biggest winter tires on stock 18's
08-28-2014, 10:27 AM
#11
Senior Member
"No tire can compete with a quality dedicated winter tire." <- That I absolutely agree with. I was not trying to put "severe snow" ATs in the same category, I was just trying to speak on something the OP might not have been aware of.
My reason for bringing up severe snow rated tires (mountain/snowflake) was not discredit snows, but more so to say that just because it is not a dedicated snow does not mean it HAS to suck, while at the same time being significantly better than a standard run-of-the-mill "mud+snow" rated all-season. I discovered the difference on an old Chevy I had that was wearing BFG AT KOs one year and then then BFG Long Trails the next... The 3/4s gone ATKOs noticeably out performed a brand new set of Long Trails (a standard "M+S all-season" tire.) The ATKOs I had were great and I would be fairly confident they would hold their own if not out perform some of the lower end "dedicated winter options" like the FS Winterforce... and some other low end tires like SamsClub Pacemark you see (or used to) on many vehicles.
I can't imagine Trail Grapplers or any MT tire doing well in snow other than maybe offroad with the ground not yet frozen. Anything else and they are all wrong for winter traction. (though many people that don't know look for that type tread design when buying) I ran 33x12.50 Mud Rovers (not siped) on 15x10s on a Cherokee one year (student budget - LOL)... and every drive was an adventure. It went in all directions equally well (often at the same time) except straight. I have Terra Grapplers on this truck now, and they suck pretty bad in the snow too. (heck, they even suck pretty bad in rain) In between those two, I had and/or played with several sets of dedicated snows, both studded and not.
Prior to posting yesterday, I briefly took the time to look up some of the OPs options for sizing / brand choices and they seem pretty limited while also filling the "biggest tire possible" criteria. Ultimately the purchase might just come down to a performance vs aesthetics debate. If he settles on a size he wants and finds that it only comes in a mediocre winter tire, then crossing over to a severe snow option would not be much if any of a change. If it opens up a smarter size option (same height but narrower) the difference favors the severe snow rated tire even more. That's all.
Moving out of that climate all together is the "best" option IMO... I can't say I miss it.
My reason for bringing up severe snow rated tires (mountain/snowflake) was not discredit snows, but more so to say that just because it is not a dedicated snow does not mean it HAS to suck, while at the same time being significantly better than a standard run-of-the-mill "mud+snow" rated all-season. I discovered the difference on an old Chevy I had that was wearing BFG AT KOs one year and then then BFG Long Trails the next... The 3/4s gone ATKOs noticeably out performed a brand new set of Long Trails (a standard "M+S all-season" tire.) The ATKOs I had were great and I would be fairly confident they would hold their own if not out perform some of the lower end "dedicated winter options" like the FS Winterforce... and some other low end tires like SamsClub Pacemark you see (or used to) on many vehicles.
I can't imagine Trail Grapplers or any MT tire doing well in snow other than maybe offroad with the ground not yet frozen. Anything else and they are all wrong for winter traction. (though many people that don't know look for that type tread design when buying) I ran 33x12.50 Mud Rovers (not siped) on 15x10s on a Cherokee one year (student budget - LOL)... and every drive was an adventure. It went in all directions equally well (often at the same time) except straight. I have Terra Grapplers on this truck now, and they suck pretty bad in the snow too. (heck, they even suck pretty bad in rain) In between those two, I had and/or played with several sets of dedicated snows, both studded and not.
Prior to posting yesterday, I briefly took the time to look up some of the OPs options for sizing / brand choices and they seem pretty limited while also filling the "biggest tire possible" criteria. Ultimately the purchase might just come down to a performance vs aesthetics debate. If he settles on a size he wants and finds that it only comes in a mediocre winter tire, then crossing over to a severe snow option would not be much if any of a change. If it opens up a smarter size option (same height but narrower) the difference favors the severe snow rated tire even more. That's all.
Moving out of that climate all together is the "best" option IMO... I can't say I miss it.
08-28-2014, 10:57 AM
#12
Senior Member
"No tire can compete with a quality dedicated winter tire." <- That I absolutely agree with. I was not trying to put "severe snow" ATs in the same category, I was just trying to speak on something the OP might not have been aware of.
My reason for bringing up severe snow rated tires (mountain/snowflake) was not discredit snows, but more so to say that just because it is not a dedicated snow does not mean it HAS to suck, while at the same time being significantly better than a standard run-of-the-mill "mud+snow" rated all-season. I discovered the difference on an old Chevy I had that was wearing BFG AT KOs one year and then then BFG Long Trails the next... The 3/4s gone ATKOs noticeably out performed a brand new set of Long Trails (a standard "M+S all-season" tire.) The ATKOs I had were great and I would be fairly confident they would hold their own if not out perform some of the lower end "dedicated winter options" like the FS Winterforce... and some other low end tires like SamsClub Pacemark you see (or used to) on many vehicles.
