driving around in the mountains snow tire

[KFhunter]

Scared myself last week coming off a mountain in Idaho      

slid down and almost rear ended my hunting pard when he suddenly stopped for a truck coming up, lucky he was paying attention and eased down the road until I stopped sliding   
 
I'm using Falkin wildpeak at3 but they got 40-50k or so miles and are rounded off on all the biting edges, so they're skates on slick stuff. 
They were pretty good new, but there's better for sure for snow/ice slush. 


I'm not as interested in typical on highway use as I am wanting to go through gravel roads with 8-10" wet snow that some dude rutted up with his F350


reccomds?

[High Climber]

Cooper st Max’s work pretty decent those conditions, even so I chain up all 4 real quick when it’s like that and don’t worry 

[KFhunter]

I can't chain the front   


General Grabber A/TX is studdable and severe snow rated

[Stein]

The narrower the better in my experience.  I have the Blizzaks on all winter and have been pretty happy with them, but they are more geared toward colder snow & ice vs slush.  On and off pavement they have been performing well, I haven't felt the need to chain up since I put them on although I do carry them and wouldn't hesitate.

[Special T]

Milestar Pategonia.  Wouldn't drive them on pavement year round. Softer compounds for increased traction in cold. I would mount these on a spare set of wheels for winter and hunting. I have several friends in Alaska  that use and love them, as well as here in western we.

[Magnum_Willys]

I have the Patagonia - got for rock use due to 3 ply sidewalls.  Center rib doesnt grip on wet or ice as well as Duratrac.   Does fine in deeper snow.  Great in rock.

For piece of mind just chain up.  I threw spacers on my 1500 so I can chain either end or both.  For steep ice its only option.  Deep snow can just air down.

[KFhunter]

I haven't tried spacers yet, but I intend too. 


My current tires are 265/70-17 and at full lock on factory wheels I can rub the frame rail when tires were new.   So that's maxed out factory. 


265/65 - 17 were the factory tires, but it was the trail boss package so that's up a size from regular Colorado's.   
No rub issues there, so I'm *hoping* with a 1" spacer I can use low profile chains on a 265/65 tire. 

the rear axle isn't an issue

[Special T]

I have the Patagonia - got for rock use due to 3 ply sidewalls.  Center rib doesnt grip on wet or ice as well as Duratrac.   Does fine in deeper snow.  Great in rock.

For piece of mind just chain up.  I threw spacers on my 1500 so I can chain either end or both.  For steep ice its only option.  Deep snow can just air down.

If I were to use it around ice I would sipe the center section.

[KFhunter]

looks like I can go 1.5" bora spacers on factory wheels because there's a pocket for the factory studs which give a little bit of clearance.   anything less and I'd have to grind studs down

also when changing disks for a brake job make sure the disks are as thick as factory, or thicker



I might try that see if I can chain up the front

[johnbmyersii]

Cooper st Max’s work pretty decent those conditions, even so I chain up all 4 real quick when it’s like that and don’t worry 

I second this hands down best mountain tire

[Cylvertip]

BFG Mud Terrains.  Any version - KM, KM2, or KM3.  Load range D And E are 60-70k tires.  I run a newer set for winter and an older set for summer.  When the old set wears out, I get new ones and those become the winter set.  I have never needed chains.  If you can fit a 33, look at the pizza cutter 255/85's.

[BNAElkhntr]

Run the pass 4 days a Week my winter tires are Goodyear Duratrac's fantastic performance in snow and seem fine in mud

[Magnum_Willys]

I have the Patagonia - got for rock use due to 3 ply sidewalls.  Center rib doesnt grip on wet or ice as well as Duratrac.   Does fine in deeper snow.  Great in rock.

For piece of mind just chain up.  I threw spacers on my 1500 so I can chain either end or both.  For steep ice its only option.  Deep snow can just air down.

If I were to use it around ice I would sipe the center section.

  Planning on it !

[elksnout]

F150 here. I got S series chains and run them on the front with no problems. Without those on the front for steering and braking I would still be sitting sideways facing downhill on a Colorado mountain. I still need to get the upholstery redone on the drivers seat after sucking most of it up my arse. Packed ice under a fresh skiff of snow. Pitch black. Never been so puckered in my life. Chain up.

Elksnout

[Dirty Mike]

Cooper Discovery AT3 did amazing in my gmc 3500 on a moose hunt in 49 deg unit. 2ft of snow and and ice kept on trucking with ease. I had chains if I needed them but never had to use them.

[Jason]

I've been extremely happy with the Yokohama Geolander MT G003 tires. They are very good in the snow, a bit of road noise but not to bad, wear seems to be way better than the Toyo RT's or MT's that I had previously and the G003 is cheaper. I highly recommend them.

