Whats the best choice for winter tires?

[adsm08]

Honestly, for as much talk as we all put into which tires are good, better and best in snow, I find that it's as much the driver as it is the tire.

I blow through everything in my Ranger, especially with the 4x4, but my dad has Hankook Geotracs, the most mild truck tire I have ever seen, worse even that Continentals. The wife's truck had a cheapo unaggressive Dakotas. Dad's is a 4x4, the chevy is a 2wd and we had a set of big rig drums that we'd throw in the bed. I can get almost anywhere in either of those trucks that I can with the Ranger. Might not get there quite as fast, but I still get there. It's getting out of the ditch when I go in ( on purpose more often than not). The only time the chevy couldn't make it was when we had 4" of snow on the road.

I pulled out of the driveway in the Ranger is 2 Hi and was in the middle of saying it's all about the driver, not the truck, when I realized that I was going straight even though the wheel was cut all the way to the right.

 

[feellnfroggy]

we (firestone) have a tire i think is way better than the blizzak's its all the winterforce. they are the softest rubber ever and the tread on them are extremely aggressive. it is the m/t of car snow tires

Proof! VIds! I hear a wheeling trip comin up. Maybe we can have a contest of winter tires between everyone who has a claim and TRS can vote by the vids.

 

[Frank The Tank]

As for the wintermarks........ they did great in snow with a 2wd 3/4ton chevy last winter.

And kicked @$$ in snow and mud and trails with a 4x4 Bronco 2......... they actually ride pretty good on the highway to boot.

Frnak

 

[mt_cyrus]

After running studded and unstudded Cooper Discoverer M&S in upstate NY, I swear by them, definitely the best snow tire I've come across. They wear even, lasted a reasonable amount of time (35000+ miles) and were decently priced for 225/70R14s ($100). Ran them year 'round and had no complaints. Several other people I know have run/are running the Firestone Winterforces and seem to be completely satisfied with them, though the tread depth isn't as deep as some other tires when new. For ultimate traction in snow, I'd suggest chains or tire cables, had a set of tire cables from SCC for my 2WD ranger shortbox and will buy a set for everything I ever own from now on. Easy to install in less than 10 minutes, easy to keep tight and are durable (within reason), as I've gone to and from work with them on, 18 miles one way, and never had a problem.

 

[sloth69mustang]

Proof! VIds! I hear a wheeling trip comin up. Maybe we can have a contest of winter tires between everyone who has a claim and TRS can vote by the vids.

i only see them on cars. i would never put them on a 4x4 truck. but my buddy usually gets them on his audi 4000 quarto. and that this is a beast in the winter with those tires. i will have to talk to him about vids. idk if he has any with blizzaks vs winterforce. but look up the winterforce seriously amazing tire for cars

 

[Nhaz]

Speaking from experience. The BFG AND the nordic from Canadian tire are rather crappy snow tires. I will NEVER own a set of nordic's again.

And before you read on. I noticed you are listed in Toronto. Toronto Does Not get a lot of snow. lake effect and all. Heck last year they barely got below freezing.

The BFG's I found would get on top of the snow instead of cutting into it. And that's a real problem for traction.

Coopers are decent tires in the snow they come brand new with 30% more tread then most other manufacturers. This means they can cut into deeper snow then most others. not to mention a longer life.

I currently own a set of winter force . They performed well last winter.

The Hankooks are pretty good as well.

But the best snow tires on the planet are Nokian's expect to pay for them.

With General Altimax Arctics being in the top 5 and being cheaper then pretty much anyone. Most bang for buck is the General Altimax Arctic's.

As a side note Lots of offroad/onroad tires like BFG's are rated both Mud AND Snow M+S. I do not like M+S tires in the snow. They simply are not as good are dedicated snow tires. They also tend to be of a harder rubber suitable for summer tires. They get too hard in the winter and slide more.

And lastly. a 2wd light truck in the snow is not a good combination. You will want to do one or more of these things.

A: At least 300 pounds of salt+sand in the bed. for the weight. and for when you get it stuck => Put a shovel back there as well =>

B: Get a Limited slip/locker differential. You can go without the weight with a limited slip or a locker. It certainly saves gas =>

C: you MUST get a good set of snow tires for both options. Driving a light truck without is just asking to hit something or someone.

D: On the first good snow. Find a unplowed parking lot and learn to stop the truck in snow Making sure you learn how to stop when sliding as well. Also learn to look for black ice. Its something that will only come with experience, look for it and avoid it.

and forgive me if any of that you know allready, I see so many idiots on the road not knowing how to drive in snow. usually they are in ditches. sometimes I stop to help.

 

[countryboy]

yep as frank said again i have runned twp sets of the wintermarks during winter timw and they did great good road manors and excellent in the mud i work on a strip job and the roads are just shitty. wish they made them in a 33 i would buy a set for my rangr this year but don't know what i will run yet except it is gonna be a a/t tire

 

[badmts]

Winterforce is a good tire and its pinned for studs but the BLIZZAK is the best snow tire you will EVER ride on! I work for Bridgestone /Firestone in Tacoma Wa. and the skiers swear by them-look at the user reviews on TIRE RACK - very objective and since they sell most all tires they are straight shooters

 

[strvger]

the state police here in Mn. run the winterforce tires. guess that's all i need to know.

 

[sloth69mustang]

Winterforce is a good tire and its pinned for studs but the BLIZZAK is the best snow tire you will EVER ride on! I work for Bridgestone /Firestone in Tacoma Wa. and the skiers swear by them-look at the user reviews on TIRE RACK - very objective and since they sell most all tires they are straight shooters

i work for firestone too here in oh. winterforce are beast! lol winterforce dont get a lot of reviews bc they are so soft most people dont want to run them bc blizzaks are more friendly to actually dry roads too.

 

[sloth69mustang]

the state police here in Mn. run the winterforce tires. guess that's all i need to know.

exactly

 

[gribly]

Treadwrights in the MTR style tread with Kedge grip get good snow reviews whether it's deep snow on the trail or driving to the store. Kedge grip is what they call it when they put crushed glass and walnut shells in the rubber. I'd like to get a set for this winter and try 'em out.

 

[06RangerXLT]

Treadwrights in the MTR style tread with Kedge grip get good snow reviews whether it's deep snow on the trail or driving to the store. Kedge grip is what they call it when they put crushed glass and walnut shells in the rubber. I'd like to get a set for this winter and try 'em out.

interesting!

 

[MountainMike]

The Hankooks are pretty good as well.

That's what I rock up here in Yukon, studded with some weight in the bed and I'm unstoppable.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I think alot of people recommend the bfg's m+s because they are year round. Not alot of people can have tires swapped twice a year or buy two sets of rims and tires. Given the need for the "all terrain" they work pretty well. But there are positives and negative with every choice of everything i guess. Like I said I ran wrangler a/t's from walmart in last years snow and never lost traction while driving. I guess it just depends alot on your confidence, the type fo snow/ice, driving ability, common sense, and tire capability.