Best meaty tires for snow

[Crushinator]

Guys, I've owned 5 4Runners to date, but am new to the whole "mod" thing for these trucks. I've spent the past 20 years buying and modding cars like Corvettes, Vipers and Shelbys. So I know all the forum lingo for those types of cars. So I'll probably sound pretty stupid with terms like "meaty tires" and such.

With that said, I really like the look of the aggressive "meaty" tires some of you have on your 4Runners. But I want to buy a set that will work in snow and ice. I thought about just buying snow/winter tires but they lack that deep tread aggressive look. So what do you all think would be a good tire to fit my needs?

I drive to work over mountain roads that a rarely plowed when I drive them when it snows.

Lastly, at this point in time, I don't want to do a lift. Just want a stock size tires.

Lastly, lastly,...When I bought my 4Runner, (2015 TE) the service manager told me that the stock tires would work great in any type of snow. His words were that the stock tires could easily get me through 24 inches of snow. Really?

 

[GabrielM]

Snow can be handle per a vast majority of Mud or AT tires, but if you live somewhere where icy roads is common, a good snow/winter tire will be better.

That being said, I had 31" BFG AT on my Land Cruiser and handle snow pretty well and was an all-around good tire. I have 4 winter tires for the 4Runner.

 

[flighht2k5]

Guys, I've owned 5 4Runners to date, but am new to the whole "mod" thing for these trucks. I've spent the past 20 years buying and modding cars like Corvettes, Vipers and Shelbys. So I know all the forum lingo for those types of cars. So I'll probably sound pretty stupid with terms like "meaty tires" and such.

With that said, I really like the look of the aggressive "meaty" tires some of you have on your 4Runners. But I want to buy a set that will work in snow and ice. I thought about just buying snow/winter tires but they lack that deep tread aggressive look. So what do you all think would be a good tire to fit my needs?

I drive to work over mountain roads that a rarely plowed when I drive them when it snows.

Lastly, at this point in time, I don't want to do a lift. Just want a stock size tires.

Lastly, lastly,...When I bought my 4Runner, (2015 TE) the service manager told me that the stock tires would work great in any type of snow. His words were that the stock tires could easily get me through 24 inches of snow. Really?

the closer the space on the tire, the better it is for snowy roads.

 

[mdogg]

Narrow tires are better for snow use.
Narrow tires are not exactly "meaty".

My recommendation: Get a meaty tire (275/70/17 seems to be a decent choice and might fit without much of an issue) for the other 3 seasons. Get a winter/snow tire for a couple months a year. Hopefully coming from those cars, you already understand the benefits of dedicated winter tires. Those benefits don't become obsolete just because this has 4WD. Cold temps, snow, and ice all contribute to reduced friction between the tire and the road/surface. The dedicated winter tire will handle this better than any AT.

 

[Jeremy556]

265 C range Duratracs are what you seek. Work great in snow until the sipes are worn through (somewhere around 75% tread wear).

Unless it is hard packed and you are riding on top of the 24" of snow, you won't be going far as you plow a huge wall of snow in front of you.

 

[Bad_Influence]

It sounds like you might benefit from having a set of true M/T tires that would be dedicated for the winter months and once april comes around swap back into some A/T or H/T tires. The MT tires will kill your gas mileage (about 2.5 less mpg) during the non-snow time of the year. If you want an all year mud-ish tire that is still moderately friendly with the paved roads, the cooper st maxx & goodyear duratracs are a very popular hybrid (AT/MT tire) that have been proven to be very complimentary with our 4r's on the road and snow/mud.

short answer: get cooper st maxi's or duratracs, for a true MT I endorse the BFG mt's!

 

[1engineer]

265 C range Duratracs are what you seek. Work great in snow until the sipes are worn through (somewhere around 75% tread wear).

Unless it is hard packed and you are riding on top of the 24" of snow, you won't be going far as you plow a huge wall of snow in front of you.

24"=high centered.

 

[BOVADS]

X2 on Duratracs. We run them on our whole fleet in Alaska and they work very well in snow and mud and still get good mileage out of them.

 

[02SE]

It sounds like you might benefit from having a set of true M/T tires that would be dedicated for the winter months and once april comes around swap back into some A/T or H/T tires. The MT tires will kill your gas mileage (about 2.5 less mpg) during the non-snow time of the year. If you want an all year mud-ish tire that is still moderately friendly with the paved roads, the cooper st maxx & goodyear duratracs are a very popular hybrid (AT/MT tire) that have been proven to be very complimentary with our 4r's on the road and snow/mud.

short answer: get cooper st maxi's or duratracs, for a true MT I endorse the BFG mt's!

M/T tires generally are not good in snow.

If the ultimate in snow traction is desired, a dedicated winter/snow tire can't be beat. My personal choice is the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1.

 

[Danimal]

M/T tires generally are not good in snow.

If the ultimate in snow traction is desired, a dedicated winter/snow tire can't be beat. My personal choice is the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1.

Correct! M/T tires are sketchy in the snow due to large tread blocks and limited/no siping. Snow tires really are the best choice for snow. The OP mentioned ice, and the only way to get any real traction on ice is with a set of studded tires like Nokians.

