From past experience using Toyo / Kumho / Hankook/Yokohama they pretty much perform the same in my view. New for autumn 2019, the WS 90 is the seventh generation of the Blizzak concept and ranked provisionally this year. Comparison of the best winter tire from different brand for the year 2020-2021. Bridgestone set the pace with the Blizzak early in the 90s, and the WS 80 is the sixth generation. I found the collection of winter technology interesting, not to mention that owners were talking about it in glowing terms I usually only hear from owners of top-tier winter tires like Nokian, Michelin or Bridgestone. Micro-Bit Technology: Crushed black walnut shells are distributed throughout the silica-enhanced rubber compound, providing a bit of grit in the rubber to increase ice grip. The magazine of the USA non-profit organization Consumers Union tested tires of two categories suitable to be used in the wintertime.In Canada and the USA, all-season tires are very popular but the drivers that live in the regions with a relatively cold climate, concerned about their safety, often install special winter tires on their vehicles. Snow Claw Technology: As with the Xi3 and Hakka R2, this technology puts small extrusions at the bottom of the grooves for traction in deep snow and to stiffen the tread blocks. While Toyo is not usually considered among the elite of winter tire makers, the Observe GSi-5 shows some clear signs of wanting to step into that group. The tires also lack some progressive grip under lateral forces – when they break loose it is immediate and without much warning, and they recover slowly. Search by tire size and compare your favorites. TOYO OBSERVE® Bring on the winter because these specialty tires are engineered to excel in snow and ice. We were on the highway and moving at a decent clip when we came over a small rise and saw brake lights flash in front of us. As for any tire concerning grip on ice (with no studs) is all about the tread design and compound. Optimized stud hole placement delivers better traction and a quieter ride with fewer studs. Here's a recap midway through the cold season. To see if the Observe G3-Ice is right for your vehicle use our tire finder. Significant performance improvements over its predecessor have been achieved using the … They did float a bit... its the softer compound and tread depth. The Toyo Observe G3-ICE winter tire is designed for tough winter driving conditions combining excellent winter performance with driving comfort. While the GSi-5 does have lateral grip, there's just not quite enough of it. The Toyo Observe GSi-5 is an excellent winter tire, and with only a slight improvement in the lateral grip, I would have no problem in classing it with the top tier of winter tires, among such giants as the Hakka R2, the X-Ice Xi3, and the Blizzak WS80. So far the reports have been good, placing them on par with competitor Nokian WR G3. Designed for tough winter conditions, the Observe G3-Ice combines excellent performance with driving comfort. Instead, the tires gripped like glue and brought us to a jolting halt well short of an accident without even engaging the ABS. Designed for tough winter conditions, the Observe G3-Ice combines excellent performance with driving comfort. Optimized stud hole placement delivers better traction and a quieter ride with fewer studs. Some vehicle fitments for the Observe G3-Ice include the following makes and models. I wouldn’t consider the Coopers’ price advantage to be sufficient to overlook its shortcomings. The Blizzak range of tires from Bridgestone has enjoyed a sterling reputation for many years. See the, "Toyo Tires" is a registered trademark of. Whether in deep snow, light snow, ice, slush, wet or dry, the acceleration and braking grip is among the best I've ever encountered in a winter tire. They're quite a lot of fun to drive in any weather. There is little to no tread squirm, and I found them extremely quiet even after being well broken-in. In our tests, the GSi5 was always ahead of the G3-ICE… Michelin provided 4 vehicles with tires shaved down to 4/32nd tread depth to show how used tires of each brand handled. Improved braking on ice and better dry road performance. I am extremely impressed. By using LiveAbout, you accept our, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 Studded Tire Review. It seems to me that the Spider Sipe and Swing Sipe technology are not working as well as Toyo had hoped. Spider Sipe: An interesting collection of hexagonal, vertical and horizontal sipes on the inner ribs purports to increase grip in all directions. Compared to the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 the Blizzak has a deeper tread and better traction in slush. In the meantime, I've had plenty of time and more opportunity than I could have imagined being extremely impressed by Toyo's Observe GSi-5. Improves traction on ice and compact snow during cornering, braking and acceleration. Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. reserves the right to change construction, materials or specifications without notice or obligation. Six blizzards and what seems like 80 feet of snow later, Snowpocalypse 2015 seems to have finally passed on, and some optimists are beginning to think that we may have something called “Spring” in the next few months. Bridgestone set the pace with the Blizzak early in the 90s, and the WS 80 is the sixth generation. I started the season off by mounting this year’s test tires – Toyo’s Observe G3 Ice studdable winter tire – on my 2007 VW GTI in early November as planned. That was back in August, and the tires sat for a while in my basement while I waited for some snow. So Toyo Observe GSi-5 215/65-16 98T tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, as seen on the chart below. The Celsius and WR G3 have 60,000 and 55,000 treadwear mileage warranties, respectively. Find the best-rated winter tires and read reviews to determine which winter tires are best for your vehicle. The Goodyear and Toyo slotted somewhere in the middle. Studs vs. no studs. First Edge Technology: Shallow square-patterned sipes designed to enhance multi-directional grip just in the first few hundred miles as the tire is “breaking in” but not deep enough to cause tread squirm and odd wear. It was well after dark and there was already a good inch collected on the roads and more falling fast. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 (6.7) ... Toyo Observe G3-Ice (8.2) Federal Himalaya SUV (7.7) Hercules Avalanche RT (6.9) Sumitomo Ice Edge (6.5) Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT (6.1) Touring All-Season Tires. Nothing gives better grip – as long as there's ice to cut into. Improves road contact and traction with fewer studs. The Multicell compound remains flexible in below-freezing conditions, wicks water off packed snow and ice while the bite particles deliver more grip and improve braking on glare ice. So when I communicated my interest to Toyo, they were kind enough to send me a set for a full-up, long-term review.