Well, with snow in the forecast next week. Nokian Winter Tires-Hekka 9 vs LT2

Anyone have any experience?

I'm currently running 265/75/16 Duratracs, while great in the winter for what they are, wife will be doing a lot more traveling this winter and looking to run a dedicated winter tire.

A few years ago we ran studded Hekka 7's on our Wrangler and they were fantastic. The latest Hekka 9s are only available in a 265/70/16, while the LT2 are available in the 265/75/16.

Just wondering if anyone has any experiences with them.

 

I would run the duratracs, I had 265/75/16’s on my truck for almost 80,000 miles and they were great in the snow. I don’t have any experience with the other tires, so can’t help you there.

 

That's what we currently run, and I agree, they are decent in snow, it's more the ice that is the issue.

 

A true winter tire will kick the ass of any AT tire, our trucks with light back ends can break loose if your not paying attention. I have DMV2 for winter tires but the Nokians would be great for sure. We have a lot of winter up here, your wife will appreciate good winter tires.

 

I'm going LT2's in 235. Reviews are pretty great on them all around and E rated (vs P for the hakka 9's) for when you hit mixed snow/dirt fire roads in the spring. Hoping they are great and will help keep the truck on the road pulling my sled!

 

I snagged the LT2 off of simpletire a few weeks ago for $88 a tire. Haven't run them before but I'm expecting them to be pretty decent for the price.

 

In what size?

 

265/75/16 on my stock wheels

 

I would run the Duratracs, personally. When I had a set on my '10 I drove 45 miles home in a blizzard that had (no exaggerations here) 6-8 inches of standing snow on the roads, through hilly terrain in Western Maine. I only locked it into 4x4 once and it was when I stopped to pull somebody else out of a ditch. The Duratrac are as good or better as any dedicated snow you're likely to find for a Tacoma, in my opinion.

 

They may be as good in ideal conditions but when its extremely cold and the duratracs are like bricks and then you hit a patch of icy compacted snow, I know I'd want snow tires.

 

I never had a problem with traction with mine; even during the really cold 'squeaky snow' stretches of -20 mornings I never had an issue with slippage, and I ran them for 3 winters before I traded the truck. Unstudded, if it matters.

 

Don’t get me wrong, Duratracs are fantastic tires for most situations all year round, but having run both Duratracs and dedicated studded winter tires in the past, I can tell you there is a massive difference between them, especially when it comes to breaking distances. My wife’s commute consistes of 160kms round trip in Northern Alberta where temperatures in the -30s are not out of the norm.

 

That’s a great deal. I’m looking at about $300 a tire around these parts.

 

Meh. Having run dedicated snows and Duratracs, I didn't notice a difference in performance in the majority of conditions I've had them in. The only time I ever found dedicated snow tires to perform better was in heavy slushy snow, where the V'd pattern I had for the snows did a better job of evac'ing it during hard stops. The flip side of that coin was that the Duratracs performed MUCH better in deep snow like we ran into on the way up to camp during the winter

Just one person's opinion.

 

Any scientific testing done with controlled variables between a snow tire and a non snow tire, the snow tire will win in all measurables except perhaps 10+ inches of snow on the ground. So while i am glad it works for you, it really isnt up for debate.

 

I'm aware. I work in the tire industry.
That being said, the Duratrac is rated for severe snow service by the RMA, so it meets all of the same standards as the average winter tire and qualifies for use as such. As a result, it's definitely debatable.

 

OK, Bud.

 

Not sure what part of the above statement you're dismissing, but I can offer proof of either of them if you're interested. Which I'm sure you're not, since instead of actually having a discussion you're giving a dismissive "ok bud"

 

No, it was me dropping out of the convo because if you truly work in the tire industry then you would be well aware that the gulf between snow tire and a tire that "meets the severe service" requirements is pretty big.

Having a snowflake on the side doesnt make it a snow tire. KO2s have a snowflake but a blizzak will still stop 10+ feet shorter at 30mph.

Its not a debate. A duratrac is not as good as a snow tire. Not in any measurable except off road snow performance.

 

Ok bud.