Dedicated Snow Tire

[ThundahBeagle]

With regards to the comments on snow removal and studding, I'm just going to run bald tires since Utah seems to be snowless this year! The East is stealing all our storms with that massive high pressure parked over the Great Basin since October.

In all seriousness, I do need something that rides decently on pavement, not just because the East is stealing all our storms this year (good for them!) but as all of you also deal with, most of my driving will still be on pavement. I'm hoping to get the camper in place and ready and make a trip or two up to Tetons and/or Yellowstone which will be 90% pavement but that other 10% will definitely require more traction than I have right now. I am looking for a used set of wheels to put these tires on as to have both a snow set and an non-snow set so maybe they'll last three or four seasons. Which tires would best meet these requirements? Oh, studded tires are legal in Utah and I do want a dedicated snow-rated tire (M+S?) hauling a camper. @NoDak @Winterpeg @ThundahBeagle @Red90 @Trail Talk

I may have to check UDOT policy because I see places where they plow to the road and places where they don't. Main roads seem to be plowed to the pavement and salted while minor roads may well not get plowed at all. And everything in between. There are places that I've avoided in the past (in my Expedition) because I didn't have snow tires and have almost been stuck a few times. (Definitely stuck but managed to free myself with some shovel work and, one time, the help of a plow that conveniently arrived just in time!)

The "snow set and summer set" was what I was originally aiming for. I have nice aluminum alloy rims that came with the truck and they had Yokohama street tires on them. But wanted snow set and got the tires and rims I pictured above.

When the street tires and the snow tires both wore out, I figured the BFG AT KO2 would fit both bills. Then again, I've never been to Utah, nevermind pulled a trailer offroad in the snow there.

Bet you find someone on YouTube did it and will tell you all about it in 15 minutes

 

[Winterpeg]

With regards to the comments on snow removal and studding, I'm just going to run bald tires since Utah seems to be snowless this year! The East is stealing all our storms with that massive high pressure parked over the Great Basin since October.

In all seriousness, I do need something that rides decently on pavement, not just because the East is stealing all our storms this year (good for them!) but as all of you also deal with, most of my driving will still be on pavement. I'm hoping to get the camper in place and ready and make a trip or two up to Tetons and/or Yellowstone which will be 90% pavement but that other 10% will definitely require more traction than I have right now. I am looking for a used set of wheels to put these tires on as to have both a snow set and an non-snow set so maybe they'll last three or four seasons. Which tires would best meet these requirements? Oh, studded tires are legal in Utah and I do want a dedicated snow-rated tire (M+S?) hauling a camper. @NoDak @Winterpeg @ThundahBeagle @Red90 @Trail Talk

I may have to check UDOT policy because I see places where they plow to the road and places where they don't. Main roads seem to be plowed to the pavement and salted while minor roads may well not get plowed at all. And everything in between. There are places that I've avoided in the past (in my Expedition) because I didn't have snow tires and have almost been stuck a few times. (Definitely stuck but managed to free myself with some shovel work and, one time, the help of a plow that conveniently arrived just in time!)

M + S only refers to the space between the lugs being suitable for clearing mud and snow out of them.

Snow tire - my vote will always be the Nokian Hakkapeliitta's.


I do run Goodyear Duratracs on my 4x4 year round... (Nokians are on the other truck). The Duratracs have been good for winter and summer. To compare them to BFG KO2's (another popular brand here)... the Duratracs do better on ice than the KO2's.


I am seeing and hearing some good things about AWT tires... All Weather Tires. These are a compromise between all seasons and snow tires.

My work vehicles are currently using them and they are getting quite a bit of life out of them.... so you might want to check into those as well.

 

[Red90]

Studs do not make a big difference and they are bad on pavement. I drive on ice eight months of the year.

 

[Joe917]

Very happy with the General Grabber Arctic on my sprinter. Nordman 9 on the CRV (made by Nokian also excellent.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Studs do not make a big difference and they are bad on pavement. I drive on ice eight months of the year.

Co-rect. Only good for ice and compacted snow. I gotta believe they came about because way way back, roads weren't plowed at all. They took a team of horses out and instead of a buggy behind them, it was a big metal drum like a steam roller. That's why Aldo sleighs were used, as the packed-down snow would turn hars and icy. So when cars and tires came around, they figured studs would work. And they did. Bit on regular pavement, drive with care or air down

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

I put the General Grabber A/Tx on my truck a couple thousand miles ago, and I’ve been really happy with them. So far in snow, ice, and a pinch of mud they’ve performed really well. They are also very quiet. I can’t speak to how long they will last, but I think the warranty is either 50,000 or 60,000 miles.

 

[Joe917]

The general grabber is an AT tire. The General Grabber Arctic is a snow tire, big difference.

 

[Fishenough]

A Canadian adding his 2 bits.

KO2's, had a few, excellent tire if the snow is just so, cold and compressible, then they're hard to beat. Wet, melting snow, or ice, or packed frozen roads; not so much. Several years ago did a self test, my vehicle with KO3's and hers with Hakkapelitte's (same make n model 4x4), in the fresh snow the KO's we better, until we did a brake test on a frozen bridge deck; the Nokain's stopped great and the Bridgestone's slid all the way across the icy bridge.

Currently, have 4 sets of winter tire at home; 3 sets of Bridgestone blizzak's and a set of Michelin X-ice. The Michelin's are great on ice and longer wearing, but for general all winter use, any kind of slush, prefer the faster wearing Blizzak's for trucks, thou our 2 passenger cars use them (my driveway is a hill) also. For $$ spent and truck use I choose the Blizzaks. I have had the Nokain's and Mic X-treme ice tires when living north of 60, both were excellent.

 

[IdaSHO]

Every region is going to have its best practice with regards to tires.

Here in North Idaho we see a decent amount of snow, typically have 2-3 weeks that never gets above 20 degrees or so.
But the most difficult is before and after that period, when we see snow daily/weekly, but also see freeze/thaw/freeze nearly every day/night.
Because of this, it is easier, and often safer to NOT scrape all the way to blacktop, as all that results is sheet-ice.
A nice hard pack with rock is typically the treatment, especially in rural areas. Though with a bit of daily thaw, you still have ice.

So with that in mind ask yourself...

Would you rather rely on rubber, or rubber AND studs?
Either way, youd better slow down before the next turn.... and proper winter tires certainly help, studded or not