Tire Advice: Pickup Truck

Will_C · Oct 31, 2004

I am looking for some advice about buying tires for my Toyota Tundra truck. I bought a set of factory take off steel wheels so these tires would only be for winter use. I would put the alloy wheels and the OEM tires back on for 3 season use.
I live on a hill, with a road that gets decent winter plowing.I drive through 4-6" of snow several times each winter when my schedule does not match the town's plowing schedule. I also am a deer hunter, and drive on fields and farm roads during the season.
I have been doing research, and I get confused about whether winter tires like Dunlop Blizzaks or A/T tires like B.F. Goodrich A/T K/O would suit me best. I am looking for any advice on tire type, and brand recommendations.
Thanks, Will

Gary_in_Indiana · Oct 31, 2004

I have a set of Bridgestone Dueler all season tires on now that are very nice and were very highly rated tires in every area except for use in snow. As I live in the snow belt, I'll get a set of BFG Mud Terrains for December through March. Not as smooth or quiet on dry pavement, but that's the trade off. With those on your 'winter wheels,' you shouldn't have any problems. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Fortunately, I have an extra set of factory aluminum wheels, too, so it's just a matter of changing four wheels on my Tahoe without worrying about dismounting, mounting, balancing, etc. I'd recommend a second set of wheels to anyone living in snowy climates.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

rdln · Oct 31, 2004

bfg a/t ko, asap 'nuff said

RobertN · Oct 31, 2004

I found Big-O Bigfoot-XT's worked well for similar requirements on my last truck.

MF1455v · Oct 31, 2004

Don't know much about the other tires mentioned. I do know you can't go wrong with B.F. Goodrich A/T K/O. They go well in all types of weather and last. The last set I had had 57k miles on them and still had some tread left. Traded vehicle so did not get full life out of them.

Boondox · Nov 1, 2004

Not sure what it's like in your area, but we're fairly close here in northern VT. We get a lot of variability with late season ice and slush, plus we live at the top of a long hill. Under those conditions we've learned to go with actual snow tires in winter. I run Haakappellitas on the Subaru and Cooper Discovers (studded) on the Chevy Truck.

The Coopers are impressive but the Haaks are phenomenal, as is the Subaru! Last winter we had an ice storm and while cars all around me were sliding into the ditches the little Subey stuck to the road like glue!

Pete

QueBota · Nov 1, 2004

Mostly on road. Michelin LTX-MS.

Mostly off road, back roads BFG AT KO.

Dave

Youare · Nov 1, 2004

Living in New Hampshire we face our share of snow, ice, and mud from fall until early spring. I have been driving these roads for almost 40 years.

I think the size tires that come standard on most trucks in this area are too big for the truck for the best traction. The bir rubber appaeals to the young at heart. The tire width to vechicle weight seems to be off.

The VW bettle is a prime example, great traction because the engine weight was located over narrow tires. My cousin decided to put some fender flairs and wide tires on his 1972 bug. Made it look like a pregnant roller skate and was very likely to hydroplane if you hit a puddle over 40 MPH.

I know owners of T-100's Toyotas who have ended up in the snow bank when the truck hit slush on the highway. He changed to a narrow snow tire and increased traction and directional stability on slushly and snowy surfaces.

Wide tires and floation is nice if you are running in soft sand and mud. I purchased a new Toyota Tacoma and specifically asked for the narrower tire size. You get better gas fuel economy with a narrow tire than you do with the big skins. My son found this out on an F-150 he had for a while with 11 inch wide mudders.

Just my 2 cents.
Randy

Egon · Nov 1, 2004

I would also go with a tall narrow low profile tire. It would seem industry is trending this way reverting back to the tire shape that went on wooden spoked wheels.

Brand makes are difficult to answer as everyone has their favorite and then the manufacturer makes subtle changes that change all the characteristics originally favored.

Guess in general the better the traction the shorter the tread life and what you want is usually a trade off somewhere in between.

Thread patterns and rubber comosition will dictate optimum service conditions and cannot meet all driving conditions with one pattern. Choose the one that meets the majority of your driving needs.

I kinda like staying with one locally owned dealer that knows he's gona get a repeat customer. Seems to make for better service.

Egon

shvl73 · Nov 1, 2004

I've been using Nokian Vativa's for about 25,000 miles & treadwear has been very good on my Explorer. They were a big step up in winter traction over the Goodyears they replaced. They are the LT series not the P series like the ones I replaced but , the ride quality is similar. Not loud on dry pavement & wet traction is good as well. They are made in USA, I was told they are made by Cooper.