Tires

[JFordBronco]

Yes,
I have another question related to this "up north" trip I'm on.
Long story short, Ill be moving up here to the Waseca/New Richland, MN area. My current factory tires are about shot, and, well, ice and snow are very scary for someone from Louisiana.
What do you cold weather/snow/ice folks use for tires??

[olyelr]

The stock duratracs work great in the snow. BFG AT's, Toyo AT's, Nitto AT's, Falken AT's... any typical AT with a lot of siping work great in the snow. Mud tires with big blocky tread and minimal siping dont typically work very well at all on snow covered roads.... out in the snow covered fields is a different story. But for road driving, AT's with lots of siping (or straight up snow tires) is where its at.

Also, I am a believer that skinnier tires typically work better than a wider tire (even if it is the same tread/tire) for snow covered road driving. Again, out in the deep snow when wheeling can be a completely different story...

[TankerZak]

Toyo RTs work great on ice sipped with high pressure and great in snow when aired down. Nice compromise tire.

[Low_Sky]

I was happy with the winter performance of the stock Duratracs, and am happy with the Toyo C/T's I'm on now. The Duratracs were marginally better, but were also a narrower 33" tire versus the 35" Toyo.

[13BlkPowerWagon]

I haven't driven in MN much, so I don't know what type of snowy roads they have... If they salt, like here in Upstate NY, get whatever tire you want... M/T's cut through the deeper snow down to pavement better than ATs which seem to ride on top of fresh snow. If they sand, which results in hardpacked snow for the season, the ATs are better as they do bite better on the hardpacked snow than MTs do. Ice is ice, and all tires suck (studs help, but not much).

Upstate NY, most plow truck drivers (who are the first ones out on the snowy roads) generally run MTs with some siping (Duratrac's are a good example), or a very aggressive AT/RT/CT. I agree that narrower tires cut through the hardpack/slush better than wider tires, but this is another place where the MT deals with evacuating the slush better than the AT.

Deep snow on roads (more than 6"), I'll take MTs over ATs all day long.

Basically, unless you're driving on hardpacked snow all the time (which is common in some areas that don't salt), get the MTs.

Low_Sky is in AK, and is happy with his Toyo C/T's... I'm in WNY, and hate my C/T's... We both drive on snow, but its probably of totally different kinds (betting he's in fresh snow and fresh over hardpack).

[Low_Sky]

All types of winter conditions here. Deep powder, hard packed snow, sanded ice. When my neighborhood streets get too icy (very hilly streets, only get sanded occasionally), I have to chain up. Even folks with studs park in a flat spot and walk to the house when it gets that bad.

[TankerZak]

This is before i leveled my truck.

[olyelr]

This is before i leveled my truck.
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You, sir, have good tastes in trucks

Where did you get the tires siped? I have not found any shops that do it anymore up around here.

[TankerZak]

This is before i leveled my truck.
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You, sir, have good tastes in trucks

Where did you get the tires siped? I have not found any shops that do it anymore up around here.

Les Schwab when I bought the tires...

[aheiser]

Toyo RTs work great on ice sipped with high pressure and great in snow when aired down. Nice compromise tire.

I'm finding the same thing. I haven't put them on super terrible ice yet, but especially in 4 with some weight in the bed, traction on snow/slick roads seems to be quite good. Especially matched with sensible driving

I also only had luck with siping at Les Schwab. Discount used to do mine but recently they've been telling me that the company doesn't sipe anymore, nationwide.

[nts007]

I could tell you very well what works and what doesn't. And what's marginable. But what some consider snow wheeling I call just going to work in the morning or coming home.... oh and I'm from Canada so what do we actually know about snowy and icy highway conditions......

Lol lots of good options. I have never had a toyo made tire last enough miles for me to justify the near double expense over other tires that perform better and last longer. Studs and sipes if you want winter traction. The more the better. Bfg at has been a excellent year round tire for many many years. It's a compromise tire. Most truck tires are.

[JFordBronco]

Awesome, I appreciate the answers, suggestions and help.
I made it back down here to Louisiana last night, and its "cold" here at 30!
I'll be posting another thread here in a bit about oil...

[ghaugo]

I grew up in North Dakota and started my driving at 14 with a 2 wheel drive F150. It stays cold and icy there pretty much all winter. That being said, I run 285 70 17 Duratracs on my 2012 and they seem to work very well in the snow. I tested them during elk hunting in the mountains of Colorado where I now live. I think they are the best all around tire for mud/snow/and mountain terrain. I had BFGs before on my half ton and they seemed good on snow even though some people disagree. I can tell you I spent a good deal of time driving in Minnesota where my family is from and the Duratracs are a great tire for almost all conditions. As others said before me, no tire is ideal for every condition, just like no one gun is perfect for everything.