Note: We offer Blizzak tires in the winter season. We are currently in the off-season for this tire; check back when we are closer to winter.

Winter can bring with it a variety of adverse weather conditions from snow and ice to rain and fog. All of these unpredictable elements can make driving in winter very challenging. Mark Cox, director of the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, offers some practical advice on selecting the right tires for winter driving.

"One of the most important factors in starting, steering, or stopping on ice and snow is your tires," Cox says. "It makes no difference if you have a front-wheel, four-wheel, or rear-wheel drive, your vehicle will perform better in most winter driving conditions if it is equipped with purpose-built winter tires instead of all-season radials."

Cox explains that all-season radials are designed to perform year-round and cannot have the softer rubber compounds and unique tread of winter tires.

"Tire manufacturers have certainly come a long way in improving winter traction of their all-season tires, but a dedicated winter tire is designed specifically to handle winter driving needs. And with more states outlawing or limiting the use of studded snow tires, studless snow tires are becoming more popular."

With more than 90 sizes currently available in the United States, the Bridgestone Blizzak™ family of ice and snow tires will fit many of today's popular vehicles, from sedans to SUVs to light trucks.

The Bridgestone Blizzak ice and snow tire features a revolutionary Multicell® rubber compound which contains thousands of microscopic cells and pores. These cells resemble the consistency of Swiss cheese when examined through a microscope. As the Blizzak wears and the pores are exposed, they become "microdents" which create thousands of biting edges that grip the road surface. The pores are uniformly distributed throughout the Multicell® compound so as the tire wears, new microdents are constantly being exposed along the tire tread surface. The patented Multicell® compound is featured only in the Blizzak tire and is produced at only three plants in the world.

In addition to the biting action, the microdents absorb the film of water which often develops on top of icy roads, thereby allowing the biting edges to adhere to the surface with less interference. The result is greater driving and braking force on ice- and snow-covered surfaces. The Blizzak is a dual compound (cap and base) tire. The cap features the Multicell* compound and the base is comprised of a winter compound, allowing use as a basic winter tire. When the Blizzak is 50 percent worn, a tread depth indicator on the tire tread lets the motorist know that only ten percent of the remaining tread is the Multicell® compound.

"More and more state and local governments in the United States are prohibiting the use of studded snow tires to protect against road damage, but consumers still want the grip provided by a studded tire," Cox said. "The Blizzak offers the perfect solution because it is studless, yet it delivers superb ice and snow traction."

Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural, and other tires to its customers in North America.