I needed new sneakers anyway....what's your go-to?

So this happened .... I was looking for some new sneakers before winter anyway. Something a little more aggressive and grippy on the winding backcountry roads in the snow without being chewed up on the highway at 75. What are your favorites?

I'm on a budget here. Still trying to squeeze in the group buy by @dirtydeeds. This is throwing me a curve ball

 

I'm a fan of my Nitto Exo Grappler AWT. Snowflake rated and I have ~40k miles on them and they just went below half tread depth last oil change. Best tires I've had in the snow hands down. Hoping I can get ~60k out of them if they still offer good winter traction this year.

 

I've used the BFGs for decades and they were very good in the snow but not so good in sand or wet. So I got Cooper XLTs and so far so good but I haven't tried them in snow yet. They are snowflake rated though and some reviews here and elsewhere said they were good in snow. My truck is my daily driver and it has to work well on the highway then light offroad trails and winter vacations in the snow. They are so much better than BFGs at highway speeds and handle and brake well. Very quiet too, even with the back window and moon roof open the noise is wind, not tire noise. They are cheaper than BFGs too.

 

I was considering the Sumitomo Encounter AT. They are a big hit at my local small town garage for the pickup owners. Anyone ever dealt with those?

 

I’ve been real happy with the Falken Wildpeaks, that is if your looking for and off road tire that rides well on pavement also. Plus they have an aggressive look that I like! https://www.falkentire.com/tires/light-truck-suv-cuv-tires/wildpeak-m/t-tire-0

 

^^^ wildpeaks here also, haven’t driven in snow with them yet. Only 3,000 miles on them. Very smooth on the road. Snowflake rated also.

 

Which wildpeaks are you using? There are many variations. AT? AT3W? HT? MT? I see lots of different options with lot of different prices

 

The link you shared is MT which is showing basically highly rated for off road mudding, but will work ok for everything else. I don't do much off roading through thick mud (unfortunately). I need an aggressive AT tire that will shred through a foot of snow going uphill on my blacktop driveway on an average winter day but also not cause too much road noise driving 75 down the highway on my way to the city for work

 

AT3/W

 

They’re like, 20 lbs less per than my Trail Grapplers too.
Adding that much unsprung weight is a MoFo.

 

My bad, I run the at3/w. I’m a builder by trade and I end up on all kinds of job sites, mud, snow, gravel roads exc. i’ve tried a lot of different tires over the last 30 plus years looking for the holy grail of tires. For me and I think the at3/w is the closest I’ve come. Plus they were cheap, I used to run a lot a Michelin’s and I’d drop $1200 for new shoes I think I paid less the $900 for the at3’s for my 07 with 18’s. I just picked up a 2019, I’d like to switch already but I need a cover and other stuff worse at the moment. So I guess I’ll run the factory Michelin’s for a while . Best a luck!
https://www.falkentire.com/tires/light-truck-suv-cuv-tires/wildpeaka/t3w-tire

 

L
I love my wild peak AT3

 

The wild peak AT were what I was going to get if they would of been in stock.

Ended up with the Pathfinders AT. Not as aggressive looking as the wild peaks, unfortunately, but Im OK with that. So far they have performed as intended and I'm very pleased with that.

I'd probably go with the wild peaks, though. They had great reviews.

 

I am impressed with my Cooper XLT's . No snow experience though. Quiet ride with somewhat aggressive looks.

 

KO2s. Always.

 

+1 for the Ridge Grapplers. Came from KO2.

 

General Grabber ATX. 275 70 R 18 Great all around tire. Quite and do excellent in snow and rain and dirt. Only complaint is they are a bit heavy.

 

+1 for the Cooper AT3 XLT's. They perform great in the snow too.

 

Michelin defenders

 

^ This.

 

You sure can. I went from 35” Toyo AT’s that I think are 15 lbs less per tire, over to 35” trail Grapplers - big difference.
My last few Lexus cars I always tossed on wheels that were around 5-6 lbs less per, and it was noticeable.

I love the MT look though! Not sure what I’m going to go with next.
The 37” BFG MT KM3 is still 5 lbs lighter per than a 35” Trail Grappler

 

Love all the suggestions guys. Keep em coming! I guess I have some research to do

 

@Watt maker why the switch away from the St Maxx? Im really happy with the set I have.

 

Like my Yoko’s

 

I’m going with Ridge Grapplers once I wear mine out. I had them on my Jeep and had no issues. Plus they were quite.

 

That’s a fairly new tire, right?

 

I'm not sure. I got them around Feb I think. Came from KO2's on a chevy suburban, so it's not a good comparison, but it seems like these do just as good in snow and better on wet roads vs KO2 - and cheaper.

 

Personally I would stay away from Nitto Trail Grappler MTs my son has them on his 2500 and only has 15000 miles on them and they look like they have 60000 on them not wearing well at all awful soft tires that are wearing quick.

 

Mud tires are fairly soft I believe. Probably not a great tire for a heavy truck. 15,000 is ridiculous, though.