I need help picking out a size and winter tire!

[*AK2006*]

Hello,

I live in Alaska and we just got dumped on about 4 days or so ago. I need to get some winter studded tires so I was wondering what size and brand you guys are using or have used.

I went to the local shop and they recommended a 245/70-17 tire because it's a winter tire. They said to go narrower because it grips better. What do you guys think??? Has anybody gone this route? I naturally looked for the stock 265/65-17 but yeah... I'm not sure if the narrower tire will fair better.

Where do you guys usually buy your tires. I looked on www.tirerack.com and they didn't really have a good selection. They didn't even have any studded tires for our vehicles.

Thanks in advanced for all your help and time, I greatly appreciate it.

-Gene

 

[Kmvreter]

Wow, a tire thread that no one has responded to in over 6 hours.

I've seen previous discussions on hear with some going narrower. I debated this but decided to go slightly wider to get taller. Do you really need a studded tire? If not then I'm in favour of the BFG A/Tko. Don't know what the stud options are because they are illegal in Ontario.

 

[Mr. Lambdebois]

I would also recomend some bfg at ko's. They do great in the snow.

As far as going to a narrower tire it will increase traction as long as you are not going though snow deep enough for your ground clearance to be an issue. If that is the case you would want a wider tire to float over it.

Good info here.....

http://www.expeditionswest.com/research/white_papers/tire_selection_rev1.html

 

[Randy Arnold]

Winter Tire

Lived in Fairbanks/North Pole for 12 years. Your snow there is a lot wetter and more icy than the interior snows.That being said I think i'd give the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 a hard look. The narrower tire debate has some merit there but the difference in tread width is only .6". I think I would go with 265/70/17. They are sized better for your rim width and should expose a little less sidewall to those great roads. Good luck and be careful, it's a long way to the bottom of the ditch up there in some places.