Dedicated Winter SNOW TIRES

[North Dakota 322]

Short snapchat I made of the winterforce at work. half ton Chevy with traction control on. I got it out with no problems.


Just had a F250 in island park over new years with a set of winter force tires on it pulling the same enclosed in the video (legend 7x18+5)
We stayed at a cabin near the end of Kilgore-Yale road to get to the cabin we drove down a road that was less than 8ft wide dragging the fenders/wheels through the snow the whole way. went up and down some steep slopes with at least a foot of fresh snow on top of hardpack. Everyone in the pickup was in agreement if we had anything less than deep tread studded snow tires we would have gotten stuck really bad.

Christopher, next time you are touring around drive to 4088 N W Sagehen Dr, Island Park, ID 83429
Then imagine getting up there with a almost 30ft trailer and 4door 8ft box pickup in a foot of fresh snow.

We pulled into IP about 2am, the last 40mi was all snow covered roads probably 4-6" deep. The driver never believed in snow tires until I practically forced him to buy a set.
His comment to me when driving down snow covered hwy 287 "If we had my other set of AT tires we would be doing 40mph puckered up, but here we are doing almost 70 and this thing is f***in gripping the road like dry concrete!:"

Still disappointed in myself I didn't bother to take any pictures of the trip in.
But to sum it up they perform Excellent on dry roads, icy bridges and roads and very good in door dragging deep snow.

 

[christopher]

Short snapchat I made of the winterforce at work. half ton Chevy with traction control on. I got it out with no problems.


Just had a F250 in island park over new years with a set of winter force tires on it pulling the same enclosed in the video (legend 7x18+5)
We stayed at a cabin near the end of Kilgore-Yale road to get to the cabin we drove down a road that was less than 8ft wide dragging the fenders/wheels through the snow the whole way. went up and down some steep slopes with at least a foot of fresh snow on top of hardpack. Everyone in the pickup was in agreement if we had anything less than deep tread studded snow tires we would have gotten stuck really bad.

Christopher, next time you are touring around drive to 4088 N W Sagehen Dr, Island Park, ID 83429
Then imagine getting up there with a almost 30ft trailer and 4door 8ft box pickup in a foot of fresh snow.

We pulled into IP about 2am, the last 40mi was all snow covered roads probably 4-6" deep. The driver never believed in snow tires until I practically forced him to buy a set.
His comment to me when driving down snow covered hwy 287 "If we had my other set of AT tires we would be doing 40mph puckered up, but here we are doing almost 70 and this thing is f***in gripping the road like dry concrete!:"

Still disappointed in myself I didn't bother to take any pictures of the trip in.
But to sum it up they perform Excellent on dry roads, icy bridges and roads and very good in door dragging deep snow.

 

[BU1]

View attachment 399709

I have had that exact same tire (minus the studs) on my truck for years. Eye opening night and day difference on winter roads. I will never be without them or something similar in the winter.

 

[volcano buster]

Time to update my snow tires I guess. I purchased these General Arctic snow tires in 2008. Don't shoot me for the tires being so old, but they just worked too good to throw them away and they have held up really well. 16 years does seem a little long, but I keep them mounted on spare wheels, store them flat in the back of the garage so they are out of unintended UV and only get about 2000 miles/year.
I'm thinking of replacing with Nokian version for an E rated tire.
Any other tires people are really impressed with for snow/ice only?

 

[christopher]

Time to update my snow tires I guess. I purchased these General Arctic snow tires in 2008. Don't shoot me for the tires being so old, but they just worked too good to throw them away and they have held up really well. 16 years does seem a little long, but I keep them mounted on spare wheels, store them flat in the back of the garage so they are out of unintended UV and only get about 2000 miles/year.
I'm thinking of replacing with Nokian version for an E rated tire.
Any other tires people are really impressed with for snow/ice only?

Dedicated winter tires should only get a few MONTHS of use every year
No Reason why they can't last for YEARS and YEARS.
But ya, SIXTEEN YEARS is crazy!!!!!!!!

