Tacoma DCSB Winter Driving:Is there a significant difference in the snow between M/T and snow tires?

chains and studs would depend on where you live.
Where I am you can't have chains. Most cities are a no go for chains.

thats like nothing for sipping. Look at the Nokian Hakkapelitia R2. Thats what I have and argueably the best winter tire out there.

Regardless I rarely need 4x4, the nokians make a huge difference.

 

Kinda scary how many people on here think MTs do just fine on snow

MTs are literally the worst possible tire for it. I think a variable here people aren't considering is WHERE you drive on snow. Not all roads and municipalities are equal.

Another poster said he lives in Maine and never had a problem... well maine has infrastructure specifically designed for a ton of snow, lots of road grooming, surface materials designed for ice and they use SALT which is very effective. That's NOT the same as driving in the high sierras I promise you! I've spent some time driving in Minneapolis in the winter and same story, was fine on normal AW street tires because the roads are so well maintained the daily salting makes it easy to drive. So it depends on WHERE you live, how well the roads are groomed and if they use salt or not.

Up in mammoth (high Sierras) they aren't allowed to use salt, plus when they get hammered the roads aren't even able to be groomed. Driving up last year in the middle of a snowstorm in a Wrangler with MT tires was fucking terrifying.

DO NOT run MTs in icy conditions as a rookie winter driver. I'm serious that's a lot more dangerous than people on here are making it out to be. If you had years of winter driving experience sure maybe risk it, if you even had ATs maybe just be very careful and risk it. But its your first winter in a new truck?? please get new tires. Get used ones or sell them if you have to move. Or at least get ATs you can take with you and use in the future.

 

I have to agree. Mt tires are not what you want for your first winter. You what at least a winter rated all terrain. I have run all three. And all kinds of brands. I will say there is absolutely no replacement for a dedicated snow tire in the snow. They will make cars that have no right being on the road in a blizzard drive like it’s dry. With 4wd you should be fine driving with good tires with good tread. Take it slow. Leave lots of room to stop and do not under any circumstances let the 4wd fool you. You are not in control. You are not invincible.

 

Chains and studs are legal here.

 

No. You dodged a bullet. Ko2 are dog shit in the snow.

 

Studs make a huge difference.

Chains are for rear wheels only and speed limited

 

What if I had these studded(since they have pre-drilled holes for them) and I removed the studs in the spring or when I leave. Would only be doing this once to these tires.

Just brainstorming on stuff I can do to get me through this winter if I decide to stay here. If I stick around I would be without a doubt buying snow tires next year.

Thanks, forgot your post from earlier. Had already found a good deal on them too, 4 for $650. Would have spent another $650 to end up right back where I started, thanks for your input.

Found some 265/75r16 Blizzaks on craigslist. Says he used them last winter only which is probably dog shit. If he still has them I will be checking them out though.

 

Yes, places like Maine have infrastructure to deal with snow. Like salt. I now live in a place similar... so main roads are salted, and sometimes plowed. But those are just main roads. Shocker- there are other roads we have to use as well. Iced up gravel roads, snowed up gravel roads, light dusting on shite paved driveways, you name it. All of those conditions exist in places that get crazy snowfall. Don’t you live in SoCal and occasionally see snow in places like Tahoe? Is that where you’re coming from?

 

I have fresh ko2s on my 01. I was busting 360s in intersections. No hyperbole.

 

Get snow tires and sell em. It’s worth it.

 

Studs are installed when the tries are new. It is bad practice to install studs in tires that have been used since dirt in the tire damages the tire when the stud is installed.

 

That's the same boat I'm in with my Toyo RT's. I'm going to get them siped tomorrow and hope that helps cuz I'm going skiing Wednesday, so we'll see what happens.
If these tires continue to be so bad on wet pavement and packed snow, I'll probably go with the AT2s.

