Snow tires..
 

I bought 3 pair of snowtires over the last 2 weeks.. and had some wierd results..

Blizzaks LM-18, 235/65/17. They didn't handle worth a damn.. on Ice.. forget it. I think my drag radials would be better.

Michelin X-ice 235/55.17. They did better then the Blizzaks, but they still had a lot to be desired.

I actually tried a Cooper ' weathermaster ' ST/2 235/55/17.. they were ' OK ', probably the best of the 3 till the bead broke.. ( this was my fault, I was playing around in a parking lot and doing some ' drifting ' or sorts.. just seeing how well they would bite.. A 235 width tire on a 9 inch wide wheel didn't help either. )

I'm back on RSA's as they actually seem to work best for me.. dunno why, but for some reason they do. Albatross blood in the silica they make these tires with? Maybe its due to my being VERY used to how these tires react from being on them over the last 2 years?

Can anyone come up with just 1 bloody reason why they work good? Their rated a 4.7 in snow where others are rated a 9-10! I don't understand it and wasted a couple bux experimenting..

same reason other things work on your truck, loose nut behind the wheel :tongue:
no seriously, maybe they are a better match size wise for your track and rims
rubber compound is softer for the handling aspect
or, as you mentioned you are just acustomed to driving them and knowing when they will break loose

I had some Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22's on ym SVT Focus and that thing was a drag car in the snow. I'd rocket off from a stop-light in 2nd gear like it was dry outside. The looks on people's faces were great.

I put Dayton Winterforce snow's on the back of my ranger and about 300lb's of sand. It's like driving a tank in the winter. They won't spin at all on snow. They aren't that great on ice but i've yet to see any rubber that is a match for ice. THAT'S WHAT STUDS ARE FOR!

I got about 300lbs in the back of mine too with my Goodyear Wranglers (I didn't buy them, came with the truck) and it isn't that great. On ice it's horrible but that's to be expected.

never had snow tires! what makes them works better in the snow?

The metal spikes that come out of them at over 5 mph to dig into the snow

thats interesting. So what happens if you go from snow onto concrete??

They eventually wear down the road. That's why up here there's a period while there's no snow/ice where it's illegal to have studded tires and so you have to switch every winter back and forth. Studs are more meant for ice then snow. Snow tires can come with studs or not (well lots of tires can be studded but mostly its snow) and they have tread made to dig into snow.

goodyear fotera triple treads are amazing in the snow, my freind has them on his van (haha yea a van) and they stick to the road so nicely...they arent cheap tho and im sure for 235/55/17 theyre like 170$ a peice so there not very cost effective... but theyre supposed to bo really great on dry pavment to so w/e

My Daddeh has Fortera SIlentArmor on his Sport Trac, and he said they are pretty decent in the show, and they aren't even an aggressive tire...not to mention like a 700 treadwear.

170$ is cheaper then going offroad in a semi-lowered vehical. Cheaper then an RSA of a Blizzak in the same size.

Uh.. okay.. NO! Studded tires have studs.. but there are non-studded snow tires as well. Non-studded snow tires are better on snow and ice than traditional all-season tires because they have a softer compound and usually more space between the lugs in the pattern. The pattern gives better traction in snow and the softer compound grips ice better. The downside is that you've got a marginally smaller compact patch on dry pavement and your tread nearly flies off the tire on dry pavement.

They typically have more road noise issues too.

And studded tires are always studded, regardless of the vehicle speed.. I've never heard of 'retractable' studs!

Now some snow tires can be studded.. but as has been mentioned, they are not legal for use on public roads in many places. New Hampshire permits unrestricted use of studs year round.

Read this: http://www.snowtire.info/

Now M+S rated AT tires are an interesting option on our trucks because we can get them for less than most true snow tires. For example the BFG AT's in 31x10.5R15 size will typically run you ~$110-125 each. And they have tread patterns comparable to a good snow tire. However they lack the softer compound. This makes them not as good on ice.. but then they don't wear as quickly as true snow tires on pavement either. So you don't have to worry about wear when the plows finally get things back down to hardtop.

In my opinion, if you're on a tight budget and can only afford to run one set of tires (and wheels) year round, AT's are a helluva comprimise. They'll run you more than a set of all-seasons.. but less than a dedicated set of snow-tires (or worse: running snow's year round!). And at the same time they offer more traction than all-seasons.. but less than true snow tires. It's truely a comprimise.

So if you live up north and drive a car. You have to have two sets of tires? But if you drive a truck and have AT tires, you dont need two sets?

What I was trying to say is that AT's are an option. And in my opinion, an apealing option because they are ecconomical compared to full-on snows.. yet yeild some of the same benefits.

Ideally it'd be nice to have (at least) two sets of rims: one w/ street/summer tires, and another set w/ good studded winter tires.. and then maybe a third set of rims w/ 'mudders' on them for off-road recreation. But that's not financially or logistically viable for some. AT's walk the line. For some, it's an acceptable line.

I'll say that the AT's on my truck are WAAAAAY better than the all-seasons I had on my last truck. I seriously can't get over what an improvement they are. Given snow tires would be even better..

Snow tires are not only softer, but they are ' sipped ' a LOT more then an average tire. All the ' nobbies ' on them are ' sipped ' or sliced down about a quarter inch of the way so they can expell snow/water/ice a lot quicker.

my truck has two sets of wheels and tires :approve:

Mine has three. i think I need help. :crazy: :dunce:

Um..I know..just messing with him. DUH!

i just use mud tires in he snow.....works great :party[1]:

It didn't read that way..

Read it backwards...its funnier THAT way :silly:

i have mastercraft avenger gt's and 300 lbs of sand in the bed and its like trying to drive a top fuel drag car on a frozen pond...its horrible but can be fun when it's not to bad

Right now we suddenly warmed up and so the roads are plowed so it's flat ice with water on it and it's pretty much the worse it gets. Just walking from my bus to my house I almost slipped so many times and as I was walking my friend drove by and made a turn and slid into a snow bank (lifted 2 door tahoe, only going like 10mph or something).

AT's are my "snow" tires of choice. Like Colin said "(AT's are) an apealing option because they are ecconomical compared to full-on snows." Snow tires really dont do all that great of a job I think, they are expensive, wear too quickly, and are a seasonal tire. AT's however are the perfect blend for a tire. I dont know of many people in my area that purchase snow tires, most are special order. I'm a true believer in AT tires since I own a set. They cut the snow perfectly. I suggested my Grandmother buy BFG's for her 99 4 door 4x4 Explorer, today was her first time using them in serious snow (6 inches) I think she is sold on them for life. She even ran Snow tires on her old Tarus and she hated those things. Now im trying to get my father and stepmom into a set of BFG's.