TW Guard Dog + Kedge Grip Vs. Duratracs: Snow/Ice

So, it looks like i'll be driving to the great white north this winter, and I'm planning on getting 265/75 tires before my road trip. That got me to thinking about the conditions i'll be facing. Obviously the TW will be better in the mud, the Duratrac will be superior at keeping noise levels to a minimum, but when it comes to icy roads or snow, which would be superior? On one hand the Treadwrights have that gritty crushed glass and the little pits from the walnut compound, on the other hand the Duratrac has a crazy amount of siping (probably why they are winter rated) and more rubber on the ground and any one point...

Hmmm, thoughts? Anyone have one of these tires and have a buddy with the other and hit some snowy/icy conditions?

 

What are you calling the great white north? Like PA or northern Canada?

 

Duratracs are one of the best snow/ ice tires available.

 

LoL, sorry for the hyperbole. upper New England/Southern Canada. I'll be crossing into Canada, but not more than 50 miles north of the border. But I've heard the east coast snow expectations are high for this year.


BTW, I see that both of these tires come pinned for studs... what's the advantage of this, since you can stud any tire, regardless of if they come re-pinned anyway? Does having a tire that's pinned for studs make it easier and less damaging to remove the studs if you so choose to?

 

I can tell you from a "Yankee" perspective....NOTHING will work on ice except for your a$$ feel and right foot;

I had my Geo tracs on for the last 4 winters and they took me through everything NH received including driving out during storms...

The Grabber AT2's I now have were in NY for the 1st 2 years of their lives and performed well( as told to me ) and I expect no difference in NH this winter...

A TRUE snowflake tire with good sipes will out weigh any PR ad for New England winters....BUT ice is on the DRIVER....

 

Not even studs? IIRC i had studs on my little front wheel drive car when i lived in a northern vermont and I recall them being pretty solid everywhere.

 

I sent MONTHS researching this. I settled on duratracs. I am VERY happy with them in EVERY aspect .
Tom
Northern Calif

 

I too had studs in my Michelins on the cars...Fiesta would go anywhere but also went for a "Ride" on black ice with them too......and the Corolla would go through deep snow with them BUT I have never used studs on my 4x4's...

I have had "Insta chains" pull my large trucks through any snow but leave me waiting for a wrecker on black ice....

ONLY true test I have seen in 35 years of driving is "feel it in your seat and how that skinny pedal reaction goes" on ice !!!

Enjoy your time up here in the Great North and be careful PLEASE.....

 

After 30 years in Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Washington Duratracs are the best snow tires I have used.. Nothing beats experience and practice though. Find a safe parking lot and practice until you know how your vehicle is going to stop, turn and react to the conditions. Good luck and be careful.

 

duratracs. Impressed the hell out of me on the snow against Blizzaks

 

Depending on your needs, a dedicated snow tire will be your best bet, if you have something to swap back to for the summer months. Add studs to that winter tire and you're going to be in great shape for the winter, much better equipped than the majority of people on the road.

That being said, not everyone wants 2 sets of tires. If you're one of those people, studded tires are not for you. Look for a tire with a snowflake rating and lots of siping. Duratracs are a great choice. I'm not overly familiar with the TW and Kedge Grips though. Cooper tires have great snow grip even though they have never put their tires through the test to get them snowflake rated (I have other issues with their tires though personally).
Nokian is known for making pretty good snow worthy A/T tires also.

After you get your tires figured out, throw some weight in the front of the bed and you're good to go.

 

Treadwright FTMFW

you will spend HALF the money, and they will be just as good if not better. I wasn't impressed by my duratracs, sucked to balance and wore fucked up, but the treadwrights have been great so far. no problems with gripping in the snow, and I don't have the kedge grip.

 

Where do you get these in Canada

 

The Guard dogs are a mud terrian. As you already know that. I dont think a mud terrain will do well in the snow. I can say however. The i have the guard dogs with kedge grip. They do have very good traction in the rain but thats all ive got for you.

 

There you go. All around great tire.

 

Guard dogs are more of an aggressive AT than a mud terrain to be honest, just like the duratracs

 

Theyre really nice tires.

 

Jast drove to work in driving snow storm on the interstate and tires did awesome, didnt lose traction once and was in 2wd

 

Damn, those are cheap! Those of you that have the TRs, have you siped them?

 

No. Doing so will void the warranty. They offer kedge grib if you want more siping.