Does anyone use A/T tires year round including winter?

A little background for context:
I just picked up a 2022 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 with 80,000kms(50,000mi); it has original all-season tires. Rear tread has 3mm(1/8") and fronts are 5mm(13/64"), so will need replacement. I live in central Ontario, which is about an hour drive north from Toronto. Our winters would be comparable to Michigan(eastern, not northern), Ohio, or western NY.
So, I'm trying to determine my cost-benefit.
I was quoted $1650CAD for a set of Falken Wildpeak A/T4, which has the 3 peak rating and told I can run them year round. I'm a true believer in snow tires, but this is my first truck(previously a Honda Civic), and I have no experience with A/T tires. I realize a dedicated snow tire is optimal, but I'm looking at 2 new sets of tires and a set of rims, which I estimate in the neighbourhood(that's the Canadian spelling) of $4000CAD.
Back to my question; is anyone running A/T's? How do you find they handle in winter conditions? Is the difference between Winters and A/T's enough to warrant the up front cost?
How are A/T's for fuel economy compared to all season? Big difference or little difference?
I've looked at reviews on youtube, but I'm looking for real life, everyday experiences.
Any input is appreciated.

 

A lot of people run AT tires year round. Consider buying a set of AT's rated high for snow and give them a shot before investing in a set of dedicated snow tires.

 

Buy some 3 peak rated tires and put some sand bags in ur bed for weight. U"ll b fine. I grew up in Central/northern IL for reference.

U will probably lose 1mpg.

 

Let us know if your Sport is 4x4.

I run Michelin LTX Defenders year round. I am mainly all pavement but can get some ice and deep snow in my area. There are better tires for snow but since I get around fine with 4x4 in the winter I run the Defenders year round.

https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tires/michelin-defender-ltx-m-s

 

I run A/T's in the winter, they'll be fine.

 

Nokian just sent me a set of Nokian Outpost NATs... they're a really nice all terrain, with a 3PMSF snow tire rating. I'm a snow tire disciple as well, I've always run them, but after hearing from friends who have run them and speaking to various Nokian corporate folks, they focused heavily on the snow performance, and Nokian makes a damn good dedicated winter so... I'm giving them a shot in the winter. I'll make a post dedicated to that when I have more real world experience with them. My 32 inch Nokians (a inch bigger than stock) on a truck thats about 500lbs heavier than stock run 12l/100km, and no noticeable noise road 5k km in.

I do have first hand experience with the Falken ATW3/4 and I know they're not quite a full winter, but as close as I've ever experienced in the winter. I'm also in the Central ontario early, and our TW Chapter has a bunch of dudes who run all terrains all year, so that's a good place to ask.

Link to the Ontario TW Chapter
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/ontario-canada.263/

Link to the Nokians
https://na.nokiantyres.com/all-terrain-tires/nokian-tyres-outpost-nat/

Disclaimer: Nokian did send me the tires for free for a truck show, but I am under no obligation to positively review them, and I make no money off the sales.

 

Just don’t try to squeeze the last miles out of them and you’ll be fine. I noticed reducing traction as my
Wildpeaks started to get up there in mileage.

 

I've run the Falken AT3Ws in winter and they were more than sufficient for my needs since I don't live the entire season in winter conditions and mainly just encounter snow when I plan to go to the mountains rather than constantly during daily driving. Get tires rated 3-peak mountain snowflake and do research, not all A/Ts handle rain and snow the same or well.

On the other hand my Dad lives where winter means driving in constant snow and up/down slopes that get icy, so he swaps his tires to studded snow tires each winter because the hassle of swapping is well outweighed by the benefit of handling more severe winter conditions much better. The presence of icy slopes was what he said was the deciding factor to get dedicated winter tires.

 

Lived in Maine my whole life. I ran BFG KO2s (the 3pmsf rated version) year round on my truck for ~5 years. Meanwhile I always run dedicated snow tries on the two RWD cars Ive owned. While a dedicated snow tire is always better, I certainly understand not wanting to shell out that much.

A good set of ATs with the 3pmsf rating, a few hundred pounds of tube sand in the bed, decent driving, and 4x4 when needed will get you a long ways in most conditions. Youll be fine.

I cant speak to the MPG issue.. Ive always run a heavy AT or MT lol

 

Being from Toronto I use separate winter and summer on separate rims. But I am not going to get into the which is best for you and you will have votes for both true winters and A/T tires. The 3 peak rating to me is meaningless to me since it just means the tire is minimum of 10% (could be more) better at acceleration on medium packed snow than a reference all season (not what i call an endorsement). So you can get moving faster and then find you cant brake at the higher speed...... Tells you nothing about braking performance which to me is more important and which i use dedicated studless winter tires.
There is a new symbol coming out which gives the rating for braking but its not currently on a lot of existing tires even though they meet the requirements.

https://www.kaltire.com/en/ice-grip-symbol.html

Did a quick check on https://pmctire.com/

Where I got my winter tire/rim package and for their cheapest aluminum rim and a set of Yokohama iceGUARD G075 in your size (just because I use these) the $1780 tax included and free shipping (using the current 10% discount code on the site).
I did not included TPMS sensors since i dont run this in my winters. Add $200 if you want them

So if you add in the cost for a new set of summer tires at say $1000 you are only at $2700 (way less than $4000)

My winters

 

I just bought a set of Blizzak LTs for my truck. Yeah, it's another $1200 but if you run snow tires for six months and all terrains the other half the year you really aren't spending any extra money since the two sets of tires last for a combined 6-8 years instead of just 3-4 years you'd get from one set on the truck year round.

 

I run Falken Wildpeaks year round. Great tires

 

Another place i bought from is https://www.4tires.ca/

And if you go to a 245/70R17 Yoko G075 (what i use in place of my summer 265/65R17) on steel rims the total to you is $1,311.52

 

2wd?

 

I just updated original post....truck is 4x4.

 

Ok. Great. Thanks. I didnt realize there was an Ontario chapter.
I'll take a look at the Nokians.

 

When it comes to braking though its doesnt matter if its 2wd or 4wd. That's all on the tires.

 

Ok. thanks. My original estimate may be a little high. But this is something to consider.

 

I also run all terrains year around except for when I’ve tried mud terrains out. I’ve never had any issues with a 3PMS rated all terrain.

 

yes in the northeast w/ 4wd why would I drive on anything else