Our 2022 Kia EV6 AWD GT-Line long-term tester is zipping by means of winter with little fuss, and a few of its success comes all the way down to the rubber fitted to its 20-inch wheels. We acquired a set of Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 tires for the chilly months right here in Michigan, and the outcomes have been what you’d anticipate and extra from a Blizzak tire.
The precise mannequin of Blizzak winter tire we’re testing, the LM005, isn’t what you’d usually discover fitted to a household crossover/SUV/regardless of the EV6 is. Bridgestone says the LM005 is a “efficiency” winter tire designed for efficiency automobiles to make sure the automobile maintains dealing with and mobility on dry roads and offers the grip in snow we all know and love from the extra conventional Blizzak strains.
How does the LM005 present that dry efficiency increase? The reply includes a bunch of nerd stuff, should you’ll indulge us. Its rubber compound is made with a novel high-silica materials, and it’s molded right into a directional sample with each 2D and 3D sipes — Bridgestone says this design improves dry grip and braking traction. The inner construction additionally incorporates a particular nylon reinforcement for enhanced steering response and high-speed functionality. That is the mannequin of Blizzak that Bridgestone recommends to drivers with high-performance automobiles who drive on the autobahn within the winter. Not like many winter tires with low top-speed rankings, the LM005 is V-rated for as much as 149 mph. For comparability functions, the venerable Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 is simply R-rated for about 105 mph.
What all of this finally means in real-world functions is that the Blizzak LM005 hardly seems like a winter tire if you’re driving on dry pavement. The squishiness, instability and basic softness from the tread you might be accustomed to with a non-performance winter tire is solely not current within the LM005. Driving the EV6 GT-Line round with these tires fitted does little to uninteresting the sharpness of its steering or scale back its road-holding potential versus the usual all-season tires. You’ll be able to carry a shocking quantity of pace by means of sweepers and freeway cloverleaves earlier than the rubber begins to cry uncle. Plus, when you get to its talkative restrict, the tire is pleasant and predictable.
When driving alongside with out efficiency in thoughts, the Blizzak LM005 tracks straight and comfortably. Steering really feel stays tight and reactive, and there’s no unsteadiness at freeway speeds.
Our EV6 comes with Continental low-rolling resistance all-season tires from the manufacturing unit. Of specific be aware right here, although, is the layer of vibration-dampening polyurethane foam within the inside floor of the tire that reduces tire noise within the cabin. This Blizzak doesn’t have comparable tech, and pushed again–to-back, extra tire noise is noticeable within the cabin. That stated, the additional sound is minimal and effectively inside our expectation for a winter tire.
However how concerning the EV6’s snow efficiency with these tires? With all-wheel drive and highly effective electrical motors, getting going is easy and enjoyable. Stability management will attempt to rein within the acceleration, however the extra highly effective rear motor nonetheless offers the EV6 a rear-drive bias to the all-wheel drive system. Pop it into “Sport” mode, and you’ll positively rocket off the road on snow-covered pavement. Doing donuts in a automobile with a great-sounding engine is nice enjoyable as you get to work by means of the entire rev vary and actually spin the tires up, however don’t low cost the leisure that comes from always-on torque within the snow, too.
Turning and braking are dealt with with out a lot stress, however you’ll positively really feel the EV6’s weight within the snow. These tires will dig in and take you to the place you level the automobile, however the 4,661-pound mass of the EV6 can’t be ignored. Utilizing the regenerative braking within the snow didn’t result in any form of humorous enterprise both, because the tires by no means struggled to offer sufficient traction for it to decelerate controllably and safely.
If you happen to’re catching on to a theme right here, there are only a few dangerous issues to say about how these Blizzaks carried out on the EV6 — chilly climate charging and winter driving effectivity is one other matter for one more time. However on the subject of tires, it comes as no shock that these Blizzaks fulfilled the design transient.
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