Snow tires for winter? A/T for year round?

[fngTony]

I apologize if it has been touched on already. Have any of noticed a difference in traction between the AT[emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]]’s and the AT[emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]]’s?
I replaced my [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]]’s before last winter on my Ram [emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]] and have noticed a significant increase in struggling with stopping and starting on icy or snow packed roads. I always felt confident in the [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]]’s and actually kept them on well past the advertised mileage.

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[bymers311]

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I am. That is all I have used since joining. Sorry, I don’t know what I did wrong there.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I call BS. Winter tires are very noticeably better in snow and ice than 3PMSF all terrains. If you actually think your ATs are better, maybe it’s endowment effect. I have a 4Runner with 3PMSF all terrains and have also had a Subaru Outback and a Toyota Prius with winter tires. Winter tires beat the all terrains on winter pavement any day.


Interesting - so you’re off-road with Blizzak tires in the winter? The grip from winter rubber is better than a 3PMSF rubber with all-terrain tread? Don’t you worry about durability / puncture resistance with the Blizzak tires off pavement?

I change from the AT4 to Blizzaks after hunting season. The off roading here shuts down after november/December so no rocks to worry about, its sled season. Most of the time you might be dealing with a mixture of snow and mud depending on time of day during the late season. Snows suck in mud bad. And yes, dedicated snow tires are in a different league when it comes to traction on snow and ice compared to 3PMSF

I should preface with the fact I am live in one of the snowiest and coldest parts of the state. Somewhere more west might have a different strategy.

 

[bymers311]

I apologize if it has been touched on already. Have any of noticed a difference in traction between the AT4’s and the AT3’s?
I replaced my 3’s before last winter on my Ram 1500 and have noticed a significant increase in struggling with stopping and starting on icy or snow packed roads. I always felt confident in the 3’s and actually kept them on well past the advertised mileage.


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[Mangata]

Studs from October til the end of April. Will handle most of what Mother Nature throws at us. We have had an increase in ice storms since 2007 which have made studs a necessity. We have significant hills to navigate to get into town. I run chains on the plow truck all winter long.

 

[medvedyt]

living in the cave for some here but using lng for home heating lol. studded tires duratrac for the pick truck and at toyo rest of the year never an issue ... same for the jeep with studded tires in winter and regular all seasons the rest of the year ...

the problem is not when the roads are plowed but when they are not a lot of issues can happen and of course black ice can be a big problem ... so studded tires for us ... but winter tires as well are handling very well the cold and when you reach -40c or f you do know what i meant lol

 

[txtransplant]

Just gonna leave this here.

2023 Best All Terrain Tires In Snow - Tire Reviews And Ratings

2023 Best All Terrain Tires In Snow

www.tire-reviews.com

 

[justinspicher]

I just use AT tires on my rig, always have. Never use chains. I drive slow and take my time. So far I haven’t had any issue. I know my limits and that’s key for me. I live in the mountains, drive on dirt and pavement daily.

 

[Predator_SD]

Snow tires man. This used to be standard back in the day.

 

[mt terry d]

Throw a few hundred pounds of weight in the back when winter comes
That'll make your ATs plenty adequate until it's bad enough for chains.

If you're determined you need aggressive tread you could buy a seperate set of rims for them
and switch them out when heading to the mountains.

 

[Macintosh]

Studded tires are ridiculous. They put ruts in the roads similar to a wagon trail. When the plow then goes over the road, it only scrapes the snow off the high points...not the ruts...caused by the studs, thereby exacerbating the problem. IMO studs are willingly living in 1950. And if you have studs, let me guess, you also heat your house with fuel oil....

Perhaps. But some of us live where 1950 wasnt as long ago as it seems to be in other places. metaphorically speaking of course.
Hugs,
Someone who lives on a dirt road, with a (steep) dirt driveway, heats with wood, wears wool, and still doesnt have the luxury of working from home every time it snows. Which is often several times per week for almost half the year. And therefore has to do the best he knows how to equip his vehicle for the climate he has, not the climate he deserves.

 

[Mojave]

I put snow tires on the wife's van and my work car every October and take them off in March. This works for our elevation and latitude. Also meets European requirements.

I run all season tires the rest of the year, also with the mountain/snow flake emblem.

