better option for a Mustang, especially a GT/V-8 model.

Sent from my Phone 2 using Mustang Evolution mobile app

 

[dgc333]

If you want the absolute best in snow traction you can't beat Firestone Winter Force. Down side is they are noisy as hell and dry road handling is mushy.

I use them on my 4x4 pickup and the wifes car

Dave

 

[ab_mach1]

Have a garage for the stang? Consider a winter beater? You can get a 5 speed Honda with 200k on it for like $1500 that'll get your through multiple winters.

I have to agree. I tried swapping in a set of Bullitt wheels with all season tires on my Mustang when I first bought it. It was a pain because you had to store them during the warmer months and store the nice wheels during the colder months. Seemed like I'd have one tire every year that had some type of issue due to sitting around unused and have to get the wheel re-balanced every time I swapped. It'd be a super PITA if I had to swap springs along with it LOL. I ended up just getting a beater and letting the Mustang hibernate during the crappy weather months. If it didn't snow and they didn't throw salt on the roads, I'd get the Mustang out on weekends. This routine was much more enjoyable to me.

 

[Mastodon]

I appreciate all of your feedback! If I end up driving it through another winter, I will let you all know what I got and how well they worked!

 

[DudeStang]

I would never consider driving a performance car with rear wheel drive in the snow, regardless of the tires.

Meh....I drove an LS1 Fbody in the snow multiple times in Colorado for years. I've driven my Mustang plenty of times in the winter too. :

OP, just get some decent all-season tires and you'll be fine. I can't imagine it snows every day in the winter there.