LIfted guy's, what are you running for winter tires?

I posted this in the wheels and tires forum but not getting any hits yet, figured I'd ask in the northern forum

So what you guy's with 35"+ tires on lifted trucks using for winter tires? I'm not having any luck finding a true snow and ice tire that can fill in the wheel well.

 

The BFG KO2 in 35 x 12.50 is a pretty good winter tire if you want to spend that kind of dough.

 

I’m on 37x12.5x18 nitto trail grappler g2’s. Seem to be nice year round.

 

33's but will chime in anyways. Falken Wildpeak AT3s here...

 

Not at a great close up... But the 275/70 Duratracs I'm running have awesome in the snow.

Only difference I've noticed bw them and Blizzacs and X-ICE3 (which I've got roughly 200,000 bw the two brands) is that the Duratracs don't like stopping while reversing if there's a skimming of snow down. Don't know if you can tell from the picture but there's a slight downgrade to my drive way and backing up first thing in the morning with a bunch of traffic going is super fun if not careful.

ps. this is actually a picture of when our Rescued pup saw snow for the first time in her 3 years.

 

My 295/70/18 Cooper STT Pro All terrain has been good to me last winter.

 

Interesting. How long have you had the duratracs? I have had a few sets and they were only good in the snow for the first 15k of their life and then the rubber seemed to harden. I live up in the sierras and have to drive over various steep passes just to get to town. My blizzaks stick like crazy for the first couple seasons as well. I was planning on trying Wildpeaks this season but not sure yet.

 

I love your wheel, tire, white letter combo. I would love a set of those bronze wheels, they look so good

 

Tires are 4 years old now, I bought them second hand from a guy who was using them as Winter tires on his Titan and had maybe put 5000k on them. I got them with the expectation to get Blizzaks but ended up liking them so much in the winter that I didn't bother. BUT I live in Flat-ario (ontario) so maybe that's why I don't notice the compound change as much.

 

True snow tires are definitely the best bet for a true set of winter tires. I'm guessing they don't come in the 35" range to fill the wheel wells? That kinda makes sense since most snow tires I have ran, have been skinnier and shorter than the OEM tire size.
For what it's worth I have Michelin defenders on my truck now and other than a true "snow tire" these have been the best winter tire I have had. I have had bfg ta ko, hankook dynapro atm, general grabber at, cooper AT3, Bridgestone revo2....all those are all terrain tires and these Michelin defenders are street tires bit they have great sipping and a great rubber compound that makes them pretty damn sticky in cold weather. I think they come in 35s or close to it. Its weird to me that they are not snowflake rated seeing that they absolutely outperform any snowflake AT I have had.
I have falken wild peak AT on a 2wd pickup and they actually do pretty damn well. If I had to get an AT in would probably get those again, or maybe the cooper sst pros but I still think my defenders are better. They don't look aggressive at all, actually kinda look like snow tires lol
https://images.app.goo.gl/CANAxNHbq5qrZnmU6

 

I ran those last winter around Tahoe and it sure was nice on snow. I guess if the roads were icy than that's another story. Looking forward to testing them on Utah snow.

 

What load range are they? I suspect that some of the different sizes or load ratings fair better in the snow. My E rated StMaxxs are nothing special on snow covered streets but others rave about them too so I am trying to figure out the differences.

 

My '07 will roll on the same Michelin tires this winter, 32"

 

They were good on ice too.

 

Yokohama A/Ts here, though the Nitto Exo Grapplers were pretty good in the snow as well.

 

Superstar, Just curious as to how you find the Wildpeaks on ice?

 

Have 24 Tundra SR5 with upgraded TRD Rims and stock Michelins 265.
Debating whether to go 2” lift and bigger tires? Would be nice to have only one set such as “All Season” bigger tread tires ?
Not sure if those All Terrain are as good as winter tires?
Right now she rides smooth with the Michelins.
Would be nice to level front but not sure about these changes?
Thoughts?

 

I ended up installing general grabber AT's with studs.. They work amazing in snow and ice.. But they are dedicated winter tires for me. I run BFG MT KM3's in summer.

 

Bear with me. I know nothing about tires but my truck has BFG Baja Champion LT 285/65 R18.

 

**old thread revival**

Depends on needs. I have found that my All-Terrains get me where i am going, but I don't feel anywhere near as confident (comfortable) on cold slick roads as i do when i have my Blizzak LT's on the truck.

Downside is winter tires don't work as well (as AT) in warmer weather, wear quickly if you try, and don't seem to be offered in larger sizes (i think nokian offers a 315/70/18?). Mine are a 33" on 18" rim, but i run 34" AT KO2 the rest of the year.

Overall the Blizzak LT's impressed me. They rode well and had excellent traction. Their warm (45-55 degree) dry performance was better than what i experienced with the DMV2 the first few years i had my tundra.

 

Goodyear Duratrac are absolutely the best tire for lifted trucks in ice and snow on pavement. I have worked at a tire shop for 15 years. I have always been disappointed in the performance of large tires in winter conditions. My go to was the bfg ko2 for my lifted trucks for years. They preformed a lot better in winter than any other tire I have tried. And again I will say our tire shop was a shop that did reviews for many manufacturers so for years I would put 4-5 brands of tires a year on my vehicles to test them and provide feedback in all weather conditions. After the review I always put the BFG’s back on because they were much better in winter. Until I tried the duratrac’s. These tires are amazing in ice and snow on pavement as well as off road. They hold up to towing very very well, last a long time, and out perform every other tire I have tried. All tires (all terrain style, in good brands) do ok in wet conditions on pavement, highway wear and off road etc. However in winter with ice and snow on pavement the all under deliver. The duratrac works extremely well with lifted vehicles that have a wider road footprint. In ice and snow larger and wider tires don’t grip as well as skinner tires. It’s just to much tire on the road and doesn’t provide enough weight to really dig into snow and ice. I don’t know how Goodyear did it but if you have a lifted truck with wide tires like me (35/12.50r17 on my Duramax, and 35/12.50r20 on my suburban) and you want a better tire that performs all year in all conditions especially in winter… spend the extra money and get the duratrac’s. They are amazing. Oh and btw I average about 50k miles on my Duramax with these (but I tow heavy loads a lot), and I got 65k out of my last set of duratrac’s on my suburban that just lugs around my family and dogs. I don’t trust any other tire with my family in winter besides Goodyear duratrac’s anymore.

 

If you don't need a full winter I would go with the Wildpeaks. They have always been good in the snow and ice for me.

 

I have 315/70r17 Duratracs and studded Nokian Hakkas for the Tundra. The Duratracs are likely the best all terrain tire in this size for winter but they (like all non winter tires) are laughable compared to when I put on the Nokians. In moderate to heavy rain the Duratracs will slip at mild acceleration on an incline vs the Nokians you don’t slip unless you are intentionally flooring it. Same goes for big freeway on-ramps sliding sideways. In the ice/slush around here it’s night and day better with these snow tires. I put studdless tires on my FJ and 4runner too, those vehicles are more weight balanced vs the Tundra but the snow tires make rain and snow driving as if you are driving all seasons on a summer road.