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Winter Tire Shopping

DK5

DK5

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jan 14, 2007
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Location
The city that rhymes with fun, Saskatchewan
As some of you may know, I'm dd'ing my K5 this winter. Since it is on stock suspension I'm going to drop back down to 235's or 31's from my current Kumho AT 33's. I had hoped that my kumhos would get me by during the winter, but that wasn't the case and she often slid all over the road. Someone told me that All-terrains are like bricks on ice, the rubber is too hard on them, especially when it gets cold and thats where you lose your traction. Also the 12.50 width didn't help any..

So I'm downgrading to either 235's or 31's, should be a little power increase though with the 3.42 gearing..

Anyway I'm looking at the following three brands because they are winter, studdable and offer the sizes that I'm looking for:

Multi-mile Artic Claw XSI
Firestone Winterforce
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5

Just want to run this by you guys before I go spending crazy amounts of money :haha:
 
I had firestone destination A/T's on a truck and loved them for a dd type tire. they were pretty sanely priced too. mine were 31's. they are a very mid A/T but did great in snow and ice.
 
Of the three I like the Nokian's...at least for your climate.

The Firestone's look good too though.

Rene
 
I think ANY of those would be light years better than A/T:s or M/T:s on snow and ice.
Nokian are very well regarded over here.

I use studded Cooper discoverer M+S in the winter, and I'm happy with those.
 
i think im gonna steal dads cooper atrs off his old 73 with the dropped valve for the white truck this winter. 235/85/r16s on good 8 lug steelies with good tread tires. Not like hes using them for anything more than yard art anymore :D
 
Fred_M1010 said:
I think ANY of those would be light years better than A/T:s or M/T:s on snow and ice.
Nokian are very well regarded over here.

I use studded Cooper discoverer M+S in the winter, and I'm happy with those.
Click to expand...

Thanks Fred, Coopers don't look bad at all. I'll add that to my list when comparing prices, performance, etc.

Cooper
Discvr_MS_Tread.jpg
 
I too prefer a nice siped mud terrain in the winter. I know there were times in Northern Michigan where I had to claw my way through the drifts and none of the street friendly winter tires out now would have cut it.
One particular time "bogging" up a curve on a hill while dodging folks who had attempted and ended up sliding off into the deep stuff comes to mind. The tires were regular Wild Country RVT muds that I had siped myself.

I once ran some of the Interco TrXus MT's on my Ranger and holy **** were they awesome winter tires. I never had to sipe them due to the factory siping.

Blue85 said:
I vote for chains. Performance can't be touched. Second choice: studs.

But for legal choices, have you considered "Kedge Grip"? I love winter tires on a car, but for a truck I like to keep some lugs for the deep stuff. I used to run their carbide tires and they worked great on ice, even though they were M/Ts.

http://www.treadwright.com/shopnow/product/tabid/61/productid/73/sename/28565r18-guard-dog-e.aspx
Click to expand...
Back when they were still HighTec retreading I ran a set of their old school muds with the Green Diamond stuff (now called Kedge Grip) on the ex's SUV. I had a lot of trouble with the company and some of the product but the performance in the winter was EXCELLENT. I just accept that my siped muds aren't perfect in the winter and drive accordingly but these things were STUCK to the road.
HighTec went through a bad period there and suffered from it. Not sure what all went down and what has changed but I would consider the product if I hear they are better than 4-5 years ago.
 
I have the Coopers on mine, they were on it from when it was a fire truck, getting thin, but a decent tire.
 
BFG AT`S I think are good in the snow and ice, when they are new 1/2 tread they start too suck. Just something to keep in mind. I like toyo m55`s but they are not cheap.
 
AJMBLAZER said:
HighTec went through a bad period there and suffered from it. Not sure what all went down and what has changed but I would consider the product if I hear they are better than 4-5 years ago.
Click to expand...


They are better, I have had a couple freinds buy their tires and no problems at all. And yes you are right thier Kedge grip is awesome in the winter time

I do believe for normal snow tires I would have to go with the Nokian. I believe they are a Finnish company, they ought to know alot about snow
 
blazinzuk said:
They are better, I have had a couple freinds buy their tires and no problems at all. And yes you are right thier Kedge grip is awesome in the winter time

I do believe for normal snow tires I would have to go with the Nokian. I believe they are a Finnish company, they ought to know alot about snow
Click to expand...
That's good to hear.

I liked the performance...the quality of my set and the customer service were just sub par though...and it really seemed like everyone before me had different experiences though.

I might consider a set of their muds in 285/75R16 with the Kedge Grip for The Blazer.
 
whats everyone think of cooper st for snowy roads, i have been wanting to try them.
 
Lots of folks ran them around my hometown in Michigan. Very popular. I'd personally sipe the center tread.
 
max 02 said:
BFG AT`S I think are good in the snow and ice, when they are new 1/2 tread they start too suck.
Click to expand...


anybody else have any info about these? I just recently moved to north east Indiana, and winter is coming, curious as to how these tires are going to do for me. I usually run about 30 PSI currently cause the roads are so rough, i also have a Loc-Rite locker in the front axle, is this going to cause issues for me if i need to slap it in 4wd on snowy/slick roads?
 
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