best tires for pushing a snowplow?

[Scrappy]

I currently have the stock BFG's on it and they do alright but I wlso have a set of 35/12. 5R17 BFG mud terrains sitting in the garage for it. Every body I talk to tells me to leave the stockers on it for plowing but in my experience the mud terrains did better on my old truck(not plowing). I know that they will fit with the stock springs and the weight of the plow with minor rubbing at full lock, but I am also getting a set of Skyjacker D25's for Christmas so that isn't an issue

 

[CIverson]

Generally A/T's are better. It's mainly on packed snow and ice where mud's can slip where they sucks.



I've heard great things about kelly MSR's for plowing.



personally I like BFG muds that have been siped by a truck (read semi) tire shop. The set I had had alot of sipes cut into the tread and I still got 40-50k out of them and really abused those tires.



can't wait to get a set of them for my new 03.

 

[CannanW]

I will use Goodyear MT/R's this winter 305 70/17's. It will be my first year plowing w/ a truck vice a front end loader, but my 3rd Dodge diesel and the mudders have always worked extremely well for me in snow, I believe the weight of the truck helps!!!



-Will

 

[TBrennan]

I think the MT/Rs do well on snow also. I had them on my '96 1500 and they did better than any AT tire I ever used, including BFG. I've always had better luck digging into the snow than getting snow filled ATs to stick to more snow, as they say should happen.

 

[Cooker]

I think the quantity of sipes in a tire are what really help push the snow. Keep in mind your tires are behind the plow are you are now trying to find traction on a slick surface of packed snow. Like CIverson said on packed snow and ice the mud tires can be slippery, unless they are sipped.



I think a heavily sipped tire from the manufacture or a a tire that you have sipped will be your best alternatives.

 

[Blakers]

I've plowed for 25 years with all kinds of vehicles. I've used all-terrains and mud tires with equal success. Some say stock sized tires are better for plowing, but I have learned that the bigger, the better. Bigger tires will give you more floatation in snow and more ground clearance for straddling those stupid railroad ties some customer will have along their driveway. They also help you climb up out of the ditch you didn't know was there while plowing a drive.

 

[Cooker]

Originally posted by Blakers

Bigger tires will give you more floatation in snow

Personally, the last thing I want to do while plowing, or driving down the road, is to "float" on the snow. I want to dig down to the pavement/packed plowed over snow because that is the only place you will find your traction. That is why a narrower tire is preferred for the majority of plowing applications because you will have more PSI on the ground, but with the weight of the Cummins this is really a moot point.



As far as height, I agree with you that a little taller tire is nicer.

 

[Blakers]

Cooker, I thought that before too. But the floatation helps. It will dig down to pavement just fine if it has to, but sometimes there's nothing but mud or soft sod under all that snow, especially when you're not right on the driveway. They really help to get you out of bad situations where you'd have to call for a tow otherwise.

 

[PaulG]

i have a set of COOPER Discoveres and they work awesome

 

[Snow man]

Cooper Discoverer M/S. The best snow plowing tire out there. This is being dicussed at one of my sites right now. Here is the thread http://www.snowplowing-contractors.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83&perpage=20&pagenumber=1. I am John D on that site

 

[FlyFisha']

I love the Cooper Discover tires... have them on my '94 Ford in a load range E.



I, however, have not been able to find them for the new Dodges with the 17" wheels. Do they exist?



What 17" tires are out there that have an aggressive tread and come in load range E? Tough to find them so far.



Thanks,

Jeff