Remember that old motto of the US Post Office: the thing about “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night shall stay these carriers from their appointed rounds”? That’s how it is if you’ve got a commercial vehicle fleet. Things have to be delivered, people have to be at certain places and the job has to be done even if there’s snow and ice on the roads.

That’s where the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 comes in. The Blizzak W965 is a commercial-grade winter tire that’s designed specifically for light trucks and cargo vans; it’s designed so that winter weather won’t disrupt your day and your drivers can have the confidence and safety they need in the worst kind of conditions.

So what is it about this Bridgestone tire that makes it a great choice for commercial vehicles that have to operate in deep snow and winter weather? We’re going to take a closer look with this Bridgestone Blizzak W965 review:

Features and Benefits

Here’s just some of what makes the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 such a great performer:

• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, meaning it exceeds the tire industry’s standards for severe winter service
• Wide outside shoulder blocks contribute to stability at highway speeds and dependable, predictable cornering
• Available in Load Range E fitments for enhanced load capacity
• Notched blocks at shoulder boost winter traction
• Aggressive independent tread blocks, lugs, and zigzag sipes provide thousands of biting edges for multi-directional traction in deep snow
• Bridgestone’s UNI-T construction features three steel belts, polyester cord package, and spiral-wrapped nylon cap layer with tension optimized for stability and durability
• Innovative dual-layer Tube Multicell tread compound with microscopic tubes and pores that help cut through surface layers of water for improved traction on ice
• Tread pitch is computer tuned to keep road noise low
• Improved ride quality
• 2-ply polyester sidewall layers
• High void ratio and deep tread depth for good self-cleaning and ejection of snow

Pros and Cons

So, is this the right winter tire for you and your budget? Let’s take a look at the tire’s strengths:

PROS:

• Surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride
• Robust load ratings for trucks and cargo vans
• Tough, durable design
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rated for use moderate to severe winter weather conditions
• Excellent traction and performance in winter weather conditions

CONS:

• Not pre-drilled for installation of studs to further enhance traction in severe conditions
• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Only meant for use on pickup trucks and cargo vans
• Not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

SimpleTire’s view on Bridgestone Blizzak W965 tires

There are plenty of choices for winter tires when it comes to light trucks, but winter tires for cargo vans and commercial pickup trucks are a little different matter. As an operator of a commercial fleet, you need to set the bar a little higher for reliable winter performance, and that means load capacity as well as winter traction. That’s where the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 excels.

Not only does the Blizzak W965 deliver superb traction in terrible winter conditions, it eases you over bumps and irregularities that would be teeth-rattling with most other tires, and with a noise level that’s comparable to touring or all-season tires. As for the Cons listed above, most winter tires aren’t designed for warmer weather. They use a softer, more pliable tread compound that’s designed to stay flexible on sub-freezing days, but will wear fast on warmer days so most manufacturers advise against using winter tires if temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. And studded tires are only advisable when ice and snow are so severe that nothing else will provide traction. Studded tires also tend to chew up asphalt, which is why they aren’t legal in many states or only during certain months (check your state laws for specifics).

Bridgestone’s reputation for quality, value and innovation is well-established, and all in all, we think that the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 is a premium tire for difficult winter conditions. The Rubber Manufacturers Association doesn’t give out Three Peak Mountain Snowflake ratings lightly, and the Blizzak W965 exceeds expectations for winter driving and performance.

Vehicles the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 is a good replacement tire for

Designed for use on cargo vans and work trucks, the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 is a common winter tire choice for drivers of the:

• Chevrolet Silverado 2500
• Ford Transit Connect
• GMC Sierra 1500
• Honda Ridgeline
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500
• Nissan Titan
• RAM ProMaster