mjhorgan

I have been researching this site as well as other sites for advice on the best wheel tire size for my 2013 F150 Larriat. I called tire rack and they said I had to do the research on my own. They told me one tire/wheel package they would sell me, but it was up to me to figure out the best size for winter use.

I live in New England and drive to VT and NH a lot for skiing. The roads can get very snowy and icy up here.

My OEM wheels are P275/65R18, I was looking at the 255/70/R17 for winter tires and wheels. AS I said there is a lot on this forum, but most of the discussion is from people saying you don't need winter tires. I don't believe that, I want winter tires, I just don't know the best size. The 255's seem a bit narrow. I am going to get the Bizzak DMV2. ANy help. Thank you all.

RogueGT

Rule of thumb for winter tires, narrow is better. Look for an AT tire as M&S are mostly for passenger cars. Blizzak is a great tire for winter driving just when spring time arrives change them out.

mjhorgan

Thank you. I guess I was thinking a slightly wider tire would be better on ice and hard packed snow. I was thinking a wider tire would have more contact surface to increase the grip using the winter tire rubber compounds.

acadianbob

There is a major difference in the performance of a dedicated winter tire in snowy and icy conditions. Anyone who tells you different has never experienced the difference. You will hear the stories like "yeah, I made it just fine. No problem." You will ultimately need a second set of tires for your truck so why not buy them now and make it a snow tire?

You are also on the right track about doing a "-1" setup. That is, the opposite of a "+1" of course where you do a wider, low-profile tire, larger rim diameter. For winter, you want that tread to cut through the snow and get down to the pavement. That is where you get your traction. So, going to a narrower, higher-profile tire, smaller rim diameter is exactly what you want to do. Narrower to increase the ability to get down to the pavement; higher profile to get your overall tire circumference as close as possible to stock (and to compensate for the smaller rim diameter).

You might try to google a tire circumference calculator to help you get the right -1 setup. A 255/70/17 is about 3% smaller than your stock tire. A 265/70/17 is about 1.5% smaller. Both size are acceptably close IMO.

Also, for you consideration, take a look at this tire. IMO, Nokian makes the finest winter capable tires on the planet. It is a light truck/SUV tire for dedicated winter us.

http://www.nokiantires.com/winter-ti...liitta-r2-suv/

Winter tires have:
More voids to better channel snow and slush and allow your tire to get to the pavement
Better rubber compounds to improve traction in colder conditions
More siping in the tread to increase braking and turning capability in icy conditions. More griping edges.

Traditional AT tires typically are lacking in siping. Instead you get big tread blocks. They don't grip on ice. They're not so bad in snow.

Good luck in your search and decision-making.

LuisG

RogueGT is right I've always heard that Also.

acadianbob

No. Narrower definitely.

jay_g

Discount Tire has good info on snow tire's. If you select a winter package the tire will be narrower than stock.

130428

I got the Blizzaks in stock size because I put them on my stock wheels (18s). Otherwise, yes, narrower is better and because it forces you to go with a taller tire, you also get more "sh&t I just slid into that concrete curb" protection

Sammy77

I am running a set of the DMV2's in that size on black steel wheels.

My truck came with 20's, so naturally the winter wheels/tires look narrow to me. They perform great. I tow a snowmobile trailer just about every weekend, and come across some of the worst roads you'll ever see. I will say this, there is NOTHING like a snow tire.

johnday in BFE

iTrader: (1)

Someone mentioned calculator? Here's the one I use.
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/plug...peed/calc.html