I used to work for DOT in another life. Actual snow tires can offer up to 100 feet of additional stopping distance over AT tires with the mountain symbol.

Lots of dead people who would have had another 100 feet if someone was wearing the proper. tires.

I wish we had a federal mandate on snow tires in snow states, but the lobbies against it are pretty high.

 

[wytx]

I apologize if it has been touched on already. Have any of noticed a difference in traction between the AT4’s and the AT3’s?
I replaced my 3’s before last winter on my Ram 1500 and have noticed a significant increase in struggling with stopping and starting on icy or snow packed roads. I always felt confident in the 3’s and actually kept them on well past the advertised mileage.


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Never ran the Falken ATW3's but have the ATW4 s now and I like them so far. They work well in our Wyoming snow and are quiet. Mileage, not sure my truck is also newer to me and I switched tires right after getting it.
I have the 10 ply and like the added sidewall thickness on the ATW4.

 

[Swamppirate]

Must depend on the vehicle those are on. Those came on my silverado and were literally a street tire. I got stuck on wet grass with those once. I needed 4wd to get me going

The LTX A/T 2’s are outstanding. Not sure how you got stuck?

 

[Quigly13]

I would say that if you have the cash and place to store an extra set of tires, then get a set of dedicated winter tires. I run a Yokohama Geolander AT in from April to November (very mild AT tread) and then come November I swap to the Cooper snow claws. Even through the geolanders are 3 peak rated the dedicated Cooper snow claws are way better and safer in the winter.

 

[Snowwolfe]

I am of the opinion to go with 2 sets of tires. Come October I have 4 studded tires installed on each of our three vehicles.
There is a HUGE, and I mean HUGE difference between a dedicated winter tire and a AT tire. I often hear people say they don't need snow tires in the winter. Then I find out they never bought a set so don't have the experience to offer an opinion. And they are the same people always sitting at traffic lights and stop signs spinning their tires. Some people swear by the new stud less tires but they have the reputation of wearing our pretty fast.
Winter tires are so popular here that it can sometimes take days to get into the tire shop to get them switched off.

Having two sets of tires isn't as expensive as you think because you are spreading out tire wear on two sets of tires over the course of a year.

 

[Mojave]

I am of the opinion to go with 2 sets of tires. Come October I have 4 studded tires installed on each of our three vehicles.
There is a HUGE, and I mean HUGE difference between a dedicated winter tire and a AT tire. I often hear people say they don't need snow tires in the winter. Then I find out they never bought a set so don't have the experience to offer an opinion. And they are the same people always sitting at traffic lights and stop signs spinning their tires. Some people swear by the new stud less tires but they have the reputation of wearing our pretty fast.
Winter tires are so popular here that it can sometimes take days to get into the tire shop to get them switched off.

Having two sets of tires isn't as expensive as you think because you are spreading our tire wear on two sets of tires over the course of a year.

Yes and it is bloody cheap insurance.

So here in Germany it is mandatory to have the mountain symbol and MS as of last October.

We have had multiple cases of fatalities where someone did not install the MS or the actual snow tires.

How would you feel if one of your family members died because you didn't install snow tires?

I always go back to that.

 

[txtransplant]

I often hear people say they don't need snow tires in the winter. Then I find out they never bought a set so don't have the experience to offer an opinion…

Having two sets of tires isn't as expensive as you think because you are spreading out tire wear on two sets of tires over the course of a year.

Exactly this.

As for the cost, there’s a bit more up front for a 2nd set of rims, but more importantly, I think the reason some people perceive it as so expensive is because they don’t keep their cars long enough to wear through two sets of tires. If you buy a new car every 3 years, of course you don’t want to spend an extra $2k in a second set of rims and tires.

 

[mostlybirch]

I always have winter tires, either studded or studless depending on application, because I value traction. Good, new AT tires can be pretty solid in winter conditions and I have owned many of the "premium" AT tires over the years (my work necessitated tough tires) but they simply aren't as a good as a dedicated tire. Like everything the answer depends on your own use case, and YMMV.

When I lived in Nevada I thought the Cooper ST Maxx and Goodyear Duratrac worked well when you didn't need a full-time winter condition tire.

 

[PoniBoy]

Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is the best tire I’ve ran in the snow and various terrain/conditions.