1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Winter Tires?

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by thunemt, Mar 5, 2019.

  1. Mar 5, 2019 at 2:11 PM
    #1
    thunemt

    thunemt [OP] Guest

    I've observed a few comments about folks using snow tires rather than their summer/off-road tires. Are the summer tires not suitable for winter? I would have thought this set of BFG's would work all year. What am I missing?

    ThanksBFG.jpg
     
    Y0TA PR0 likes this.
  2. Mar 5, 2019 at 2:13 PM
    #2
    computeruser6

    computeruser6 Gott Mit Uns

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2015
    Member:
    #2216
    Messages:
    1,039
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dirk
    Escondido
    Vehicle:
    2008 Regular Cab Tundra
    King 2.5 coilovers Nitto Exo Grapplers
    It depends on what you need out of your tire in the winter. If you go through some snow every so often a good A/T rated for severe snow use is fine (this is what I do) and have cables if I really need them. If you need a dedicated winter tire for more severe winter conditions than there is really no beating a true winter tire (especially if it is pinned for studs).
     
  3. Mar 5, 2019 at 2:19 PM
    #3
    Y0TA PR0

    Y0TA PR0 Dirt biking & fishing

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2016
    Member:
    #2519
    Messages:
    22,279
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rafael
    Alberta, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD PRO
    That tire is good to go!
    You got the snow flake and mountain
    754604DF-D19C-48C0-9DF1-D55CEFB4572E.jpg
     
  4. Mar 5, 2019 at 9:18 PM
    #4
    Tex Man

    Tex Man New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2018
    Member:
    #21171
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    Wydaho
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tundra SR5 4x4
    ComputerUser6 summed it up well. I ran all season tires year-round on my Tundra in a snowy mountain town for the past year. It did OK in 4-wheel high mode, probably because it was so heavy. I was extra cautious when descending on mountain passes (downshift to 2nd gear) and when cornering while going to/from the ski hill when roads were snow-covered.

    That said: I have owned several sets of snow tires over the years. The difference between a true snow tire (like Blizzaks) and an all-season tire is remarkable— most noticeably when stopping or cornering on icy or packed-snow conditions. I know several people that seasonally will run snow tires on their full-size trucks to be safe.
     
  5. Mar 5, 2019 at 9:27 PM
    #5
    CrewMaxT

    CrewMaxT New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
    Member:
    #13874
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2018 CrewMax SR5
    Nothing beats a good winter tire for traction, but BFG KO2s come real close. If I didn’t have winter tires and could only run 1 set year round it would be those. The mountain snowflake doesn’t mean all that much. There are a lot of tires on the market with it that are garbage. The criteria to meet that standard isn’t much.
     
    ColoradoTJ and Hol Milk like this.
  6. Mar 9, 2019 at 7:47 AM
    #6
    tundraforme

    tundraforme New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2018
    Member:
    #18917
    Messages:
    231
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Em
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD Off Road Quicksand
    I'm running KO2s, and I am definitely getting a good dedicated winter. I shouldn't have to put it in 4 to get around town. Don't need studs where I am but, will get a dedicated winter. Run Blizzaks on my Civic and that thing is invincible (driving across the prairies), until the roads aren't clear haha.
     
    Hol Milk and Pudge like this.
  7. Mar 9, 2019 at 8:13 AM
    #7
    muisejt

    muisejt New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Member:
    #9142
    Messages:
    98
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sunset Bronze 1794 Edition 4x4
    Auburn LSD, TRD rear sway bar, LED interior lights, Weathertech floormats, Fumoto valve
    Living in Alberta I have Blizzaks for the winter. It's well bellow freezing most of the winter and all seasons turn to hockey pucks and have no traction
     
  8. Mar 9, 2019 at 8:16 AM
    #8
    tundraforme

    tundraforme New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2018
    Member:
    #18917
    Messages:
    231
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Em
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD Off Road Quicksand
    what size do you have? I'm trying to decide on that now, might pick them up if costco has them now and get steelies over the summer.

    oh, and pls update your profile pic - I want to see your truck!
     
