Winter Tires.

Yep, you're right. I grew up driving RWD cars with studded snow tires on the rear. Colorado's winters are a mixed bag the past several years with only a few weeks here and there where the snow/ice doesn't melt quickly then freezes overnight. I'm sure that you being in Minnesota, you deal with MONTHS of bad weather at a time.

Thanks for the input on the CrossClimate's. I thought they might do better than you stated as I had read on a different forum where owners of a Highlander Hybrid and a RAV4 Hybrid both complained that the CrossClimate's had dropped their MPG by up to 7 mpg, and they were pissed about that. My thought is that the tire is stickier causing more rolling resistance which would be good for stopping on ice. Oh well, you can't win them all.....thanks Doublethebass.

 

@davep2012 tire are a product of compromise. No one tire does everything great. Being in a snow region it is always recommended to have a set of snow tires for winter. Discount Tire makes it pretty easy when it comes to swaping them over. Just a thought.

 

I second this - I do my tires and swaps through DT out here because you guys make it easy

 

@doublethebass thank you for your business, we appreciate your support. Do you take advantage of the Tire Hotel experience offered by your Discount Tire store?

 

the what? do tell...

 

The Tire Hotel allows our customers to store there seasonal tires with us until they are needed for install. Contacting your local Discount Tire would allow you to verify they are offering this service in there area. I do believe there is a small fee for the service.

 

thanks - good to know

 

Well its been 8 years and it was time to replace the Yokohama ig51V with the latest, the
G075

Despite using the previous IG51V for 8 full winters of commuting to work and what would be i am guessing 1/4 (winter months) of the 95,000 Kms I put on them still had at least 40-50% of the tread left but i personally don't like running a tire that long so they I gave them to a friend with a farm truck. So i give them good marks for longevity.
Now that I am retired and putting on maybe 8000 Km's a year the new ones will probably look like new in another 8 years..

And I run a 245/70R17 snow

With so little driving I could have also have gone with the Blizzak's since the shorter tread life (of the sticky multi cell compound) wouldnt have been an issue.

Many good snow tires out there and I am sure if you pick any of the top 10 you will be well off.

 

Im on the last of the ig51 tires they have 4 years on them now and have been very happy.

Yokohama as a whole is a reliable brand, I’ll likely get them again.

 

Only based on my driving distances of course but this was the remaining tread of the 8 year old IG51V... And I know there will be those who would have kept running them but as I mentioned my personal preference is that I don't like running any tire older than 8 years no matter how much tread is on them.

 

-I wasn't aware of the Tire Hotel experience.......hmmm I need to check that out this fall. Thanks for the heads up!

 

I bought a set of Winterforce 2's for the wife's RAV4 when we bought it in 2018. They've been great tires in the snow and ice. I'm a nurse, so calling in when the weather is crappy isn't an option. I'm leaning heavily toward getting a set for the Tacoma.

 

Anyone try the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires for winter driving? It has the 3-peak mountain snowflake rating. Seeing mixed reviews on TireRack.

 

Don't trust the snow flake symbol as an indication of good winter performance.

https://driving.ca/features/feature...wcm/d9794e63-be62-48a2-a0b2-81517632d452/amp/

But that alpine symbol tells you only about a minimum. Precisely, it guarantees these winter tires’ traction is at least 10-per-cent superior compared to all-season tires when put through the Transport-Canada-approved ASTM F1805 test. (“ASTM” stands for “American Standard Test Method.”)
You read that right: only 10 per cent better traction. The symbol says nothing about superior performance in low temperatures, notes Sylvain Légaré, automotive expert at CAA-Quebec. In fact, some all-season truck tires with aggressive treads can wear the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol even if their compound will not keep cold-weather tires’ flexibility when the mercury drops.

Beside, this test is conducted on medium-packed-snow surfaces, and only while accelerating in a straight line. Nothing, again, is said or tested or established or measured about accelerating on ice – more common in cities – or on that 80cm of fluffy snow that fell over Calgary 10 days ago.

A tire that is 10% better and one that is 100% better both earn that symbol.

 

Good to know! Thanks for sharing this info!

 

I've been reading extensively through this thread and still can't decide whether to buy an all weather tire or a dedicated winter tire. I bought my tacoma early this spring and it came on 35s with aggressive mud tires. I've been looking since on and off for a replacement tire since I live in Alberta and by no means will the mud tires be adequate for the winter. Lots of my friends, both who drive Tacomas or other trucks and off-road rigs swear by the BFG KO2 or the Duratracs since it allows them to keep their larger sized tires on all year round while still being able to drive in the harsh winters we have. I've also heard good things about the Falken Wildpeak AT3W. I myself have always sworn by having dedicated snow tires in the winter on previous vehicles I've owned. However, seeing as I've enjoyed the look of the 35s as well as seeing how pricey some larger diameter winters can be, I'm wondering if an all weather truly is worth the convenience and if all weather tires are truly as good in the winter as some say they are. I cannot lie either, I do like the look of the 35s on my truck and can't picture the truck dropping to a 31" tire. For reference, I am an avid snowboarder and outdoorsman so I spend quite a lot of time in the rockies on the trans canada in the winter as well as lots of city driving. Thanks in advance, hopefully someone can help me make up my mind considering the snow could be flying within the next month.

Pictures Below of my rig for reference

 

It sounds like dedicated snow tires would be a good bet for you. Sure, all terrains can get you through the winter. Sneakers can too, but I wear boots because they're better.

 

Looks should never factor in to a tire choice. These are the only things connecting you to the road, you want the best traction you can get for the situations you drive in. Nothing wrong with a 31 inch tire. My 265/65R17 summers and my 245/70R17 winters fill up the wheel wells quite well.To me the AT style of tire is just a very aggressive all season, NOT a winter tire.
A lady i know bought a new chevy equinox that had factory 18 inch rims. Since the base model equinox came with 17 inch rims we got steel rims in that size and the factory 17 inch tires size for the winters. Low profile tires and aluminum rims dont get along well with winter pot holes.

From Tire Rack for the Falken A/T3W -

Note: While non-winter tires featuring the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol may provide additional longitudinal snow traction beyond what all-season (M+S) tires not bearing the symbol can deliver, they do not match the capability of a true winter tire in all adverse weather conditions.

And I lived in alberta and went to university there so I know what the winters are like.

 

I agree, I was trying to tell myself not to worry about the looks but had to be honest about it, as dumb as it is. I think I’m convinced on getting true winters. I personally do to much in the rockies and need to get home every time safely. As replies have been trickling in, i’ve done more research and have found both Nokian and Firestone make a 33” and 35” dedicated winter tire (Firestone Winterforce LT and Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT3) as well as a used pair of 16 inch steelies like what i already have on my truck. Do I want to spend the premium for those tires though? Probably not unless something turns up on the used market so feel as though I’ll play it safe and get the smaller size.

 

You can save quite a lot by just going to the factory tire size (245/75R16) on those 16 inch rims . From a great writeup earlier, pizza cutter size is the way to go. Tirerack has the Firestone Winterforce 2 UV for $145... You dont need the LT version which has load range E . That will save you over $200 for a set of 4.

$156+ Firestone Winterforce 2 UV Tires

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...oma 4wd&autoModClar=Double Cab&wtpackage=true