Best meaty tires for snow

[Crushinator]

Thanks everyone for all your opinions. I appreciate the feedback from those who know and have experience. I think I will go with the Blizzaks as the icy roads has me concerned more than deep snow. Now I have to decide if I'll buy an extra set of wheels to mount them on or just pay to have them mounted every year on the stock wheels. Thanks again guys!

 

[Crushinator]

By the way, thanks for the pics Landcruiser. The differences in siping was a major factor in my decision. :tea:

 

[Intruder]

Now I have to decide if I'll buy an extra set of wheels to mount them on or just pay to have them mounted every year on the stock wheels.

Get some cheap wheels. Mounting and unmounting tires is hard on them and can reduce lifespan. Also, if you happen to hit something under the snow or slide into a curb it'll be a lot cheaper to replace than one of the stock wheels.

 

[LandCruiser]

Get some cheap wheels. Mounting and unmounting tires is hard on them and can reduce lifespan. Also, if you happen to hit something under the snow or slide into a curb it'll be a lot cheaper to replace than one of the stock wheels.

You can get FJ Cruiser 17" rims for 25-30 bucks a piece, used. Shipping costs more than the damn rims.

Make sure you get acorn nuts to mount them.

 

[Vrrooom]

I would recommend going with a nice AT tire. It'll be more aggressive than highway all season tires and you can find some with great snow performance.

I've had great luck with Nokian Rotiiva AT and they're snowflake rated. However in stock size they only have an LT tire which rides rougher. I know people that use the Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventure with Kevlar that performs great in snow as well so that's what I just got. Firestone Destination AT have good reviews too but I don't know anyone personally with them.

 

[T.Rock]

Cooper Discoverer AT3 worked surprising well in the snow. The tread pattern isn't what I'd call super aggressive, but it's also nothing like a typical highway tire either.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

PRAISE JESUS! You went with a snow tire! Even an inexpensive snow tire is going to blow the doors of an AT any day of the week (in snowy/slippery conditions). They are called "snow" tires because that is where they are made to preform. Wet/snow/ice performance is increased at the cost of decreased performance in other areas. When you use an AT tire, you are using a tire that's trying to do everything - it is possible, but it will not do anything very well (actually you could say it is really good at being mediocre in most categories). MT's with large lugs are great in very deep snow - for some of the same reasons they are great in mud - but when it snows 3in, which is then compacted into ice, well you're screwed. My Cooper ATP's (AT tire) preform great for an AT tire in the snow. The inexpensive Hankook snow tires I had on my old Accord crushed the ATP's in the snow and ice (instead of worrying about stopping, you worry about people rear-ending you). It is actually pretty funny how many people still see snow tires as some type of bs, vodo, marketing ploy as if the stock tires that came on any vehicle could easily be put on a rally car and then swapped to someone who's running drags up a glacier. A whole S* ton of science (math on the drawing board all the way to real world testing) goes into every tire type, and snow tires are no exception. - OK went a bit off track there, but good luck with the snow tires....You will be very happy the first time things get icy. AND try to remember that they will still loose traction (catastrophically) if pushed.....don't try to engage God mode

 

[philsey]

Thanks everyone for all your opinions. I appreciate the feedback from those who know and have experience. I think I will go with the Blizzaks as the icy roads has me concerned more than deep snow. Now I have to decide if I'll buy an extra set of wheels to mount them on or just pay to have them mounted every year on the stock wheels. Thanks again guys!

Congrats on making the smart decision vs the compromise decision. You will never be sorry. Your entire driving dynamic (starting, stopping, and turning) is improved. As said, just don't get overconfident.

Now, as to wheels: I'll save you some time and money. You could go the "one set of wheels, swap every season" route, as it will seem cheaper. Factor in time, labor, rebalancing, some tire monkey screwing up your wheels, TWO TIMES a year, and this quickly becomes a bad idea. [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION] [MENTION=92049]LandCruiser[/MENTION] have it right.

Get some cheap wheels. Mounting and unmounting tires is hard on them and can reduce lifespan. Also, if you happen to hit something under the snow or slide into a curb it'll be a lot cheaper to replace than one of the stock wheels.

You can get FJ Cruiser 17" rims for 25-30 bucks a piece, used. Shipping costs more than the damn rims.
Make sure you get acorn nuts to mount them.

^I did this. Had them shipped to the tire store. Bite the bullet, do it once, do it right. You'll thank us in April.

You'll also have a TPMS light issue. Your call ... I just ignore the light. If you store the 'summer' set in the garage it resets every night.

By the way, thanks for the pics Landcruiser. The differences in siping was a major factor in my decision. :tea:

^Absolutely. Now, [MENTION=98950]Crushinator[/MENTION] , bookmark that pic and you can pay it forward as this topic comes up every Fall.

 

[Intruder]

Now, as to wheels: I'll save you some time and money. You could go the "one set of wheels, swap every season" route, as it will seem cheaper. Factor in time, labor, rebalancing, some tire monkey screwing up your wheels, TWO TIMES a year, and this quickly becomes a bad idea.

Plus if they're on wheels you can swap them yourself in the driveway in under an hour. Around here when the first snow hits there's about a 2 week wait at any tire place, sometimes longer.

 

[jasonv]

just pushed the nokian rotiivas around in the snow and ice today and they work great (and look a little cooler). highly recommend them.

 

[Crushinator]

I was on tireracks website today and found these tires...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...7WATAOWL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

While not an all out snow tire, they have the highest rating for all conditions.

I'm 99% sure I'm going to go with the Blizzaks, but just wondering if anyone can give and insight on these.

 

[Crushinator]

Also, I'm not really seeing any wheels I like on their website. I'm not into the chrome look and most of the other wheels seem too busy for my taste.

I'd like to just buy the whole set from them so they can mount the tires and pressure sensors all at the same time. No hassles every year when I have to put them on.

 

[Intruder]

just pushed the nokian rotiivas around in the snow and ice today and they work great (and look a little cooler). highly recommend them.

Snow and ice today? You around Sudbury?

 

[cbielat]

Going on third winter season with Duratracs. Can't complain.

 

[philsey]

Also, I'm not really seeing any wheels I like on their website. I'm not into the chrome look and most of the other wheels seem too busy for my taste.
.

1. Look on the classifieds here ....

2. ....and on the FJ forum.

3. Go to eBay Motors and search " 17" toyota FJ steel wheels ". I had them shipped to my Bridgestone store. They can easily do the TPMS' if you want 'em.

 

[jasonv]

Snow and ice today? You around Sudbury?

no was out by Parkers Ridge last night and today

 

[DrDubzz]

I would recommend going with a nice AT tire. It'll be more aggressive than highway all season tires and you can find some with great snow performance.

I've had great luck with Nokian Rotiiva AT and they're snowflake rated. However in stock size they only have an LT tire which rides rougher. I know people that use the Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventure with Kevlar that performs great in snow as well so that's what I just got. Firestone Destination AT have good reviews too but I don't know anyone personally with them.

you can get Rotiivas in the stock size in a P rated tire, I have a set on mine

 

[dekeman]

Blizzaks had no trouble in last year's first "frost."

 

[Orlyg1521]

I'm surprising on suggested these.

 

[LandCruiser]

Blizzaks had no trouble in last year's first "frost."

haha, Ontario.

That's "mild flurries" over there.