How Can a Polar Bear Help Your Winter Driving?
Growing up in New England, driving in the snow wasn’t something that could really be avoided. My driving instructor even took us out and made us experience going into a skid so we would know what it felt like and how how to deal with it. When I bought my first car (a Honda Civic), I also purchased a set of snow tires since my job included commuting through two states. I managed to navigate safely through a number of winter storms.
When I got my first Honda CR-V, I was excited to have an all wheel vehicle and didn’t give tires another thought. I had heard about how well SUVs handled snow and figured I was all set for whatever Mother Nature could throw my way. Imagine my surprise the first time I went sliding down my street!
I figured my small-ish SUV just must not handle as well as those larger SUVs.
Last month, I was invited to a Winter Driving event thrown by Tire Rack and Bridgestone in Denver that sure explained a lot about my winter driving experiences. I was given the opportunity to learn all about Bridgestone’s Blizzak winter tires and even got to try them on ice and compare them to all weather tires.
First, I learned about how the folks at Bridgestone came up with the technology they use in the tires by looking at nature – it’s called biomimicry. It makes sense when you think about it, there are animals who spend their entire lives walking around on snow and ice and they don’t fall down, right? Why not look at a polar bear’s paws and figure out why they work so well. Looking at a geckos feet can provide insight into how to create tires that grip wet roads.
Well, that’s exactly what went into the development of Bridgestone’s Blizzak tires!
What about those winters where there isn’t a lot of snow?
We’ve had those in the past, but based on how November has been playing out, I don’t think this year is going to be one of them! Do you still need winter tires if there isn’t snow to drive through? Before my trip, I would have said no. And I would have been wrong. It turns out that different types of tires are made of different materials. You know how rubber and plastic can get hard when they get really cold? If you are driving on summer tires, that can happen when the temperature dips below 40 degrees. Suddenly your tires are not as grippy as they should be. When you think that your incredibly heavy car is travelling along with basically four palm-sized areas being your only connection to the road, you want those areas to be as grippy as possible. (Grippy may not be the technical term that the experts use, but I think it conveys the right sentiment here!)
Now, I kind of flinched at the idea of spending the money to get another whole set of tires for my car. I mean, tires aren’t cheap, right? But then I started thinking about it and realized that I was basically extending the life of both sets of tires since they would each be on my car for half of the year and would be running for half the miles as well. Plus, we have a fairly high deductible on our auto insurance and just one fender-bender avoided would probably pay for the tires. (And I’m not even going to mention our ER visit deductible!!)
But I have to admit, nothing was quite as convincing as actually experiencing driving on the Bridgestone Blizzak tires side by side with normal all weather ones on ice.
We all went to the Pepsi Center and drove identical BMWs (the only difference was the tires) on the ice. We were tasked with getting the cars as fast as we could and then hitting the breaks mid-ice. The difference in both traction and braking was obvious immediately. We even had the chance to try tricycles with both kinds of tires as we raced around the ice!
As you can see here, the Blizzak tires made a big difference.
Not only did they help me stop better, but they gripped the ice better in order for me to get going. The objective was to get to 12 mph – I almost made it with the Blizzaks but not even close with the all weathers.
One of the most telling tests was when the two cars attempted to navigate through cones on the ice. The car with the winter tires made every turn while the car with all weathers completely missed the first turn. Fun when you are driving on the ice at the Pepsi Center but not at all fun when you are on your local roads!!
So I have to admit – I went from thinking winter tires were totally unnecessary with an SUV to thinking they could make a huge difference in my driving experience this winter. I always say that if the weather is bad, I’ll just stay home (an advantage of working from home!) but that never seems to be the case. Often times I’m already out and about when the weather hits or there is a place we absolutely have to be.
I live in New England and those sound like a really great tires. They sound like they will be perfect for the bad winter we are supposed to have.
That is fascinating! Nature really is the best engineer, isn’t it? Oh, and would LOVE to take a spin around on that trike. Looks like a lot of fun.
Yes, living here in Chicago, I know all too well about preparing for the winter. If you don’t invest at least get them checked.
This is truly interesting! I love that they looked to nature and animals to design the tires. I desperately need new tires myself.
I live in Georgia, where we are luckily to get 2 snow days each winter. I don’t think we will invest in them, but I think anyone in New England should highly consider getting these tires. It’s so cool they look at animal feet to improve their product!
So glad I just read this post! We are in the process of trying to figure out which tires to buy for my car. I will tell my hubby!
Sounds like great tires. I hate driving on ice. 🙁
I get so nervous driving up north since winter tires aren’t really necessary where I live. These tires look awesome!
Living in New England myself, I have to have winter tires – It’s so important!
Wow – what cool information! We don’t have snow where we live, but it’s nice to know there’s safe tires out there.