  9. Mar 9, 2019 at 8:33 AM
    #9
    muisejt

    muisejt New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Member:
    #9142
    Messages:
    98
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sunset Bronze 1794 Edition 4x4
    Auburn LSD, TRD rear sway bar, LED interior lights, Weathertech floormats, Fumoto valve
    I got stock sized 20's on a set of take offs. A little more expensive than steelies but look better
     
  10. Mar 9, 2019 at 11:23 AM
    #10
    CrewMaxT

    CrewMaxT New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
    Member:
    #13874
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2018 CrewMax SR5
    I’ve only used 4hi a handful of times this winter. I find 2wd and Auto LSD on works well enough and I’m usually not in a hurry. My winter tires haven’t had a drastic affect on acceleration but cornering and stopping are markedly better. The best tires you can get are Nokian but a very close second are blizzaks (Originaly designed by Nokian). If I didn’t get the TBC Arctic Claws for the price I did, I’d be on Blizzaks. You could probably find some SR5 or TRD stock 18” rims with sensors for a decent price. You’d have all summer to find some. I’m leaving my winters on the stock rims and getting another set for summer.
     
  11. Mar 9, 2019 at 11:42 AM
    #11
    tundraforme

    tundraforme New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2018
    Member:
    #18917
    Messages:
    231
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Em
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD Off Road Quicksand
    You are in 'berta though so you kinda have the need for 4 here and there. Lower Mainland BC :rolleyes: naaaaa

    Thanks! Going to look into the Nokians as well.
     
  12. Mar 12, 2019 at 10:22 AM
    #12
    salmonator

    salmonator New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2019
    Member:
    #24185
    Messages:
    104
    Gender:
    Male
    Tigard, OR
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tundra SR5 4x4 DC
    Sure you can run a summer tire, mud tire, all terrain, all season, whatever in snow/ice winter conditions. The vast majority of folks do and you just need to drive slow and have some common sense.

    But they don’t compare to a real winter tire, snowflake symbol or not. Not even close.

    Winter tires have much much better grip on snow, which isn’t a big deal. Regular tires are fine in snow if you drive for the conditions. Ice is a big deal. Especially black ice. Studded Nokians on my tundra. Just took them off yesterday.
     
    WILLINH and Joe Dirt like this.
  13. Mar 12, 2019 at 12:34 PM
    #13
    tundraforme

    tundraforme New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2018
    Member:
    #18917
    Messages:
    231
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Em
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD Off Road Quicksand
    we can't call it common sense anymore lol

    out of curiousity, how much snow do you get where you are? I'm looking at the Nokians (studded) or another studded but we don't get much here at all
     
    chriskegans likes this.
  14. Mar 12, 2019 at 3:18 PM
    #14
    salmonator

    salmonator New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2019
    Member:
    #24185
    Messages:
    104
    Gender:
    Male
    Tigard, OR
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tundra SR5 4x4 DC
    Not much snow at all here in Portland.
     
    tundraforme likes this.
  15. Mar 12, 2019 at 4:01 PM
    #15
    gdiep

    gdiep I like cookies

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2016
    Member:
    #4540
    Messages:
    1,011
    Gender:
    Male
    Syracuse, New York
    Vehicle:
    2014 Red Tundra CM SR5
    Studded tires are pretty loud. Most people don’t need studded tires. A good winter like Nokian or Blizzaks are good on their own. If you live in an area with a lot of ice, than studs are worth it. In central New York we average about 130 inches of snow a year. But there’s heavy use of salt here. I’ve always had a dedicated winter setup for my cars. The one time I got studded tires, I found the noise to be too much. And the tires didn’t perform as well on dry roads.
     
