Topic: Blizzack DM-V1 or General Arctic Altimax

[Snowman]

2011 CR tests on SUV/truck winter tires:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/consumer-reports-rates-truck-suv-winter-tires-1088780/

Dave

Thanks.  I've pulled the trigger on the DM-V1s.  ktm525 and I will have a full report in about 3 months.  ;0

Congrats, that makes two of us 

[HeliDriver]

2011 CR tests on SUV/truck winter tires:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/consumer-reports-rates-truck-suv-winter-tires-1088780/

Dave

Thanks.  I've pulled the trigger on the DM-V1s.  ktm525 and I will have a full report in about 3 months.  ;0

Congrats, that makes two of us 

Or three... or maybe it's four or five (I think sailor723 also ordered a set).

I don't think you guys will be disappointed. I put a set on our Suburban last winter and they are fantastic!

[sailor723]

2011 CR tests on SUV/truck winter tires:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/consumer-reports-rates-truck-suv-winter-tires-1088780/

Dave

Thanks.  I've pulled the trigger on the DM-V1s.  ktm525 and I will have a full report in about 3 months.  ;0

Congrats, that makes two of us 

Or three... or maybe it's four or five (I think sailor723 also ordered a set).

I don't think you guys will be disappointed. I put a set on our Suburban last winter and they are fantastic!

Yep....I have a set sitting at the depot in Calais...going down to get them this week

[Angry Chicken]

The new Canadian Tire online store has General Altimax Arctic tires sale priced at 25-percent off.

http://goo.gl/LYBe3

In the Ridges winter size 245/65-17 they were $150 which is an excellent price. Next cheapest I have found was $168.

Moot point now though. I pulled the trigger on some Blizzack DM-V1's from Costco.

I just ordered some Blizzak DM-V1s from 1010tires on Replica S-Line rims for the Q5.  Size 235/65-R17.  Something missing from the discussion is that the DM-V1s are purpose made for SUVs and other light trucks whereas the Generals aren't.  My particular size has a higher load rating (108 vs. 104) than the same size Blizzak WS-70 and are also classified "XL" for extra load.  I had decided to pull the trigger on the WS-70s since my first choice, Continental ExtremeWinterContacts were backordered into December.  Nathan at 1010tires pointed out the difference in load rating and recommended the DM-V1s as a result.

I expect that they will be a good tire and as long as they last 4 seasons I'm perfectly happy.  Winter tires are basically useless past 5/32 anyway and they start off with 13/32 tread depth in my size.  By the way, Bridgestone says in their brochure that after 55% wear the tread compound reverts to a *winter* compound and not all-season.  This equates to 6/32.

My biggest concern right now is that I haven't found a lot of online testing for these tires. 

Funny, I will have Japanese tires for the German car and German tires for the Japanese car this year.   

Not much to report about the Blizzak DM-V1s except to say that they are:

a) quieter than I expected and;
b) a lot nicer handling than I expected.

We have had some cold weather and a couple of dustings of snow and that's about it.  The Blizzaks (-1 size 235/65-17 vs. OE 235/60-18) are comfortable, quiet and lack the sidewall squirm that I am used to in a winter tire, particularly one with a somewhat taller sidewall than stock.

Strangely, the Continental ExtremeWinterContacts that I purchased for my Mazda3 in an OE 205/50-17 size, also Extra Load (XL) seem plenty squirmy given their low profile 50 series specification.  My Hakkapeliitta RSis were not that squirmy.  I will add 4 psi per corner and see if that settles things down.

[ktm525]

I have now run the DM-V1's through some nasty storms in the Rockies as well as some packed snow/ice conditions in Calgary. These are the best tires I have run in tough conditions. I can mash the brakes on packed snow and rarely get any ABS intervention. They slip a little more laterally, but not much. Quiet in the dry although they do sing on concrete surfaces.

[Angry Chicken]

I have now run the DM-V1's through some nasty storms in the Rockies as well as some packed snow/ice conditions in Calgary. These are the best tires I have run in tough conditions. I can mash the brakes on packed snow and rarely get any ABS intervention. They slip a little more laterally, but not much. Quiet in the dry although they do sing on concrete surfaces.

Good to hear!  I'm looking forward to getting these things into some slightly challenging conditions so I can measure the value of Quattro AWD and the Blizzaks together.

[sailor723]

We had a pretty good storm here a couple of weeks ago with extremely slippery conditions. I'm very impressed with the Blizzaks. Although I'm not 100% how much it was that the V1's are an improvement over the DM-Z3's on the SRX or if the ML just handles better in the snow than the Cadillac. Either way....little ABS or ESC activation and overall secure handling.