Duratrac Vs. MTRkevs?

[JKBANDIT55]

What do you guys think? I live in Denver CO. Snow is a factor here but it only snows maybe once every two months. Most of my wheeling is done in summer. I do mostly moderate trails and the normal backcountry explorer.

I know the MTRks will be better in the mountains, slick rock, mudding, and everyday trail running. But I have also heard they are horrible in snow.

So what should I do. Get MTRks since I mostly wheel in summer and dont do snow runs too often? Or go with the duratracs and have an all around tire that should do well in anything I throw at it.

I must admit. I love the look at the MTRks and ive heard good things about them minus the snow part.

 

[redthies]

If this is for a wheeler, and not a dd rig, the MTRs would be fine. I think the poor snow performance you are hearing about would be on-road. I can't imagine the MTRs sucking in deep snow. Have you considered the Toyo MT? I run them on my dd F350 and do a 45 mile "commute" on snowy forest service roads. They are fantastic in snow.

 

[crawler#976]

The new MT/R is much better in the snow than the old style, including pavement use. The center section really does a nice job maintaining traction on ice. If it's really iced up, air down, and you'll do fine.

 

[spressomon]

Not a dedicated snow/ice tire but my 285/75R18 GY MT/R Kevlar's, on my heavy '99 LC, do very, very well in Sierra snow, hardpack and ice. Better in fact than my new Toyo Open Country ATII's in the same size on the same rig...

The issues I have with my Goodyears (besides hefty price increases over the past 12-months): Quality control and relatively weak sidewalls. If you get a new GY that doesn't quite run smooth/can't be balanced have them exchange it out...been there done that.

But wow what a great tread design!

 

[Explorer 1]

Experience in snow

All I can do is pass on to you my son-in-laws experience with his MTR's.

He has a 2006 Jeep Wrangler highly modified and is not his daily driver. He has I believe 39" MTRs. He lives outside of Steamboat Springs Colorado. He had to drive a dirt road to get to his home. There is snow and ice on the last mile or so up the hill to his home, from the first snow in Oct. to April. His Jeep with MTR's is useless once the snow sets in and becomes icy. (This vehicle sits in the garage all winter) Last Oct. he went out in the Jeep and when he came home after the first snow has set down and iced over some, he had to winch from tree to tree until he got to the level part where his driveway is. These are great off road and rock crawling tires but they don't seem to have the sticking ability on the slightest ice.

He also has a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Diesel and a Infinity AWD SUV, both with snow rated tires. hey have no problem making it up the hill.

I have BFG KM2 on my Jeep and experience some of the same problems in iced over snow, one of my other vehicles has BFG All Terains and does much better.

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[PGT]

Short of studs, there's one thing useful for a tire in the snow and that's siping. You can buy a siping tool and DIY it or have a competent shop do it for you. The other thing about snow.....tall and skinny is preferred vs. a wide contact patch. With that in mind, you can see why a wide "offroad" or mud tire would do poorly in the snow.

<----- has MT/R-K's and isn't impressed with them in the snow over the last week or two. They do great in the mud, however.

a rally car set up for snow use....check out the rubber :smiley_drive:

 

[Bigjerm]

These are great off road and rock crawling tires but they don't seem to have the sticking ability on the slightest ice.

I dont know many tires with good ice traction!

With all that, if I had to drive where there was snow/ice I wouldnt hesitate to buy a diff tire than the 1 getting bad reviews. I have heard a lot of good things about the Duratrac's and actually looked to get them on my Jeep (i have MTR's) but couldnt get them in my size at the time. Like down here in the south an important review is how well the tire cleans out because the GA clay is very sticky and will fill a tire up. I imagine the snow/ice is a big thing for your region.

 

[crawler#976]

Fred,

Are those the new style or the old MT/R's? The older version wasn't too good unless aired down a looooooong way. I had great snow traction at 6 or 7 PSI with 35/12.5-15's on the beater at that pressure..

All I can do is pass on to you my son-in-laws experience with his MTR's.

He has a 2006 Jeep Wrangler highly modified and is not his daily driver. He has I believe 39" MTRs. He lives outside of Steamboat Springs Colorado. He had to drive a dirt road to get to his home. There is snow and ice on the last mile or so up the hill to his home, from the first snow in Oct. to April. His Jeep with MTR's is useless once the snow sets in and becomes icy. (This vehicle sits in the garage all winter) Last Oct. he went out in the Jeep and when he came home after the first snow has set down and iced over some, he had to winch from tree to tree until he got to the level part where his driveway is. These are great off road and rock crawling tires but they don't seem to have the sticking ability on the slightest ice.

He also has a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Diesel and a Infinity AWD SUV, both with snow rated tires. hey have no problem making it up the hill.

I have BFG KM2 on my Jeep and experience some of the same problems in iced over snow, one of my other vehicles has BFG All Terains and does much better.

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[huskyfargo]

I had duratracs on my 08 JKU Rubicon. They were amazing, and considerably less expensive. They were able to handle everything I threw the jeep at, and then some.
I wish they would make a wider variety of sizes so I could put a set on my LR3 without requiring a lift.

 

[Brandon Libby]

I believe the Duratracs are also designed to be studded. Although, the legality of such a device differs from state to state. They should perform well in most cases, other than deep mud -if you're into that sort of thing. You could always bring a shovel.
:archaeolo

 

[jeep-N-montero]

FWIW, on my Jeep in the summer I run 35x12.50 km2's and in the winter I run 33x9.50 BFG A/T's because I have never once had an issue with any of the 8 or 9 sets of BFG's I have put under my Jeeps in the 13 years of ownership. That being said I have heard great things about the Duratracs and may try them when the current winter tires wear out.