Gravel Road Winter Tire question

Hey all, long post and I know zero about tires:
Last year I bought a 2019 TRD sport upgrade when I moved to Yellowknife. After reading through the winter tire thread in this forum I decided on Hakkapeliitta R2 studded. I honestly don’t know if they’re the best winter tire for how cold it gets here. There was lots of spinning at stop lights when trying to accelerate again. But then again, every vehicle seems to be doing the exact same thing. After about 10 minutes of driving and the rubber has warmed up, the tread improves significantly. -40 C/F is more common than not.
So I have the Nokians plus the stock tire which I believe is a firestone but I’m not sure which model. I have one set of rims (the stock rims). They are both p265/65/r17.
I’m heading even further up north in October. I will be driving from Yellowknife (pavement) down through Alberta, northern Bc, then to Whitehorse and Dawson city where the Dempster highway begins and pavement ends. October will have some sub-zero Celsius temps (40f) but nothing crazy and probably some blowing snow in places along the highway. But nothing extreme. The highway is notoriously bad and not always well maintained. People will tell you to bring at least 2 matching full sized spare tires (plus satellite phone, shovel, spare food, water, fuel and emergency kit). I will reach Inuvik, leave my truck there, fly to a (more) remote community and in December return for my truck when the ice road opens. I will do most of my driving when I have ice road access with occasional fly-outs for summer road trips back down the Dempster (assuming the Northwest Territories relaxes their border with the Yukon *sigh*).

ok getting to the actual questions:

- a local guy up there said some people will tell you 10ply but he personally always uses 12ply and he’s never gotten a flat. I’m assuming he means the letter system C D and so on. So what ply equivalent are my two sets of tires? And does he actually have a point or is 10ply fine?
- I am limited for space and weight as far as my freight allowance from work for relocation but I think it would still be useful To have two sets of tires. So should I buy some rims and bring both? If so, which should I keep on for the initial October drive up given the mix of temperatures and road surfaces?
OR
- could I sell one set and use just the winter tires as my summer driving will be very little if any pavement?
OR
- should I ditch them both and buy something else. If so, what do you recommend?

I know there is an actual Dempster highway / drive to Tuktoyaktuk thread in here somewhere so I may ask in there as well.
Thanks in advance!

 

@Canadian Joe I think did the drive from Ontario up the Dempster, he could have some good advice and tire knowledge for you.
Good luck with your trip and work!

 

Tacomas aren't the best cold weather truck, basically 4x4 all the time, even with weight and studded tires. Hakka 8's and 9's are better but softer meaning more likely to puncture.

I would definitely suggest an e rated or 10 ply studded tire for winter.

I would also suggest a readily available tire.

I like coopers lately, they have a few LT tires that are studable for tacoma. I've owned Duratracs in E, they are not good enough in the winter even with studs. I've also owned hankook ipikes studded, and wasn't impressed with them. I live in Calgary, but traveled a lot and expected a lot more from the tacoma.

 

Best of fortune and adventures in your journeys up North. I've been up that way a bit in summer months, always wanted to see it during colder times.

If you want tough tires with lots of tread layers, I suggest you go with E Rated tires. Ply number ratings have become an anachronism, due to changes in manufacturing. Most of OEM & consumer car tires now have only 2 or 3 plies, and are susceptible to road hazards like sharp metal or rocks or sudden shocks. Premium E load Rating tires from the dependable manufacturers such as BFG & Michelin are about the toughest one generally sees, and are consistent with previous 10 or 12 ply construction. They weigh a few pounds more than lesser tires, are slightly more expensive and can carry more weight. We run E Rated in remote parts of Hawaii because of sharp lava rock and metal debris from construction sites.
I remember there used to be a temperature rating on tires. I used to drive trucks in India & Africa, and we were concerned with finding tires that could handle the road heat. I don't know if cold was also rated.
Seems if you were carrying 2 spare tires it would be worth the weight to mount them, or at least one of them.
All the Best. Let us know how it works.