 

You'll get your occasional miserable, critical douchebag here on TW that will reply with their elitist opinions. Makes them feel smart to talk tough behind their keyboard but, you can click on their name and then click ignore and you'll never hear from them again. Works great.
Drive safe and keep us updated

 

For what it's worth, my experience with KO2's have been excellent in snow. Zero issues driving through snow storms, up and down ski canyons, etc. Best tires I've used. There is a reason they've got Severe Snow Service rating, which is required when driving over certain mountain passes out here in the West.

 

You've already heard it from a bunch of other replies - but Mud Terrain (MT) tires are the worst tire you can run on snowy, slushy, or icy streets. Under certain conditions, MT tires can do pretty well in deep snow off-road - you can air them down and get good flotation, and the big lugs grab snow, but on-road they have none of the features you need for winter traction: high silica (i.e. cold-weather) rubber compound, sipes, a winter tread design, studs (if you want to go that route).

All Terrain (AT) tires will do better than MT tires, but these are still not great. AT tires with the Mountain Snowflake Symbol are rated for severe winter service, and they are much better than non winter-rated AT tires, but if you are expecting to be driving in winter conditions regularly, even this is not a great option.

In winter, nothing beats a true winter tire. Winter tires have (1) high silica rubber compounds that stay soft in cold temperatures, enhancing traction; (2) tons of sipes; sipes are tiny slits in the tread block of a tire; they provide better grip and performance on wet or icy pavement; (3) tread pattern specially designed for snow/ice; this tread pattern doesn't look as burly as an MT tire - no big lugs - but it works to provide winter traction; and (4) if you want to go studded, these provide amazing traction on ice. NOTE: there are some non-winter tires that are studdable (e.g. the Cooper ST MAXX), but these tires lack features 1-3 on this list of winter tire features. Studdable tires can only be studded at the time of purchase; they can come studded from the factory (some Nokian models), or they can be studded by the tire shop as an option should the buyer request it. Studs cannot be removed from a tire for summer driving, and re-inserted the following winter.

Yes, people will tell you that they have mad winter driving skills, and that they drive on this, or that, non-winter tire, and all that can be true. But that doesn't change the fact that everything I wrote above is also absolutely true. All things being equal (i.e. control for vehicle, driver-skill, conditions), a winter tire will always outperform a non-winter tire in winter conditions.

Your choice, however, depends on the types of roads and driving you will face. I live at 8500 feet in Colorado, and commute 3000 feet down a winding canyon that runs alongside a creek that adds moisture to the road. This road is frequently icy and/or snowy, and it lacks guard rails. I've seen plenty of cars in the creek - and that is no joke in the middle of winter. I've lived here for 26 years and have driven lots of different vehicles with lots of different tires. I run Nokian Hakkapelitta LT2 studded snow tires on my Tacoma, and they are awesome. I ran Nokian Hakkapelitta 8 studded snow tires on my Audi S4, and that was unstoppable on the road (much better than the Tacoma) - but pull off into an un-plowed parking area and the lack of ground clearance means you are busting out your shovel. There are many other good winter tires - just call the guys at Discount Tire, or Tire Rack for suggestions.

Whatever tire you go with, find somewhere safe to practice, and learn how your car & tires perform in snow. Nothing is great on sheet ice, so don't get overconfident with your snow tires. If the roads suddenly turn icy and you are driving at speed, things can get ugly fast. Good luck, and enjoy the winter!

 

Just got BFG KO2 in place of the stock. Big difference!

 

Honestly don't understand your comment, are we agreeing or disagreeing? Can't tell lol.

But it is cute you think Socal only "occasionally" gets snowfall while Maine gets "crazy snowfall"... brah, Maine's all time 10 day record is only 3ft of snow I just looked it up, and that was in 1963, that's weak lol. This past January I was in Mammoth when we got 20 FEET of snow in ONE week! Now THAT is crazy snowfall

 

You're saying snow tires can grip black ice???

Honest question...I've never had snow tires but thought it wouldn't matter the rubber if in ice?

 

This may have more to do with the Cherokee being 3x the mass of a jetta.

 

Nothing's going to grip ice, except studs.