Blizzak WS70 or WS80?

[seanm]

2005 XC70 97000 miles

In Utah - a good amount of mountain driving in snow.
I am considering buying now for next season as good deals are to be had on end-of-season sales.
Tire salesman saying W70 would be just fine. But with the xc70 I am wondering if I should go with the W80.
Anyone have insight if the WS80 would help better with longer tread wear and/or traction in snow? Handling/performance/mileage?

Blizzak WS70 $107
215 /65 R16 98T SL BSW

Blizzak WS80 - $119
215 /65 R16 98H SL BSW

(prices before $25/tire end of season discount plus other rebates/trade in)

[albertj]

I installed the WS80's on my '07 XC70, so far very good. IMHO they are a better riding highway tire than the 70s ever were/will be (I have had 80s in the past); we prefer a firm suspension as essentially all of our driving is secondary highway and interstates. Too early to tell about wear yet; I'd get 4 seasons out of a set of 80s on my 740 and 3 seasons out of a set on my Audi A6 Avant. Just like with 80s, try not to drive them much in temps above 40-45F. For the stated $ difference to you I'd buy the 80s and not look back because I do so much highway driving.

For context: weather in my part of the Finger Lakes region of NY State is such that if one uses snow tires, one puts them on no later than Thanksgiving (typically some time between Halloween and Thanksgiving) and takes them off around Easter.