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Nokian R5

Time to update my snow tires I guess. I purchased these General Arctic snow tires in 2008. Don't shoot me for the tires being so old, but they just worked too good to throw them away and they have held up really well. 16 years does seem a little long, but I keep them mounted on spare wheels, store them flat in the back of the garage so they are out of unintended UV and only get about 2000 miles/year.
I'm thinking of replacing with Nokian version for an E rated tire.
Any other tires people are really impressed with for snow/ice only?

the nokian LT R5 work great on 3/4 ton work trucks. (8 sets in our group)

Shaped stainless / carbide studs
(The best) stud retention in the industry.
Excellent treadwear durability.

 

[volcano buster]

I don't see the R5 as a studded tire nor in the 10-ply rated for my pickup.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I don't see the R5 as a studded tire nor in the 10-ply rated for my pickup.

Sorry it’s the LT3 model.

Revision 5

I forgot they had a model specifically called the “R5”

I don’t know if they are 10 ply or not.

They work really good though.

 

[volcano buster]

Ok. I am leaning towards the LT3.
Think I can get 16 years out of a set?

 

[christopher]

Ok. I am leaning towards the LT3.
Think I can get 16 years out of a set?

if you do, then you are NOT DRIVING nearly enough in the winter.!!

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I just checked and they are 10 ply.

80 psi rated tire.

 

[Chadx]

I went with Blizzak LT on my F250 last year. They are quite good, but not near as good as the Blizzak DM-V2 I'm used to running on my Fullsize pickups and SUVs. Understandable since an LT tire needs a harder compound than the VERY soft compound used on the P version tires. That being said, if they made the DM-V2 in 275/65R20, I probably would have bought them. I run them for maybe 3 or 4 months and only put on a few thousand miles in the winter time. They are rate for max load of 2,675lb (10,700lb for four) which is plenty for me in the winter. I don't tow heavy in the winter (snowmobile trailer is less than 3,000lb loaded) and no slide-in pickup camper on the bed like in the summertime. Tire wear would be a lot more, but worth it to me. But tallest size DM-V2 is 275/60R20 so only 33" inches, so I passed. Didn't know the Blizzak LT compound would be that much firmer than the Blizzak DM-V2. Still way better than any all terrain would be, but just not as good as I was used to with the Blizzak DM-V2 model.
Only had them on for a couple months last winter and due to some family commitments and the horribly warm and low snow season, didn't do a great deal of driving with them in snowy, icy conditions. Will make up for that this year and have a better formed opinion by next spring.

 

[volcano buster]

So, I stopped by my local tire shop and discussed my uses and showed the picture of my 16 year old trophy tires. He quickly ruled out the Nokian since they are such a soft rubber tire (synthetic rubber) and would likely wear the rubber down very quickly and spit the studs out. The Hankook iPike tire is designed very similar to the General's I am replacing so we spec'd those out and went that direction with a good neighbor discount.
They may only last 15 years, but oh well.

 

[jcjc1]

bought blizzaks at the recommendation of several people and am impressed with them every year.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

So, I stopped by my local tire shop and discussed my uses and showed the picture of my 16 year old trophy tires. He quickly ruled out the Nokian since they are such a soft rubber tire (synthetic rubber) and would likely wear the rubber down very quickly and spit the studs out. The Hankook iPike tire is designed very similar to the General's I am replacing so we spec'd those out and went that direction with a good neighbor discount.
They may only last 15 years, but oh well.

Sounds like a tire shop that makes more money off the hankooks.

I’ve experienced the exact opposite thing with 4-5 sets where the hankooks wear out super quickly and lose all their studs.

The nokians last 4-5 times longer than the hankooks. (Tread and studs but especially the studs)

 

[volcano buster]

I guess I better just stay home and sit on the couch.

 

[go high fast]

well my winter driving is not heavy and only pulling a 2 place enclosed Top Cap here in the banana belt of Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley so I've found the Michelin LTX M/S on the ol' SUV work well in most conditions. Also have been pleased with an old set of studded Cooper WinterCat SST tires which have been excellent in the parking lots on the packed snow and ice.

 

[IDspud]

I run Toyo mt’s, siped centers, studded outer lugs.
Lot of gravel roads, freeway, and make your own roads.
They’ll move You.