 

I would keep the Nokians and sell the Firestone’s and put Duratrac 265 70 17’s load range E on those rims , also gives you a slightly bigger tire .
For ice driving the Nokians with studs should be a good tire
These are the reasons I like the Duratrac load range E’s
1 ,they are readily available at Canadian tire all across the country. So if you had tire problems on a trip you could always get them.
2 , I wanted a more rugged constructed tire for the Dempster highway trip as it was supposed to be notorious on tires .
3 , they have the winter snowflake symbol so in Ontario you get an insurance break,
4 , the load range E are Studable and has deeper tire tread ,18/32 compared to 16/32 , this also helps with tire life.
5, They are very good in deep snow ( I live in the snow belt area of Ontario) good fun,

When we did the Dempster Highway trip I had 2 mounted spare tires , with a fully loaded truck I found 27-28 Psi a good tire pressure for that road. On the Canol road part of the trip I found around 25 psi better as the road was much rougher .
I think worst conditions you may experience will be if it rains on the Dempster .There are areas that the road turns to deep slippery slop in the rain. Proceed with caution in the rain ,we had these conditions just north of the Arctic Circle .
We had no tire issues on the Dempster and didn’t see anyone that did.
May also want to get in touch with @ArcticTRDpro as I think she lives in Inuvik

 

It's been about 15 years, and I never drove the Dempster. My employer flew me in and out of Inuvik, but as I recall, late September, and into October, we were already cast into the depths of winter. I think the recommendation to carry your Hakka's, and mount a good set of snowflake rated E range all seasons is very solid advice. Might want to consider a battery blanket too if you didn't have one already from your time in Yellow Knife.

Just out of curiosity, what is you final destination? Not Tuk obviously, as there's an all season road now. Aklavik? Good Hope? I miss it up there at times, until I remember putting on engine tents in a blizzard, trying to roll up frozen extension cords, or unload freight in a black cloud of buzzing Mosquitoes. Then I remember how happy I was to get on the jet and head south for the last time.

 

Hey! I live in inuvik, ive driven the dempster dozens of times including throughout the winter at temps reaching -60°C in some points with a full heavy bed load.
I run my k02s year round, and never alter the psi manually and I’ve never had issues. The dempster is known for eating tires; and I would at least have 1 full sized spare on you. (My spare is a k02 exactly like the ones I run). Eagle plains is open year round and will be able to patch tires if you end up blowing one out. As well there are tire shops in inuvik

I drive the ice roads and the ITH as well and never have issues.

the truck itself tho- on my January run from whitehorse to inuvik the temps got to below -60°C and not even my thermals & ski pants could stop the frost bite I got on my calf from it resting near the door for the 23 hr drive.

Overall if you don’t drive like an idiot, watch your speed on the demmy and keep an eye on the road you should be fine, also watch out for the shoulders. They are the worst because they are so soft, they will fully pull you into the ditch.
I keep my 4x4 on from first snow fall until the mud pits of spring too.

Message me if you have any questions tho

 

Oh also you gotta watch - in October the road will be closed for freeze up! So I’d really check before you make that trip. Typically it closes first / second week of oct for a month

 

awesome! Thank you for the advice! I will check out the coopers.

And I agree, even around YK I’m in 4x4 a lot. Thankfully I will have weight in the back for the drive up. And hopefully a camper shell if I can arrange everything in time.

 

thank you so much for the detailed reply
I will check out the duratracs. And you figure load range E is sufficient? The gentleman I was speaking with this summer suggested 12 ply (which I guess is F?).

That’s why I’m thankful to do the drive the first time in the fall/border of winter, I think I’m safe from the rain and the slick mud. I was driven back and forth between Inuvik and McPherson a few times this summer and I was thankful that most of my trips were on dry days.

are you in the parry sound area? I’m from Sudbury and from French river to somewhere north of Barrie was always the most precarious part of that trip. Especially when 69 was mainly 2 laned.

thanks again!

 

It’s really interesting the amount of different opinions I’ve heard about the battery blanket. My friend who’s lived in Tuk his whole life said “don’t bother. It’s colder down in Yellowknife!”

and I’ve had yellowknifers tell me that I need a battery blanket and oil pan heater. So I’m not sure what I will do yet.