I can't imagine Trail Grapplers or any MT tire doing well in snow other than maybe offroad with the ground not yet frozen. Anything else and they are all wrong for winter traction. (though many people that don't know look for that type tread design when buying) I ran 33x12.50 Mud Rovers (not siped) on 15x10s on a Cherokee one year (student budget - LOL)... and every drive was an adventure. It went in all directions equally well (often at the same time) except straight. I have Terra Grapplers on this truck now, and they suck pretty bad in the snow too. (heck, they even suck pretty bad in rain) In between those two, I had and/or played with several sets of dedicated snows, both studded and not.
Prior to posting yesterday, I briefly took the time to look up some of the OPs options for sizing / brand choices and they seem pretty limited while also filling the "biggest tire possible" criteria. Ultimately the purchase might just come down to a performance vs aesthetics debate. If he settles on a size he wants and finds that it only comes in a mediocre winter tire, then crossing over to a severe snow option would not be much if any of a change. If it opens up a smarter size option (same height but narrower) the difference favors the severe snow rated tire even more. That's all.
Moving out of that climate all together is the "best" option IMO... I can't say I miss it.
My reason for bringing up severe snow rated tires (mountain/snowflake) was not discredit snows, but more so to say that just because it is not a dedicated snow does not mean it HAS to suck, while at the same time being significantly better than a standard run-of-the-mill "mud+snow" rated all-season. I discovered the difference on an old Chevy I had that was wearing BFG AT KOs one year and then then BFG Long Trails the next... The 3/4s gone ATKOs noticeably out performed a brand new set of Long Trails (a standard "M+S all-season" tire.) The ATKOs I had were great and I would be fairly confident they would hold their own if not out perform some of the lower end "dedicated winter options" like the FS Winterforce... and some other low end tires like SamsClub Pacemark you see (or used to) on many vehicles.
I can't imagine Trail Grapplers or any MT tire doing well in snow other than maybe offroad with the ground not yet frozen. Anything else and they are all wrong for winter traction. (though many people that don't know look for that type tread design when buying) I ran 33x12.50 Mud Rovers (not siped) on 15x10s on a Cherokee one year (student budget - LOL)... and every drive was an adventure. It went in all directions equally well (often at the same time) except straight. I have Terra Grapplers on this truck now, and they suck pretty bad in the snow too. (heck, they even suck pretty bad in rain) In between those two, I had and/or played with several sets of dedicated snows, both studded and not.
Prior to posting yesterday, I briefly took the time to look up some of the OPs options for sizing / brand choices and they seem pretty limited while also filling the "biggest tire possible" criteria. Ultimately the purchase might just come down to a performance vs aesthetics debate. If he settles on a size he wants and finds that it only comes in a mediocre winter tire, then crossing over to a severe snow option would not be much if any of a change. If it opens up a smarter size option (same height but narrower) the difference favors the severe snow rated tire even more. That's all.
Moving out of that climate all together is the "best" option IMO... I can't say I miss it.
08-28-2014, 01:18 PM
#15
You mean winter tires in general? Dedicated winter tires are made from a softer rubber, if anything your ride will improve, but will decrease as the rubber gets colder and therefore a harder ride. But the winter tires will still be a softer ride vs regular tires regardless of the temperature.
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Bruins_Fan (08-30-2014)
08-28-2014, 01:24 PM
#16
Senior Member
34"x 11" are the biggest tire that you can fit without a level.
08-28-2014, 05:13 PM
#17
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Another Goodyear I've "heard" that are good, are the Authority series. I "think" they are speced by MallWart, and only available there. Worth a look if you can stand WallMart.
08-29-2014, 07:38 AM
#18
So looking at 20" Blizzaks on stock wheels/no lift or leveling, there is no issue going from the
*P275/55R20 to a P275/60R20?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Clar=SuperCrew
Figure I'd gain a bit of load rating (2403 to 2601 pounds) and sidewall height to deal with potholes. Also thinking about the Michelin LTX M/S2, which might wear a little longer than the Blizzak...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
*P275/55R20 to a P275/60R20?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Clar=SuperCrew
Figure I'd gain a bit of load rating (2403 to 2601 pounds) and sidewall height to deal with potholes. Also thinking about the Michelin LTX M/S2, which might wear a little longer than the Blizzak...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
08-29-2014, 08:01 AM
#19
So looking at 20" Blizzaks on stock wheels/no lift or leveling, there is no issue going from the
*P275/55R20 to a P275/60R20?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Clar=SuperCrew
Figure I'd gain a bit of load rating (2403 to 2601 pounds) and sidewall height to deal with potholes. Also thinking about the Michelin LTX M/S2, which might wear a little longer than the Blizzak...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
*P275/55R20 to a P275/60R20?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Clar=SuperCrew
Figure I'd gain a bit of load rating (2403 to 2601 pounds) and sidewall height to deal with potholes. Also thinking about the Michelin LTX M/S2, which might wear a little longer than the Blizzak...
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
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millwrat (08-29-2014)
08-29-2014, 03:42 PM
#20