Need advice on good performing tires in the snow

Hey guys, I've done a good amount of research here but was hoping to get a focused repsonse from all of you who drive in the snow. This is my first winter in my '07 DC TRD Offroad and we're just starting to get hit with snow in Massachusetts. I've already determined my stock Rugged Trail A/Ts suck in the snow. I've got 26k miles on them and was planning to get to 40k but their snow performance has changed my mind. My truck is stock (except for the leaf spring TSB) and I do all on-road driving although for the next 3 months will be in lots of snow & ice. I need recommendations for stock 265/70r/16 tires that perform well in snow, sleet, ice and rain.
Thanks

 

I recently put a set of Nitto Terra Grapplers on mine. We just broke the local all time record for snowiest December ever. They have been great in the snow. On Christmas I had to shuttle family members back and forth across town for our family get-together since a car was going no where on that day.

 

If you want a good AT tire that does well in the snow I have General Grabber AT2's and really like them. They are studdable if you so choose.
http://www.generaltire.com/tires/T5/Grabber-ATsup2-sup


If you want a dedicated snow tire check out Blizzaks.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+LM-25+4X4

It really depends on how much you want to spend. general also makes a pretty good snow tire as well,
http://www.generaltire.com/tires/T27/Grabber-HTS

 

Blizzaks! Thats what we use up here in AK. There a soft rubber with no studs, winter only though.

 

michelin ltx m/s.very good tire in all u said about driving in.very pricey though.

 

That is the biggest problem I have with any specialty tire. They are too darn expensive. Especially when you are looking at truck sized tires.

 

I have Firestone Winterforce Studded in size 245/75/16 on my Tacoma and General Altimax on my Del Sol. On my Tundra I had the Bridgestone Blizzaks. All 3 tires sets of tires have been awesome imo & the General's have been a pleasant surprise fwiw.

The studs work great for we have seen so much black ice due to the state switching to a Brine Solution for the roads, but they are not necessarily for everyone. They were an affordable solution for us @$85 a tire.

So those are the tires I have first hand experience with & would buy all 3 again (Bridgestones if I had the $$).

 

Oh yes, studs are AWESOME! But I don't want to stud my year round tires. Once I get up the funds for a dedicated tire then yes, I will stud them.

 

AF...was wondering if the AT2s you have would fit on my recently purchased 2010 double cab which is stock w/ no lift. Plan on replacing the Dunlops eventually, and wanted something that wouldn't rub or require additional change at this time; thanks...

 

265/75/16 will fit stock susp.

 

I hadn't considered the Nitto Terra Grapplers. I'll have to add them to the list that includes:
Firestone Destination A/T
Bridgestone A/T Revo 2
Michelin LTX A/T 2
GoodYear Wrangler SilentArmor

any thoughts on these or others? I haven't priced any of these out...any insight?

 

Im new here and just got my truck but my list includes a set of Cooper Zion ZTLs

 

Maybe I could interest you in a real nice set of OEM Dunlops with only about 1,000 miles on them. I'll even Armor All them. From past experience they mimic a good sled on snow, and everyone knows nothing goes as good on snow as a sled. (spoken in jest)

 

Noes wayz! I give you minez monies.

 

In my opinion there is no such thing as a good All Season tire in the winter. There will always be a compromise to be made. I run Mickey Thompson 265/70/17s on the stock rims for the summer. Nice big blockey tire, even has a sipe on each tread. But holy crap they got hard once the temp dropped below 0deg C.

So I installed a set of Nokian Hakkapallita Rs on steel rims (265/65/17s) for the winter. Now this truck is truly unstoppable. Cost was $1600cdn with the rims. Sounds like a lotm but the deductable for an at fault accident is $500 plus the increase in insurance premiums. So the big pictures makes it worth while in my opinion.

BTW I live in Calgary AB Canada, it has been cold as a witches you know what up here as of late and we have tons of snow. But loving the new tires. Almost no fun now since they stick so well.

 

I've got the Michelin LTX AT 2s on my 2000 4x4 Reg Cab. They're great straight-line, but don't steer as well as my old BFG's did in the snow. Haven't tried any of the others you're considering, sorry.

 

BFG"s MT KM2 and siped to the hilt, have been a great tire for me, and the rubber comp seems to stay alittle softer in the cold temps, unlike some simaliar tire's I have ran before.

 

thanks. thats exactly the type of info I'm looking for.

 

No problem That being said, I'd probably buy the Michelins again just because they're so much quieter on the highway...

 

I have Goodyear Silent Armor on my summer rims now. I did run a winter season on them and they are snowflake rated.... they did ok and would probably be great option for you, but on the mountain hard pack/ice for me they were squirrelly, if our camp wasn't on roads like that and we didn't tow so much I would probably use them as an all around AT. I really like them otherwise & have about 20k on them now.