Duratrac's coming...

[Nelsonmd]

So after spinning out twice in the snow, I have decided to get some new snow tires. My research has pointed me to Goodyear Duratrac's as a good snow/off-road tire that will be a good value (tread wear vs cost). Plus they look pretty BA.planning on ordering them tomorrow.

If any of you have a reason we we shouldn't be wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace.

PS. 265/75-16

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I think you'll be happy with them.

 

[econhonda]

So after spinning out twice in the snow, I have decided to get some new snow tires. My research has pointed me to Goodyear Duratrac's as a good snow/off-road tire that will be a good value (tread wear vs cost). Plus they look pretty BA.planning on ordering them tomorrow.

If any of you have a reason we we shouldn't be wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace.

PS. 265/75-16

They look like an awesome tire, but if you want another awesome tire for half the price, you may want to look at treadwrights. I've been running the Guard Dog D's for almost 8,000 miles. They are great in the snow, and are wearing very well! Just a thought...

 

[Opi]

They look like an awesome tire, but if you want another awesome tire for half the price, you may want to look at treadwrights. I've been running the Guard Dog D's for almost 8,000 miles. They are great in the snow, and are wearing great! Just a thought...

what ply are these ive been debating this. cant beat 90 bucks a tire for a new 32"

 

[brian2sun]

I would buy Treadwrights if not for the fact they don't recommend airing them down for off road (on their website) because the glued-on tread can separate easier. They are also nowhere close in performance (no normal A/T or M/T is) compared to a severe winter service rated tire (like the Duratrac) in the snow/ice. The TWs probably still do good in the snow I'm sure, but Duratracs, Dunlop Maxx Tractions, Blizzaks, and Nokian's severe rated winter tires are in a complete class of their own for snow handling and traction. They are the next best thing to having snow chains on.

I used to think the severe winter rating was BS and hype until I tried a set for myself and the difference between a regular M+S tire and a severe service tire is staggering. I'll give you an example..
Last year I had Dunlop Maxx Tractions and I could make it up my access road in 2wd in up to ~8" of snow. This year (with M+S rated Maxxis Bighorn M/Ts) I couldn't make it up in 2wd so I put it in 4HI and I was still polishing the snow going nowhere. Then I locked the rear diff and still just spinning tires. Then I locked the front diff also and only then did I creep up very slowly, spinning all 4 tires the whole way, making the access road nice and packed and polished for the neighbors. So in other words, I had more traction in 2wd with my Dunflops than I did in 4x4 fully locked with my normal M/Ts in the same amount of snow/same type of snow.

 

[econhonda]

I would buy Treadwrights if not for the fact they don't recommend airing them down for off road (on their website) because the glued-on tread can separate easier. They are also nowhere close in performance (no normal A/T or M/T is) compared to a severe winter service rated tire (like the Duratrac) in the snow/ice. The TWs probably still do good in the snow I'm sure, but Duratracs, Dunlop Maxx Tractions, Blizzaks, and Nokian's severe rated winter tires are in a complete class of their own for snow handling and traction. They are the next best thing to having snow chains on.

I used to think the severe winter rating was BS and hype until I tried a set for myself and the difference between a regular M+S tire and a severe service tire is staggering. I'll give you an example..
Last year I had Dunlop Maxx Tractions and I could make it up my access road in 2wd in up to ~8" of snow. This year (with M+S rated Maxxis Bighorn M/Ts) I couldn't make it up in 2wd so I put it in 4HI and I was still polishing the snow going nowhere. Then I locked the rear diff and still just spinning tires. Then I locked the front diff also and only then did I creep up very slowly, spinning all 4 tires the whole way, making the access road nice and packed and polished for the neighbors. So in other words, I had more traction in 2wd with my Dunflops than I did in 4x4 fully locked with my normal M/Ts in the same amount of snow/same type of snow.

True, I wouldn't go with Treadwrights if you plan on airing down quite a bit. Given that he's going with a 265/75/16 though, I doubt he's really going to be doing any extreme rock crawling where PSI's in the low teens are needed, I don't think it should really be a deciding factor, but it is worth noting.

Sidenote: "glued on" doesn't really do the vulcanizing process of Treadwright's retreading process justice, IMO.

As for your reasoning behind the severe winter rating, you may be right, but a comparison such as yours is hardly scientific. By the same method, I can tell you that the Guard Dogs I'm running now are a much better snow tire than the Cooper Discoverer ATR's that I had before. But that doesn't provide enough evidence for me to say that retreads are better in the snow than non-retreads. I'm not saying that severe winter rated tires aren't the best snow tires there are, but your rationale doesn't exactly warrant that kind of a claim. Anyway, I'm sure the OP would have no regrets going with either the Treadwrights or the Duratracs.

 

[scottyb]

I've been very impressed with the Duratracs this winter. I had BFG A/T's previously, and these are a huge improvement. I'm sure you two will make a great couple

 

[econhonda]

what ply are these ive been debating this. cant beat 90 bucks a tire for a new 32"

Not sure. I got the D range ones though. Doesn't that equate to an 8 ply?

