Which tires for snow?
- Thread starter 336wheeler
- Start date
I second this thought. I just got a new set of Blizzacks in 235/85 16, and the difference between these and my Yokohama ATs is night and day. I had BFG ATs on my old 4runner (had the tires since new) and they were OK in snow and ice, but not nearly as good as the studded cooper M+S (which I ran as winter tires then) which are not as good as the Blizzacks I run now. .
The way I look at it is that snow tires really don't cost me much. True it was $600 for the blizzacks and $100 for some 4runner alloys off Craigslist. But when I have my winter tires on I am not using my summer tires, and thus they will last longer. It is not quite a wash as the Blizzacks will wear faster, but it is probably on the order of $100 a year to have dedicated snow tires. Compared to all the other money we spend on our vehicles for marginal increases in performance, a $100 a year for a dramatic increase in winter performance (and a dramatic reduction in the likely hood of an accident) seems well worth it. I am actually surprised my car insurance doesn't offer a discount on my rates for having snow tires.
But each unto their own. If I lived somewhere that saw just occasional snow and people didn't drive like maniacs all year around, I may pass on the snow tires.
The way I look at it is that snow tires really don't cost me much. True it was $600 for the blizzacks and $100 for some 4runner alloys off Craigslist. But when I have my winter tires on I am not using my summer tires, and thus they will last longer. It is not quite a wash as the Blizzacks will wear faster, but it is probably on the order of $100 a year to have dedicated snow tires. Compared to all the other money we spend on our vehicles for marginal increases in performance, a $100 a year for a dramatic increase in winter performance (and a dramatic reduction in the likely hood of an accident) seems well worth it. I am actually surprised my car insurance doesn't offer a discount on my rates for having snow tires.
But each unto their own. If I lived somewhere that saw just occasional snow and people didn't drive like maniacs all year around, I may pass on the snow tires.
336wheeler
Observer
In the 25 pages of that thread, SOAZ's 3rd gen are the only pictures where I see these tires on a 4runner, and on a stock toyota wheel... and not a Limited 5 spoke at that. Redline, I noticed that you ran these on your 4runner for a while... do you have any pictures of them on your 4runner?
I would like to think that I'm between the Nitto Terra Grappler in the 285s, BFG ATs in the 285s, or the Cooper STs in a 255... price pushes me more towards the Nittos or Coopers... still undecided between those two however, based on snow performance/MPG/clearance/ and aesthetic reasons.
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Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
I have some pics, sure some are posted here on ExPo but not sure where. PM me an email if you want me to send you a few shots. However, they will likely be on FCJ TRD wheels which are 16x7.5", close to stock, but not quite.
I have used my stock SR5 wheels some, but mostly FCJ TRD which I prefer for fit and appearance.
I have used my stock SR5 wheels some, but mostly FCJ TRD which I prefer for fit and appearance.
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8619&highlight=redline&page=6
Stock 3rd Gen wheels bottom of this page?
Stock 3rd Gen wheels bottom of this page?
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8619&highlight=redline&page=10
ST next to M55 and Maxxis Bighorn
This is the S/T thread I was thinking of, but I clicked through all the pages and didn't see any pics from my on my 4th Gen, must be in another thread.
ST next to M55 and Maxxis Bighorn
This is the S/T thread I was thinking of, but I clicked through all the pages and didn't see any pics from my on my 4th Gen, must be in another thread.
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14149&highlight=cooper+psi&page=3
Here you go, pics on my 4th Gen 4Runner with Cooper S/T deflated and flexed on the trail.
Here you go, pics on my 4th Gen 4Runner with Cooper S/T deflated and flexed on the trail.
336wheeler
Observer
Heck yeah, that is exactly what I was looking for. This is the particular wheel I was referring to on this 4runner: http://owensautosales.com/2000 4Runner limited 1.jpg (not mine, just a google image). Thanks man.
336wheeler
Observer
http://www.yotatech.com/f177/255-85-16-cooper-discoverer-s-t-76502/
Great picture thread of clearance on a Tacoma with no lift of the cooper 255/85.
Great picture thread of clearance on a Tacoma with no lift of the cooper 255/85.
