Performance in Snow
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 481
Likes: 153
I have not experimented with lower air pressure. However, the objective in snow is to reduce the area of the tire contact patch so that the tire penetrates more and better achieves contact with pavement. This is why narrow tires are better in snow. I think people assume that lower air pressure is good on snow because low pressure is better on sand, but low pressure increases the size of the contact patch which is counterproductive in snow.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 672
From: SW Michigan
Wider tires have a contact patch that is wider running sideways to vehicle travel and will not sink in the snow as much.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 715
Likes: 121
Which HankookDynapro are you guys using? Saying DynaPro, is like saying Wrangler, WildPeak, and others.
I've got the crap ATm's. I see they have an iPike, that is rated with the 3 peak/snowflake logo. That one looks like it might be a lot better than the OEM, ATm. A lot of siping, [tractionizing], on that model.
I've got the crap ATm's. I see they have an iPike, that is rated with the 3 peak/snowflake logo. That one looks like it might be a lot better than the OEM, ATm. A lot of siping, [tractionizing], on that model.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 158
Likes: 7
None.
I have a rubber mat 75-80lbs, a 2x6 board to keep stuff at the back.
And a tri-fold cover.
Maybe 115-125lbs total, and don't really need anything else.
I did pick up 7 50lb bags of salt/deicer last week 350lbs total.
But roads were still dry, truck sure did ride nice though got rid of the bounce in the back!
I have a rubber mat 75-80lbs, a 2x6 board to keep stuff at the back.
And a tri-fold cover.
Maybe 115-125lbs total, and don't really need anything else.
I did pick up 7 50lb bags of salt/deicer last week 350lbs total.
But roads were still dry, truck sure did ride nice though got rid of the bounce in the back!
I have the Ford heavy duty rubber mat for short bed a Extang trifecta and I believe the last time I checked the shipping weights the mat was about 38 lbs and the Extang about 29 lbs.
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 161
Likes: 25
The amount of ground contact under tires will always be the same with the same weight of vehicle and with the same tire inflation, irrespective of the type (or number) of tires.
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 161
Likes: 25
If you applied 1,000 lbs. of weight on each, and if each was inflated to 50 psi, then each would have 20 square inches of contact area (unless the bicycle tire had burst by that point).
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,819
Likes: 366
From: South Jersey
No. As an example, carry the logic to an expreme. If you applied 1000 pounds to a bicycle tire vs a motorcycle tire, the motorcycle tire would have a larger contact patch because motorcycle tires are wider.
But don't take my word for it. Read what the tire experts say about wide vs narrow tires in snow.
On a related variation of the same principle, less tire diameter is better than more diameter in snow, all other things being equal because the contact patch is smaller.
All this may seem counterintuitive if one applies tire performance off-road and on sand as an indicator of performance on snow.
But don't take my word for it. Read what the tire experts say about wide vs narrow tires in snow.
On a related variation of the same principle, less tire diameter is better than more diameter in snow, all other things being equal because the contact patch is smaller.
All this may seem counterintuitive if one applies tire performance off-road and on sand as an indicator of performance on snow.
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 31,761
Likes: 12,576
From: Nowhereville, Barton City Michigan