Best AT for midwest winter use??

Update - 20170129
We finally some real snow!! Only about 6-7", but enough to give an idea of how the tires work. It was about 2" of snow, then rain for a couple hours followed by about 6" of snow. So it was kinda icey too. I had absolutely zero troubles, most of the time I kept it in 2wd with NO added weight in the back and about 34psi fornt and 32psi rear. As expected I had wheel spin leaving stops with moderate throttle input, but I could still accelerate ok(remember, there was ICE under the snow). I did put it 4wd a few times when I knew I was going to stop on a hill, in those instances I didn't get any wheel spin unless I wanted to. They were VERY predictable under braking and turning. ABS only kicked in when I was trying to make it work, however I am a cautious winter driver and being a motorcyclist I tend to look ahead predict drivers moves as best as possible. Handling was very predictable and probably just as good if not better than my wife's fusion with Goodyear (IMO not that good of a snow tire compared to others I have had in the past, but better than all seasons) snow tires. Overall I am happy with the tires so far in the winter weather, I wished we had a little more of the white stuff to play in but so far it's been better than any truck tire I have ran in the winter.

UPDATE!!

30 miles on the tires, I know it's early. I ended up getting the Goodyear Duratracs in 265/70r17 in the 6 ply rating. After reading many review all over the web and here it seems like a good choice for my wants and needs. I ended up getting a set for a little over $800 installed, which is only a couple hundred more than the cheaper tires and a couple hundred less than others. So far my impression is very good and is that I can tell there is more weight in the way it accelerates and feels. But it isn't bad, I've been in jeeps much worse! Surprisingly I think it rides BETTER now too which I didn't expect. They aren't too noisy, it starts around 50mph but by the time I'm up to 70 it's not too bad with wind noise and what not. Grip is insanely better than my old tires, but thats the point! haha I have only had them on dry pavement so far, I can't wait to get them off road and in the snow. I'll try to get some pictures this weekend. NOTE: this is my comparison to the Dunlop AT20, which is unanimously a terrible tire unless you don't leave a dry hi-way.



Looking for some new tires in the next couple months, I like to research well ahead of time! haha Right now I have a 2015 DCLB TRD Sport with the stock tires that I'm positive are going to be terrible come winter.

What I'm looking for are some AT tires that are really good in the winter conditions of Iowa/Nebraska/South Dakota area. I know that winter tires would be best but I don't want two sets of wheels/tires for my truck. I am planning on going with 265/70R17 because it's stock ride height for now. Most AT tires now seem to be fairly quiet from what I have read, if they aren't please comment! Here are some of the ones I have been considering. I would like to hear some real world experience too.

My intended usage is
- 80%-90% pavement
- Some off road, not too extreme although I am getting more into it.
- As little mud as I can, I hate cleaning it out of all the crevices. haha
- Snow, slush and packed snow for about half the year. THIS is my BIGGEST CONCERN

- Hankook Dynapro ATM - I have a buddy that loves them and have read great things about them, these are probably on the top of my list.

-Nokian Rotiva AT plus - I know Nokian is known for their winter tires, but I'm not sure how they are for their AT or truck tires. They seem like they would be pretty good by the looks of them.

- General AT2 - Seems like reviews are good on these and the price is nice.

- Falken Wild Peak AT/3 - I think this is still fairly new and untested in winter conditions.

- BFG KO2 - I have seen really hit and miss reviews on these. Some absolutely love them and some say they are terrible in wintery conditions. Same goes for wear too.

- Toyo Open Country AT II - Good reveiws from what I have seen, no personal experience though.

- Cooper STT or STT Maxx - I know its a mud tire, but I love the look of them! I havent heard much about their winter capabilities though. A bit on the pricey side too.

I know the Goodyear Duratracs are good tires, I just don't want to pay that much right now. I had Cooper AT3's on my old F150 and they didn't impress me much in the winter. In fresh snow in a straight line they weren't bad. But lateral grip while turning was not that good and if it was slushy or packed they were terrible, maybe I expected too much out of them. I'm unsure whether it would be worth getting the LT tires over P rated tires just for the added capacity and sometimes tread depth.

If there are any other suggestions speak up!

