Tire Advice Needed - kind of long

A ton of tire threads I know, but I will ask for tire adviceanyway… Have a 2013 TRD. Last winter with about 2” of new, fairly wet snow, Iwas driving down to the main road. Going slow, I turned at a curve, but mytruck decided to only kind of turn. I bounced off the curb on the left side,went through a driveway, and finally stopped in front of a tree 6” from the bumper.It was then I decided the stock BF Goodrich Rugged Trails (only 3,000 miles onthem) had to go, at least during the winter. I could probably get by and justdrive slow, but if it happened to the wife, she would not ever drive again in thesnow.

My dilemma is this. I go from 2800 ft. elevation – where itrarely snows, to 4500 ft. elevation at my house where it snows quite a bit, in a4 mile drive. County tries to plow, but usually leaves a layer that turns to ice.Our road is last in the plowing order, so sometimes it takes them a day or twoto get here if it snows low.

Then my driveway…. It’s a mile at 16% which can be slickclay, to snow, to ice at different areas all on the same day

Usually get snow anywhere from a couple inches to 18” plus. Itcan melt in a couple days, or stay for a couple weeks depending on the weather. (California)Used to just park at top of driveway, but getting to old for that now.

So…. for tires, I think dedicated winter tires are overkill …althoughI’m sure the wife would love them. She does not do well on ice.

Guess I’m looking for that all weather tire that probably doesn’texist; good on wet & dry, good in snow and good on ice. I don’t do any off roaddriving. There seem to be a lot of Duratrac fans, but they seem a little pricyfor me. Any other recommendations?

 

I went with snow rated tires on OEM steel wheels for winter use, all for just $600.

How much is your Tacoma worth to you?

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/342430-good-snow.html

 

I like the dedicated snows on their own rims. I worry less about sliding and bending a steel wheel. I also like Blizzaks, great traction on compact snow and ice. the downside is you shouldn't run them all year, but that's another reason for dedicated winter rims.

 

For a cheaper and fantastic option, look at Cooper tires. I loved them on my last Tacoma. Discoverer AT3's are what they are called. They were decent in the snow, not too loud on the highway... a good mix and if I recall around $160 a tire. That isn't bad.

I'm a big Michelin fan but if I don't have $1000 when it's time for new tires I will look at Coopers again.

 

Dedicated winter would be ideal, but as I'm only driving about 4 miles max until I'm out of the snow, and down into warmer conditions, I'm a little worried about the wear. I had my mind made up to go that way with the Blizzaks on separate rims, then I started think about wear, cost of tires plus wheels, TPMS..........

 

I just picked up a set of Cooper A/TW tires. I don't have the money or the storage room for a separate set of winter tires. I'm hoping these are a good compromise. Basically a winter all-terrain tire that can be driven all year. We'll see.

 

Michelin MS2's or Hankook Dynapro ATM RF10's

I had the MS2's on my old chevy, and would regularly go to the local ski resort (mt high) via the back windy mountian road, and i always played lets see how far i can get in 2wd, VERY rarely did i need 4x4. Buddy has the RF10's and LOVES them on his chevy in the snow n ice, and its what im going with on my taco for this winter to get rid of the rugged fails, i like the more aggressive look of them over the MS2's

 

Michelin LTX/MS2s, do not waste your time with anything else...

i use them on everything (except full offroad), climb through VT snow at 4000' and at home at sea level. they are quiet, smooth, stick in the rain and snow like you wouldnt believe.

 

General grabber AT2 is my next tire.

 

For as steep as your drive is, chains or studs may be in order if you get the freeze / thaw like we do here (about 3k feet). I have a first gen Tundra that is pretty close to the same size as the newer Taco's and have been running the BFG Rugged Terrain Tires for about 2 years now (not to be confused with the Rugged Trail Crap that came on the truck). Have had it in some deep snow and it surprised even me....drove right out. Much better snow tires than the BFG AT's I used to run. For a mainly street driven vehicle they work great and have done well in everything I have tried so far (haven't done much mud, but they aren't mud tires). Mine are 265-70-17's and were about $750 M & B from America's Tires vs the $1200+ they wanted for the AT's. They are P metric not LT rated tires and come with a 50k wear wty. Very happy with them so far.

 

You like the A/TW's?

I just got a set of 235's for dedicated winters that I can also use as off-road tires when my Michelins will be a little too highway. I am getting them mounted on Sunday.

 

DURATRACS

Its an all terrain tire, that is also snow rated

I run mine all year long, currently have over 50k on them.

 

X2. I was surprised at how well my Duratracs did in the snow and ice last year. I never even added weight in the back last year.

 

I use Hankook Dynapro AT/m all year long in VT/NH and never have an issue. No matter what tire you have you will need to adjust your driving when on snow/ice.

 

The Hankook's are sounding good.
Does anybody have any experience with Firestone Destination AT's?

 

I have Hankook ATm's and I'm not impressed with their performance in the wet coastal snow we get here , my MT's were better