And I think if I have a block heater and battery blanket then I need two separate wirings... if that makes sense?? Or maybe that was folks who have battery blanket and oil pan heater. A coworker was explaining it to me and when I told him that my block heater doesn’t have a wired cord (it just has the female end hard installed to the front, and comes with a separate cord) he said I would need two separate cords to plug in or get it re-wired. I didn’t quite understand. I’ll have to look into it further.

Yes my final destination is Aklavik. For two years .

I have yet to meet the black mosquito cloud thankfully!!

 

thanks so much! I will check out the other options mentioned but I like the sounds of owning one pair year round plus one or two spares.

oh wow, that must have been quite the (uncomfortable) drive! If I have to hit those kinds of temps I will now know what to expect and dress appropriately.

I honestly love the cold though. I’m into photography and if I’m dressed appropriately I could spend all day outside by my tripod in -35 to 40. I’ve yet to experience -60 thankfully

Do you have a battery blanket? Or what are yours thoughts on that?

Ps. Now that I’ve read your first name, I think know (of) you. And I think I met your mom virtually for some work training. Do you both work at IRH? I was in McPherson for 8 weeks this summer nursing. Small world!

thanks again, I will be sure to message you if I have further questions.

 

I replied in the other thread about this. I was supposed to start work October 5th but I don’t know how likely that is going to happen now (due to movers, contracts etc.) so if I have to delay a week I will be up by the 11th hopefully. If I get stuck I will just leave the truck in Whitehorse at a friend’s place and fly down later to get it. and then isolate again, yay!

I’m also curious to know until what time boats generally run from Inuvik to Aklavik. I was thinking of paying someone to boat me and my dog and some things rather than paying cargo. But I think I will likely be too late. Someone explained that the river is essentially freezing around the ferries just before they close, and they’re keeping a path of water open by running the ferry.

and for others for next summer, just tune into the NWT Dept of Transportation twitter. The Peel crossing was closed twice this summer while I was there. For high water and/or too much debris. And the tsiighetchic Crossing once for 2 or 3 days. I was there from end of June until last week. My coworker left her truck across the peel last week and had someone ferry her across in a boat.

thanks again!

 

I have a block heater and got a battery blanket installed in January. Honestly I only plug in the blanket when it gets to those -60 temps which was about a week last winter.

I love the cold too. I’m excited for winter!

yes my mom is the educator and I was the nurse recruiter for the BDR but now am doing private contract work! such a small world!

 

I think you’ll be cutting it pretty close.

I have been stuck with those ferry closures this summer both times, it’s a constant risk. Apparently this summer has been more unusual then normal tho.
Are you having to isolate for 14 days in inuvik prior to going to aklavik? because you’re leaving the territory on your trip up, you technically will need to.

 

The Delta moderates the climate somewhat, but I found it plenty cold enough during my time there. Minus 51 ambient was the coldest I experienced, but minus 30's were pretty common. I remember the temperature to be fairly constant during the 24hr dark period, getting colder in February when daylight started to return.

The battery blanket is really just a little extra insurance. Nice to have for those super cold days, or when you have your truck parked for days. That, with your block heater, should make starting much easier.

Aklavik had the worst mosquitoes of any place I experienced when I flew up north. It's pretty marshy around there though, and it was a particularly hot summer that year. Temps lingered in the high plus 20's, low 30's for weeks, and we had a plane load of fresh strawberries for the Northmart. Lucky for us, Otto the CARS operator at the airport had some kids Off. It smelled like watermelon, but kept the bugs away. Wonder if Otto is still around? I'm sure you'll run into him sometime over the next two years if he is. Enjoy the adventure.

 

Ya I’m just north of Barrie ,about 10 km from the Great Georgian Bay snow maker
I think the load range E tires should be adequate , I had 60000 km on mine before the Arctic trip ,on that trip we run over 2200 km on gravel road, in 2018 they went to Newfoundland via the Trans Labrador highway ,2019 I back to British Columbia , same set of tires, no flats or any issues.

 

Did you have your Duratracs load E on when you went up Canoe? I took my ATV up there today and man that road is rough, tons of rock. Any tire that survives that should be able to handle the Dempster.