KM2/Guard Dog vs. Ice

[spongerx]

I looking to either get KM2s or Guard Dogs (retreads) next on my 4runner. We have a lot of ice during the winter here. We get snow also, but my main question is how these tires work on ice. If any one is running these tires please let me know how they do on icy roads. And please be as objective/honest as possible

FYI I'm currently running BFG ATs and they work fine for the type of driving I do. When it's icy I just throw it in 4x4.

 

[ironhippy]

The only tires that I've found come close to working on ice are studded tires and those suck if you do much driving on clear roads.

 

[spongerx]

We've had good results with studless winter tires at the tire shop I work at. But I'm looking for a mud tire that I'm not going to kill myself in during the winter.

 

[Victor]

We've had good results with studless winter tires at the tire shop I work at. But I'm looking for a mud tire that I'm not going to kill myself in during the winter.

With the KM2's in the winter it's going to be a deathwish for sure. Consider the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac? I have those and they're great, severe winter snowflake rated and have sipes and they are studdable. Plus it's an AT/MT hybrid with the tight tread section in the middle (AT) and a large void outer tread section (MT)

Mud tires don't work well on ice period, hard rubber compound and the lugs will act as hockey pucks.

 

[Dous]

Consider the KedgeGrip that Treadwright has available. They put glass, and walnut particles into the tread that help bite down on ice

 

[Big John]

My KM2's sucked bad in snow/ice till I got them siped. Now they are ok but I'm still going with something with better winter traction when these wear out.

 

[LINY4Runner]

I've never tried a studded or winter tire, but I really like my KM2's in the snow.
I always feel funny about retreads...I don't trust it...

 

[econhonda]

I've been running 265/75 guard dogs all winter, and have been very impressed. Although, the only other tire I can compare them to from a snow/ice perspective are cooper discoverer atr's. We had a pretty good ice storm last week, and 4 wheel drive performed very well. No slipping at all. Seemed very secure to me. I didn't go with the kedge grip because I want to extend the tire as much as possible. Kedge wears a little faster. If there really is that much ice there, you might consider it. All in all, I have no regrets about the guard dogs, and have found them to exceed my expectations in all situations. Oh yeah,$427 shipped to my door too!

 

[Big John]

I've never tried a studded or winter tire, but I really like my KM2's in the snow.
I always feel funny about retreads...I don't trust it...

I agree 100% on the retreads. There's a lot of places to save money on your rig and IMO your tires are definitely not the place.

I have a Corolla that I used to commute from here to Cheyenne (approx. 50 mi.) that I put studded winter tires on and that thing kicks ass in snow/ice. If you think your KM2's work well now, have em siped and you'll like them even better. Cost me $52 at Discount and it was worth every penny since my rig was damn near un-driveable when it was slick. I've also been told that siping will extend the life of the tire as well. I haven't really researched this myself, but if it's true, it's a win win situation.

 

[econhonda]

To those who aren't comfortable with retreads: I get it. I was once in the same boat.

To those thinking about running them: Good luck trying to find a negative first hand user experience or testimony. I tried for months. Jeep forums. Cummins forums. 4X4 forums. I couldn't find a single first hand experience of any kind of tire failure. Almost everything I found raved about them. I did find plenty of skepticism. That was expected though. Long story short: I bought them and have run them for about 6,500 miles, and I've been very happy with them. Either treadwright is paying someone a lot of money to censor negative reviews on-line or the tires are simply a great product, and there are many folks out there like me who agree.

It's a funny thing, the normalcy bias.

P.S. sorry for the threadjack.

 

[spongerx]

P.S. sorry for the threadjack.

Not at all. This this all part of a good discussion. Anyone else running these tires in icy conditions? :snacker:

 

[99Yotarunner]

I am running the tread wright retreads along with 4 of my friends and not one of us have had a problem, i had the km2's befor i lifted my truck and they where not as good as the guard dogs i have now in the snow ice or mud, i can honestly say i will be buying another set when these wear out, i have 12,000 miles on them and there barely even worn, they work amazing in snow and mud, and as far as ice well ice is ice lol but they seem to work good, like said befor they make the kedge grip ones with glass and walnuts for siping, but for 532 shipped to my door for 4 285/75/16 I will gladly run them, i used to be negative and worried about retreads but not any more, just my .02 cents

 

[spongerx]

It's really hard to beat that price. I'm looking at 285/75 KM2s for $265 installed a piece. The guard dogs are on sale right now too. $532 shipped is crazy cheap.

 

[Tmansfield]

I've never tried a studded or winter tire, but I really like my KM2's in the snow.
I always feel funny about retreads...I don't trust it...

km2's are good in deep snow but awful in ice or even like snow pack in the city.
As far as retreads go, there is a reason that it's illegal for Truckers to run retreads on the front of their tractors. also if you doing any hard offroading you have to watch for chunking...my 2 cents

 

[econhonda]

As far as retreads go, there is a reason that it's illegal for Truckers to run retreads on the front of their tractors. also if you doing any hard offroading you have to watch for chunking...my 2 cents

Quite right. Different technology. Next time you find yourself clenching the armrests of a 747, rest assured that retreads may likely be what brings you safely from 36,000 ft. to the tarmac. Also a different technology, but my point is that the technology exists for a safe retread. The real issue is trying to determine which industry has achieved such status. If it does exist for a 4runner, wouldn't it be silly to ignore it? I suppose it doesn't really matter. Mo fo me.

 

[99Yotarunner]

^^^^ agree completly with econhonda good luck finding negative info on treadwrights

 

[bulger22]

I'll be using treadwrights this year as well because of pricing and all the research I've done. Plus before another rubber price jump.

As for comparing them and using the "semi truck" reason for not going with them isn't the best with our size trucks. Semi retreads are bigger, have more pressure and weight and also do a lot more traveling. Any tire used will do that it's just smarter business wise to go with a cheaper tire everytime it happens rather than going expensive. A lot of semis use them because they have so many trucks out there. Only logical.