Snow Tire Recommendations???

I can't understand why anyone would want to take weight off of the front axle. The best place to add weight, for overall traction, would be slightly in front of the rear wheels. Weight against the tailgate seems like it would encourage understeer.

What's more important; being able to accelerate, or being able to steer and stop?

Edit: I get it if the idea is to even out the weight distribution. But, for me, adding sandbags was just a way to get more weight on the rear tires.

 

I put Nokian Hakka lt3 studded on my truck last winter and they are really good. But I live at 9800ft up a steep driveway and steep road that has ice/snow for many months on end so they work great for that but would be overkill in most parts of Michigan I imagine.

Blizzaks are a good option otherwise, ran them before the Nokians.

Some weight in the back is super helpful too, huge difference when I ran an empty bed without a topper and now having a topper and a few sandbags in the back. It's nice to not have to flip into 4wd pulling away from a shady patch of ice/snow at a stop sign on an otherwise clear road

 

gotcha - wasn't trying to start a fight

 

Sandbags in the bed simply become projectiles if you are in a collision. That could turn a simple rear-ender into a major head trauma if the bags come through the rear window.

The previous poster who mentioned putting patio stones under a sheet of plywood, and then securing that in place; has the right idea. You do not want unsecured loads in your truck.

As another poster mentioned; if you're in conditions where things are slipping, you should be in 4WD anyway, so extra weight on the rear axle isn't all that helpful unless you are off-road and you need everything you can get.

For the conditions you describe: Nokians, Blizzaks, or nip across the border and get some Canada-only Continental IceContact XTRM studless.

 

Well played sir

 

That's exactly why I have only bought 4wd vehicles. I was living in the Bay Area in CA and would drive up to Tahoe as soon as the snow was coming, and either putting on chains and removing them just flat out suuuucks. Or just pay the $40 bucks for install and the $20 removal fee 12 miles later. Or my favorite, they just fly off when ever they feel like it.

 

I do usually add three 60lb sand bags in the very back during winter, but the traction control on Tacomas are so good, I really haven't used them in years. Right now I have maybe 500lbs of very large stumps in the back for fire wood just for the better ride (I have the OME hvy lift with 8 leaf springs) but you are absolutely correct about heavy loose items not properly locked in place. My buddy got rear ended at a dead stop on a freeway by some kid doing 50+ mph and it send his tool box through his windshield missing his head by inches. His new jeep has a rack system that he can ratchet strap everything down. Plus to have your head taken off by a log is no way to go. Having your nuts bit off by a Laplander is how I wanna go!

I'm going to take the wood out tonight

 

That's what the 180lb bumper does for me. It does help with the front, but not my gas mileage.

 

As per previous posts: The Nokian Hakkapeliitta is an excellent winter tire. I had them on all four corners for a few years on several RWD Volvo's I owned. Gislavid Nord Frost are also great tires for snow. If I couldn't find those for some reason, my next choice would be Bridgestone Blizzacks. Very good on snow and excellent on ice.

 

Have that on the wife's Murano, excellent indeed.

On the truck, I prefer all-weather 3PMSF and keep them year round. Good for winter, fishing, hunting, camp.

 

I switch out here in Alberta, the city streets and highways are just way too slick.

But it gets frustrating when I go on a wet dirt road and I can't just plow through it like my all terrains.

You dont realize how important all terrains are until you nearly get stuck on a muddy road with winters haha.

 

I dunno if it's the correct term, but for me it's mostlythe "Placebo Effect". I put four or five 70 lb tubes of sand in the bed once December arrives, because it makes me "feel better". To be honest though, the 4x4 performance of the truck doesn't really improve by much (if any) except for initial roll from a stop in a few inches of snow. It's a capable, well balanced truck in 4x4 on snow, ice and just about anything else even with the all-season street tires on it. What do I honestly think is the main bonus effect of adding all of the extra weight...? it rides nicer: a >lot< nicer.

When Spring arrives again, out come the sand bags and it's back to riding like a truck which is fine with me.

 

Thanks to everyone that replied. I decided to buy dedicated snow tires and chose the Blizzak DM-V2. Now I need to rebuilt the front end and replace the transmission gear range selector sensor. Vehicle ownership is so sweet!

 

Great choice IMO. I'm running them this year for the first time and they have been excellent so far. My previous Hakkas R2 SUVs were not very good. Before them I ran Geolandar I/T G072 and they were fantastic.

 

Put mine on late last year so never really got a chance to fully evaluate but what I did see was a noticeable improvement. Used 4 hi a lot less with Blizzaks on.

 

Can anyone give advice on best option to get up and down my steep driveway in the snow? The driveway surface is a rough asphalt but once we get 3+ inches of snow it turns into slippery hardpack. I am currently running General Grabber ATX tires, not my first choice but got them for family price. They were great when new but have worn like shit, so wouldn't recommend them.

I can get up the driveway fine, it's the descent that can get dicey real quick. When the snow is slippery it is very easy to accidentally lock up the brakes, turning the truck into a sled. My driveway has 2 switchbacks and the first descent is the steepest. I'm cautious about adding weight to the bed since this will just make it harder to brake. I've been descending in neutral in order to not have to fight the engine when braking, which increases the pedal range between open and locked up.

I don't need studs for any other situation other than my driveway, and we do have highway commutes some days, so wondering if there's a better option. I plow and salt the driveway but it's impossible to keep it clear at all times, so we need a setup for poor condition scenarios.

The Grabbers are ready to be replaced, and I'm ready to spend, but just wondering if a better non-studded tire is best route or if any of you would just go with studs in this case. I have the room to put them on their own wheels and garage them in the spring.

 

Maybe shovel your driveway? Extreme, I know, and doesn’t cost anything. I guess you could get a snowblower if you have too much disposable income. Or my favorite: Get a case of scotch and wait until spring?

 

I shoveled it twice yesterday, wise ass. And there's 4 fresh inches of snow on it now. Also, time is money, in case you haven't figured that out yet.

 

Touchy. ‘tis the season I suppose.

 

I'd just get winters with studs since you can easily change them out in warmer weather. Another option would be really good winter tires that both the ice grip and the snow grip symbols on sidewall.