Help me choose snows. Update, snows on

Just about to pull the trigger on some snow tires, but im having some trouble making a final decision. I've narrowed it to 4. Other options are welcome if you feel strongly either way.
Im looking to get tires in 245 75 16, but 265 70 (my stock size) could work.

1. Blizzaks - Wanted for the quiet ride. Concerned about tread wear. I run them on my wifes civic and get about 3-4 seasons. Anyone run them on a tacoma and have some thoughts?
2. Cooper m+s. Could these be run without studs, or are they basically an at tire without them?
3. Mastercraft courser. Same as the coopers
4. Hankook ipike RW11 - I know nothing about them, only that they get good reviews

Thanks in advance for your feedback! Oh, and not getting snows and taking it easy or adding weight is not an option. I live in some steep terrain. Getting up isnt the problem, down can be fun sometimes.

 

I am about to go with new tires today and am going to get the Blizzaks. I ran them on my subaru for years and always had great luck. You did get me thinking about the size as I was planning on going with the stock size.

 

yeah i wanted to go with a skinnier tire, the off road width seems to float on the snow.

 

Makes sense, I was worried about loosing clearance.

 

Not sure what sizes you were looking at but the two I mentioned have nearly identical od's

 

So I got a set of the Blizzaks in 245/75r16 last night and WOW can i feel the weight difference in the tires. Not sure what you are coming from but my summer tire is a K0 265/75r16. The truck feels faster and more powerful, its crazy.

 

I am currently running General Articmax in 265/75-16; studded on all 4 corners on the Tacoma. My wife runs the same tire on her Forrester XT but in a "minus" size. Big difference between how the two handle and I'm thinking it's mainly due to the width. Mine tends to float in the heavier stuff but both are great in ice and hard pack. When I wear these out, I'll either go back to 245's or look at 255/85-16's (I used to run them on my old truck - studded too). I run Hankook ATM's in the summer and they have been a decent tire. I'd seriously look at the iPikes or Coopers. I may be biased but I'd stud them. You can never have too much traction when trying to drive up and down hills.

 

How loud is the clackity clack of the studs on the tacoma?

 

Blizzacks, Nokian, Michelin Ice X.

3-4 years of cycled use/tread wear is fine, because the compound is getting very close to aging out (getting hard) by then anyway, and grip that comes from the compound will be greatly reduced.

 

You certainly can hear them but not bad. They're a lot louder on the Forrester.

 

My choice was between the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 (studded) and the Nokian R2 (unstudded). I ended up going with the studded tires. They are definitely noisier but you get used to it pretty quick. The Nokians have some sort of cushion under the stud which is supposed to help with the noise.

 

I have a new pair of Blizzack DV2s that I just put on...

I love em...

I drive a lot of Highway miles and these perform great... and are nice and quiet...

 

I agree with Rich, I like the Nokians, whatever model you choose they are great tires.

 

well, just ordered up some blizzak dmv2's. Should be on tomorrow

 

Do they wander all over on grooved pavement? Had a set on a previous vehicle, and they definitely felt weird on grooved concrete (grooves running in-line with truck/not cross). Aside from that, they are fantastic tires.

 

I am running Michelin X-Ice. My logic is that most snow tires (and even factory Tacoma tires, KO2's etc.) are reasonable in winter, and if you have 4WD, you should not have a traction problem. Some will be noisier than other due to tread design. Tires like the Michelin X-Ice really do well in icy conditions, and tend to be better particularly for STOPPING. I worry more about stopping in slippery conditions, versus getting stuck in snow.

4WD and any decent tire will get you going, but I believe ice type tires help in stopping in wet and icy conditions, which occur more often than heavy snow falls.

 

soft compound and deep tread, not surprising

 

Mastercraft courser were superb tires but my BF Goodrich commercial TA traction tires are just unbelievable

 

I haven't felt anything ... not too many grooved highways here in CT...

I run at speed quite a bit, and haven't felt anything but secure... little tiny bit of tread noise...

 

Blizzaks are on, more than happy with their road manners. Incredibly quiet. Of course, the week i get them we have rain and warm temps in the forecast. I did have a chance before the rain melted the snow in my yard to try them out on a small hill. I made it up and around the yard in 2wd with no slipping. This feat could not be done with my other tires which are michelin defenders. BTW, i think the defenders are an ok tire for winter use, just not as good as dedicated snows. Ill keep updating through the winter for others who have thought about blizzaks.