ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
I'm no mechanic or tire tech but personally I'd be wary of mounting and unmounting every 6 months or whatever. So, so much easier just to get a set of steelies, m ou until the snows on them and just swap out wheels.
Dedicated Snow Tire
- Thread starter JSKepler
- Start date
I'm no mechanic or tire tech but personally I'd be wary of mounting and unmounting every 6 months or whatever. So, so much easier just to get a set of steelies, m ou until the snows on them and just swap out wheels.
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
We've had a couple of mild snows this past month or so, 6 inches of light powder or less. Today and overnight we are slated for somewhere between 6 inches to a foot. I've seen some bigger and some smaller flakes. Let's see what we get
04Ram2500Hemi
Observer
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
Yep. Just as I had it pictured. Nice
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
Aand the storm petered out to a mere 6 inches of snow.
JSKepler
New member
At this rate I won't need snow tires until next year.
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
Ok. I'm satisfied with the BFG KO2 3pms/ m+s load range c, 33 inch on 17 in rims.
Granted I've been Mostly on highway and country back roads, but we have had a few snows here in the Northeast since I last chimed in. Furthermore, this last storm, which is ongoing since yesterday late afternoon/ evening, has been 6 to 8 inches of snow that turned to sleet and freezing rain. Temps down to 20's and teens. I've driven on these in -15°F. Today the temps rose enough (30 w rain) that it straight out rained for a bit, to make a nasty slush on the highway. Really tough for the plows and salters to keep clean, which, after sundown, then froze again, temps 20's and low teens. Then it started snowing big flakes and we got some serious wind that blew the newer, fluffy snow across the road and made visibility very poor. Drove probably 100 miles. Every weather but warm sun in the last 2 days.
At no point did I ever feel out of control with the BFG KO2'S. Sure, I twisted the knob eventually to put the GMC Sierra into "auto" which is like AWD. But I never had to put it in 4wd, and I knew that if I had to, I could have even slowed down a bit and stayed in 2wd and been fine, because I didnt move to 4hi for a good while. Just a precaution.
Really can't say anything bad about these, except I need an alignment and I'm losing a mph or 2 compared to street Yokohamas on aluminum18's. The 17 inch steelies are heavier rims, and the larger AT load range C are heavier tires with a more aggressive tread than the Yoko streets.
Aside from that, I have no complaints about these tires in any weather.
Hope that non-scientific report helps someone
Granted I've been Mostly on highway and country back roads, but we have had a few snows here in the Northeast since I last chimed in. Furthermore, this last storm, which is ongoing since yesterday late afternoon/ evening, has been 6 to 8 inches of snow that turned to sleet and freezing rain. Temps down to 20's and teens. I've driven on these in -15°F. Today the temps rose enough (30 w rain) that it straight out rained for a bit, to make a nasty slush on the highway. Really tough for the plows and salters to keep clean, which, after sundown, then froze again, temps 20's and low teens. Then it started snowing big flakes and we got some serious wind that blew the newer, fluffy snow across the road and made visibility very poor. Drove probably 100 miles. Every weather but warm sun in the last 2 days.
At no point did I ever feel out of control with the BFG KO2'S. Sure, I twisted the knob eventually to put the GMC Sierra into "auto" which is like AWD. But I never had to put it in 4wd, and I knew that if I had to, I could have even slowed down a bit and stayed in 2wd and been fine, because I didnt move to 4hi for a good while. Just a precaution.
Really can't say anything bad about these, except I need an alignment and I'm losing a mph or 2 compared to street Yokohamas on aluminum18's. The 17 inch steelies are heavier rims, and the larger AT load range C are heavier tires with a more aggressive tread than the Yoko streets.
Aside from that, I have no complaints about these tires in any weather.
Hope that non-scientific report helps someone
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nickw
Adventurer
Here in Central Oregon we get snow and ice on the reg and dedicated snow tires are a must for the glaze ice we get along with traffic jams up to the mountain where you are forced to stop/start on inclines. I've had several AT tires over the years, snowflake rated, not remotely close to dedicated snow tires.
