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Opinions wanted for less expensive studdable snow tire

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by steve2267, Nov 22, 2013.

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Which tires would you choose for use as a winter-only studded snow tire?

Poll closed Dec 22, 2013.
  1. Cooper Discover M+S

    3 vote(s)
    37.5%
  2. Hankook Winter I*Pike RW11

    3 vote(s)
    37.5%
  3. General Grabber AT2

    2 vote(s)
    25.0%
  1. Nov 22, 2013 at 3:34 AM
    #1
    steve2267

    steve2267 [OP] Small Mammal Fire Support Team

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    I am on the verge of purchasing four studded snow tires for my '04 Taco DC TRD OR which I will mount on an extra set of four rims and be used for winter road use only. (Caveat: see hunting below) I have narrowed it down to three choices, all P265/70R16. What would you pick and why?



    Note: That Grabber price may not be valid anymore @ Sears; it may be $158, also the Grabber's may not be available at this moment.




    Background:

    This is my daily driver, and I may be using it for delivery services this winter. The snowstorm we had yesterday here in Denver only dropped 3-4", but it was right before morning rush hour. Since we don't plow our sidestreets here, the morning traffic compacted the snow into ice, and many side streets became skating rinks, esp. at the intersections. I slid into 3 intersections with the anti-locks chattering away. I wasn't going very fast, but that doesn't really matter once you lose all traction.

    I'm leaning towards the Discover M+S, possibly made in USA, and cheapest. I really like the look of the Hankook tread design... but have no idea if that "look" translates into better tire performance.

    The Grabber AT2's intrigue me because they are studdable, the tread design reminds me a lot of the BFG AT KO.

    Hunting:
    I've been on forest service roads hunting in October / November here in Colorado. I've seen snow that is 1-2' deep, but I've also seen packed snow and snow packed into sheet ice. So I might use these tires when hunting. From that perspective, I wonder if studded Grabber AT2s might not be the best way to go, probably best able to handle dry, wet/muddy, snow the best all around. On the other hand, a friend mentioned he had read that the Grabber AT2s hydroplane easily (!? -- any truth to that?).

    Thanks for your help / knowledge / opinions.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2013
  2. Nov 22, 2013 at 3:40 AM
    #2
    MQQSE

    MQQSE Bannable Galloot

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    I voted (1st vote) Hankook I-pike; it's the only one I've used personally. Our flightline vehicles are outfitted with studded Cooper Discovers M+S, but I've only driven with them on the flightline (15MPH speed limit). But I've seen all three used up here with good results. FWIW

    EDIT: Personally I now run Blizzaks (4th season on them) as a dedicated Winter tire. Wouldn't go back to studs for anything.
     
  3. Nov 22, 2013 at 5:12 AM
    #3
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

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    I'm in the same boat on choosing a studded tire. I'm running General Altimax Arctic on my wife's forester XT. The tires are double row studded and handle snow very well. I know they carry that tire in 265/75R16 but not sure on 70 series. They're a bit over $100 ea on tire rack plus studding and shipping. I've read good reviews on the I-pikes too. I actually used to run studded coopers on my last truck in 255/85-16. Decent tire but I found they would spin a bit before digging in. That may have been due to the torque of the truck (cummins) dropping just shy of 1000 ft-lbs on the ground. However they would stop the truck with the studs digging in to the ice and kept me from sliding more than a few times.
     
  4. Nov 22, 2013 at 6:19 AM
    #4
    Maticuno

    Maticuno Resident Pine Swine

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  5. Nov 22, 2013 at 11:06 AM
    #5
    chubbydude

    chubbydude Active Member

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    I tried to get the Cooper M&S but they were hard to get at the time, so I went arctic claw and had them studded as well. I think they are reasonably priced.


    http://www.multimiletires.com/
    Arctic Claw Winter Xsi
     
  6. Nov 24, 2013 at 6:54 PM
    #6
    Jazz

    Jazz Member

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    Of those options, I'd probably go with the hankook. I don't have any personal experience, but they're a very similar tread design to general altimax arctic's which I ran for about 5 seasons and loved.