 

[IanB]

So after spinning out twice in the snow, I have decided to get some new snow tires. My research has pointed me to Goodyear Duratrac's as a good snow/off-road tire that will be a good value (tread wear vs cost). Plus they look pretty BA.planning on ordering them tomorrow.

If any of you have a reason we we shouldn't be wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace.

PS. 265/75-16

This is the exact tire and size I'm looking at getting. Will you get C or E load range? I'm leaning towards C. Everything I've read indicates we'll be very happy with them.

 

[four flusher]

great in the snow

I have Duratrac 265/75/16 the C rated tire, they've been driven in the snow 20 times and they are bomber, no slipping, no problems stopping, just great

 

[four flusher]

nelsonmd

hope you're getting lifted, if not they'll rub big time

 

[brian2sun]

True, I wouldn't go with Treadwrights if you plan on airing down quite a bit. Given that he's going with a 265/75/16 though, I doubt he's really going to be doing any extreme rock crawling where PSI's in the low teens are needed, I don't think it should really be a deciding factor, but it is worth noting.

Sidenote: "glued on" doesn't really do the vulcanizing process of Treadwright's retreading process justice, IMO.

Well, I guess I should have said "attached to a used sidewall after the fact". The vulcanizing process still isn't good enough for them not to put that warning on their site to not do something that you can to with a normal tire. I think that's their way of admitting it isn't as good/durable. But I'm sure in most cases, people wouldn't know the difference.

As for your reasoning behind the severe winter rating, you may be right, but a comparison such as yours is hardly scientific. By the same method, I can tell you that the Guard Dogs I'm running now are a much better snow tire than the Cooper Discoverer ATR's that I had before. But that doesn't provide enough evidence for me to say that retreads are better in the snow than non-retreads. I'm not saying that severe winter rated tires aren't the best snow tires there are, but your rationale doesn't exactly warrant that kind of a claim. Anyway, I'm sure the OP would have no regrets going with either the Treadwrights or the Duratracs.

Actually, what isn't scientific? Same truck, same type of snow, same depth, same hill, same time in the evening (just as it was icing up). If the temperature wasn't identical it was very close. What variable did I leave out for my comparison? That is also just one example of mine, I've back-to-backed these tires a few different ways and M/Ts (mine in particular although I've found this to be true with every mud I've ever had) are a big step down in the snow from my Dunflops. The several sets of Duratracs, Blizzaks, and Nokians I have experienced while driving/riding in friend's trucks have felt just as sure-footed in the snow as my Dunflops. The only thing I feel a standard M/T (re-tread or not) does better is in deep snow on a flat road because they dig better and clear out better.

I also wasn't saying that "non-retreads are better in snow than retreads" (or vise-versa). I was saying a severe winter service tire (like the Duratrac that we are talking about in this thread) trumps anything else out there, re-tread or not. I'm just saying, if the OP wants a good snow tire, he should get a snow tire - not a mud tire that is ok in the snow. To illustrate my point, I know a lot of guitar players that can get by on bass. But when an actual bass player steps in, the rest of the band sure knows the difference.

 

[IanB]

hope you're getting lifted, if not they'll rub big time

All the reading I've done suggests you can run this size on stock suspension, why do you say they'll rub?:snacker:

 

[twitchee2]

these tires have blown my mind on how well they handle snow and rocks, they take everything i throw at them. I also have never felt so sure footed in snow before. they also hold a bead very well off road so if you air down alot thats always a plus.

heres a pic, i cant believe they held the bead.

 

[HuntNFish]

You will want bigger tires as soon as you get your lift. What tires are you running now? I would try to a few more months.

 

[econhonda]

Well, I guess I should have said "attached to a used sidewall after the fact". The vulcanizing process still isn't good enough for them not to put that warning on their site to not do something that you can to with a normal tire. I think that's their way of admitting it isn't as good/durable. But I'm sure in most cases, people wouldn't know the difference.

You're probably right. Again, I don't think the Treadwrights are a good choice for those wanting to air down really low. However, other 4X4 enthusiasts have done this and witnessed no adverse effects. I wouldn't do it though.

Actually, what isn't scientific? Same truck, same type of snow, same depth, same hill, same time in the evening (just as it was icing up). If the temperature wasn't identical it was very close. What variable did I leave out for my comparison? That is also just one example of mine, I've back-to-backed these tires a few different ways and M/Ts (mine in particular although I've found this to be true with every mud I've ever had) are a big step down in the snow from my Dunflops. The several sets of Duratracs, Blizzaks, and Nokians I have experienced while driving/riding in friend's trucks have felt just as sure-footed in the snow as my Dunflops. The only thing I feel a standard M/T (re-tread or not) does better is in deep snow on a flat road because they dig better and clear out better.