[Timberstalker]

I've been extremely happy with the Yokohama Geolander MT G003 tires. They are very good in the snow, a bit of road noise but not to bad, wear seems to be way better than the Toyo RT's or MT's that I had previously and the G003 is cheaper. I highly recommend them.

I ran three sets of these and have nothing but positive things to say about them.
They all went 55-60k on a diesel truck.

[thinkingman]

Can you have the Falkens siped at 40k?
I’m in the same circumstance.

[Special T]

Can you have the Falkens siped at 40k?
I’m in the same circumstance.

Depends on actual tread depth, and who you take it to. Many les Schwab have machines and most commericial outfits.have them. Most places wouldnt do ut on a lower tread tire for fear of slicing into the casing.

[Dan-o]

Can you have the Falkens siped at 40k?
I’m in the same circumstance.

Depends on actual tread depth, and who you take it to. Many les Schwab have machines and most commericial outfits.have them. Most places wouldnt do ut on a lower tread tire for fear of slicing into the casing.

I've never found a place that will sipe used tires. 

I know it can be done because a guy i knew that worked at a schwabs did his own.  Not sure whether the boss/owner knew, but I know they didn't do used tires for customers.

I think most places won't do it for fear of hitting rocks etc and damaging their machine.   

[Stein]

I imagine it would be impossible to get all the rocks out and it's a risk for what is a pretty inexpensive service.  That said, the Schwab near me will hardly touch a tire they didn't sell.  They'll do a few things if you pay 3-4X the normal rate, but they've told me no on several simple things on both new and used tires.

[KFhunter]

Can you have the Falkens siped at 40k?
I’m in the same circumstance.

Depends on actual tread depth, and who you take it to. Many les Schwab have machines and most commericial outfits.have them. Most places wouldnt do ut on a lower tread tire for fear of slicing into the casing.

No one would do this in my area, the dirt and rocks mess up the machine is their excuse, and there may be liability issues if the tread isn't full depth you could get into cords.

that said,  I can do it myself as I have a tire iron for cutting race tires and it has a heated blades for siping tread.   

that would help a bit, but all the corners on the tread are rounded off and they got like 50k miles on em, maybe more


its a long tedius process    

I got it for my tractor tire to plow snow, tires are old and slippery

[Magnum_Willys]

Those groovers are great.  Did my 44" boggers and made a big difference on packed snow and ice. 

[KFhunter]

My little colly wouldn't keep up   

[MIKEXRAY]

I've run the Cooper Discoverer  M&S every winter for about 15 years on my F350. They come sipped already and I do get them studded all four for highway driving. I tow a work trailer all around the Northwest all winter plus same trailer for snowmobiling and with these tires I feel rock solid going anywhere anytime. Either ice or 2ft of snow no problem.  I get three winters out of them,  about 40,000 miles so don't expect 60 or 70k . I can't think of any instance with trailer , camper or any where I was slipping or in danger while in 4wd.  Good luck.

[Alchase]

I've been extremely happy with the Yokohama Geolander MT G003 tires. They are very good in the snow, a bit of road noise but not to bad, wear seems to be way better than the Toyo RT's or MT's that I had previously and the G003 is cheaper. I highly recommend them.

I ran three sets of these and have nothing but positive things to say about them.
They all went 55-60k on a diesel truck.

I also had great luck with the Geolander MT G003 tires on my 1500 Ram in the snow!

[KFhunter]

I went with the General Grabbers at/x and studded them.

Talked to the tire guy, he used to work for chevy and said no matter what size tire or spacers don't chain the front- it'll take out my ABS and even kick me out of 4x4

Says he seen that happen at the dealer trucks brought in that chained.

So I got 265 70 -17

[upperleft]

I run the Hercules Terra Trac AT II and I'm super happy with them. I got them last year and they still look great. the AT II's are more of all terrain tire so I don't know if thats what you'd be looking for but I still thought I should throw it out there as a possible option for you.

I own a old Toyota t100 that I'm planning on making it into my ultimate hunting rig when I have the time. I haven't gotten to it yet but I'm planning on putting the Hercules Terra Trac m/t or t/g max's. Don't be afraid to run a lesser known or off brand tire.

[Stein]

I also started carrying a set of recovery boards and an actual snatch strap rated for my truck.  I've actually been wanting to try the boards out but haven't gotten stuck for a few years.

With the snow tires, I haven't even chained up for two years now.

[KFhunter]

recovery boards are a great idea

last winter I got stuck in the snow in a place I shouldn't have been...

my strap wasn't up to the task, snapped over and over and wasn't stretchy.   I had it looped in a mag wheel and tied to a tree, put it into reverse and it would spin up the strap and pull me backwards.   A better strap or rope woulda worked


now I got a nice proper recovery strap