That looks like a really fun event to be honest. We get some terrible winters here in Michigan.
That is so interesting. I live in Florida now, but grew up in NY and really didn’t give much thought about snow tires then. But to look at nature is really smart. Thanks for sharing. Looks like it was very fun and informative!
I would for sure if we had a car! I think it’s very important and hope others realize just how much so!
How clever! I love that they’re using ideas from nature in designing their tires. I live in New England and drive a Subaru. I pretty much keep my snow tires on all year long!
Growing up I remember it was a ritual going with my dad to the tire garage and swapping out the tires for winter ones. We don’t since our winters aren’t so horrible, but it’s something to think about.
That must have been such a fun experience! Talk about adrenaline rush! I think tires are one of the cheapest ways to keep our families when you really think about it. I live in LA where weather is not as much of a concern but it’s still crucial to keep tires with good tread on our cars. There is just too much at stake if you don’t and I am not willing to risk that. LA drivers and the rain do not mix well at all yikes!
We normally don’t get a lot of snow around here in the winter, but last year we did. I have been thinking about getting winter tires for our vehicle this year. These sound like a great option!
It would be fun to race around that rink! I never thought about the temperature making a difference.
Awesome post. Amazing how nature helps provide even things like helping to engineer safer tires. Would love to have a set on my cars for the upcoming winter. Thank you for sharing.
We don’t get snow and ice (IF we do, the city closes) so I won’t be investing in Blizzak tires but I think they look awesome!
This is really great information. I have never really though about different tire types. Here in Fl. I could use rain tires during hurricane season.
What a fabulous idea–using animals as inspiration for high quality products. I don’t really need snow tires where I live, but I like being prepared for anything!
very interesting! Technology based off nature.
I live in upstate NY (but came from Maine!!) and this is the first year I’ve decided just to go with my all weather tires on my SUV. Nope, not any more. I’m absolutely fascinated with the biomimicry and how that translated into the tire tread and surface and am going to go in to our nearest tire shop and check them out.
Were you scared at all, driving the two cars with different tires on the ice? It SOUNDS like fun, but once you’ve spun out for real, on an open road, I’m not sure I would have been up for the test drives, even in a controlled environment. I’ll get plenty of opportunity for that in the next few months.
Audrey – I was a little nervous about driving on the ice until I saw that you can’t really get any speed going. We never got above 12 mph, so we had plenty of time to stop!
So glad i dont have to deal with winter tires anymore. Very good info in your post. Thanks for sharing
Growing up in MN, you’d think I know more about this but I’ve never really thought about it. It does make tons of sense to change out your tires. Do you just store them the rest of the year?
Hi Kendra – Yes, we just stick the tires up in the rafters of our garage when they are not in use.
Such an interesting idea to use animals for inspiration!
I just had new tires put on last week. For me I think it is worth it!
Tires make a huge difference. My tires have gotten a little bare and I can definitely tell the difference when it rains or snows. I need to invest in some new tires.
thanks for all the information. I never really understood how tires would change with the seasons
Such an interesting post! Those tires seem awesome.
The weather never gets too bad here in Louisiana, but if I were driving somewhere that I needed good winter tires I’d for sure invest in them.
This is so interesting. I don’t have to deal with any winter driving conditions here in Florida, but this must be a big help to those who live up North.
That’s really great technology put into tires! I love the results you had
That is really interesting. I believe in good tires no matter what.
That is VERY interesting! It’s cool that they’re looking at the natural concept. We have to make sure that we have really good tires in the winter because we live in such a rural area with alot of hills and deep ditches. If you live in places where you’ll have lots of snow and ice, you for SURE need winter tires!
I need new tires so this is helpful for me! Thanks for the tip.
That is a heck of a difference. I would definitely need the polar bear inspired tires 🙂
Speaking of tires, I totally need some new ones. Hoping to start saving up for some soon!
Where i live you have to have good winter tires. We get a lot of snow and ice.
i bought a new set of tires in August and don’t plan to buy more… I’m glad you brought this up as I was thinking of going to the shop to ask them if mine are all weather tires… I should think so
I live in Iowa and know all about snow. It’s important to have good tires.
What a cool idea, using animals as inspiration. I grew up in Pittsburgh and winters were brutal. We needed good winter tires to travel!
This is really interesting and fascinating indeed! I love nature in every way and I never thought about the temperature making a difference. Thanks for the sharing this.
This is so cool! We live in Ohio so we get our fair share of snow! I hate driving in it!
I love the nature inspired tires. Interesting facts about the Polar Bear and Gecko!
I live in Chicago and I have had some scary winter moments, so I know how important good tires are. It is so cool that they tested them on ice. Polar bears are so adorable I could look at them for days. lol