Alaskan Malamutes have paws specially adapted for running in the snow. You, on the other hand, have a credit card. Use it to purchase a pair of IRC Blizzards, world class winter tires with 112 hardened studs that’ll leave you as well adapted to winter as your average sled dog. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Click on the image to the left for an enlarged photo showing tread detail and related product specifications.
Submitted by
Dan GlowBoy
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland OR Date Reviewed: January 31, 2003
Favorite Trail:
anywhere in SE Oregon
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$30.00
Purchased At:
PerformanceBike store
Strengths:
Pretty good on roots, rocks ... um, as long as it isn't snowy or icy.
Weaknesses:
TERRIBLE in the snow!
Similar Products Used:
Nokian Hakkapelliitta, regular "extreme" knobbies including Conti Survival ProTection 2.3 and Hutchinson Alligator 2.0
Bike Setup:
10 year old Fuji Sundance, now converted to singlespeed.
Bottom Line:
I had the old 56 stud version, not the newer 112 stud version, but my comments have to do with performance in snow, not ice, so they are still applicable. They seem to work well in the dirt, and don't slip much on wet rocks and roots - and the studs make cool crunching sounds on rocks!
But this tire is truly AWFUL in the snow! In slushy snow OR on hardpacked snow - doesn't matter - it wanders around and is very hard to control. Conventional mud-oriented knobbies (Alligators, Survivals) work much better in the snow. The Blizzards' problem seems to be in the offset-square-block tread pattern, when as we all know the best patterns for mud and snow usually involve with wider, more paddle-like lugs.
Really, what good is a studded tire that doesn't do well in the snow? I give these the lowest rating possible. Spend a couple bucks more and get the Nokians.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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