BLIZZAK DM-V2 or DEFENDER LTX M/S

[Timothy Sargent]

I have 2018 Yukon Denali and considering between Bridgestone BLIZZAK DM-V2 or Michelin DEFENDER LTX M/S both for size P285/45 R22.

Anyone have experience / recommendations?

Planning to put them on the ultimate package wheels... https://www.oewheelsllc.com/CV44-22090-hyper-black-machined-rim-set-fits-GMC-Denali

 

[cheyenne383]

Where do you live? How much snow/ice are you dealing with? Are they winter only or year round use?

I've run Blizzaks on my old Subaru and they did great in the snow and ice up here in Alaska... Michelin LTX are an M/S rated tire with sipes so they'll do well in moderate conditions. Blizzaks will last 20k mikes if you're lucky with their soft tread compound and the Michelins have a 70k mike warranty.

 

[Danny3737]

The Blizzaks are primarily a winter tire and stick like glue in the snow, but wear very quickly during the summer on dry pavement. The Defenders are ( in my opinion) the best all season tire made.

 

[Timothy Sargent]

In Chicago... I'd be using them as a second set of wheels from NOV - APR... I'm leaning towards the blizzak's but it seems like Ive heard a lot of good things about the Michelins but not too many comments on here about Blizzaks

 

[cheyenne383]

In Chicago... I'd be using them as a second set of wheels from NOV - APR... I'm leaning towards the blizzak's but it seems like Ive heard a lot of good things about the Michelins but not too many comments on here about Blizzaks

To me the Blizzaks are overkill, if you really like having a winter set and don't mind swapping them out they'll do great but I would question if you really need them. They will be noticeably better in snow and ice than the Michelins but you really will only get 20k miles out of them or so.

I run BFG All Terrains on my truck year round up here with 6-7 months of snow cover and really don't have too many worries, I don't have to deal with traffic so I could see some justification in dodging idiots... I just have to try and miss the occasional moose.

 

[Danny3737]

In Chicago... I'd be using them as a second set of wheels from NOV - APR... I'm leaning towards the blizzak's but it seems like Ive heard a lot of good things about the Michelins but not too many comments on here about Blizzaks

I’ve run Blizzaks on 2 different vehicles and they take all the fun out of driving in the snow. As far as the Defenders go, they are quiet, smooth, and I’ve never been stuck in the snow with them. They also wear better than any other tire I’ve ever used

 

[Agent WD-40]

I personally used Blizzaks on my Denali in the Michigan winter. They were absolutely fantastic and practically unstoppable with the AWD system.

I had run both LTX M/S (not the newest defender version) and BFG A/T on a different truck prior to Yukon. The LTX were ok in snow but got pretty bad as they wore down (still had decent tread depth but rubber got harder as they wore down). The BFG A/T that came after that were fantastic in snow. Personally I would pick the BFG for winter - they have the "mountian snowflake" symbol and the LTX don't.

Blizzaks were another step up from BFG though. Especially in the more slippery stuff and icy roads. If you are going to swap tires might as well do winter specific ones. If not, get the BFG.

 

[CMORGAN]

I personally used Blizzaks on my Denali in the Michigan winter. They were absolutely fantastic and practically unstoppable with the AWD system.

I had run both LTX M/S (not the newest defender version) and BFG A/T on a different truck prior to Yukon. The LTX were ok in snow but got pretty bad as they wore down (still had decent tread depth but rubber got harder as they wore down). The BFG A/T that came after that were fantastic in snow. Personally I would pick the BFG for winter - they have the "mountian snowflake" symbol and the LTX don't.

Blizzaks were another step up from BFG though. Especially in the more slippery stuff and icy roads. If you are going to swap tires might as well do winter specific ones. If not, get the BFG.

I totally agree blizzaks are unstoppable and the LTX after the first 2 seasons would not grip snow, ice or even spit on the road they got so squirmy on even wet roads they were unsafe.

 

[Garandman]

In Chicago... I'd be using them as a second set of wheels from NOV - APR... I'm leaning towards the blizzak's but it seems like Ive heard a lot of good things about the Michelins but not too many comments on here about Blizzaks

Nokian’s aren’t available?

We have the R2 SUV but the R3 is now available. We used to buy various brands but the Nokians outperformed and outlasted all of them.


https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-tires/nokian-hakkapeliitta-r3-suv/

Rotiiva is their truck all weather.

https://www.nokiantires.com/all-weather-tires/nokian-rotiiva-at-plus/

But they are not available in 22”, only 20-21. We minus-size winter tires and the R2’s are on 18” Z71 rims. Summer tires are the 20” polished.

 

[MidwestMike]

I'm right outside of Chicago and the only reason I got my last two Tahoes were to pull snowmobile trailers. 90% of the use is for towing in the snow.

You can't beat Blizzaks for snow, but I think that 20k wear is a stretch. I believe the manufacturer even states it is a different compound at 12k of wear. Even though I hardly drive in the non-snow season, it still doesn't make sense to run these in the summer, and I did not want to store and swap tires. I went KO2s as a compromise and am happy with the snow performance.

But my question is,
"Where do you live, and how much snow do you really drive in?" I know people that have given up on 4WD/AWD as a necessity for winter anymore. We don't get too much snow, and hardly any the last 3 years. And after Bilandic lost the election due to snow clearing, most streets are clear before you get up and bone dry by noon.