Redbeardhd90

I just moved to the east side of WA from northern IL. Ill uses salt and my location doesn't. So I'm going through this winter with all terrain tires on my 08 F 150.

I know nothing about snow tires but people said I need them. Any advice from F-150 owners. what to look for , good tires vs bad tires.

I did a search and didn't find much.

Thanks

snowborderus

Lived in the NW all my life. Never needed snow tires. Assuming you have 4wd, you don't really need them either. Just a decent set of A/T or not driving like a moron and you'll be fine.

DetroitDarin

With all due respect to 'opinions'- that is HORRIBLE advice from the user above me.

Once on-way, all-wheel or four-wheel offers little-to-nobenefit of keeping your vehicle traveling, stopping, or turning. Dedicatedsnow/winter performance tires on a two-wheel drive car (either front-wheeldrive or rear-wheel drive) will make that car EASILY out-perform all-wheel/4wheel drive cars and trucks using all-season, All-terrain or even largeoff-road tires.

I often hear a common misconception – “My car goeswell in the snow”. Not true, mostly.

Your car’s TIRES go through the snow well.

Tires are often over-looked because the summer orall-seasons currently on the vehicle “have good tread left”. Tread compound and
tread designedspecifically for winter and cold-weather driving conditions is the best way toensure safe travel. More than simply
having thepower to take off from a stop, winter tires provide stopping and turning power.Often winter-specific tires can stop in
half thedistance of summer or all-season tires. Even the best all-season tires willstop many feet later than winter-specific tires
– but sometimeseven a few feet can mean the difference between a collision with another car,obstacle, or person, and prevention of
those impacts.Having said that, I struggle finding winter tires the size I need for my truck- and when i get close, the tires get very expensive. To mitigate, I use'mountain-snowflake' embossed tires - and I get them siped for help in powdersnow. Siping is a Great way to help your vehicle's tires grab in snowyconditions. Very well worth the $10? or so per tire.

Providing additional weight over the drive wheelsfurther assists with cold-weather driving. My Ex has one in her 02SCrew - filledwith up with about 400lbs of water.

She also uses - and here's the real way to get around- Winter tires. Her General ArctimaxArctics are FANTASTIC for the money. Please; living in the midwest - invest in a second set of wheels withsnow-tires already mounted. Belle Tirehas a program where they'll even clean and store your off-season wheels/tires.

If you can't swing that, look into siping. At least.

Ricktwuhk

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/dont-...-tires-288056/

kobayashi maru

This subject's been discussed and opined to death but at the risk of sounding like a broken record... Tires are everything in the winter. 4x4, traction control, etc may help keep you tracking straight and extract the most potential from your current tires but they will not add any traction to the equation.

4x4Fun

My wife is from Spokane WA. She drove an Escort and with studded, winter tires, she had no problems in the winter. The Spokane DPW does a terrible job of clearing the roads. When she moved out here, she could not use her studded snow tires (and rims), so they stayed in Spokane where she sold them. Here in Wisconsin, she got stuck a few times, with all season tires. Granted, she was used to studded snow tires and drove through some areas that she would have gotten through in Spokane, but all the same, she did get stuck. Moral of the story, tires matter!

Also, in the mountain areas, there are times when passes are only open to 4x4 with chains. Traction matters. One day, maybe soon, we are gonna move to that area. Enjoy the snow... well, when you get some...

snowborderus

It is a dead horse subject, and again, just putting my 2 cents. The wife and I have never had snow tires, never even felt we needed them, even in several inches and a couple feet of snow. If you think you need them, by all means buy them, they are beneficial over a standard A/S tire.

kobayashi maru

It's a personal decision affected by many factors. Unless you live in Quebec lol.

"Need" is relative OP. I was firmly in the "snow-tires-aren't-needed-if-you're-a-good-driver" camp until a few years ago. In reality, most days with moderate snow on the ground meant I had to put in a lot of effort to keep the car on the road, especially if my all seasons were no longer new. In some cases it wasn't safe at all but I relied on skill to get me by and took pride in that. And occasionally it was downright impossible to even leave the driveway.
Then I switched to snow tires and was instantly converted. Driving became pleasurable again and to hell with my pride. I'll keep those skills on backup for emergency situations.

If that's the kind of difference you experience then I'd say they're "needed". If not then not. Only way to know for sure is to try it. The worst that can happen is you make your car only slightly safer

[edit] Tire shopping tip: The mountain-snowflake symbol branded on the sidewall of a tire doesn't necessarily mean it's a "snow tire". You have to watch out for this especially with all terrains. For example, the Duratracs I have on right now are certified for winter use but they are not snow tires.

~07lariat~

I used to be a part of the "why would you get snow tires?" until I got a set. The added traction and control on snow and ice that even in 2wd is quite noticeable. Put it in 4wd and its a whole new world. One of the best decisions I have made so for to add to my truck. I have absolutely no worries about the capabilities of my truck in any conditions with the added traction from proper snow tires. Every vehicle I own has them now and always will.

Redbeardhd90

Thanks for the reply's. and 4x4fun I'm in Spokane area now and my drive into town every morning is very slippery at times.