Desert Rat needs Winter Tire Recommendations

[RusM]

SO far the Hankook ATM RF10's own the LTX M&S's, TXR's, Toyo AT's, and 4 mismatched mud tires in the snow and ice.

 

[bigreen505]

Ed, I have a set of studded Cooper Discoverer M&S tires and I think they are a solid value. They are much less expensive than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta with probably 80% of the capability. The studded Coopers are vastly better than the Michelin LTX M&S, but I have to say that aside from being somewhat worthless on ice, I have never been stuck with the Michelins when I wasn't high centered. The Coopers are just more grippy.

As a tire for driving long distances on the highway in mixed conditions with some snow thrown in, it is pretty hard to beat the LTX M&S, particularly on a heavy vehicle with a long wheelbase (I can't explain that last part, it may have to do with the fact that they are made from a very hard rubber). Just make sure you have plenty of tread on them with at least 50% remaining.

Bottom line for me is that unless you can't get where you need to, go with the Michelins. If you need a real winter conditions tire the studded Coopers are great, but not sure I would run them without studs.

 

[DaktariEd]

Thanks for all the input. I really appreciate it. :elkgrin:
Considering all the factors, and that I do have about 200 miles of highway before I get to snow, the Michelin LTX will probably be the best bet for now. :smiley_drive:
I'll always carry chains, and of course, a full emergency kit...just in case!

Cheers!

 

[bftank]

i just put a set of 235/85/r16 discoverer cooper atr's on my dually about a month ago and it promptly dumped 18" of snow overnight aweek later. didn't even phase these tires and they are supposed to last 50000 miles. they are well siped and give a good highway ride. do really well on ice. the truck is the only vehicle we can get up our driveway!

 

[Jeep]

I'm sure not everyone will agree, but I'm going to suggest good mud terrains, and get them siped.
In deep snow, mud terrains rock. I have had excellent results with various mud terrains, aired down (even 10-15psi helps a lot). Not all mud terrains are bad in light snow, I happen to love my BFG KM2s since I have had them. Even with our ice storm last year (over an inch of solid ice) I was able to get everywhere I needed to go, up and down hills, pulling around fallen trees and such. They are the quietest, smoothest mud terrains I have owned. I have over 20k miles on them and they show very little wear. If I lived somewhere with more snow/ice, I would have got them siped in the center tread blocks and I bet they would be amazing.

The BFG a/ts are good tires, but in mud they clog up horribly, and they do not work well in deep snow.

It is a good idea to carry chains either way.

That is a very good way of dealing with deep snow AND ice, we sipe mud tires very heavily and it works.

 

[Overland Hadley]

I was in a tire shop yesterday and I noticed that the BFG AT's now have the mountain and snowflake symbol meaning they are a true "winter" rated tire. Apparently that was changed only recently so not all old stock is gone.

Some sizes of BFG A/T's are winter rated and other sizes are not. Anybody know what the difference is?

 

[Jeep]

Some sizes of BFG A/T's are winter rated and other sizes are not. Anybody know what the difference is?

Probably the difference between old stock and new stock made with a mold change.

 

[IdaSHO]

Another great tire that BFG now offers is the Commercial Traction T/A

This tire is a real winter tire, and sports the snowflake symbol.

Ive got roughly 3 k miles on this set so far, and LOVE them on my 3/4 ton truck.

 

[Overland Hadley]

What properties does a winter rated tire have so it can sport the snowflake/mountain symbol? What would the difference be between a winter rated BFG A/T and a non winter rated?

 

[IdaSHO]

Im not entirely sure, but Id have to guess that it has to do with factory siping, tread design, and tread compound.

Tire Rack has a good read on their site here:

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=125

 

[cruiser guy]

Info here on winter tires from a more non-biased source than a tire store.

http://www.rubberassociation.ca/wintertires.html

It doesn't list the BFG AT's as winter tires because they are not marketed as a strictly winter tire.

My BFG AT's in 32"x11.5"x15" are winter rated with the mountain/snowflake symbol in addition to the M+S symbol. The older spare of the same brand and size is NOT rated with the mountain/snowflake symbol.

I think it has to do with the rubber compound being soft even at colder temperatures.

 

[sargeek]

Commercial T/A

We had the BFG "Commercial Traction T/A" on a 1 ton dually plow truck at work and the tires were awesome. I would highly recommend the tires and they seem to wear pretty well. At work the roads we maintained were chip sealed, and were hard on tires. The OEM Hankook tires on my F150 wore done at 12K.

 

[cdnabn49]

well my 33" BFG MT's finally got a little to long in the tooth for comfort and with winter on it's way up here I didn't want to chance it on the Rubi this year... I have to say that the old Mt's sure taught you how to drive... after reading a great deal of information on the internet I decided that we all have some favorite's... I am a MT fan even for winters up here in Canuckistan... but with having to commute more then double the hwy time now I wanted something a little more stable and I am doing more blacktop and gravel then muck so it was a real toss up between the GY DuraTrac's and the Cooper St Maxx...and the winner is - Cooper ST Maxx! I really think I made the right decision - I love the ride and feel of the tires and they look great. I can't get over how quiet they are - again coming from a MT. I just finished registering the tires online and checking the lug nuts torque - 120lbs is in the service manual spec.

great read
http://roadtraveler.net/tag/cooper-discoverer-st-maxx/
*Image: Copyright 2012 RoadTraveler.net/J. Langan*

*my Rig in the garage*


well I am finally running in snow and ice - they track extremely well, are sure footed and deliver in the snow, pretty decent on ice - although not a dedicated ice snow tire - so over all I am really digging this tire I am extremely pleased with them, well done Cooper Tires!