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HELP - Might be moving to Salt Lake Area and I need new tires

Discussion in 'South West' started by idriveatruck, Oct 14, 2019.

  1. Oct 14, 2019 at 8:42 PM
    #1
    idriveatruck

    idriveatruck [OP] Member

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    Whats up yall
    I might be moving to the Salt Lake City, Utah area in January, and my truck conveniently needs new tires. I am in Texas, and I am not rock crawling so the tires that came on my 4x4 sport are just fine (I am no tire expert), but Utah has very different weather from central Texas.

    What do you guys like best for your tires? My considerations are:
    - MPG (I will probably be commuting, and lets be honest, I have no interest in rock crawling. Also drive across state lines a couple times a year)
    - noise
    - I do mountain bike/dispersed camp/backpack/trying to get into hunting, so having some grip on non paved areas is needed, but nothing crazy.

    I had an xterra offroad edition before this, and I believe it had big Ol bf goodrich all terrains (seemed big to me), but idk if I really need all that, and I would like to keep gas milage up (as stated above).

    If there are threads already covering this a link would be helpful, but I figured I might as well ask the people in the region I might be living in.
     
  2. Oct 14, 2019 at 8:45 PM
    #2
    BlackGT99

    BlackGT99 Well-Known Member

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    What size? Michelin Defender LTX. If they offer them in your size
     
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  3. Oct 14, 2019 at 8:46 PM
    #3
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    BFG KO2's are snowflake rated, but heavier. A good choice but not good for mileage.

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cooper-discoverer-a-t3-megathread.546259/ Coopers AT3 4S, Standard load all weather tires (I own these in Canada, so far so good)

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/packed-with-technology-falken-wildpeak-a-t3w.419869/ Falken Wild Peak AT3W SL all weather tires. More aggressive, less ice siping.

    I would push for a true winter, but if you're doing back roads an all terrain rated for snow peak is what you need.
     
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  4. Oct 14, 2019 at 8:55 PM
    #4
    idriveatruck

    idriveatruck [OP] Member

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    No idea I gotta check in the AM
     
  5. Oct 14, 2019 at 8:59 PM
    #5
    idriveatruck

    idriveatruck [OP] Member

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    I appreciate the info. I'll definitely look into those Coopers. What do you mean by less ice siping? Do you mean gas sipping?

    I saw a video with a guy who's a famous Hunter and he has highway or all-terrain tires on his truck and when he's really driving through crazy snow he put some like super grippy chains on his tires that help him get grip and plow through it. But his logic behind his tires is that the majority of his driving is being done on the road and so he doesn't need to have a really grippy tire because he can throw those chains on when he really truly needs them.
     
  6. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:05 PM
    #6
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    The "Squiggly lines" on the tires. Winters have many small sipping, the all terrains I suggested have them to address ice and cold traction.

    Mud terrains don't have sipping at all, this means poor cold weather performance.

    So tires have a graduated performance rating, standard all season tires have "M+S" mud and snow rating.

    Better tires and all winters have the 3 peak mountain snow rating. The BFG's, Coopers, and Falkens all have this, meaning they are competent on ice and snow.

    Chains only really work on the rear of tacoma, and have limitations like speed and road use. I've driven in Canada for 18 years and have never needed chains.
     
  7. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:11 PM
    #7
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    Utah drivers go fast on the freeway in winter like easterners do, even above the regular posted speed limits with snow and ice on the roads. So I would recommend getting studded tires (if they are legal in Utah) and switching over to something else later in the warm months. Also, if you live up in the avenues, the roads there are very steep and can get icy, so you better put weight in the back of the truck and carry sand as well.
     
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  8. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:14 PM
    #8
    idriveatruck

    idriveatruck [OP] Member

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    Wow. I appreciate all that. And I will trust you, as I know y'all can get some wild weather up there!
     
  9. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:14 PM
    #9
    idriveatruck

    idriveatruck [OP] Member

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    Oh wow ok! I will keep that in mind!
     
  10. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:18 PM
    #10
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    Somewhere in the Mojave Desert...
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    Get Fluid Film for your Truck also, they salt the roads there in the winter time.
     
  11. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:25 PM
    #11
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    Somewhere in the Mojave Desert...
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    Utah ice skating:



    Texas winter drivers:

     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2019
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  12. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:27 PM
    #12
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

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    I think youd be okay with duratracs but a set of studded all terrains for the winter is where its at, especially if you want to goof off up around Logan or Parley Canyon.
     
  13. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:28 PM
    #13
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

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    I run bfg ats on my 4runner most of the year but studded snows in the winter. I’m not in Utah, but similar weather to SLC.
     
  14. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:30 PM
    #14
    Foozer

    Foozer Well-Known Member

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    Get nitto Ridge Grapplers, 265/75/16. KO2s are ok, but dont do super great in the rain. My 10 cents anyway.
     
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  15. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:33 PM
    #15
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

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    Even with studded snows, if you venture up to Park City or Logan or whatever you’ll want a set of cables/chains for the rear. Hard to run em on the front because of UCAs. Even with studded snows they usually require you carry chains if chain regs are in effect.
     
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  16. Oct 14, 2019 at 9:38 PM
    #16
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    I’ve never found a good pair of cables, in fact I was involved in a lawsuit for some that didn’t work at all. The CHP published a study a while back showing how they were 40% less effective than regular chains too. Unfortunately as you pointed out, we can’t put chains on the front of our trucks - which is terrible!
     
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  17. Oct 14, 2019 at 10:24 PM
    #17
    jsi

    jsi Well-Known Member

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    ^ This is what I run ^

    Dedicated snow tires are nice if you can afford them and have a place to store them. But, they are overkill for regular winter street driving and not really needed if you have 4wd. Heck, they'll let you drive up the canyons to the ski resorts with regular tires and 4wd. Besides if the roads are too bad for good quality tires and 4wd, WTF are you doing out there anyway?

    Lot of advice out there on winter driving, and the best I've ever heard is drive like your grandmother, wearing her best Sunday clothes, is sitting in the back seat with a bucket full to the brim of grape juice on her lap. Your task is to get her to church without spilling a drop.
     
  18. Oct 15, 2019 at 4:18 AM
    #18
    idriveatruck

    idriveatruck [OP] Member

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    Man that is one fear I have is the salt eating up my car. I've never had to live somewhere with all that
     
  19. Oct 15, 2019 at 12:27 PM
    #19
    Shortbus47XYY

    Shortbus47XYY Well-Known Member

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    I currently live in Colorado, but above 10k feet we get a lot of snow. Just my 2 cents, giving yourself the time needed to gain confidence and experience are just as important, if not even more important, than what tires you are using.

    Definitely give yourself the safest set of tires you can, but also allow yourself to drive carefully until you build your confidence. Dont let others around make you feel like you have to be speeding down snow packed roads. It can also be dangerous to go too slow, of course. But I guess I'm saying that the biggest thing is just to take things at a reasonable speed that you feel comfortable with, and to take the time to learn how your truck behaves in the snow.
     
  20. Oct 15, 2019 at 12:37 PM
    #20
    idriveatruck

    idriveatruck [OP] Member

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    I definitely appreciate the input. I will be taking my time for sure. My dad is really smart and careful, and he will test how long it takes him to stop for a given speed (obviously when no cars are around) and he will use that to help him judge the distance he needs between cars.
     
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