Prospective buyer with a few questions regarding tires

TX and MN are definitely worlds apart but I hear nothing but good things about Duratracs on the snow. It seemed to me that the tread was too open. From my experiences driving several winters in WV you want a little tighter tread. Duratracs did a heck of a lot better on my Prerunner than OEMs down here when we had snow.

 

These are what I went with. Stock tires were TERRIBLE in the snow...
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/wheels-tires/233752-goodyear-wrangler-authority-rangers-review.html

 

My 2013 Sport with the stock Dunlops S U C K E D in the snow here in Pittsburgh! I would only plan them lasting 16-18K anyway, then I plan to get Cooper A/T3's. Fortunately.. or unfortunately for me, my '13 was in the shop most of the winter before lemon law'ing it, now I have a '14 with brand new sucky tires to start all over again with.