    Which brings me to the next point - have you priced out some studded general altimaxs? Like I said I loved them and then if you throw some studs in then they'd be unstoppable.
     
  7. Nov 24, 2013 at 7:01 PM
    #7
    Rupp1

    Rupp1 "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."

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    I ran some Coopers when I lived in upstate NY. They were great hauling a trailer on snowy roads.
     
  8. Nov 24, 2013 at 8:11 PM
    #8
    Louisd75

    Louisd75 Well-Known Member

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    I've got an 02 xtra cab and I ran the Grabber AT2 in the 265 75R16 for about 40k miles. I replaced them with right around 50% treadlife and went with the Grabber AT2 in the 235 85R16. I've got about 5k miles on them now. I haven't had any problem with them hydroplaning in either size and I do a bit of rain driving. I've also never had any problems with them in the wet slushy snow that we wind up with on the passes around here in the winter. I've only had an issue with traction in stuff like this:

    DSC_0098_zps9c73bfa3_e474c3a05b7efc6f81b1f3a264aee43d1c24687d.jpg

    DEEP wet and slushy late season snow (I'm the far truck). It's hard to blame the tires though when you're sitting on your frame rails. I have only had one issue with ice on the road where I was following a friend out to Red Lodge Montana. The road made a 90° turn and the "snow" in the turn was actually ice. I was fine til I got back on the gas and then the back end broke loose and kicked out. I like these tires and would recommend them.

    edit: Forgot to mention, fwiw the Grabbers in the 235 85R16 that I have were made in the USA
     
  9. Nov 25, 2013 at 2:47 AM
    #9
    Gregman

    Gregman Well-Known Member

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    If you are going to be into some mud, maybe think about Goodyear Duratracs with studs. They have the winter mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall and come with stud holes. There are some tread elements that run onto the sidewall a bit which should really help find traction when aired down.
     
  10. Nov 26, 2013 at 7:55 AM
    #10
    steve2267

    steve2267 [OP] Small Mammal Fire Support Team

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    I purchased the Cooper Discoverer M+S tires at Discount Tire for $563 mounted, studded, balanced etc. Salesman initially had them priced at $663 or so. Got the tires at $110 each, and negotiated down some of the other items such as mounting labor, studding labor; also offered & paid in cash. Had them mounted on four spare Tacoma 16" alloy rims ($100 on CL). The Hankook's were not readily available in my locale -- would have had to drive 20+ miles to get them in 265/70r16, the Discoverers were in stock a few miles from my house. I did not see the Grabbers available locally anywhere near my house. Sears initially listed the Grabbers at $136 each, but when I clicked on the availability button, the price jumped up to $158 each.

    Comparing the Discoverer tread to the Hankook I*Pike RW11 tread of a different size tire in the store showroom, the Cooper tread blocks were more widely spaced and angled such that the snow is going to have a tough time filling in the tread. The Cooper treads also appear to be VERY deep.

    FWIW, my Cooper Discoverer M+S tires were Made in USA. The Hankooks are either made in Hungary, South Korea, or China.

    First tank of gas around town: 122.6 mi @ 7.121gal (Conoco 85oct; Denver) = 17.2mpg with tires at 36psi. Driving estimated at 50% city, 50% highway. Tried to keep rpm <= 2000, but there were a few times when I accelerated hard. Highway speeds 55-60mph; 65mph top. Increased tires to 40psi this morning. Will report back in this thread in a week or two with an updated mileage report. I'm guessing the studs may be costing me 1-2mpg (increased friction / rolling resistance).

