Seeking Tire Advice for Winter

As I complained at some point in the past, and many here will agree the original tires (Dunlop) suck. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-snow-performance.306335/. I have barely survived the last winter with them, and would prefer something with more grip.

The tires have 23K miles on them so far.

As suggested on these forums earlier, I was looking to upgrade to a more aggressive tire such as Hanook DynaPro ATM RF10 off road.

However, my truck may become a commuter vehicle for me, and I may have to travel up to 100mi each way (although maybe not more than 2-3 times per week)

I know they're not winter tires, but from what I recall on reviews here, and glancing at reviews on tirerack/Amazon they perform well in the winter, and certainly are a bit more aggressive. They are also apparently highway friendly and long lasting (50k?)

Should I just get rid of existing tires? Wait/suffer another year until they wear out?

I can buy used Taco rims on CL for around $200 (not pristine), although they're 16" instead of 17" (mine are 17, as it's a TRD Sport) and put on the new(er) tires for the winter on them, and continue using the 'old' tires in the summer.. but then I'd be stuck with original taco rims, which I guess I could try selling on CL too.

What would you do?

Thanks.

 

NOKIAN

 

On the advice of TW, I bought Bridgestone Blizzack DM-V1 tires for winter. I have 17" sport rims and I bought some used 16" steel Tacoma rims on CL. I'm hoping this setup will be good for Vermont winters.

 

Off road or all terrain tires are not the best snow and ice tires because of tire compound. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trgTi5GXVi4
I suggest two sets of tires and wheels. One for winter and one for summer. Here is a list of tires that will serve you in the winter. Pan down to "SUV/light truck, Best overall performers:"
http://www.wheels.ca/news/best-winter-tires-for-2015/

 

That is the setup I use here in Vermont too.
2nd set of wheels & Blizzaks.
Makes towing up to our snowmobile camp in NEK no problem. No way my stock BFGs RTs would make the driveway.

 

Where are you located? I've had both Blizzak's and Winterforce, and neither of them lasted for me (only one season before they were bald) because our winters are off and on with snow. Technically they should be swapped to use only when there's actual snow on the ground, because they're softer than non-winter tires.

That said, I moved to Cooper Discoverer HTP's on my 2WD Ford Escape and they worked excellent in the snow. Lasted 2 years of winter/summer driving and had excellent snow and ice traction. My driveway is a hill and I had an easier time getting up the driveway without any slippage than I did even with the Blizzak's on. I'm looking at Cooper ATP's or S/T Maxx's now for that same reason (I think ATPs are better in the snow).

 

for the one of the best all around AT tires for snow Goodyear duratrac, for wet Cooper AT3... The Goodyear's have softer sidewall Cooper have a sportier sidewall...

https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/wrangler-duratrac

http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Light-Truck/DISCOVERER-A-T3.aspx they also make a p rated tire for daily drivers....

I have the Cooper AT3 275 70 17....

I believe in a good do it all tire..... Snow tires wear out fast.... and are bad off road...
I can run through mud, dirt, sand, rain storms at 80 or unplowed roads with no problem...

 

Proper winter tires, taller and skinner, on the used wheels. Nokian, Blizzraks, etc. Just because something is 'aggressive' and works well off road (even in snow) doesn't mean it will stop well in bad conditions.

You almost never see videos of cars piling up trying to move. Always trying to stop.

Tires that meet your regular non winter needs on the other wheel of your choice.

Tire Rack.com is your friend. If you decide to call them, ask for Rudy (if he is still there), tell him a Miata.net user sent you.

 

I had the hankooks for a little over a year, in Idaho. I snowboard a lot and drive back and forth 8+ hours to school through Montana so I am no stranger to snowy and/or icy roads. They did just fine on the snow/ice. I kept three or four bags of rocksalt in the back just to be safe, but I never had any issues with sliding or anything like that.

Mine were 265/70/16s and were brand new when I got the truck. I sold them back to the dealer after one year of use and 12k miles for $100 per tire. The guy said they had worn very little, but I cant remember exactly how much. Anyways, I regularly got 21mpgs when my avg speed was around 55. For in town or 80 mph interstate driving it was more like 19. I honestly thought they were fantastic tires. good looking and very inexpensive.

Oh, and I only sold them because I lifted my truck...so naturally I wanted some big ass Duratracs. So far I like them, especially the look, they haven't seen any snow yet though.

 

If you want to stick with one tire, I recommend getting an All-Terrain with the mountain/snowflake symbol on them. They won't be as good as a dedicated winter tire, but they will do better then something without the mountain/snowflake. As far as I know the only A/T's with the symbol are the BFG KO2's, Grabber AT2, and the Wrangler DuraTrac, there might be more (and there probably is) but those are the ones I can recall off the top of my head.

I have the KO2's on my truck and they work very well in the snow, and this is coming from someone who's always had winter tires on their vehicles.

 

Someone made a valid point regarding location. I am in Eastern Panhandle (Eastern/Northern part of WV, right across the border from "North Virginia"). Winters are here mostly mild. But I am also in the 'hills' and do my own plowing (tractor). We can have decent snow fall.. Last year I was forced to leave the truck on top of my driveway as I knew I wouldn't make it back up.. and actually got stuck a few times (even with chains.. but no tire will help there)

Further info: I have a steep gravel driveway, and half more mile of gravel steepish road (that community and I maintain), and live in the Appalachian mountains (wavy "scenic" mountain (but state maintained) roads)

 

Cooper discoverer xt4 designed for Canadians.

I haven't seen a damn thing about them anywhere really.. But I got em and they're fairly new.

 

Im also in Northern VT and commute an hour each way to and from work and live on 6 miles of not always plowed steep Gravel roads. I run the stock rims with Hankook winters. Works great and no issues for me. I bought some nice rims from Tire Rack that I run with stock tires in the summer. Change them back and forth myself.

 

Good choice.....
Toyota rims 6 lug are alike. If you don't mind steel rims, any salvage yard might have them. I took rims from a previous gen tundra, ran them 11 years on my 4 Runner and they are now on the second season of my 2015 Tacoma. I use Isuzu hubcaps which were $5 each from salvage yard instead of $30 each from Toyota. That means that old Isuzu fit too. OP has a gazillion cheap options for winter rims. Nothing wrong with used steel rims that have been inspected. If OP does, it then makes it much cheaper to rotate rims. Otherwise, a good set of AT tires will work if you don't face ice conditons much. Check tire winter traction ratings as everyone has suggested. .in Tire Rack surveys. Some AT tires have the snow flake emblem which means they are really good in snow.

 

If ya can swing it, BFG's all terrains KO2's I've gotten over 50k out of them.

 

Think of Firestone AT also...much cheaper but still highly rated. Your KOs are great snow tires.....

 

Depends on where you live. Where I live, we get full on winter so dedicated snow tires and summer tires is best. If you get full on winter, then I'd agree with Mush Mouse. Nokian.

 

I had Firestone Destination ATs were good in snow but failed in everything else, for a daily driver tire you could do a lot better than these but they have good reviews and the price is right, MICHELIN LTX MS2 or AT2 are light years better but cost $$ get what u pay for tho.

 

one tire all year round

 

Most have got it right here.

If you are going to have two sets of wheels, buy dedicated snow tires for the worse set.

I have Yokohama I/T G072 snow tires on TRD off road wheels for my winter set. They're 245s, so they are narrower and do great in the winter.

My summers are Hanook Dynapro ATM RF10s on my OEM TRD sport wheels. They are severe snow rated, but I'd never actually use them in the winter.