Dedicated Snow Tire

[JSKepler]

Looking for an E-rated snow tire for my F350 in 275/65R18, or LT or whatever designator is on the tire. Don't want a beefy AT tire. I'd rather be unnoticed and on the road than "looking cool" and in a ditch. I also hope to find a set of inexpensive* wheels to mount them on as my dedicated winter tire.

*Not 'cheap', rather, not flashy. I.e., used. A load appropriate steel wheel would be fine.

 

[Ozarker]

Can you say why KO'2,or 3's wouldn't be more than satisfactory, black walls outside, no one would know you had a great all weather tire. I haven't used "snow-mud tires" since the 70's.

 

[Trail Talk]

Been very pleased with our studded Firestone Winterforce 275/70R18 load index 126 mounted on factory rims. I'd replace with same, they've done us well for many miles on ice roads.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Had studded Cooper Discoverer dedicated snow tires mounted to the GM 17 inch, 7 spoke steel rims. They were great in the cold, wet, icy, snowy New England weather. Highly recommend them, studded or not.




^^^you can probably just make them out there. Just after a little snow a couple years ago. These were a little narrower and shorter, maybe 245/17's. I'll try to get some close ups from after mounting onto the rims but before I had put them on the truck.

When they were out this past spring, I replaced them with BF Goodrich AT KO2. 3PMS rated, so I'm hoping they are good AT and reasonable in snow. Going through this winter so far they have been great, but we are only just starting. January and February should tell me more.

 

[NoDak]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT3​

End of thread.

 

[Red90]

Toyo Open Country WLT1

 

[Winterpeg]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT3​

End of thread.

Agreed.

The only other debate would be studless or studded.

We went with studded.
These are hands-down the best snow tires I've ever had the pleasure of running.
(The studs are even directional! lol)

The ones we have are:
285/75/16 E-rated.

 

[highwest]

I don’t have any real advice except to tell you that any dedicated snow/winter tire is far superior to a 3PMSF all season when you really need traction in snow and ice. It should look more like a car tire with tons of sipes and not have beefy treads like the truck tires we all love. All hail a proper snow tire! 🤣

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Studeed vs not, I think, depends largely on how your state handles snow. I have heard, though I dont know for sure, that Colorado does not plow right down to pavement and zone there are certain places that require studded snows or at least require snows.

Massachusetts plows down to the pavement and salts, so suddeds and even regular snows are not REQUIRED, though they are always a good idea in winter. As a result, people tool around with all-season wondering why they've flung themselves off the highway.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I don’t have any real advice except to tell you that any dedicated snow/winter tire is far superior to a 3PMSF all season when you really need traction in snow and ice. It should look more like a car tire with tons of sipes and not have beefy treads like the truck tires we all love. All hail a proper snow tire! 🤣

I would agree to this. However. .Just looking at it, and understanding there is a difference in compound and all, the BFG AT KO2 looks just as capable as my Cooper Discoverer Mud + Snow that I just posted. Cooper may have more sipes, I'd have to look closer to the BFG, but tread and clearing looks good.

 

[jadmt]

if you can stand to go slightly bigger ie 275/70-18 or 285/65-18 the Mickey thomspon baja boss AT is really good in the snow and ice. I previously have run Falken wild peak at3w which were also good but the Mickey thompsons are better. 3 peak snow rated but great year round if that works....I know not what you asked..

 

[JSKepler]

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!)

 

[Ozarker]

Well, we got 6 inches of snow last night and it's still falling. I'll be going for a drive just to sightsee later.

As mentioned ^ studded tires can be illegal, I wouldn't leave town with studded tires, being illegal here unless on snow and ice. Highways aren't going to be like that, some places can be clear and then, illegal to run.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

yeah, studs can be illegal but it is usually something like, they are ok Nov through March or 1 April or something like thT