Second set of wheels for snow tires

Maybe it's because the set I've driven on were studded, but the Duratracs suck in the ice.

The Hankook I*Pike is a fantastic winter tire, studded or studdless.

 

I've always used dedicated snow tires in the past. The Duratracs have a really good deep snow rating...as good as most snow tires. So we'll see how they do. As for ice? Everything sucks on it from what I've experienced.

 

I ran Duratracs last winter on my 95 4runner and didn't have any problems, ice or deep snow.

 

AT tires in general with their harder rubber just can't handle ice and hard pack is as well as the softer rubber of better winter tires. Tire Rack reviews bear this out. On a third car you just don't want to spend the xtra money on and are careful about conditions, AT tires can be very good in snow. But if you face frequent icing conditons usually found on winter dirt roads, I wouldn't trust them as much as dedicated snows.

 

I've been using my AT/Dueler Revo2s in the snow to good effect, but not as good as Blizaks in serious snow.

When I ran dedicated snow tires it was on steel wheels, whatever Tirerack had on sale with a set of Blizaks. Around here you can probably find a set of 16' or 17" wheels for the same or cheaper.