M1A1ABRAMS
Well-Known Member
I would also grab a few road flares. First aide kit with quick clot. Just in case the worst would happen. It may not be them but someone else in need. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
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What snow tires?
- Thread starter bluedog69
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dgoco40
Member
My neighbors use bags of concrete, but I prefer sand so that I can replenish the kids sandbox come summer!
dgoco40
Member
Seems to be the common downfall, people driving to fast and tailgating in crappy conditions. I run the falkens as well and they have help up great. Traction is decent but I preferred my old duratracs.
dgoco40
Member
May want to throw in a tow strap. Many of the roads out here have spotty cell service and people may be able to pull you out of a pinch, but may lack the correct strap and connectors. The kinetic ones are great.
huntercole
Well-Known Member
I like a 3pms rated and fairly aggressive all terrain tire for trucks. I have the Cooper rugged treks now and like one of the first replies they were very good the first couple winters, but now that they are worn some they're starting to lose some snow traction. The tread still looks good and they've been one of the better tires I've used though. Tires like the Toyo at3, falken wildpeak AT4, and Mickey Thompson Baja boss AT should do well. The Goodyear Wrangler duratrac is updated now and looks like it would do very well in the snow. The Bridgestone dueler AT accent has very good reviews for snow. People seem to love or hate the BFG AT tires. I've never tried them. I don't like that the tread depth when new is less than pretty much every other LT rated AT tire I looked at.
BF Goodrich ko3's here. Have always done well in all seasons in Colorado.
Take this for whatever you think it's worth. I've driven nearly 2 million miles for work in ND, SD, MT, and MN. FWD cars, AWD SUV's, and on personal time, a full-size pickup (3/4tn diesel for the last 14yrs).
Dedicated snow tires like a Blizzak are exponentially better than anything labeled M+S, including 3-peak. It's not even close when it gets slick. The true difference shows up when you need to slow, stop, or turn. 25-30K Mi max out of a set, maybe a little more if you put them on a 2nd set of wheels and run them winter only. The difference must be experienced to really appreciate it, words don't do the difference justice.
Studs on pure ice are still the best, but, the trade-off is that the same tires with and without studs on the same vehicle, studs don't stop or turn as well on dry pavement.
3-peak rated tires have made AS, AT, and M+S tires WAY better on ice and packed snow than they used to be without giving up longevity like a dedicated snow tire will. Because I run a lot of gravel in my personal pickup, I have Nitto Exo Grappler 3-peak tires on it. On packed snow/ice they're better traction than BFG AT KO/KO2, Goodyear DuraTrac, Nitto Trail Grappler, or Nitto Terra Grappler. I've had all of these tires on my current pickup ('11 F-250). A buddy had Falken Wild Peaks on a '10 F250 that I drove 3K-4K Mi with on different hunting trips and they aren't as good as the Exo's either.
I've had dedicated snows from Bridgestone (Blizzak), Goodyear, Cooper. The Blizzaks are noticeably better at stopping and/or turning than the Goodyear Winter Command. On 2 different vehicles I was able to have both the Goodyear and Blizzak on them, the Blizzaks are so much better than even my wife who's fairly oblivious to handling noticed the difference. The only other dedicated snow I'd consider beyond Blizzak is the Nokian Hakka's. That's based on a couple of folks who drive about as much as I do having good luck with them across multiple vehicles.
Again, take it for whatever you think it's worth.
Dedicated snow tires like a Blizzak are exponentially better than anything labeled M+S, including 3-peak. It's not even close when it gets slick. The true difference shows up when you need to slow, stop, or turn. 25-30K Mi max out of a set, maybe a little more if you put them on a 2nd set of wheels and run them winter only. The difference must be experienced to really appreciate it, words don't do the difference justice.
Studs on pure ice are still the best, but, the trade-off is that the same tires with and without studs on the same vehicle, studs don't stop or turn as well on dry pavement.
3-peak rated tires have made AS, AT, and M+S tires WAY better on ice and packed snow than they used to be without giving up longevity like a dedicated snow tire will. Because I run a lot of gravel in my personal pickup, I have Nitto Exo Grappler 3-peak tires on it. On packed snow/ice they're better traction than BFG AT KO/KO2, Goodyear DuraTrac, Nitto Trail Grappler, or Nitto Terra Grappler. I've had all of these tires on my current pickup ('11 F-250). A buddy had Falken Wild Peaks on a '10 F250 that I drove 3K-4K Mi with on different hunting trips and they aren't as good as the Exo's either.
