Ultimate snow tire....Which one?

[fkovalski]

I posted a thread here: Changing Anti- Spin Differential about my experiences driving (getting stuck) in snow. Good feedback was presented there as to my troubles being related to the "off- raod" tires from the factory.



I am now soliciting opinions as to the "best" snow tire for my needs. Breifly, the above referenced thread related to my troubles in the snow with the anti- spin differential. I am going to look into buying new boots but will keep the stock ones- esentially, I will have 2 sets of tires, Thus I am looking for the "best in snow".



They must be LT/265/70/R17 and preferably "E" rated. I would also entertain the idea of studded capabilities. I would also think about a "thinner" tire for better traction, But the chains I have now fit the stock size. I want to keep the stock diameter. I will verify all possibilities with the chain Mfgr. for fit if I go to a different size.



Thanks in advance for the replies. -frank.

 

[JDonahue]

Frank,



I work at Discount Tire in Denver and I would probably say your best bet for a snow tire would be the Cooper Discoverer M + S. It is a heavily siped, studable snow tire for heavy duty trucks. I sell them all the time to folks in Summit, Grand and Routt counties. They are a Load Range E tire so they will handle everything you throw at them (weight wise). If you have any other questions feel free to P. M. me.



Jimmy

 

[DiTrani]

Unfortunately the E-rated Blizzaks don't come in your size, but they are probably the best snow tire out there by an order of magnitude. Sorry, that doesn't answer your question, but remember that when it comes to snow tires it all about compound. Cool looking off-road tires with agressive lug patterns are often made of hard or hard-when-cold compounds that sucks in the snow.



My experience is that unless you can switch to a true winter-compound tire like the Blizzak then there isn't a whole lot of difference between the various options.



But, save youself some money and put 1000 lbs of something in the bed and see how much better it drives in the snow, even with the agressive LSD.

 

[OHale]

Frank,



I work at Discount Tire in Denver and I would probably say your best bet for a snow tire would be the Cooper Discoverer M + S. It is a heavily siped, studable snow tire for heavy duty trucks. I sell them all the time to folks in Summit, Grand and Routt counties. They are a Load Range E tire so they will handle everything you throw at them (weight wise). If you have any other questions feel free to P. M. me.



Jimmy

Ditto both gentlemen above. I have the Cooper M&S (studded): they are a bit noisy but a very good tire in our size and load range E. I couldn't find another studdable tire and where I live we do get a lot of ice.



I keep checking on Blizzaks. I still have a set of six Blizzard tires with wheels from my 95 dually that I used one winter and need to post for sale (and quit procrastinating. ) They would be my first choice also as stated by DiTrani. Quiet, almost as good on ice as studs, better on snow and especially wet snow. I loved those on my dually. Just not available in our stock sizes.



As also noted ballast is a biggee in a pickup truck. I have lead bricks and some sand bags to the tune of approx. 500 #.

 

[gsbrockman]

and I would probably say your best bet for a snow tire would be the Cooper Discoverer M + S. It is a heavily siped, studable snow tire for heavy duty trucks.

..... or the Mastercraft kissing cousin... . The Courser MSR.



http://www.mastercrafttires.com/us/...odType=LtTruck&id=232&title=Light+Truck+Tires



Greg

 

[Mishkaya]

I have the blizzaks on my '02 and love them, would like to put the same on my '05 but unfortunately they are not yet available in 17" sizes. I have come across these that are specifically designed snow tires and am thinking about trying them this year: Toyo Observe GO-2 plus Tires. So far from all the reviews I have read about them most people seem satisfied with them. As far as I know they are the only snow tire in our size that has the E rating.

Mishkaya

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I favor the Cooper Discover STs or the Mastercrafts Coursers (made by Cooper in my understanding). Toyo M55 are not a bad tire, but I still prefer the two above for winter.



I REALLY favor a narrower tire especially for snow conditions, e. g. 235s for my DRW; 235 or 245s for SRW. I know you said you want to keep the 265s... . but I'd say save them for summer is what I would do.



I wouldn't be surprised if the chains will work with tighteners.

 

[BHolm]

Lots of guys down here go the studded Cooper route as well. They must work, though I have never tried them.



As often as I mention this BFG should be supplying my tires free The BFG AT KO is a snow tire. It is rated as such by the tire industry and carries the "snowflake on the mountain" stamp. The compound and tread pattern is such that it is ranked right up there with a Blizzak or any other dedicated snow tire. I have run them on three Dodges and a Chevy in a 285 width. I drive Red Mtn Pass five days a week in search of snow and find these tires to be fantastic. Two winters ago in the Chev we drove Vail pass in a major blizzard and that truck was unstoppable on those tires. For Colorado conditions they are very hard to beat. You would have to go to the studded tires which I do not want to do, and even then I want the agressive tread in the deep snow we get. Besides the BFG's are also a superb off road tire with great durability. The slightly larger size looks a whole lot better than the stockers and carries nearly the same weight.



