Ultimate snow tire....Which one?

[TowPro]

after further research, this is the same as the cooper discovery M+S. After I pay shipping the price is more then I can get the coopers for at the local dealer.



$96. 00 each for the standard (not load range E) tires.

 

[fkovalski]

I attendednded to RMTDR Xmas party this weekend. Prior to going, I stopped by the Home Depot and added 600 lbs. of sand tubes in the rear. What a DIFFERENCE! I am going to hold off on the tires for now, but the Coopers will be the next option.



I shoveled between 3 and 4 FEET of snow off my deck that had fallen this past week! Gonna' be a great ski season (if I can get to the slopes!) :-laf

 

[JWChessell]

I live in warm dry area where snow tires aren't used much, if at all -- but will be moving soon to a place where they'll be needed two-to-three months per year. Will someone please define "siped" for me? I assume it refers to some process or method of recutting the grooves/tread on the tire, but couldn't find it in the dictionary. Thx.

 

[fkovalski]

... Will someone please define "siped" for me? ...

Well, I've seen it all... . There's a website for everything!... . Found this on the 'net: www.SIPERS.com



Hopefully it 'splains it better than I could even try.

 

[JWChessell]

T..... M..... I..... Too Much Information!



Thanks, F. Kovalski! That website provided much more info than I ever expected. Turns out there are three places in this dry, warm town that sipe tires, and one in the little town (that occasionally has snow or freezing conditions) to which we're moving.

 

[TowPro]

AFter reading the site about siping, I would think the tire shown below is a better snow tire then the one I posted a couple posts ago?



#ad

 

[DWordinger]

I agree with Holm about the BFG AT KO. After 50k miles on the rear, I bought two new ones for this snow season. The ones I took off still had tread, but not deep enough for good snow traction. The front tires are still in good shape. (My idea of rotating tires is the put the transmission in D and step on the accelerator. The tires rotate!)



Bridgestone makes about half a dozen lines of Blizzak tires, most of which are not applicable for us on our trucks. At least some of the Blizzaks have two types of tread compound. The softer compound that makes the tires so good on snow and ice wears fairly quickly (10k to 20k miles) and the harder compound underneath is noticeable less effective. Maybe some of the Blizzak users here could comment on this. The truck sizes may be constructed differently, I don't know.



I considered the Cooper MS, but the effect of the studs on my driveway and garage floor were part of the reason I stayed with the BFGs.

 

[JSienkowski]

A couple more cents

I've had good luck with the BFG's, Had an AWESOME set of bridgestone Dualler MT's on my half ton, the research I did for the tires for my Dodge I found the Goodyear Wrangler ATS's with "Silent Armor" rates the best for snow-we had a little bit here in CT. the other day and I was driving around in 2WD time will tell-oh and the wranglers are "E" rated

 

[JWChessell]

Best price on studded snow tires?

Gentlemen:



After reading this thread I started making calls. The best price I could find on any of the tires recommended -- size LT265/70R/17, Load Range E (10 ply) WITH studs -- was between $450. 00 + sales tax for TWO "out-the-door" and $510. 00 without sales tax "out-the-door. " Costco sells the same size tire, but only in six-ply and WITHOUT studs, for about $400. 00 for two, including sales tax (California), or without sales tax in Oregon. I haven't checked Sam's Club and will tomorrow, but suspect the prices will be about the same as Costco, and also that 10-plys and studs will probably not be available.



Les Schwab dealers in California, Oregon and Washington varied between $510 and $545 for two studded tires -- both those prices are WITHOUT sales tax.



So... the question is: Are these prices what I can expect to pay; or are there better prices out there?



Thx.

 

[fkovalski]

Gentlemen:... are there better prices out there?



Thx.

I found this link:

Tiresavings.com- Home Page



... you have to fill in the size AND PICK 'SNOW TIRE' at the pull down menu at the top.



$166. 00 for "E" range... I called them, they are out of stock at the moment, by try back

 

[JWChessell]

Thank you Mr. Kovalski, for the info about that website. Unfortunately, the answer appears to be that "No, there aren't any better prices out there. "



Website price: 2 Cooper M+S snow tires, load range E, 265X70RX17 at $166. 00 ea = $332. 00. Shipping to my zip code is $67. 28 = $399. 28. Studs on each tire at $19. 95 ea = $439. 18. Road hazard warranty on each tire is $26. 56 ea = $492. 30. Mounting and balancing at my local dealer (on my extra set of rims/wheels) won't be less than $10. 00 ea = $512. 30.



Les Schwab in Medford, Oregon quoted $510. 20 "out-the-door" for the same studded tires, with the Les Schwab warranty good at any Les Schwab dealer.



So... . dispensing with the website road hazard warranty would save $53. 12, but there's still alot of work to do to save that amount. Even WITH the website warranty, if there's a warranty issue the tire has to be taken to someone on the warranty list.



With the Schwab tire, it's drive in, pay the $510. 20 and drive out.



Unfortunately, the math kills what at first glance looks like a great website price! Nevertheless, very nice of you to find that site and relay the information. Thanks!

 

[fkovalski]

Thank you Mr. Kovalski, ...

Whoa! what's this 'Mister' Stuff?... . Mr. Kovalski is my father; I am frank :-laf :-laf



I found this website in looking for a better price when compared to my local Big O who wanted $1100 for 4. That was mounted with no studs and no warranty.



For my needs,(no warranty, no studs) I can get them for about $780 shipped plus another 60 for mounting saving me around $260 as opposed to me getting them locally. I have not looked too closely at the DVR metro area, but have some leads to some shops down there. Right now with 600# sand bags in the back, the truck is doing mmuch better and I am holding off on new boots for now (I have to pay my utility bill for sub zero temps this past month )

 

[TowPro]

I guess I am lucky. I only carry weight in the summer (my campers) when the snow tires are off. I have been using P Metric rated (around 2500 lbs each) snows on the back in the winter. I bought the cooper M-S, no studs, carryout for $96. 00 each. I think studs were $15. 00 each tire.