    ColoradoTJ and tundraforme like this.
  16. Mar 12, 2019 at 4:22 PM
    #16
    salmonator

    salmonator New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2019
    Member:
    #24185
    Messages:
    104
    Gender:
    Male
    Tigard, OR
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tundra SR5 4x4 DC
    All true, studded winter snow tires. They are loud. And expensive. Wear out fast too.

    They say they get worse traction on wet and dry roads. There is a big difference between studded winter tires (softer rubber with lots of siping) and the very common all season or traction tires that also have studs. I would think the winter rubber (even studded) would do a lot better traction wise on cold dry or wet roads than all seasons. But the difference isn’t significant to me. I’m much more concerned about the slippery conditions.

    I’ve never lost control on wet or dry roads due to poor traction. Can’t say the same for icy conditions and early morning travel in the mountains.
     
  17. Mar 12, 2019 at 4:43 PM
    #17
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2017
    Member:
    #7181
    Messages:
    6,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2002 4.7L RCLB 4X4 2007 5.7L RCSB 4X2
    I run summer tires on my '07 full time now. They are excellent in wet & dry, but not in frozen or slippery.

    c83a5b3f-d8ac-4633-8e67-fd9f359e3093.jpg

    My '02 is my work truck and it rides on these traction tires late Dec. through part of April, they are great on all surfaces but ice. It rides on LTX M/S the rest of the time, great general purpose tires

    510AvMyNhPL.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2019
    tundraforme likes this.
  18. Mar 12, 2019 at 5:19 PM
    #18
    tundraforme

    tundraforme New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2018
    Member:
    #18917
    Messages:
    231
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Em
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD Off Road Quicksand
    thanks! that was what I was wondering. I do quite a few road trips out the to the prairies (above Montana and N Dakota) which is where I know these KO2s won't cut it. I'm doing my research now but love my Blizzaks on my civic which I ended up taking instead of the truck on the road trips this year, because I knew it would get through the weather there.
     
    Hol Milk likes this.
  19. Mar 12, 2019 at 5:29 PM
    #19
    tundraforme

    tundraforme New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2018
    Member:
    #18917
    Messages:
    231
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Em
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD Off Road Quicksand
    I used to do that, but I drive a lot through the mountain passes and it got to be stupid dangerous so I bought winters (which is now law here now). After putting the Blizzaks on my Civic, the traction in the rain is amazing and it rains. here. constantly. :mad:
     
  20. Mar 12, 2019 at 7:07 PM
    #20
    gdiep

    gdiep I like cookies

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2016
    Member:
    #4540
    Messages:
    1,011
    Gender:
    Male
    Syracuse, New York
    Vehicle:
    2014 Red Tundra CM SR5
    I’ve had both Nokians and Blizzaks. I think Blizzaks are better on ice (softer and more sipes) but Nokians are better at highway speeds. Both are good in snow. Nokians better on wet roads. I have blizzaks on the Tundra now. I have a full size SUV with Hankook Ipikes, and they are a step down from Blizzaks and Nokians.
     
    tundraforme[QUOTED] likes this.
  21. Mar 12, 2019 at 7:38 PM
    #21
    Borgs

    Borgs New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2017
    Member:
    #7050
    Messages:
    1,757
    Gender:
    Male
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Limited Crew TRD Off-Road
    Pro Grill and Bulge TRD sway BAK MX4 Tonneau
    Dude, those look like my tires and wheels. Were you poking around my driveway with a camera? o_O
     
  22. Mar 12, 2019 at 7:55 PM
    #22
    tundraforme

    tundraforme New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2018
    Member:
    #18917
    Messages:
    231
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Em
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD Off Road Quicksand
    I wish you could test drive tires.... ;)
     
  23. Mar 13, 2019 at 8:08 AM
    #23
    r1-superstar

    r1-superstar Kailua Boy

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2018
    Member:
    #16296
    Messages:
    1,676
    First Name:
    DB
    UTAH
    Vehicle:
    2018 TUNDRA CM SR5 TRD SPORT 4x4 MGM
    These work WELL in the rain, dry, and snow!!!

