Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 Tire Review

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About the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32

If you frequently drive on roads covered with thick layers of snow, you will need a dedicated winter tire, equipped with the right features and technologies. And the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is such a tire.

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is a performance winter tire, designed for sports cars and performance coupes. It comes with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF), meaning it has been tested and approved for driving in severe wintry conditions.

Bridgestone has equipped it with a winter-optimized tread compound, designed to continue providing traction and grip even in sub-zero temperatures.

It also comes with a directional tread pattern, featuring a series of deeper sipes. These sipes provide more biting edges for snow driving. Also, this tread design helps to improve the tire’s hydroplaning resistance while keeping the braking distance short.

This Bridgestone performance winter tire also comes with snow platform indicators. Thanks to these indicators, you can continuously monitor your tire’s level of wear and correctly estimate when it’s time to replace it.

Performance in Ice and Snow

A proper winter tire should deliver reliable and capable performance in snow and ice, regardless of how severe the conditions are. So, does the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 live up to these expectations? We took a set of these tires for a test ride using an Infiniti G35 and made the following observations.

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 didn’t falter when it comes to winter conditions. We tested it on different surfaces and conditions and it exceeded our expectations. It gripped the surface confidently while the braking distances remained short.

So, what makes it such an outstanding winter performer? Well, Bridgestone has outfitted it with numerous features and technologies, designed to enhance its performance in cold weather conditions.

As earlier mentioned, it comes with a special winter tread compound, which has been molded into a directional tread pattern. The special winter tread compound helps the tire to remain soft and flexible in colder temperatures. And as a result, the tire can consistently provide traction.

At the same time, the directional tread pattern, featuring a high-density siping provides the biting edges need to grip the snowy surface.

It also comes with two circumferential grooves, which work together with the angled lateral grooves, to channel water away from its surface. This helps to reduce the risk of hydroplaning while increasing the tire’s contact area with the surface.

Whether you encounter slushy conditions, ice-covered roads or heavy layers of snow, this tire will get you to your destination with no fuss. Overall, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 should be more than adequate to handle your daily driving needs in wintry conditions.

Handling and Controllability

When it comes to buying tires, most people tend to only focus on traction and grip. However, controllability and handling are equally important.

Considering that the tire is the primary contact between the vehicle and the ground, it must provide top-notch steering responsiveness, decent cornering ability and great driving stability.

Fortunately, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 ticks almost all these boxes. Thanks to its directional tread pattern it follows the road surface closely, resulting in enhanced steering responsiveness combined with stable driving.

And with the enhanced steering responsiveness, you will find it easier to control the vehicle, even when you are driving at high speeds.

Bridgestone has also equipped this tire with sturdy interior construction, which helps it to maintain the ideal shape, especially during high-speed cornering.

Ride Quality

Winter tires tend to be quite noisy. And this can be attributed to their aggressive tread design and the larger voids between the tread blocks. Also, the high-density siping that you will find in most winter tires can produce a high-pitched sound on the highway.

But with the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32, you won’t have to deal with such issues. We didn’t experience any excessive noise while heading home after the test drive. Also, the tire didn’t transmit vibrations to the cabin.

Some drivers have complained that this tire tends to become noisy and uncomfortable as the tread wears down. However, this is usually the case with most tires, whether it’s a summer tire or a winter tire.

Overall, its ride was quiet, smooth and comfortable, which is quite surprising, when you consider the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is a high-performance winter tire.

Treadwear Indicators

All tires sold in the country should have tread wear indicators. Simply put, these are tread elements, designed to show a tire’s tread wear rate. Therefore, they make it easier for the driver to monitor the tire’s level of tread wear.

Bridgestone has outfitted this tire with snow platform indicators, which have been positioned deep inside the tire’s grooves. If the Blizzak LM-32 wears down to these indicators, it may no longer provide adequate traction for driving in winter conditions. And at this point, it will be highly advisable to replace it.

Warranties and Guarantees

Bridgestone stands behind the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 with a single warranty. And this is the materials and workmanship warranty.

Under this warranty, Bridgestone promises to replace your Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 tire with a comparable new one, if it’s removed from service due to issues within the manufacturer’s control.

But unlike its summer tires and all-season tires, Bridgestone’s winter tires don’t come with a free replacement period. Instead, all winter tires are replaced on a pro-rated basis. And this is also the case with the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32.

So, if your Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 tire is removed from service due to materials or workmanship defects, the manufacturer will replace it on a pro-rated basis.

As for the pro-rated basis, you will be required to pay some money during the tire’s replacement.

The amount of money you will pay for the tire’s replacement will be determined by multiplying the percentage of the original usable tread worn off the tire by the dealer’s current selling price.

For example, your Blizzak LM-32 tire may be removed from service due to materials and workmanship defects when the percentage of original usable tread worn off the tire is 60%.

Assuming that the dealer is currently selling that particular tire at around $200, your replacement charge will be $120. Bridgestone will then cover the balance of $80, which will be applied at the time of the tire’s replacement.

Also, the tire’s mounting and balancing charges, as well as applicable taxes and miscellaneous service fees will be added to your replacement charge.

Coverage under this warranty extends for 5 years from the tire’s purchase date or 6 years from its manufacture date.

Warranty Exclusions

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is covered by a limited materials and workmanship warranty. As a result, Bridgestone may not replace some tires, even if the Blizzak LM-32 is removed from service during the warranty period.

Some of the possible exclusions under this warranty include tire damage caused by road hazards, improper or insufficient maintenance, improper use or misapplication, improper repair, as well as degradation and contamination.

Therefore, if your Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 becomes unserviceable due to any of the above reasons, you will have to bear the entire burden of replacing it.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 Price Range

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is currently retailing for approximately $130 to $525. If you were to install a set of four tires, it will cost you approximately $520 to $2,100, depending on the size that you’ve chosen.

Compatibility and Fitment

Bridgestone produces this tire in several sizes, ranging between 16 inches and 20 inches. Some of the vehicles it’s compatible with include:

• Buick Verano, Envision, Regal, Cascada and LaCrosse
• A6, A4, Quattro, S6, RS5, A8 and Q5
• Chevrolet Camaro, Impala, Cruze Limited, Malibu, SS and Cruze
• Kia Stinger, Forte5, Forte, K900 and Forte Koup
• Honda Accord, Civic and HR-V
• Dodge Charger, Challenger and Avenger
• BMW M2, M4, M3, i8, M5, 340i, X1, M8, 760i xDrive, X series and Z4
• Porsche Cayenne, Boxter, Taycan, Panamera and 911
• Acura TLX, ILX and TSX
• Volvo S90, V90, XC40, V60, S80, V60 Cross Country, and V90 Cross Country
• Ford Taurus, Mustang, Focus, Police Interceptor, Fusion and C-Max
• Cadillac CTS, XT4, CT6, XTS and ELR
• Infiniti G37, M45, Q60, M56, Q50 G37 and M35
• Hyundai Equus, Elantra, Veloster and Genesis
• BMW 325i, Z4, M2, M5, M3, i8, M4, and 750Li
• Jaguar XKR, XE, XKR-S, XJ, XFR, XK and XF
• Toyota Matrix, Corolla, 86, C-HR, Prius, and GR Supra

Should You Buy the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32?

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is a great performance winter tire for luxury vehicles. It will give your performance vehicle the traction and grip it needs to drive through ice-covered and snow-covered roads. It also offers decent handling and controllability, combined with a smooth and cozy ride. However, its price is on the higher end, compared to the majority of the other tires in its class. But when you consider the performance, safety and durability that it offers, you can rest assured that you are getting value for your money.