    Below 25mph, you can hear the crinkle sound from the studs; disappears by 30mph. At 30mph I notice a low frequency hum, which disappears around 40-45mph -- replaced by a higher frequency hum. It's noticeable, but I would not consider it loud. At 55-65mph I hear a hum, but, again, I do not consider it to be loud. I can still listen to the radio fine or carry on a conversation without problem. My wife's old '96 Ford Explorer (now replaced by an '07 4Runner Sport 4x4, yeah!) had some Falken tires that cupped badly and were extremely loud -- annoyingly so. These Discoverer M+S's are no where near that loud. Time will tell, but as of right now, I am very pleased with their dry road manners.

    Here are some pictures:

    IMG_20131123_091925_526_zpse27b71b9_81b8ad849992956ef61ef1267d61085f38bb9d8c.jpg

    IMG_20131123_091957_613_zps4e00558b_c31995b6797f0c507be51f7188b4ab562acf7a60.jpg

    IMG_20131123_092005_461_zpsec67016e_bc95ae4bf42066910ab11bbae9d99deba3e71992.jpg

    IMG_20131123_092014_959_zps9543bd5e_6d5cb82a04b6664d71b293278140c444cb2cc6da.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 26, 2013
  11. Nov 26, 2013 at 8:09 AM
    #11
    MQQSE

    MQQSE Bannable Galloot

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    Those Coopers are exactly what they put on most of our flight line vehicles at work. I haven't heard any complaints from anybody about them; to include folks that have taken the trucks over the road up to Eielsen AFB (Fairbanks) during Winter. I think they'll serve you well.
     
  12. Nov 26, 2013 at 10:14 AM
    #12
    chubbydude

    chubbydude Active Member

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    I forgot to mention in my previous post that the arctic claw is pretty much the same tire as the Cooper M&S. You will love your new tires, that is a great deal.

    http://www.multimiletires.com/
    Arctic Claw Winter Xsi
     
  13. Sep 12, 2015 at 10:31 PM
    #13
    xcmtb83

    xcmtb83 Well-Known Member

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    With a couple of years of use, how have you liked them? I will probably pull the trigger on a set of these later this year. I haven't decided if I want to stud them or not. Did you ever consider 245/75R16 instead of 265/70R16? I am leaning towards the 245s.
     
  14. Dec 15, 2015 at 9:53 AM
    #14
    Tarzan13

    Tarzan13 Well-Known Member

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    Does anyone have any updated feedback on the Cooper Discoverer M+S?
     
  15. Dec 28, 2015 at 4:25 PM
    #15
    Rick1970

    Rick1970 Member

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    Steve, never mind the studs; get Blizzaks! I lived in Canada my whole life trust me.
     
  16. Dec 29, 2015 at 9:54 PM
    #16
    2006KJ

    2006KJ Well-Known Member

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    i've ran the studded cooper discoverer M&S for two seasons now and they have been great. on complete ice you really do need studs. there is no substitute.. however on general snow/slush/cold roads/patchy ice/packed snow... id say a modern studless tire would be just as good. I just put the new hankook i*cept iZ tire on my gf's ford focus and it is incredible. the new blizzak WS80 is supposed to be a GREAT snow tire also. my next set of snow tires will be studless.02FE8529-3831-4C31-808A-EA2B7D4103D4_zps_2239eb85df34749e0cf4b9ca92ec3180d88d8b0b.jpg
     
  17. Jan 10, 2016 at 12:03 AM
    #17
    steelhd

    steelhd Well-Known Member

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    I always believed that too. Tire Rack did some testing and their results say we are wrong and @Rick1970 is right. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=94
     
  18. Jan 12, 2016 at 3:00 PM
    #18
    Rick1970

    Rick1970 Member

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    Blizzacks are also really good in 18" snow going uphill!
     
  19. Jan 12, 2016 at 3:45 PM
    #19
    steelhd

    steelhd Well-Known Member

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    How many of you are old enough to remember the sawdust and walnut shell recaps? I wonder how they would test compared to our modern snow tires. Drove some high horsepower rear wheel drive cars with them through some hellacious winters and always got where I needed to be.
     

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