Blizzak LT snow tires - 255/75/17?

[AgentKooper]

Looking for snow tires and ran across these. I've been considering going with slightly taller, skinnier tires, and these seem like maybe a good place to start. Anyone have any experience with them? They're C rated and would be going on a 2021 Pro. They're only about a half inch taller than the stock tires.

 

[Iron duke]

No experience with those tires in particular but the narrower the tire the less contact patch you'll have and therefore less traction. I would go with a wide tire personally, especially with snowy conditions, but that's just me.

 

[comtn4x4]

No experience with those tires in particular but the narrower the tire the less contact patch you'll have and therefore less traction. I would go with a wide tire personally, especially with snowy conditions, but that's just me.

Conventional wisdom is that narrower is better for most typical winter situations. See this article I linked below.



https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/hunters-ramblings/why-are-narrower-tires-better-for-winter


And here's a video arguing narrow tires are better off road too. Food for thought.
As always you have to find the best balance for your specific application



TIRES. FAT OR SKINNY for Overland Touring? AndrewSPW Land Cruiser build-7 - YouTube

 

[fkheath]

Looking for snow tires and ran across these. I've been considering going with slightly taller, skinnier tires, and these seem like maybe a good place to start. Anyone have any experience with them? They're C rated and would be going on a 2021 Pro. They're only about a half inch taller than the stock tires.

Winter tires, such as the Blizzak or Michelin x-ice, are great in the winter, especially on ice, but because they are made with softer rubber, they wear very fast. Thus you may have to replace them soon.

My recommendation would be to get a good all season knobby tires such as the BFG KO2 that you can use year round. The KO2 is great in snow, but not as good on ice as a dedicated winter tire.

 

[Bumbo]

No direct experience but my friend runs Blizzak in Connecticut winters on a GX and likes them a lot.

 

[Iron duke]

Conventional wisdom is that narrower is better for most typical winter situations. See this article I linked below.



https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/hunters-ramblings/why-are-narrower-tires-better-for-winter


And here's a video arguing narrow tires are better off road too. Food for thought.
As always you have to find the best balance for your specific application



TIRES. FAT OR SKINNY for Overland Touring? AndrewSPW Land Cruiser build-7 - YouTube

Thanks for the info, there are arguments on both sides for and against wide and narrow tires. If you are traveling in mostly snow/ice covered roads, then yes you would be correct because you need to cut through the snow to get to the traction of the road. If you are traveling where you would just sink down in the snow, then you would want to float over the snow with a wider tire.

 

[comtn4x4]

Thanks for the info, there are arguments on both sides for and against wide and narrow tires. If you are traveling in mostly snow/ice covered roads, then yes you would be correct because you need to cut through the snow to get to the traction of the road. If you are traveling where you would just sink down in the snow, then you would want to float over the snow with a wider tire.

I absolutely agree. The deciding factor for most is which one they travel more frequently. For me there's a lot of miles of plowed road leading to the un-plowed ones.

 

[vicali]

The LT is Blizzaks commercial truck/van winter tire. So it's an LT and E rated. Some reviews also say they wear faster than other blizzaks..

I went with 255/70 R17 DM-V2 this winter and am very pleased so far, after 8 seasons on the DM-V1.

 

[AgentKooper]

Winter tires, such as the Blizzak or Michelin x-ice, are great in the winter, especially on ice, but because they are made with softer rubber, they wear very fast. Thus you may have to replace them soon.

My recommendation would be to get a good all season knobby tires such as the BFG KO2 that you can use year round. The KO2 is great in snow, but not as good on ice as a dedicated winter tire.

Yeah, I realize winter tires wear faster, but I'm good about changing them out at the end of winter. I live in Colorado, driving frequently in the mountains in winter, and have been running dedicated winter tires for a decade. To me they are invaluable, particularly when driving over icy passes, which I do pretty frequently.

I think I'm going to go with the tires I asked about, unless someone warns me away. I'm familiar with the skinny vs wide tire debate, and I feel okay on that score. What I'm wondering about most is whether I want a C-rated LT tire. My hope is that they may be more durable that a P-rated winter tire, but I don't really know.

 

[AgentKooper]

The LT is Blizzaks commercial truck/van winter tire. So it's an LT and E rated. Some reviews also say they wear faster than other blizzaks..

I went with 255/70 R17 DM-V2 this winter and am very pleased so far, after 8 seasons on the DM-V1.

Interesting, thanks. The guy at the tire store told me they were C rated, and I didn't double check. Are you happy with the the 255 size?

EDIT: I just went and looked them up on Tire Rack's site, and they say the LT 255/75/17s are C rated as well, classified as "light truck/SUV."

 

[vicali]

EDIT: I just went and looked them up on Tire Rack's site, and they say the LT 255/75/17s are C rated as well, classified as "light truck/SUV."

Yeah - it's right there in the middle! lol. I've heard these are good but throw stones too. I passed because LT price was much higher, and they were heavier too. Grabber Arctic LT is another great LT heavy winter tire.

I really like the DM-V2 - they do not slip, no ABS, no TCS, no drama. Worst part about them is all the other drivers blocking the way when you could be driving 10/10.

I was also very close to choosing the Toyo GSi5.. but the Blizzaks were $200 less. 255/70R17 ended up cheaper than the more common 265/65R17.

 

[Mark4runnar]

No direct experience but my friend runs Blizzak in Connecticut winters on a GX and likes them a lot.

I live in new england......I have had 3 set, on 3 different cars, and they are amazing.......never thought about a 4 runner with them...... if the really big snow shows up, or I have a long trip into the snow, I take the landcruiser, full time 4wd, it really matters, but that has all seasons on it and i have never been stuck. Helped a few jeeps too......