Winter Tire Treadwear?

dmppdx · 11-26-2011, 03:15 PM

I understand that most, if not all winter tires use a tread compound specifically manufactured for snow performance and include silica in the material. For some tires, I believe this is just a first 40-50% or so of the tires material so when that part of the tread is worn through, its not that much more effective than an all season tire. Is this true for all tires that contain silica or are there some tires where the silica material is the same through the entire tread? I'm just wondering when looking at new snow tires and which would hold up best since and M3 wears out tires quickly.

Also, I'm currently considering between the Blizzak LM60, the Pirelli Sottozero, and the Dunlop 3D, does anyone know how they rank in regards to wear and if any of them last longer than the others?

I'm in the PNW where we don't get a lot of snow, but when we do its fairly icy, so I'm more concerned with ice traction and less opposed to deep snow traction and wondering which would last longer for providing ice traction. Its also relatively warn around here, so they may impact or accelerate tread wear also for certain tries, but I don't know the specifics for the tires I'm looking at.

Any insight on this would be appreciated.

gthal · 11-26-2011, 09:13 PM

Performance winters do NOT have the ice compound in the first 50% of tread. The have a regular winter compound which is still much better than an all season compound. Tires like the ws-60 have the dual compound. Most, if not all, winter tires have a silica compound but true ice tires (ws-60, x-ice) have other things in their compound as well. Performance winters do not to support the higher speed rating.

None of the tires you noted will have particularly great ice traction. The LM-60 likely being the best. The issue is good ice traction means poor treadwear due to soft compound. I would rate them in terms of ice/snow traction (best to worst) as LM-60, Dunlop, Pirelli. They would likely be the exact opposite for dry weather traction. My bet is that the LM-60 would wear the fastest given they are likely the softest.

If you really want good ice traction, go with an 18" true ice tire. If you want a balance of ice/dry/snow performance... especially in the PNW... I would bet the Dunlop's would be hard to beat.

BMW&me · 11-27-2011, 09:24 PM

I prefer the Dunlop 3Ds for all around excellent Winter performance and wear.

11-26-2011, 03:15 PM	#1
dmppdx Private Drives: n/a Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: PNW Posts: 79 iTrader: (0)	Winter Tire Treadwear? I understand that most, if not all winter tires use a tread compound specifically manufactured for snow performance and include silica in the material. For some tires, I believe this is just a first 40-50% or so of the tires material so when that part of the tread is worn through, its not that much more effective than an all season tire. Is this true for all tires that contain silica or are there some tires where the silica material is the same through the entire tread? I'm just wondering when looking at new snow tires and which would hold up best since and M3 wears out tires quickly. Also, I'm currently considering between the Blizzak LM60, the Pirelli Sottozero, and the Dunlop 3D, does anyone know how they rank in regards to wear and if any of them last longer than the others? I'm in the PNW where we don't get a lot of snow, but when we do its fairly icy, so I'm more concerned with ice traction and less opposed to deep snow traction and wondering which would last longer for providing ice traction. Its also relatively warn around here, so they may impact or accelerate tread wear also for certain tries, but I don't know the specifics for the tires I'm looking at. Any insight on this would be appreciated.
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11-26-2011, 09:13 PM	#2
gthal Colonel Drives: C63 coupe Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 2,051 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 M3 [3.37]	Performance winters do NOT have the ice compound in the first 50% of tread. The have a regular winter compound which is still much better than an all season compound. Tires like the ws-60 have the dual compound. Most, if not all, winter tires have a silica compound but true ice tires (ws-60, x-ice) have other things in their compound as well. Performance winters do not to support the higher speed rating. None of the tires you noted will have particularly great ice traction. The LM-60 likely being the best. The issue is good ice traction means poor treadwear due to soft compound. I would rate them in terms of ice/snow traction (best to worst) as LM-60, Dunlop, Pirelli. They would likely be the exact opposite for dry weather traction. My bet is that the LM-60 would wear the fastest given they are likely the softest. If you really want good ice traction, go with an 18" true ice tire. If you want a balance of ice/dry/snow performance... especially in the PNW... I would bet the Dunlop's would be hard to beat. __________________ 2012 C63 coupe \| Obsidian Black \| Performance Package (481hp, 443ft/lbs) 1996 E36 M3 coupe \| Estoril blue \| Dedicated track car... heavily modded 2011 M3 coupe \| Jerez Black \| ZCP/DCT \| Sold but never forgotten nor will the love affair end 2010 M3 coupe \| Alpine White \| 6MT \| Sold

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11-27-2011, 09:24 PM	#3
BMW&me New Member Drives: 325i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: The Welt Posts: 17 iTrader: (0)	I prefer the Dunlop 3Ds for all around excellent Winter performance and wear.