    Resized_20190313_085321_1948.jpg
     
  24. Mar 24, 2019 at 8:16 PM
    #24
    Hol Milk

    Hol Milk New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2018
    Member:
    #21115
    Messages:
    47
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 SW Crewmax SR5 TRD 4WD
    Boss 8’ Super Duty
    The stock Michelins did quite well for me this winter plowing. Wasn’t sure if I would need to swap them out for some blizzaks. I felt I had better traction than my former 3/4 ton Chevy with Cooper Discoverer HTPs.
     
    15whtrd and tundraforme like this.
  25. Mar 24, 2019 at 8:58 PM
    #25
    polox40

    polox40 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Member:
    #4689
    Messages:
    80
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 DC Limited
    LineX Toyota black running boards
    I put on a set of Goodyear Duratrac's on 18" steel rims for winter, had them on my tacoma they are great in the winter, don't have to worry about trips to warmer places in the winter, also we had a really mild winter couple years ago, wore the hell off the winter tires off my work truck.
     
  26. May 18, 2020 at 7:27 AM
    #26
    aradii

    aradii New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2020
    Member:
    #46719
    Messages:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    arad
    Vehicle:
    tundra 2014 double cab
    Goodyear duratracs AT 305/55/20 good looking AT tires without too much road noise. only 5k miles will update more later but next set I will try BFG k02s
     
  27. May 18, 2020 at 7:52 AM
    #27
    Black_Badger

    Black_Badger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2020
    Member:
    #43611
    Messages:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jack
    Vehicle:
    2020 Platinum
    Toyota tonneau Nfab running boards Tinted
    I run dedicated snows so I don’t ruin my nice rims during the better weather. You can generally pick up a set of 18” factory takeoffs for cheap and throw a set of snows on those.

    these trucks aren’t cheap so why put them at more risk in the winter by not running the best tires for the conditions.
     
  28. May 18, 2020 at 8:11 AM
    #28
    Oey12

    Oey12 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Member:
    #45061
    Messages:
    1,485
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joey
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2020 SR5 TRD OFFROAD
    Coach Builder 1 inch lift strut spacers Coach Builder 1 inch shackles TRD Sway Bar Diode Dynamics SS
    Dedicated snow tires are the way to go in true wintery conditions. However I may be in the minority here :)crapstorm:) but I found the Michelin LTX M/S, M/S2s, and Defender to be superior in ice, wintry mix and light to moderate snow to any All Terrain tire I have used in the past on my pickups. In a blizzard the all terrain tire will serve you better but I have always gotten home on my Michelins. In the past I have used KO, KO2, Nitto Terra Grappler, and Goodyear Duratrac.
     
    Alex21DC and Tundra1078 like this.
  29. Mar 27, 2021 at 9:21 PM
    #29
    YYCDCLTD

    YYCDCLTD New Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2020
    Member:
    #47320
    Messages:
    92
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    '07 DC LTD Tundra
    Bone stock
    I've been on the factory-sized 275/55/20 Nokian Rotiiva AT's which are all-weather rated tires. They've done surprisingly well this past winter even in the deep stuff (here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada). I normally have dedicated winters, but since I put these on brand new last June, I thought I'd give them a try to see if it was worth swapping over to the dedicated winter's this past season.
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
  30. Mar 28, 2021 at 4:44 AM
    #30
    WILLINH

    WILLINH New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2019
    Member:
    #33280
    Messages:
    3,005
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    BILL
    NEW HAMPTON, NH
    2019 TUNDRA
    I have a dedicated set of rims and snow tires and just took them off. We get our share of snow and ice in New Hampshire, so I think it is well worth it for saftey and to keep my stock rim's in good shape.
     
    Black Wolf likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top