Snow tire sizes and brands

Thanks for all the input. For what it's worth - I ended up putting a set of Cooper Discoverer AT3s on the truck. They're not true* snow tires obviously but I needed something I could keep on year around and deal with a lot of different environments. Haven't had much real winter weather yet but I'll see how they fare in a few months. Good to know they feel great handling on dry and wet pavement though...

 

most people have an extra set of wheels to go along with the snow tires?

 

Can’t say all do, but probably most. It’s pretty convenient for doing the swaps back and forth. Some would say it’s better for the tires to not be popped off the wheel year after year.

 

No not rebalanced every year if that’s what you mean.

 

I do - so I can swap in the driveway whenever the need arises - and so they aren't on/off the rims every year and rebalanced.

 

Honestly, the best choice is a set of steel rims or SR5 take offs in 16" 245/75R16

I have some Yokohama winters coming this week in that size, no blizzaks are available sadly and my cooper AT3's aren't cutting it anymore at 50% wear.

I ran the cooper at3 4s last winter with no issue, but they are skidding a lot this year and I have my kid I take to daycare so I'm not pulling anymore punches.

Consider a winter set next year.

 

Today I paid $90 to get my Blizzaks mounted on my only set of wheels. Add that up over a few years and it might make sense to have different wheels as well. But then.. you have to TPMS thing to deal with. Another $200 or so.

 

I just drove through a crazy Alaskan weather week of snow, freezing rain, high and low temps and lots of cars in the ditch all around. My Falken Wildpeaks were NOT the right tool for the job. I need to use 4wd and keep the speed down with those tires. Finally got my Blizzaks on today and the difference is amazing, as always.

To be real, I could get through the winter on any tire and 4wd, but the Blizzaks allow me to drive at higher speeds with less risk.

 

Yes, for both my truck and daily driver car. Always have. Always will. Mounted, balanced and ready to go, stored in the basement when not in use.

 

Discount Tire often does a deal in September where they will put your winters on for free to get more people through the process early. That way there are fewer people calling when the first snow hits. I live in SW Colorado and thats usually a good deal for us since we *can* get snow in Sept or Oct.

Also, I love the Blizzak DMV2s as well!

 

When I lived in AK, I had some spare steel rims with studded Hankook RW11 for winter. I kept my summer tires(BFG ATs at the time) in the basement which was close enough to the truck so the TPMS sensors sync with the truck and keep the idiot light off for almost a full day of casual driving.
Now that I moved up to north/central NH, I wish I kept the spare rims vs selling them. I decided to go with the Falken Wildpeaks as a year round tire, but I bet I'll kind of miss the dedicated studded snow tires.

 

I've been using Cooper Discoverer M+S for years, on all my trucks. They're competent and have never let me down. I'm not claiming they're the best, but I know what they can and can not do, so I'm comfortable with them.

 

Blizzak DMV2 allows me to go full speed and still feel like I can react if there is something to react to. The roads will be like this for half the year and all you want to do is drive full speed and not like you are going slow for a temporary weather event. That’s when proper winter tires are handy! Downside is the expense of having two sets of tires.

And no I didn’t typically take pictures from the driver’s seat... made sure there was nobody else around lol.

 

This is what my town looks like too and the Blizzaks do great work!

 

I’m going surfing today.