Lost Canadian
Expedition Leader
Does anyone here have experience with the new wrangler duratrac on snow and ice? I've read some good things about them, and they look perfect for my type of driving. Snow, ice, mud, and pavement being the most common conditions my trucks tires will see. I can also get 5 of these for around $900 bones from discount tire, not bad I thought and a lot less then 5 BFG AT's, which is what I've been running for the last 4 and a half years.
after getting stuck with the crappy dayton timberline AT's that came on the truck...bought a set of General Altimax Arctics for the tacoma, bought in stock size..as snow tires are a bit thin on the market right now.
doing about 4-5k miles over the next 2 weeks...we'll see how they do.
They are a studdable snow (studs not allowed here), in a classic tread pattern. We run them on the suby too..seem like a good all around winter tire for an AWD/FWD vehicle.
Our winter roads are mostly ice, hard pack, slush, occasionally deep snow..but mostly just a few inches of the slippery stuff....so a dedicated winter tire does quite a bit better here than a typical AT or MT tire.
I plan to only run in winter, and get a good set of AT's for summer. I've run snows on most of my vehicles for years..so the extra wheel sets are no big deal to me.
doing about 4-5k miles over the next 2 weeks...we'll see how they do.
They are a studdable snow (studs not allowed here), in a classic tread pattern. We run them on the suby too..seem like a good all around winter tire for an AWD/FWD vehicle.
Our winter roads are mostly ice, hard pack, slush, occasionally deep snow..but mostly just a few inches of the slippery stuff....so a dedicated winter tire does quite a bit better here than a typical AT or MT tire.
I plan to only run in winter, and get a good set of AT's for summer. I've run snows on most of my vehicles for years..so the extra wheel sets are no big deal to me.
After my recent hardpack spinout on the highway I decided to not wait until spring for new tires. I considered the Bridgestone Blizzaks but my commitment not to spend one more year in snow and the lack of meaningful employment drove me toward the Revo 2. If TireRack's compiled survey results are worth anything, I'm thinking they will fair well enough. I plan on testing them out as little as possible this winter as I am busy replacing damaged parts.
336wheeler
Observer
I ended up with 255/85 KM2s. I realize that most of you probably live in areas where it is not efficient to plow the snow, but rather drive on hardpack with snow tires (which is perfectly acceptable). However, 99% of the time I drive in snow, it is before the plow truck can get out, if they can get out. Based on this, I wanted a tire that would not allow for flotation and actual snow traction, but rather dig down and provide traction. So far, these tires have been in snow several times already (and they've only been on for ~1,500 miles) and I can't complain. They do exactly what I intended them to do, and they look good doing it.
These tires have been on since Thanksgiving, but I'm slow to get pictures. I'll try to get the pictures uploaded shortly.
These tires have been on since Thanksgiving, but I'm slow to get pictures. I'll try to get the pictures uploaded shortly.
Jwestpro
Explorer
So after a year+, how's it going in the great Blue Ridge range?
I am surprised after all the advice given here you basically went with the wrong tire.
That km2 is going to be dangerous if you get into the common icing out there. Sure it will be fine in deep-ish soft snow, but anything else it's just going to slide around on those solid tread blocks! I've lived in NC for 20 yrs and traveled to New England and Canada many winters so I know the conditions you'll be in from home to trail.
I tried mt's one year too and while i survived, there were many times a better all around traction tire would have been much safer.
The best solution would have been a more all around AT or even an winter than can run into spring and then bring chains along if you end up in deep snow somewhere. A chained tire will go 10x better in snow than any bare tire, MT or not.
Siping an MT would help but I doubt any shops near you do that. The Discount Tire shop in NC I dealt with had never even heard of a siping machine.
I am surprised after all the advice given here you basically went with the wrong tire.
That km2 is going to be dangerous if you get into the common icing out there. Sure it will be fine in deep-ish soft snow, but anything else it's just going to slide around on those solid tread blocks! I've lived in NC for 20 yrs and traveled to New England and Canada many winters so I know the conditions you'll be in from home to trail.
I tried mt's one year too and while i survived, there were many times a better all around traction tire would have been much safer.
The best solution would have been a more all around AT or even an winter than can run into spring and then bring chains along if you end up in deep snow somewhere. A chained tire will go 10x better in snow than any bare tire, MT or not.
Siping an MT would help but I doubt any shops near you do that. The Discount Tire shop in NC I dealt with had never even heard of a siping machine.
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Siped KM2's are pretty good in the ice.