Asking about tires is as bad as asking about motor oil. You will get a gazillion opinions. So the above is mine, based on a lot of use in the same conditions you are likely to see. I would also reiterate the need for weight in the back. My Mega cab scaled at 8120, full of fuel, 420 lbs of sand bags in back. Without the bags it would be about 60/40 front to rear and the sand makes it more like 55/45 and the snowmobile trailer tongue weight probably gets me close to 50/50 giving traction and stability. Putting 7-800 lbs back there will make a big difference. Also watch air pressures. You do not want 80 psi back there if the truck is empty. I run 50 front, 45 rear (65 psi max D range) and have excellent traction.



Good Luck with the choice.

 

[JJW_ND]

Sipe tires with some wear

Once the first few 32nds wear off any good M&S tire the winter traction goes away. Any tire that wears decent with our heavy trucks usually is a little hard/stiff to be a deccent winter tire with wear. Having these tires siped returns that awsome snow/ice traction. As long as there is more then 6/32s or so, you can have then siped again. If you pull your truck hard, have new tires siped 50% of their tread depth and then sipe then again (if they see another winter) the rest of the tread depth.



While not a style that is available in sizes for the 3gen, Toyo M55s are darn good winter tires. Especially siped.



I just siped the 255/85R M55s on my truck. They had a pretty good hum that siping seem to tone down as well as softening the ride. The only down side is if you run alot of gravel, you might see increase wear. If mostly highway, you might see LONGER wear with siping.



jjw

ND

 

[nickleinonen]

nokian hakkapeliitta lt winter tire... the 265/70/17 should be out by now [their site shows fall of 04] can be studded. good winter tire...

 

[KennethS]

Be a New car dealer we had Goodyear

Plus I did not like there warranty back In the 70 and to keep my customers I had to replace the tires at my own cost. But they did have a winter tread tire that was super F 32 and I sold a bunch of them and they were great. I don't know If they still make them but I would buy them for my truck. Studs are hard on driveways and garage floors. Weight In the bed helps very much. I love to travel and be out west to see the Rockies IN the winter but wife won't go.

 

[BHolm]

Kenneth,



That looks like spring in the rockies. The pic below is this morning in the rockies Let it snow... . let it snow.

 

[KennethS]

Your picture made me put my coat on and look for my snow shovel. My picture was taken IN Colorado. Wish I was there. I will be there this comming summer on a model T tour starting In Longmont staying at Silver creek In.

 

[fkovalski]

Kenneth,



That looks like spring in the rockies. The pic below is this morning in the rockies Let it snow... . let it snow.

That photo is verysimilar to my yard today as well! It is coming down at a good clip. Was going to hit the slopes, but visibility is aweful. Must have been a good dump overnight as the avalanche connons blasting woke me up. Must have gotten at least 30" this week!

 

[TPCDrafting]

I sssssmelll a TDR ski weekend at Franks!



When I lived in the mountains I liked the BFG AT KO's as well. For the really deep stuff super swampers work great, but suck on the ice. If you're going to keep the OEM set around for summer I would lean more toward studs for up there.

 

[Glen]

I had Les Schwab put on a set of LT265/70R-17/10 M/T SXT traction tires this fall. They worked very well in the Montana snow and ice. Much of it was off-road but I also pulled the trailer on I90 yhrough 80 miles of compact ice and snow. They are a little noisier on the pavement but I don't notice it much.



BTW, my absolute requirement for tires on all my rigs is: Les Schwab must sell them. This is an excellent company!



Glen

 

[madduck]

The Nokian Hakkapelitta isn't available yet . I just tried to order a set last week, so went with the Coopers instead.

 

[PStraub]

If you're looking for a non-studded tire, then the Blizzak is probably one of the best.



If you're looking for studs, then any number of tires will work just as well... the trick is to get good studs. Stud technology has evolved a lot even in the past 5 years. Make sure that your tire guy knows about studs, and is not still using 30 year old stud technology. There are new fangled aluminum and lightweight carbide tipped studs that eliminate all the old problems with studs... pavement wear, tire puncture, poor wet pavement performance, etc.



If you're looking for something completely different, check out GreenDiamondTire.com. Their options seem very interesting.



Peter Straub

 

[DocDetonancour]

I've used two sets of tires for all my Rams. I presently have Big O with studs. Wouldn't be w/o studs for my winter use pulling trailers etc. Don't really care about the E rating on the studed tires. Doc

 

[TowPro]

Anybody every try the Dean Wintercat SST with Studs? In the past I have always used less then load range E tires on the back during the winter because I only carry weight (camper) in the spring-fall.



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