Dan

 

[philsey]

Correct! M/T tires are sketchy in the snow due to large tread blocks and limited/no siping. Snow tires really are the best choice for snow. The OP mentioned ice, and the only way to get any real traction on ice is with a set of studded tires like Nokians.

Dan

Correct X2.

@OP read what you wrote: "With that said, I really like the look of the aggressive "meaty" tires some of you have on your 4Runners. But I want to buy a set that will work in snow and ice. I thought about just buying snow/winter tires but they lack that deep tread aggressive look. So what do you all think would be a good tire to fit my needs?

I drive to work over mountain roads that a rarely plowed when I drive them when it snows."

You remind me of a woman buying shoes. "I don't care if they hurt, they're cute".

The conditions you describe call for a dedicated winter tire. 'Meaty' suggests you're after "the look" rather than true winter performance and safety.

For the winter, get a set of 4 steelies, put on some Bridgestone Blizzaks and you'll be as good as it gets. Put on whatever looks cute to you in the summer - I go to a quality P-rated.

As to 24", 1E and Jeremy have it right. Stay home.

 

[1engineer]

"Meaty" tires being great in snow or on ice equates to picking the prettiest ugly girl to dance with.

 

[KidVermicious]

What Philsey said. Looking like a badass does not equate to being a badass, and function does not follow form. If you want a tire that will do well in snow and ice, get a snow tire.

I have Duratracs on my wife's '99 that we run year round. That truck sees all sorts of terrain and the Duratracs are a great compromise tire for us, they work well enough on every sort of surface we drive on. We don't have Duratracs on that truck because we want it to look "meaty" though, we run those tires because they're the ones we need.

Your truck is not a sports car, and it's not a fashion statement. It's a truck. It's a utility vehicle. Leave the dressup games to your Corvette and pick a tire for the 4Runner that's appropriate for how you use the 4Runner.

It sounds like you might benefit from having a set of true M/T tires that would be dedicated for the winter months and once april comes around swap back into some A/T or H/T tires. The MT tires will kill your gas mileage (about 2.5 less mpg) during the non-snow time of the year. If you want an all year mud-ish tire that is still moderately friendly with the paved roads, the cooper st maxx & goodyear duratracs are a very popular hybrid (AT/MT tire) that have been proven to be very complimentary with our 4r's on the road and snow/mud.

short answer: get cooper st maxi's or duratracs, for a true MT I endorse the BFG mt's!

What on earth are you talking about? MT tires are horrible on snowy roads. You need to stop giving tire advice right now.

 

[philsey]

I come from >25 years of using 4 winter tires, it works - very well. Sometimes forum advice ranges from questionable to just plain absurd.

Try this: Google search "how to choose winter tires" ...

 

[philsey]

....... picking the prettiest ugly girl to dance with.

.... and you know this, how?

 

[LandCruiser]

I bought a set of Blizzaks.

Most MT's have minimal siping and the characteristics that let you clear mud and dirt and get traction are different from gripping ice.

 

[LandCruiser]

"Meaty" tires being great in snow or on ice equates to picking the prettiest ugly girl to dance with.

Fat chicks try extra hard to please you.

Hot chicks can be needy and moody.

Not sure how this applies to tires.

 

[Intruder]

MT tires are actually great in deep snow as long as there's no ice. On ice they're like hockey pucks with less traction.

I'm going to buck the trend and say that Duratracs are terrible winter tires - I had them for a few years and they were only good for the first winter. After that the siping was mostly worn away and they were no better than a regular tire. Nokian Rotiivas are an AT tire that are also good on ice and moderate snow. Unlike the Duratracs, they're made of the softer compound that doesn't get hard in cold temps and they have much better siping.

 

[LandCruiser]

MT tires are actually great in deep snow as long as there's no ice. On ice they're like hockey pucks with less traction.

I'm going to buck the trend and say that Duratracs are terrible winter tires - I had them for a few years and they were only good for the first winter. After that the siping was mostly worn away and they were no better than a regular tire. Nokian Rotiivas are an AT tire that are also good on ice and moderate snow. Unlike the Duratracs, they're made of the softer compound that doesn't get hard in cold temps and they have much better siping.

After 30k miles the siping on my TA/KO's is long gone, altho the tires still have lots of tread left on them.

I think the ice performance of any "mud/snow" tire is an afterthought by the manufacturer.

 

[eddie333]

I drive in snow from November to April. Live on dirt roads and drive back mountain roads almost daily. I chose Duratracs in the stock size (Note: because of the larger tread, the stock size Duratracs will rub, you'll need to do some trimming). They suit me year-round and have been better than I could have ever expected. They go on long road trips on paved roads, off-roading in forests, and of course, all over the slushy, snowy, muddy dirt roads I live on.

I come from a sports car background also, and the key is to remember that you're not driving a sports car. You no longer have a low center of gravity, and I don't care what tires you're running, if you're driving fast and lose control on snow you have a a huge amount of weight to manage, and will likely crash. I drive slow, controlled, and understand the momentum caused by the additional weight I'm carrying.

Anyways... Duratracs!