Review on Bridgestone Blizzak VRX 195/55 R16 87S winter by Mateusz Morawski ᠌

Kia Cee'd car, tire size 205/55/R16, driving experience over 10 years, no previous experience with friction tires. First, general impressions: driving is comfortable, there is no constant noise from the spikes, fuel consumption is lower than when driving on spikes (slightly, but still). Departure all winter in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong region. I think the biggest advantage is that the behavior of these tires is absolutely predictable, if you don’t try to drive them in winter, like in summer on dry asphalt, then there will be no surprises. Worst of all, the tires showed themselves when driving on loose snow during a snowfall (which directly follows from the design of friction tires), the spikes are still better. Thin ice crust on the road, rolled snow tires force absolutely normal. Taking into account the winter that was in Hong Kong (constantly changing thaws and frosts, then winter, then spring that suddenly came in December), the tires were just right. I advise everyone who is going to buy them to take into account that they must be run in for about 1000 km. on dry asphalt (i. E. you need to change tires in advance, and not so that tomorrow is winter and today the wheels are changing). Now for the cons. Tires are exclusively urban, and for big cities where the streets are regularly cleaned. If trips are planned along the highway (even within the Hong Kong region), then I definitely do not recommend them. I encountered the greatest difficulties when driving through icy and snow-covered yards. If you accidentally get into a deep hole in ice with gentle edges at low speed, then it is already impossible to get out of it on your own, the tires simply have nothing to cling to the edges of the hole. Next winter I will buy studded tires for myself, because it is not a fact that next winter will be the same as this one, and I will have to travel between cities. Summarizing everything, I can say that the tires are good, but not for 2022 roads and 2022 winters (as, in general, all friction tires), studded tires, despite all their shortcomings, proved to be an order of magnitude more versatile and reliable.