Dedicated Winter Tire / Rim Set-Ups

I'm running 235/85/16 nokian hakkapeliitta's studded. Lets just say I live at the top of the mountain...

 

jesus and people call 255s pizza cutters haha.

 

NO... 1 small 3/4" piece of black electrical tape does the job... don't see that F'n light.

 

I like my tires, like I like my woman. Tall and skinny...

 

But she has to have a "grip", right... just like your tires.. hehe

 

Studded?

 

Skinny tyres are best in deep snow. Ain't nothing wrong with that set-up. Except perhaps you could wash them... or paint... or something.

 

It had just snowed... and I live on a dirt road. You try keeping them clean.

 

The Tundra is doing a good job...

 

Ha! He doesn't live where I do. It snowed 4 inches at my house, non at his. Like I said, I live on the top of the mountain.

 

OK... I guess she has the "grip"

Who tries to keep their snow tires clean..?? You gotta be one MF'r of an OCD patient to even think this...!!

 

I bought from Limitless Tire in Barrie. Taxes in, just over $1,900. CAD mounted and installed.

 

265/70-16 Michelin X-Ice on Steelies, without TPMS. My rationale is that these are better on ice, and better at stopping in particular, versus all seasons. Tires are a wear item, so overall cost is minimal, and I would really rather not subject stock rims to ravages of salt.

 

265/75/16 KO2s. Putting them on my stock OR rims. They are three peaked rated for snow, so they earn me an insurance discount.
But I wouldn't put them on till late November even though I live in the so called snow belt of s.w. ON.

 

I'm going to disagree with the handful of folks here and say you'll be fine with your brand new sport and stock tires, particularly on the front range or I-70 corridor. For the amount of snow we actually get (it is big, it is deep, it is wet....it is gone tomorrow), "snow tires" would be ridiculous on a 4x4 pickup if you can drive at all. Especially if you're used to driving a sports car in this.

Get out and play first few snowfalls in your neighborhood safely, get to know your truck, and you'll be just fine. If you don't love the stock tires, change them after a season or three.



And FWIW, yeah, I do use a dedicated winter setup on my BMW, but it runs summer tires all summer.

 

I'm also in Colorado. I used X-ice tires on my car for two winters, and they were great. But I'm going to try out the tires that came on the OR model (Goodyear Adventure Kevlar) for the first snow and see how it goes. They are snowflake rated, so I'm hoping I won't need to buy a set of winter tires.

Haven't had the truck long, but in the few times i've been off-road with them, these tires have been great. Had them on a forest service road in the mountains this weekend, with a few creek crossings, a little rock hopping and a bit of mud. About twelve slow miles in all, and about the worst I expect to put it through for camping and hiking. I'm really impressed with the truck (and its tires) so far.

 

Live in Barrie and commute North to Midland, so snows are a must have. Lake affect snow squalls off Georgian Bay keep things entertaining!
I put my snows on last weekend in October, and take them off mid-April.

 

If you live in a place where you actually see real snow, you know that no 'all season' has any hope of out gripping a set of true snow tyres. To say that you don't need snows because you have four wheel drive is pretty close to the stupidest thing I read on this forum (and trust me, some of you guys could bottle and sell stupid).
Four wheel drive will give you additional applied power, period. In situations where your traction has been reduced a specific percentage, say 50%, the addition of both front and rear axles receiving power can give you the false confidence of having traction. But the steering and braking are now effectively reduced to 50% of their full capacity.
Now, if your meteorological conditions are such that you infrequently experience snow, then by all means drive on all seasons. But if you see significant accumulation over the course of the season then you should really pony-up on the snow tyres.

 

Snow tires do help, I don't think any one could say otherwise, but I have lived in Maine all my life, lived in the county, Northern Maine, where it would flurry for days, and have a few feet by the end of the week, or big ass storms, lived in Western Maine, Mountainous area, again lots of snow at times. And now in southern Maine, more coastal. A good set of All Seasons are fine, if you know how to drive. Oh and I don't drive in 4 wheel drive, only use that for traction at intersections and what not. When we lived up North, we ran a VW Gulf with a bag of cat litter in the back for weight, and a VW Fox that hated to start. I also drove a delivery van (all seasons), and the only issue we had was when the gulf didn't have weight in the back. But dam wasn't it fun.

Recap- Snow tires are a big help, but you still need to know how to drive. All seasons are fine, again just need to know how to drive, and not be stupid and be out on the roads when you shouldn't be. Shit, snow storms are another reason to stay home and drink.