Best All Around Tire (+Snow)

[Skulking]

Wish I could agree, but I can't. While not 4runner specific, I have direct experience with running 2 sets of rims/tires and just a single "does it all" tire over a decade in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado... with the "one tire for all" finishing out life with a move to Georgia were I've been back to rain focused all-seasons.

At the bleeding limit, a dedicated snow/winter tire Might be technically better, but I couldn't tell with my trips to the ski slopes and my wife couldn't tell doing her ~1000 mile commute weeks. Studs were absolutely worse as a daily driver, only being good/great in a tiny range of conditions. The winter rated all seasons we ran were the Nokian WR line (3 different generations), and they were good enough to get me off the 2-set merry-go-round. I was astonished at how well they handled the heat of Georgia too (got the full rated life, with ~25k miles being in GA), were phenomenal in heavy rains/flooded roads where I expected hydroplaning.

And that's for tires from 9 years ago, I can only imagine how much better that "winter rated, all season" segment has gotten.

Since we all only know the best we've tried, opinions can be vastly different. But please, don't poopoo a product you have no experience with. There look to be several offerings out there in this "Winter rated, all season" category, and they are absolutely what I'll be running when I manage to extract myself from Georgia and get back to a real winter state.

I don't believe that I was poopooing anything. Just suggesting that if your concern is the absolute best tire for snow, then it will come with tradeoffs outside of snow season, and 2 sets of tires might be a better option.

 

[Dragboat33]

Agree, however I do think the Duratrac is excellent in the snow otherwise. When mine were near new I was driving back from UT to Denver in November....when passing through Vail late at night, I caught up to a major winter storm that I drove through all the way into Denver. At ~50MPH, I was the fastest thing on the road. I was very impressed with their performance. I still have the same set and I'd buy them again.

Hands down duratracs. I live 7miles from rubicon trail the city dosnt plow all the way here. On my dd 98runner 5sp 4cyl i run 265/17 duratracs. I had them siped at the tire store . They really woke up. When its bad out i have to air way down 6-8 psi to get in my driveway but when its just snowin and im not freeway drivin i keep pressure around 20-25 psi and they work great breaking accelerating ect. Dont hesitate on the duratracs. The compound stays soft even when cold toyo bfg nitto ect tend to get hard in the snow. Pitbul A/t work great but dont last.

 

[Ron Burgandy]

a lot of contradictions here, drove on shitty MN ice roads my whole life... NOTHING is good on ice unless your studded, which is illegal in MN. Run whatever A/T tire you think looks the best, drive with some common sense, and you’ll get to your destination in one piece. for the price, the discount tire pathfinder tire is tough to beat


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[Kanoe]

I know a ton has been written about this but not recently.

I have an 02’ Runner. Need new tires. I don’t do much off roading but may go on a few gravel trails here and there. I live in the North East and go to Vermont/Colorado in winter and need to be able to get through snow.

Im considering the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. Is this tire going to help me get through the snow? Or should I go with BF’s A/T KO2’s?

Imagine you’re on top of a snowy mountain and you want to get down safely. Would you rather have the LTX or the KO2’s?

Considering your location you might look at the Nokian Rotiiva AT. Light duty AT with some good winter manners. It’s got the snowflake symbol so should be acceptable in places requiring snow tires. Not a bad looking tire either.

I ran a set one winter and quite liked them except for an instability issue that maybe was because I bought light p metrics. I see some fleets running them on full size pickups in heavier load ranges so I’m guessing they are good.

 

[Garandman]

Planning on putting Nokian WRG4’s on mine.

We have Hakkapelliita R3’s on or other cars but I’ll be driving Boston <-> NH enough and these vehicles are heavy enough the WRG4 should hold up better.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Until last year I ran Cooper Studded Snows on my 94 Dodge Ram with the cummins. All 4 corners were studded and I only installed them at the first sign of a North Easter or freezing rain.

They were my only Snows I’ve ever used and lasted me from the late 90’s until last year. I would buy them again for my 4Runner. But I want to try out the ATMs I’ve been running next time I get freezing rain.

The Coopers were soft as hell and I only installed them when I needed them But I could go to work in 4ft of snow or any amount of freezing rain. It’s just a pain finding room for 4 wheels that are only used on a need to use basics.


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