 

I have ben very happy with the Goodyear wrangler authority's
very good in the snow esp. packed comparing it to some others I have run including comparing snow performance to a couple of sets of performance winter tires I have run.

I have had mine in mud, rain, slush (inc. freeway speeds), snow, packed snow, ice ,freezeing rain, rocks and general mild trail use.
it is worth noting that they don't seem to harden up much in the cold.

I have a 100 mile round trip commute 5 days a week that is mostly highway and they do well there too.
roughly 70k so far on the front set and they are getting reasonably loud from cupping due to a bad alignment.


heres a link to a good review
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/goodyear-wrangler-authority-the-rangers-review.233752/

 

Toyo Open Country R/T

 

I'm also looking for the same thing. I'm seriously considering Kumho Road Venture AT51's
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...2&autoModel=Tacoma Double Cab&autoModClar=4wd

 

Yokohamas Geolander at/s works ok for me

 

Tried them all pretty much and I live in the Hilly area of my town, and love my Cooper ST/MAXX will never buy a different tire except for maybe the Pro's

 

The only tire i have any experience with is the BFG K0, original design and i have had nothing but good luck out of them. They have 22,000 miles on them and dont even look like they have been on the road. Do great in snow, rain, and hard packed snow. Do not really know about mud, i dont really wheel my truck (have a side by side for that).

Now these are on the original design K0's. i have been leaning toward the general grabber because the design is ao close to the BfG's, and the price tag isnt to awfully bad.

I am looking to put some on my factory wheels, because i will take my aftermarket ones off this winter. But im following this thread to get some good input and some good research. I like the look of those Toyo's above.

 

Hankook ATms suck balls in our coastal snow , maybe they're better on dry snow but I'm trying the snowflake rated ko2's next time

 

I'm kind of in the same boat. I bought the Cooper A/Tw model a couple years ago and they're poo in the snow. Should just remove the W from the name in my opinion. Curious to see what you all recommend.

 

Alot of people in my area in wv seem to like the cooper at3 for winter. Ive never had them before, so i dont know.

 

I have read about these and how many people have good reviews. I Have never had good luck with goodyear. But it has always been because they were the oem tire which is usually never a great tire, most of the time whatever the manufacture can get cheap. I noticed you can only get these at Walmart too......I don't have much faith in the people there sadly. Are they pretty quiet on the road? I can't imagine you would drive 100 miles a day with noisy tires.

I have always liked the look of these and the off road capabilities, I wasn't sure if they would be good in wintery conditions. How are they for noise and ride on the road?

I have seen a couple of these around but didn't relize they were decent in the snow. They sure look nice, so many choices now!

Thank you for all the quick replies and experiences everyone! I have recently driven an FJ with new Dick Cepek Fun Country tires....I will never run those things, they were very very noisy!!! They look good and may work good, but I would not want to have that noisy of a tire.

 

I looked up the procing on those toyo r/t and shew, a little to costly for me for just a wi ter tire. Maybe if it was a year around tire maybe, but they are costly. I may just go woth the general grabber.

 

My Hercules terra trac AT2's worked great here in Nebraska last winter. Slush, ice, light & heavy snow, the tires were good.

 

I have the general grabber at2 and so far no complaints.


Have about 30k miles on them

No off roading experience though

 

I just looked those up also.....unless I got new wheels they don't make a size that fits the stock 17's without a lift. Well, I guess thats out of the picture!

 

I haven't seen hercules around my area. But I'll have to check into them. Your pretty much in my neck of the woods so we see very similar conditions I'm sure!

 

Those are around here quiet a bit, seems to be a popular tire. Must be good.

 

I had the General Grabber AT2s on my old Silverado. I thought they were great. Always could depend on them. Only issue is they have to be rotated religiously or they will wear funny pretty quickly.

 

I personally don't think they are bad I don't notice the noise at all even on 7+ hr trips. they handle pavement very well... but several people who travel with me have commented on the noise.
admittedly I may not be a very good judge of noise as I work around loud equipment 60 hrs a week...

 

I wrote that review of the Goodyear Wrangler Authority tires. I replaced them with Cooper A/T3's that I'm running right now. When they wear out (likely sooner than I'd like) I'll be going back to the Wrangler Authority. I'll just stay religious on rotations next time and try to have them road force balanced once in a while.