My previous "religion" was Michelin, but after two brand new tires failed inside a single season, I made the decision to switch to a different brand. Because I drive so cautiously, there is no way that you can accuse me of being an aggressive driver. The men in the military have been pressuring me to switch to bridges for a long time, and just yesterday I gave in to their pressure and put Spike 02 SUV in my vehicle. The first thing that jumped out at me was how much denser the tire is, as well as how much larger and less protruding the spikes are. According to what I've been told, the function of the side seal is to support the weight of the machine. Already this morning I had the opportunity to ride on fresh ice; the tires performed admirably, and it felt just like I was driving on asphalt. To this point, I couldn't be happier with my decision!