Toyo Open Country M/T vs. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac in Snow

Hey guys,

I just installed bilstein 6112s and can finally buy bigger tires. I live in Colorado high country at 8,000 feet and have lots of snow and ice to deal with 6 months of the year.

I’m hoping to fit a 285/75/16, but think it’s more likely to be able to fit a 255/85/16; I’m trying to get an extra 1” of lift with 33” tires.

I’m pretty limited with tires in the 255 size. Anyone have experience with the Toyo Open Country M/T in the snow and ice? How’d they perform?

Anyone been able to get the 285s to fit without rubbing with a 1” lift in the front?

How do the duratracs perform?

Thanks in advance!

 

Duratracs perform much better on heavier HD trucks, but none-the-less they are snow peak rated, and are better than most all terrain/mud terrain hybrids. Just run lower pressure 29-32psi. You can also stud most duratrac sizes.

Toyo M/T's are garbage on ice, great on snow, but I wouldn't run them in the winter. I know many who do, but I need more performance.

255 85 is definitely limited, but I'd rather run them than the heavier 285's that rub. You'd need to do some mild cutting and a cab mount chop to make it work with only 1" lift.

Due to elevation I'd push for 265/75R16, they look great and fit perfect and wont starve you for power in the mountains as much. Plus there's way more choices. Like the Wildpeaks which have a better reputation in winter.

 

I still have the stock tires on my truck. Will the Toyos in ice be better than what I have? I do drive on plowed roads all the time, with moderate ice.

I need better tires than what I have, especially with tons of tread left in mine, I’m not tempted to poney up the money for new tires unless they gain me some height.

 

The 265/70R16 wranglers are ok for winter, I ran 265/70R16 winter tires and 265/75R16 duratracs summer. The 265/75 is 31.7" so its only 1/2" less height than the 33" 255 85 16.

Pic of my old rig for tire size.

 

You should check out the Cooper S/T Maxx if you're interested in snow and ice performance. I've been running them for years and they have been great for me. There are while threads on TW if you search with great reviews. They are available in 255/85/16 also! I live in WA and there is a local Search and Rescue group that runs these on their rigs during winter.

 

Looks good!

 

I've heard this many times, I've only driven on them in the summer, they just don't have the sipping for ice that you'd expect for a good winter all terrain.

 

Yeah, they dont have as much sipping as the duratracs but they are a softer compound. Duratracs are also great in snow and ice but seem to have weaker sidewalls than the coopers. I've had a couple buddies puncture sidewalls while in the mountains.

 

Thanks for the help, gentlemen. Hopefully the 285 will fit, I kinda doubt it though. I think you're right that the 265/75/16 is a good alternative. The Toyo 255's are 33.5" in diameter, and the 265 Cooper's are 32" and duratrac 31.7" I guess anything is better than the stock tires at 30.6" Although the Toyo's are a super hard compound, I'm still thinking they'll perform better than these stock tires, just take it easy in the corners on plowed roads?

 

I want to go to a 255 open country mt, currently have 265 wildpeaks but I wanna go a little taller and more aggressive tread.

 

I live in eastern Washington so my winters aren't as dramatic as yours but I spend a lot of time traveling in the mountains and on the rivers during winter to hunt, fish and play. Ive owned a couple sets of Toyos over the decades and they can't touch the Duratracs in a few inches of snow and on compact snow and ice. And in my experience the Toyos don't wear as well. I just wrote this in another thread ...

I took a set 265/75-16 load range C Duratracs off my Taco today. Over 46,000 miles and 6/32" tread remaining. Been through heavy snow, compact snow and ice, mud, rocks, washboard gravel, freeway, two lane highway, city, you name it and they saw it. No uneven wear. No vibrations. No need to rebalance. No shimmy. No problems whatsoever. I replaced them with another set of Duratracs. Best AT tire i've owned in 40 years of driving.

 

They will be sketchy compared to the Duratracs. I run 35" MTs (BFG) on my Jeep and they are great in deep snow when aired down below 10 psi. They are garbage on compact snow and ice compared to Duratracs on my Taco. Duratracs are marked with the mountain snowflake thing in the sidewall. Tire Rack says "A three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol branded on a tire's sidewall indicates the tire meets required performance criteria in snow testing to be considered severe snow service-rated. ... Tires branded with the 3PMSF symbol are expected to provide improved snow traction beyond a standard M+S branded all-season tire.

 

Hmmmm. You guys are really talking me out of the Toyos. I ordered both sets of tires, only have to buy one of course (nice guys at the local tire shop). I don’t think the duramax is going to fit and you guys have me worried about the Toyos. What about the Cooper S/T Maxx? They make those in the 255. The duratrac in a 265/75/16 just doesn’t give me the lift I want and they don’t make them in the 255.

 

I just got duratracs. seem nice so far. This helped me decide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gKz0jdEjFQ

 

Op u will find there are fans of specific items on here Id do some research and go with what u want. No matter what you do there will be people here telling you how bad your decision was.

 

That is SOOOOO true!

I think I’m going to see if the tire shop will sip the MTs. If not, Duratrac. I’ll just feel more confident in all these icy conditions we are having. Although I won’t be happy about losing an extra 1/2” of height I would gain with a 255. I slid all over the road yesterday and know I need something good.

 

Thanks, Pete. Decent video that explains things.

 

Go with the duratracs. On my second set with 45k and 3rd winter on the current ones. Run them year round but they are awesome on packed snow, winter highway driving, mountain passes, etc. Never have had any issues off road with them, and they still run quiet and are a good match for our light(er) trucks.

 

WTF??? The 285 duratracs fit with no rubbing?!? Who woulda thunk??? I only raised the front an inch, well 1.5” but I do have a heavy bumper and winch that sunk it. So the front is now level with the back. I REALLY didn’t think there was a chance in hell 285s would fit. I’m so psyched! Best of both worlds, lift and traction. It’s getting an alignment right now. Pics to follow.