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Winter Tire Question

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by bassin, Nov 29, 2011.

  1. Nov 29, 2011 at 10:59 PM
    #1
    bassin

    bassin [OP] New Member

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    ARE Cap.
    I am sorry if this has been discussed before. I went through some posts to see if I could find anything. I just bought my first truck 2011 Tacoma TRD Sport. I live not far from Toronto Canada and drive to work where the winter storms can get nasty. I am looking at different tires and wanted to know from other Tacoma owners that have used them what they like. I also have been going through Tire Rack. com to see what others have said. So far the factory tires are not getting good reviews.
     
  2. Nov 30, 2011 at 12:42 AM
    #2
    Norton

    Norton Senior Member

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    I'm sure there are others, but BFG A/T KOs and Goodyear Duratracs each have loyal followings among TW members.

    FWIW, I've logged well-over 100K miles on 3 sets of the BFGs, in all kinds of weather including heavy snow (on- and off-road) and have never had a problem.
     
  3. Nov 30, 2011 at 12:46 AM
    #3
    Yoytoda

    Yoytoda The Little Truck That Could

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    Roland
    Big Bear,CA / Upstate NY(Saratoga)
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    duratracs have been the best snow tires ive ever had. BFG Traction T/A was second and BFG T/A KOs third. All of which have Severe snow rated stamp and do great. cooper discoverer STs and primewell PA100s do surprisingly well for not having snow rating.
     
  4. Nov 30, 2011 at 6:07 AM
    #4
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    What tires do you have on it?

    My factory Dueler H/T's were fine for me in the snow. After several years when they started to wear down, I put 200lbs of sandbags in the bed and that was fine for a couple years. I have the mechanical LSD in my truck...... I don't know how the AUTO LSD compares to that.

    I put Bridgestone Dueler Revo II's on my truck this past July. We've owned these before on other vehicles and they did great (and why I bought them again).
     
  5. Nov 30, 2011 at 6:29 AM
    #5
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I've had great luck with Cooper tires in the snow. Last year I ran the Discoverer ATR, this year the AT3. In the past I've had their M+S tire and it also does very well in the snow.
     
  6. Nov 30, 2011 at 11:20 AM
    #6
    skytower

    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Firestone Duratrac AT's and General Grabber AT2's have worked well for me.
     
  7. Dec 8, 2011 at 8:48 PM
    #7
    bassin

    bassin [OP] New Member

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    ARE Cap.
    Thanks for the info.
     
  8. Dec 8, 2011 at 9:06 PM
    #8
    Project.paradigm

    Project.paradigm Well-Known Member

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    Are you looking for a winter only tire or one that's winter rated? I put winter tires on every vehicle i own, 4x4 or not. 4X4 and LSDs get you going but do nothing for cornering and stopping. This is what i'm running this year: Nokian hakka 5 studded.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    Last year i ran the Yokohama Geolander H/T, (I think) I liked it but these are better for sure, louder, but better.
    Keep in mind that any winter tire will do better than what you have now. You don't have to buy the most expensive, studded winter tire out there.
     
  9. Dec 8, 2011 at 9:26 PM
    #9
    ontarioyota

    ontarioyota Well-Known Member

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    @scott777taco INSTAGRAM
    SW Ontario, Canada
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    2001 Reg Cab 4x4
    Blacked out badges-rims OME lift with 881's & dakar pacs, summer tires=BFG 31x10.5x15 on 93 4runner rims,winter= 265 75 16 DURATRACS on stock steelies,Flowmaster exhaust, deck plate mod, ARB front bumper
    Why don't you buy some used rims and run designated snow/ice tires....bit of an investment in the rims at first but safety is important...your stock tires will last that much longer,

    I live west of you and we get piles of snow but it is the slush and ice that scares me....I would not want to drive the 401 from Kitch to TO in snowy weather!!!

    Like others said the GY Duratracs and BFG AT are good tires for all year use.,,,you could sell your stock tires and buy these.

    I run BFG AT's from April to Nov on both my trucks but Mich latitude Alpins on my Tundra and Pirelli Scorpion ice and snow on my Taco in the winter....sure don't look as good but the stopping ability is amazing .

    the Michelins ride is really nice....I blacked out some old sport rims off a 2003 4runner and mounted on those

    015-2_447add4cc003d7c8956a5c4ad67fe3682b305395.jpg

    Bought the Taco in Toronto last year and the sketchy dealer mounted the Pirelli winter tires to safety so I was stuck with those and had to buy rims and tires this spring (or the Pirellis would have been killed with wear),,,went with BFG AT on 93 4runner rims

    017_f38fd0738dde267102d7e99a17f3bf1f654df037.jpg

    winter set up with Pirellis

    IMG-20111122-00262_aa1030bd044702d3d907d73c8b47b9b5346af0ce.jpg

    The snowflake symbol means the tire meets minimum requirements and will be legal in places like Quebec but nothing beats a good designated winter tire for stopping on ice.
     
