Well I'm looking for some winter tires for my mom. She doesn't want to mail order anything so we're stuck with going to local places. She does a lot of driving; not aggressive at all, (she has a Forrester) but she goes up skiing and on unplowed roads about as often as she does on those that are regularly plowed paved. Normal Montana driving I suppose.

She's found these four that she's ddciding between:
Kelly Magnagrips for $90 per tire
Michelin X-ice $99/tire
Cooper Weathermasters for $97/tire
Blizzak wm50 $136/tire

Anybody have any info/experience with them. I know wm50's are supposedly very good on dry pavement and snow but I know nothing about the other three. The wm50's are also noticably more expensive.

I've brought up Dunlop Wintersport M2/M3, Nokians, (which i was fortunate to find for myself two months ago ) Contiextremes, Pirelli and Blizzak LM22 but again, she doesn't want to mail order; arguing that you pay a lot for shipping and then extra to have the tires mounted on the wheels. Which is a valid point, plus I think she can get a free alignment with the local tire/mounting package.

Anyway, any input would be great.
Thanks a lot.
Chris

 

did you check the ratings on tire rack?

 

I didn't. She has though. I'm taking it for granted that they're all in the same general speed rating. I'll do it tomorrow morning.

 

I didn't mean speed rating, Tire Rack rates most of their tires in several different categories (ratings 1 - 10) and tells you how they compare to other tires, it's actually a really nice feature.

 

ok i just checked all that and only the wm50 are rated and of course they're all good reviews. i'll just tell her to go with them. they're more expensive but the better tire in the long run.

 

Not sure if you have a Costco out there, but they sell winter tires. I know they carry the LM22's.