2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission winter tires

[Tractorat]

Im thinking about getting some new winter tires for my truck, and I was wondering what some of you guys might be using and how you like them for snow and ice.


Ive been using a set of goodrich all terrain t/a's. They still have pretty good tread, but they are now about 10 or 12 years old and I dont think they are really a winter tire, just off road.

Thanks

 

[HHhuntitall]

Well, having recently been playing on a lot of ice, as the roads have been freezing over, I've been playing (and feeding cows) on the Cooper Discoverer S/T... they're also punched for studs, if you wanted to pin 'em....

The Mickey Thompson Baja Claws have been fun, too. I've had several sets of these running, and everyone has been happy with them, including myself......

I've also got the Toyo M/Ts on my '97 dually, and I've been running it hauling hay with the bale bed.... they've worked great! Of course, the truck weighs in around 12k before I load the two round bales on it....

 

[PC12Driver]

I ran Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmors for the last few years I had my dually. They had outstanding traction on snowpack and ice (pulled a fullsize pickup out of the ditch while I was on the snowpacked road and didn't need 4wd). But they should, since they had the mountain/snowflake symbol. They also hooked up great on wet pavement. Probably would have even come close to the 50k mile tread life, too. I'll be switching back to them once the factory tires wear out.

 

[JR]

I ran the Silent Armors also and thought they were a great all around tire. A good compromise of a highway tire with acceptable offroad/snow capability. Not as aggressive or as offroad capable as my GoodYear Duratracs, but still a great tire.
FYI, the Silent Armor has been discontinued and replaced by the Adventurer. Still has the Kevlar technology and also snow rated, just a new and improved tire with a 60k mile warranty.

http://m.moderntiredealer.com/news/18336/goodyear-launches-new-wrangler

When you click on the link, hit the "skip ad" button and it will take you to the article I posted.

 

[BarryG]

I just replaced my Michelin ltx a2's which did pretty good in the snow and got well over 50k out of them. Just the other day replaced them with goodyear all terrain adventurer 285/75/16/e. Cant say if they are good yet as I have only driven them approx. 3 miles. I didn't slip in the snow on the way home though. As was previously stated they have replaced the silent armor I figured I might as well go with the new ones. The silent armors are still out there it is just a question of finding the size you want before they are gone. I wanted to go back to the toyo m55 I used before the Michelins but they want too much money for them in 255/85/16 they were wanting 350 and up ea. I liked them but not that much.

 

[PC12Driver]

The Wrangler A/T Adventures look very similar to the Wrangler A/Ts from the early '90s. Which would be a good thing, since those were the best tires I plowed with at the time (compared to BFG A/Ts and M/Ts).

Lots of siping = good snow/ice tire.

 

[av8r]

For a dedicated winter tire, there is no better than Bridgestone Blizzaks. Period.

They are not for summer use and will wear at a frighteningly fast rate in temperatures over 50º F.

 

[GReed]

I put Dean Wintercat 265/70/17 on my 2002. They have soft rubber and a pretty good looking tread design. Sorry, no photos. I only run them in the winter, as I don't think they would last in warm weather. They were the cheapest that Les Schwab had. Haven't had much snow here in Eastern WA, so can't really attest to how they perform. Have had a little hard pack snow/ice and they did fine. They aren't studded. I've run BFG Commercial Traction before, and the did great, until they wore the snow lugs off, and then they were like a bunch of hockey pucks. They had pretty hard rubber.

 

[Road Dog]

Michelin makes an LTX Winter which is their LTX M/S with cold weather rubber.

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, Ill be looking for a dedicated winter tire with soft rubber. I normally run the winter tires for only a couple of months. Unless we get an early low land snow, or if I know Ill be going over the mountains, I dont usually put the winter tires on until late nov or dec. And if we're having a warmer winter, I might not put them on at all. I usually go back to the summer tires in late feb or march.

Some of your recommendations will certainly be of interest to me.

Thanks again.

 

[jdross440]

The Maxxis MT-762 Bighorns have good reviews. And they are less expensive than the major brands. http://www.onlinetires.com/search/v...prices/16.00/all_tires/all_speeds/page_1.html

 

[MChrist]

For a dedicated winter tire, there is no better than Bridgestone Blizzaks. Period.

They are not for summer use and will wear at a frighteningly fast rate in temperatures over 50º F.

View attachment 87875

These are what you need if you have snow, ice, slush and stay mostly on pavement. They are what I've had on my truck every winter since '09. I pull my guys out of ditches and snow drifts regularly with no problems. Their trucks weigh around 16,000 lbs. Rubber stays soft when cold, lots of sipes, just work great.
Now, if I had to go out into deep snow covered fields, maybe a wider more open lug tire would work better to keep me afloat, but I don't do that so I can't comment there.
Get them mounted on an inexpensive wheel and swap them out as a package when weather dictates. I think I paid $1300 delivered, and I'll probably get 7 or 8 years out of the tires. Then just pop on new tires. Best investment you can make.

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks again. The Blizzaks look pretty good to me. I actually have an extra set of wheels. The winter I bought my truck, I went in to get some winter tires. Some guy with a truck just like mine had been in earlier to get some after market wheels. They sold me the brand new dodge oem (just like on my truck) wheels for about $100. Ever since, I get my winter/summer tires swapped for free since they are already mounted

 

[sg5054]

Nuff said here. I'm on my 3rd set. I run 2 mounted sets of tires. Once I found these I haven't had anything else. I am getting 3-4 seasons out of a set easily.

For a dedicated winter tire, there is no better than Bridgestone Blizzaks. Period.

They are not for summer use and will wear at a frighteningly fast rate in temperatures over 50º F.

View attachment 87875

 

[DonFitzwater]

Blizzaks are great tires. I've found a better tire though. Toyo Observe. They don't have the fast wearing outer tread of the Blizzaks and have a much better tread life than the Bridgestones.