  10. Dec 8, 2011 at 9:30 PM
    #10
    ontarioyota

    ontarioyota Well-Known Member

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    @scott777taco INSTAGRAM
    SW Ontario, Canada
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    2001 Reg Cab 4x4
    Blacked out badges-rims OME lift with 881's & dakar pacs, summer tires=BFG 31x10.5x15 on 93 4runner rims,winter= 265 75 16 DURATRACS on stock steelies,Flowmaster exhaust, deck plate mod, ARB front bumper
    These Nokian tires are probably the best there is for winter,,,we can not run studs in Ontario though.
     
  11. Dec 8, 2011 at 9:41 PM
    #11
    jackhart

    jackhart Well-Known Member

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    i have the same truck as you, and live in upstate ny. we get on average about 170 inches of snow a year, mostly lake effect. the factory dunlops suck. i took them off the truck with less than 100 miles on them, basically the ride home from the dealership. sold them for $400.

    after searching about 100 threads on here i decided to go with the hankook dynapro atm rf10's. they are not sold by the tire rack. discount tire does sell them, and you can likely order them locally. the reviews on these tires are stellar. especially for winter driving.

    they are way cheaper than the duratracs (which are great tires btw), i paid $162 per tire installed at a local chain. i've had the bfg at's and am really not a fan (although i did get 100K out of a set of 35's, believe it or not).

    here is what they look like on my truck.
    Dynapro2_6195accb58a70c1cd3a3dd52627e52b44e57d73d.jpg
    Dynapro1_23eb8f4fae67d86e85587240c0ce4f2b0435c26f.jpg
    search around and you'll read a bit and learn alot. good luck with your decision.
     
  12. Dec 9, 2011 at 5:45 AM
    #12
    ontarioyota

    ontarioyota Well-Known Member

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    Blacked out badges-rims OME lift with 881's & dakar pacs, summer tires=BFG 31x10.5x15 on 93 4runner rims,winter= 265 75 16 DURATRACS on stock steelies,Flowmaster exhaust, deck plate mod, ARB front bumper
    Heard many great things about this tire.....good to here about the snow performance from you because your area always gets pounded hard with the white stuff!
     
  13. Dec 9, 2011 at 6:14 AM
    #13
    jtav2002

    jtav2002 Kenny Fuckin Powers

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    My Duratracs are awesome in the snow. The stock Duelers did okay but I did slide around a bit and always needed 4wd. With the Dutatracs I don't even need 4wd most of the time.
     
  14. Dec 9, 2011 at 7:52 AM
    #14
    Demoncleaner

    Demoncleaner Well-Known Member

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    TRD exhaust Homemade bed mat & bed extender, front Drings, Short clutch throw, Summer: Stock 17's Winter: Blizzaks on 16' black steelies
    Big question is, are looking to stay on one tire year round, or running two wheel sets? yea, the stock tires suck in winter. Plenty of better all-season suggestions above, but if looking to go ultimate studless traction in winter, a set of 245/ 75 16 Blizzkak, X-ice, or Altimax on steel rims will be a good investment.

    I've slapped on my Blizzaks for winter number 8 (yes 8), and still 8/32's left running only Dec-Mar. Night and day difference, well worth the $600 total package I paid years ago.
     
  15. Dec 9, 2011 at 9:53 AM
    #15
    D13

    D13 Well-Known Member

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    I'm in the market for a new set of tires, mine freak me out in the snow.

    The hankook dynapro atm rf10's sound great, the negative reviews all say they are not very round and impossible to balance, and have a soft sidewall under heavy loads. Lots of good reviews though.
     
  16. Dec 24, 2011 at 6:05 PM
    #16
    bassin

    bassin [OP] New Member

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    ARE Cap.
    I am greatful for the replys and will keep those tires in mind. I landed up getting Mich Lat and rims for the winter. I was able to get a very good price and went with that so I can't complain with the price I got. So far they have been really good....then again no snow has helped as well...lol.

    Merry Christmas!!!
     
  17. Dec 24, 2011 at 6:11 PM
    #17
    moblarkus

    moblarkus Well-Known Member

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    My BFG AT 's were good in snow but sketchy on ice. I also drive a F-250 crew for work with Nokian Hakkapellitta no-stud tires. They're pretty good even in northern B.C.
     
  18. Dec 27, 2011 at 8:37 AM
    #18
    moblarkus

    moblarkus Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]
     
  19. Dec 27, 2011 at 10:11 AM
    #19
    Thundjet

    Thundjet Well-Known Member

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    The day after I bought my 2012 I had a set of 4 studded Hankooks installed (245x70x17). The difference was unbelievable! You really want a skinnier tire for snow so it will sink and grip better.
    People tend to forget it is just as important to be able to stop on the ice as it is to get traction. The stock tires were pretty good for traction but didnt seem to help the truck track straight in the deep stuff.
    Best $600 I ever spent.
     

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