A Disappointing Experience with the Sailun Ice Blazer Arctic Evo Winter Tires

I'll start by saying I was really excited to try out the Sailun Ice Blazer Arctic Evo winter tires on my BYD Song L. As an electric car owner, I'd been wanting to experience the thrill of driving on snow-covered roads, and I thought these tires would be the perfect choice.

However, my experience was a letdown. I'll start from the beginning. My husband gave me the BYD Song L as a gift at the end of spring 2025, and I was thrilled to finally own an electric vehicle. I'd been wanting one since 2012, and I'd written a separate review about the car if you're interested - check it out.

This was actually my first new car from scratch, so I approached its preparation for further trouble-free operation very seriously. I wrapped key body parts with film, applied a rust inhibitor, and at the end of autumn, I bought winter tires. Since I'm somewhat involved in the automotive world, I have a good understanding of the combination of price and quality, as well as how much it costs to replace tires on 20-inch wheels, even if they're not the norm.

For the past two winters, I'd been driving on Pirelli Ice Zero FR, but that was on my old 95-hp front-wheel drive gasoline car. The tires, although made in Russia, really impressed me. And my first intention was to buy the same ones for the BYD, but when I saw the prices for this size, I was taken aback. Realizing I couldn't afford such sums, I started looking for a compromise.

I talked to colleagues in the industry, even spoke with the owner of a tire repair shop chain in Minsk, and came to the conclusion that a good compromise would be the Chinese Sailun brand. It's probably one of the Chinese brands that's been on the radar for a while, with users in Belarus driving them for several years without any major complaints. And the quality, as they say, is factory-made. So, I ended up buying the Sailun Ice Blazer Arctic Evo tire set.

I spent around 1,680 BYN or $580 on a set of four tires back in autumn 2025. I'm not sure what the current prices are, but it worked out to around 420 Belarusian rubles per tire. It's not the cheapest option, but people who know their stuff told me it's a top-notch tire for the price. In November, I took my car in for a tire change and put on a set of winter tires. The re-tread cost me 100 BYN ($34.5), which is usually around 110-120 BYN in Minsk.The guys at the tire shop told me that this tire is one of the best from China, and it was perfectly balanced with no defects.But to be honest, I wasn't a fan of the tread pattern - it was nowhere near as aggressive as the Pirelli tires.I'd actually bought a different set of tires if you've read my review on when a new set of Pirelli tires got me through the whole winter. I mean, I thought I'd get away with it this time since the previous winter was almost snow-free, but no such luck.Until the snow hit, everything was great. The tire was quiet (for a tire, at least), and it handled well.One thing that's really important about electric cars is that the wheels become the main source of noise, since there's no engine. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. The summer tires were Hankook EV-specific, super quiet, and I thought the regular winter tires (not EV-specific) would be super loud. But nope! Sailun gets a separate shoutout for its silence.

Plus, the tire is surprisingly comfortable if you get the right air pressure. Braking on asphalt, even wet, is also great - it looks like the rubber compound is top-notch, not plastic. So, until the snow hit, I was totally stoked with it.

My opinion on Sailun Ice Blazer Arctic Evo winter tires changed when Cyclone Ulli hit Belarus in early January 2026, dumping snow up to my waist. I was on vacation in another country at the time, and when I got back, I realized I couldn't even get to my own charging station. But that was just half the problem. When I first drove on snow in my BYD, I felt like a cow on ice. It's not entirely the tire's fault - it's a combo of the car's high power, rear-wheel drive, and other factors. But I think the tires play a significant role.

On icy roads, they handle way worse than those Pirellis on my old Opel. I have to catch the car constantly, and even on slight snow, the rear wheels spin out on turns. On snowy mush, the tire just doesn't grip at all - where I could easily drive my 95-hp Opel, I can barely make it in my 300+ hp BYD. So, I'm not even trying to drive on unclean roads, because sliding on the rear axle is no fun.

I've gotta say, the grooves and sipes fill up with snow instantly. That's exactly what I was worried about.

As someone who lives in a rural area and has to deal with secondary road maintenance, I need a tire that can handle snow-covered roads. The Sailun Ice Blazer Arctic Evo gets a 5 out of 10 in that department.

I know it's possible that the issue isn't with the tire itself, but rather the specific model I chose. However, I want to warn others that the Ice Blazer Arctic Evo is more suited for European-style roads.

It handles packed snow okay, but snow-covered roads are a different story. I've got a tile driveway with a slight incline, and even with a small layer of ice, my car struggles to make it up the hill.

Frankly, I was expecting more from this tire. I'm really disappointed, and this is a brand-new tire, to boot! Considering the tire's tread depth is only 4mm, my satisfaction will only decrease over time. I'd recommend something with more aggressive tread or studding, especially if you live in a rural area like me.

I've looked for some credible tests on these tires, but all I could find were reviews. Everywhere I looked, people were raving about the Sailun Ice Blazer Arctic Evo, but I'm here to give you the honest lowdown.