While I think the Nokians are great, it's splitting hairs, we've used Nokians and Blizzaks mostly and the Audi's and BMW's over the last 15+ years with great results....I don't even know what I have on the Ram but it's a dedicated snow tire on my spare steelies and they work just fine.
If the best AT tire is a 7/10 then the dedicated snow and ice tires, regardless of brand, are 9.5-10/10....pick your poison.
Snow is so variable though - here in Oregon they don't typically use de-icer and we don't have much funding for plows but generally find fresh / unplowed snow and cold conditions is a piece of cake - it's the old compacted snow, 28-33 degrees that causes chaos.
My 2016 Audi Allroad w/tall skinny Blizzaks (1" taller and 1" narrower than stock) was unbelievable....
While I think the Nokians are great, it's splitting hairs, we've used Nokians and Blizzaks mostly and the Audi's and BMW's over the last 15+ years with great results....I don't even know what I have on the Ram but it's a dedicated snow tire on my spare steelies and they work just fine.
If the best AT tire is a 7/10 then the dedicated snow and ice tires, regardless of brand, are 9.5-10/10....pick your poison.
Snow is so variable though - here in Oregon they don't typically use de-icer and we don't have much funding for plows but generally find fresh / unplowed snow and cold conditions is a piece of cake - it's the old compacted snow, 28-33 degrees that causes chaos.
My 2016 Audi Allroad w/tall skinny Blizzaks (1" taller and 1" narrower than stock) was unbelievable....
ThundahBeagle
Well-known member
We get glaze ice every now and then. We have it on the ground right now but the roads are plowed and salted. My house and driveway, on the other hand...usually cleared down to the pavement but this year there is a bit of a salt shortage as it has been sent to other states due to storms beyond their normal...Florida, Texas, Virginia, a d such.
I keep hearing great things about the Nokkia. Maybe some day I'll have a chance to try them.
jadmt
ignore button user
we have one of the biggest snow years in recent memory.....I am super happy with both my choices of tires...on my Wife's CX5 turbo we put on Michelin Cross Climate 2's and they stick like glue to icy roads..she drives to work early on a 2 lane road that often does not see a plow until after she is already at work..and can not say enough good things about the Mickey Thompson baja boss at's on my jeep.
nickw
Adventurer
I've heard good things about the Baja Boss, embarrassingly I actually have them on my Ram 2500 starting last summer, the tall skinny ones (255/85R17), but took them off to go with with dedicate snow tires for winter.....how do they work in glaze ice and hard compact snow? I imagine they work great in the soft stuff like you show where the snow can get / compact in the treads, its the situations where that doesn't happen that always worries me with AT style tires.
I've been running back and forth on the pipelines between northern alberta and the bc coast for the last number of years year-round and have settled on the factory studded Nokian LT3. The Toyo WLT and Blizzak are slightly better on highway packed and glazed snow, but they wear far too quickly once you leave pavement and don't do as well in deep snow or climbing on and off wooden access mats.
A big difference I've found between the above three tires and the better AT/commercial type tires, is that when you push them past their grip, the AT will lose hold entirely, while the snow tires will lose hold gradually, if that makes sense. With the Nokians on, i will regularly test road conditions by giving it throttle on a straightaway, something I'd never do with a regular tire.
A big difference I've found between the above three tires and the better AT/commercial type tires, is that when you push them past their grip, the AT will lose hold entirely, while the snow tires will lose hold gradually, if that makes sense. With the Nokians on, i will regularly test road conditions by giving it throttle on a straightaway, something I'd never do with a regular tire.
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jadmt
ignore button user
the do incredibly well on ice and hard snow pack..side streets here are solid ice and they stick like glue. these are the 255/85-17's as well.
JSKepler
New member
We're having a pretty poor snow year. La Nina always does this to Northern Utah. Can you share a general location? Looking to get in some late winter and spring skiing since I'm just getting my rig up and travel worthy. Between a busy 9 to 5, a minor surgery, and very hit and miss snow it just hasn't happened, but such is life. That area looks awesome for cross country which is what my wife and I like to do together. Your plates say Montana but that is a BIG state!