Snow capable three peak LT tires

[ericm979]

This week we drove to our place in Oregon. The whole area got a lot of snow, passes were closed for time and had chain controls when open, etc. The GX460 (basically a 4runner with V8 and full time four wheel drive) did great. Packed snow, ice, fresh powder, whatever. I didn't even lock the center diff. It's got Falken Rubitrek tires on it which are very similar to the popular Wildpeak AT3W.

The Silverado 2500 I just bought is going to need new tires soon. The OE ones are half worn and probably wen't all that good even when new. The rears spin on wet pavement unless I'm really careful with the throttle. I want it to be as capable in snow as the GX or at least as good as it can be without dedicated snow tires. I know real snow tires would be best but I don't think I'll be driving in snow enough to make switching wheels twice a year worth while. Oregon and CA count three peak snow rated tires as "traction tires" which can get you out of putting chains on so that's what I'd go for.

The Silverado doesn't need to be all that off road capable as I have the GX already. So I was thinking of an on road oriented AT tire like the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S. My more off road AT options would be KO3s or Wildpeak AT4W but both are less road oriented so they will be louder and not handle as well on pavement. I can get tire ratings from TireRack but they only rate within a category. So how much different are the more off road oriented tires than the on road AT tires in snow?

And since I may just get the more off road tires, which are better- K03s or AT4Ws? I see a lot of opinions but they're mixed. And of course the LT tires are different than the non LT models.

 

[ning]

No experience with those, but I used BFG KO2's for quite a while and they handled road well, reasonable noise (... on a diesel 1T, you're going to hear road noise regardless, and the '97 has always had some air noise at freeway speeds), and snow well enough, though distressingly quickly lost a decent amount of traction with wear, more than I expected. At the time I ran them, KO2's didn't have any siping which would help traction with the moderate block size of the tread. Looking at KO2's now though they've definitely changed the tread pattern since I had them and they have siping so if they're available in your desired size I'd go for them.

More recently I tried some procomp tires - forget the exact model - great traction but much poorer road handling and very rapid wear - would not advise due to the wear and handling.

My next set I'm likely going to try Kenda Klever R/T KR601. Previously I've had 12.5 tires and these tires are well-reviewed in a 10.5 which would likely increase my mpg by a substantial amount (every mpg counts!) and depending on the snow would likely be better there too. Overall seems like a good bad weather tire plus decent bad-road, which sums up my use of my truck. Not at tire rack, however.

I run taller-than-stock tires on my truck for a poor man's lift (the '97 w/off-road package seems to have a small factory lift as well); 35's just barely fit and give an extra couple of inches clearance under pumpkins which is nice for bad roads and deep snow (also no low running boards, there's heavy tubing that has step cut-outs immediately below the cab which helps getting in if needed but it's still a good step up).

 

[Paystar]

I didn't like my BF Goodrich KO2's in the winter.
I've been running Toyo Open Country WLT1's last 4 years and they work as good as my previous Eskay studded winters.

I run them winters only for two years, then flip them to my summer rims and get 2 summers out of them.

 

[deserteagle71]

I installed a set of General Grabber A/TX Load Range E tires on my F150 5 years ago because I drive mostly dirt roads. They've been excellent. And yes, they have the 3 Peak ice/snow rating but I can't testify as to how good they are in ice/snow. I'm retired and when there is ice/snow on the roads I stay home and feed the fire!

 

[jyoutz]

No experience with those, but I used BFG KO2's for quite a while and they handled road well, reasonable noise (... on a diesel 1T, you're going to hear road noise regardless, and the '97 has always had some air noise at freeway speeds), and snow well enough, though distressingly quickly lost a decent amount of traction with wear, more than I expected. At the time I ran them, KO2's didn't have any siping which would help traction with the moderate block size of the tread. Looking at KO2's now though they've definitely changed the tread pattern since I had them and they have siping so if they're available in your desired size I'd go for them.

More recently I tried some procomp tires - forget the exact model - great traction but much poorer road handling and very rapid wear - would not advise due to the wear and handling.

My next set I'm likely going to try Kenda Klever R/T KR601. Previously I've had 12.5 tires and these tires are well-reviewed in a 10.5 which would likely increase my mpg by a substantial amount (every mpg counts!) and depending on the snow would likely be better there too. Overall seems like a good bad weather tire plus decent bad-road, which sums up my use of my truck. Not at tire rack, however.

I run taller-than-stock tires on my truck for a poor man's lift (the '97 w/off-road package seems to have a small factory lift as well); 35's just barely fit and give an extra couple of inches clearance under pumpkins which is nice for bad roads and deep snow (also no low running boards, there's heavy tubing that has step cut-outs immediately below the cab which helps getting in if needed but it's still a good step up).

The new BFG KO3 tires have replaced the KO2s. They have improved snow and wet road traction, yet still run quiet and comfortable. Not only has the tread been redesigned, so has the rubber compound.

 

[newkiotiguy]

I've been running the toyo open country at3 on my Ram 2500 for 2 winters now. They have held up well. Night and day difference from the stock Firestone tires that were compleat garbage. I will never buy another tire from them or a vehicle with them on it.

 

[ericm979]

The Bridgestones that came on my Tundra were terrible- like ball bearings on glass in the wet and they wore out in 15k miles. I think the tire manufactures make special extra cheap tires for some OE applications.

 

[mike69440]

I have more than 1/2 worn E rated Falken Wildpeaks on my 2012 Nissan Titan. I have to drive very alert and slow in the snow and ice. I am taking a chance just to be foolish a cheap bastard, planning to hold off on buying three peak rated LT tires just before our camping trip to the Blue Ridge mountains. Hopefull the Blue Ridge Parkway will be repaired by then and meanwhile I dont stuff the truck into something.

 

[dieselscout80]

I have more than 1/2 worn E rated Falken Wildpeaks on my 2012 Nissan Titan. I have to drive very alert and slow in the snow and ice. I am taking a chance just to be foolish a cheap bastard, planning to hold off on buying three peak rated LT tires just before our camping trip to the Blue Ridge mountains. Hopefull the Blue Ridge Parkway will be repaired by then and meanwhile I dont stuff the truck into something.

Why would you get rid of tires that are only half worn out?

If winter is a big concern (spring is around the corner) get a set of winter tires and wheels. Being in NH a set of true winter tires/wheels would make sense and then run your current tires/wheels spring/summer/fall.

 

[mikester]

Open Country A/T III | The All-Terrain Tires for Trucks, SUVs and CUVs

The Open Country A/T III has exceptional wet and dry braking and handling, great off-road traction, a quiet ride, great in snow and 127 sizes.

www.toyotires.com

I liked the winter and wet traction on these. I could drive around in 2WD whereas I needed 4WD all the time on my OEM Firestones which were completely useless IMHO.