I've had dedicated snows from Bridgestone (Blizzak), Goodyear, Cooper. The Blizzaks are noticeably better at stopping and/or turning than the Goodyear Winter Command. On 2 different vehicles I was able to have both the Goodyear and Blizzak on them, the Blizzaks are so much better than even my wife who's fairly oblivious to handling noticed the difference. The only other dedicated snow I'd consider beyond Blizzak is the Nokian Hakka's. That's based on a couple of folks who drive about as much as I do having good luck with them across multiple vehicles.
Again, take it for whatever you think it's worth.
Critter Picker
Well-Known Member
Weight improves traction,but remember it will also increase stopping distance.
I fell in love with the Falken Wildpeak AT3 and had those in my 2500 Silverado Duramax, Grand Cherokee, and the wife's Subaru. They've given the best winter performance for me so far. That model has been replaced with the Wildpeak AT4 that I've heard isn't quite as good in the snow/ice though.
What vehicle are you running them on? Love my K02s, but like the more aggressive tread on the 03s. How is road noise from the chunkier tread?
I'll give some feedback based on the fact that I'm living in the foothills in CO right now, and that I spent 25 years working a search and rescue unit in Washington where we didn't have the choice to stay home when the snow started flying.
Here I'm running Bridgestone Blizzaks on both my vehicles (a BMW X3 and a Toyota Tacoma). They are head and shoulders above any all season or off road tire when it comes to cornering and stopping in the snow and ice. They come off in April and I run all seasons until November or December. I go to Discount Tire, so changing the tires doesn't cost me anything extra.
Weight in the back of the pickup is helpful, but make sure that it's secured. I went to a wreck one day where the people had loose bags of sand in the bed and hit another vehicle head on at about 45 mph. The wreck looked survivable to me, but the bags came right through the back of the cab and killed the driver.
ofbandg
Well-Known Member
As someone who spent 35 years of his life maintaining winter roads in the mountains of British Columbia I have lots of opinions on tires. I also drive a one ton diesel pickup and have for many years, and all my recreational time is spent on back roads. When it comes to tires for trucks it should be noted that most half-ton trucks in my experience have "P" rated tires. That is a lightweight rating, usually equal to 4 ply, the same as the cars you buy. If you are going on gravel roads with a load on you should switch to "LT" rated tires, that is a heavy rating supposedly equal to 10 ply. Those numbers relate to the tread thickness, but what will get you in the most trouble is the sidewall thickness which is usually about half the tread. Thin sidewalls cut easier on sharp rocks and leave you not only with a flat but usually one that can't be fixed. LT tires are more expensive and ride rougher because they require higher pressures. It's a trade off but it's worth it unless you are sticking to pavement or running empty all the time.
Big lug or knobby tires are good in mud. They are also better in deep snow if you aren't using chains, but you should be using chains. Deep lugs actually get in the way of chains and make them less effective. For 4x4 vehicles you should carry two sets of chains, one medium set (no v bars, just chain) for the front and one heavy set for the rear. The first ones you put on are the front ones because they have the weight of the motor over them and they also control your steering on a slippery road. They are also easier to put on because you can turn the wheels out to hook the inside up. If they aren't doing the job then you put the rear ones on. Never buy ultra light chains. Usually where you need them is on a hill if you are spinning out. Putting an ultra light set on in those conditions just means you are going to shred the chains trying to pick up the load.
My favourite winter tires are top quality ice radials. They don't have the deep lugs and they are soft rubber so they wear quickly in warm weather but they stick to the road when I need them to. Driving in loose snow even in our winters is rare. Most of the snow we drive in is compact, which is really just white ice. Deep lugs or knobby tires do nothing on this stuff. A grippy tire is safer.
Big lug or knobby tires are good in mud. They are also better in deep snow if you aren't using chains, but you should be using chains. Deep lugs actually get in the way of chains and make them less effective. For 4x4 vehicles you should carry two sets of chains, one medium set (no v bars, just chain) for the front and one heavy set for the rear. The first ones you put on are the front ones because they have the weight of the motor over them and they also control your steering on a slippery road. They are also easier to put on because you can turn the wheels out to hook the inside up. If they aren't doing the job then you put the rear ones on. Never buy ultra light chains. Usually where you need them is on a hill if you are spinning out. Putting an ultra light set on in those conditions just means you are going to shred the chains trying to pick up the load.
My favourite winter tires are top quality ice radials. They don't have the deep lugs and they are soft rubber so they wear quickly in warm weather but they stick to the road when I need them to. Driving in loose snow even in our winters is rare. Most of the snow we drive in is compact, which is really just white ice. Deep lugs or knobby tires do nothing on this stuff. A grippy tire is safer.
Gary in MD
Well-Known Member
I put these on my rig
You're not UP HERE...You are DOWN THERE! But snow is snow.....All Season M+S.. LT good to go.