I also wasn't saying that "non-retreads are better in snow than retreads" (or vise-versa). I was saying a severe winter service tire (like the Duratrac that we are talking about in this thread) trumps anything else out there, re-tread or not. I'm just saying, if the OP wants a good snow tire, he should get a snow tire - not a mud tire that is ok in the snow. To illustrate my point, I know a lot of guitar players that can get by on bass. But when an actual bass player steps in, the rest of the band sure knows the difference.

Perhaps you misunderstood my comparison. I wasn't questioning that your old Dunlops were a better snow tire than your present M/T's. I was taking issue with the fact that you used that comparison to determine that the severe winter rating was the cause for such a disparity. In the world of statistics, that wouldn't stand. In your second post, you refer to your friends vehicles that also feel more stable in the snow. While this does provide a little more information, it still doesn't provide sufficient evidence to make your claim. One would have to have a good sample of non-severe winter rated tires as well as a good sample of sever winter rated tires along with a consistent surface to test each tire on. After quantitatively measuring each tire's performance, one could run a regression analysis by identifying the severe weather rating as the independent variable. Should the severe weather rating have a meaningful effect on each tire's performance then, one could say that such tires are better in the snow.

By analyzing two sets of tires on one slope at different times, your comparison is flawed and incomplete. While everything may have seemed the same, it is impossible to know the condition of the layers under the surface of the snow. There could have been a sheet of ice for the one instance, and soft ground for the other.

The truth is that no one probably cares to perform such a study so unless someone does, let's just say that M/T's may not be the best snow tire around, and that severe winter rating tires may be. I'll also add my 2 cents by saying that for the entire Salt Lake City winter, I haven't had any slipping, stopping or other traction issues with my tires, whatsoever.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Thanks for the replies guys. You have made me feel alot more confident in buying these.

I will be lifting soon, but I am not looking to have super expensive tires. The difference between the 265's and 285's is about $200 for the set. I have to draw the line somewhere and it puts me well over $1k, which I really don't want to do. I don't think the 265's will hold me back from anything I want to do.

I also don't plan on a full 3in lift, though if I take advantage of the current Toytec ultimate sale, I will come close. Hopefully they won't look too small.

 

[Ryan_S]

+1 for the Duratracs. 20,000 miles and no complaints. Great off road, great in the snow.

 

[brian2sun]

You're probably right. Again, I don't think the Treadwrights are a good choice for those wanting to air down really low. However, other 4X4 enthusiasts have done this and witnessed no adverse effects. I wouldn't do it though.

Perhaps you misunderstood my comparison. I wasn't questioning that your old Dunlops were a better snow tire than your present M/T's. I was taking issue with the fact that you used that comparison to determine that the severe winter rating was the cause for such a disparity. In the world of statistics, that wouldn't stand. In your second post, you refer to your friends vehicles that also feel more stable in the snow. While this does provide a little more information, it still doesn't provide sufficient evidence to make your claim. One would have to have a good sample of non-severe winter rated tires as well as a good sample of sever winter rated tires along with a consistent surface to test each tire on. After quantitatively measuring each tire's performance, one could run a regression analysis by identifying the severe weather rating as the independent variable. Should the severe weather rating have a meaningful effect on each tire's performance then, one could say that such tires are better in the snow.

By analyzing two sets of tires on one slope at different times, your comparison is flawed and incomplete. While everything may have seemed the same, it is impossible to know the condition of the layers under the surface of the snow. There could have been a sheet of ice for the one instance, and soft ground for the other.

The truth is that no one probably cares to perform such a study so unless someone does, let's just say that M/T's may not be the best snow tire around, and that severe winter rating tires may be. I'll also add my 2 cents by saying that for the entire Salt Lake City winter, I haven't had any slipping, stopping or other traction issues with my tires, whatsoever.

The reason I grouped pretty much all the severe service tires together and specifically mentioned the Duratracs, Dunflops, Nokians, and Blizzaks is because I have experience with all of these tires over the years and I grew up driving in the snow so I know a good snow tires when I feel it. They all perform equally as well as the other IMO so it's obvious to me that it's because of the mtn/snowflake (sever service) rating. I guess I should have explained that better because that wasn't obvious to the reader like it is to me. The only severe service tire that I have experience with and left off the list id the BFG A/T (not all are severe rated), I saw no improvement in snow with these tires and normal A/Ts in the past so I purposely didn't bring them up. Everything else I've tried with the symbol kick so much ass in the snow it's no comaparison.

 

[econhonda]

The reason I grouped pretty much all the severe service tires together and specifically mentioned the Duratracs, Dunflops, Nokians, and Blizzaks is because I have experience with all of these tires over the years and I grew up driving in the snow so I know a good snow tires when I feel it. They all perform equally as well as the other IMO so it's obvious to me that it's because of the mtn/snowflake (sever service) rating. I guess I should have explained that better because that wasn't obvious to the reader like it is to me. The only severe service tire that I have experience with and left off the list id the BFG A/T (not all are severe rated), I saw no improvement in snow with these tires and normal A/Ts in the past so I purposely didn't bring them up. Everything else I've tried with the symbol kick so much ass in the snow it's no comaparison.

:thumb3: