Mud Tires in the Snow

[white_n_slow]

Who runs a mud tire year round in an area where it snows a fair amount? Particularly the BFG KM2 or Toyo MT?

Reason I ask is I am considering the 285/75r17 tire size and pretty much your only choices are the KM2, Toyo MT, or Toyo Open Country AT II (which I'm not sure is up to serious wheeling, but let me know if you think otherwise). Nitto also makes a tire in this size, but I don't like the reviews.

Although my 4Runner is not my DD anymore, it will see a lot of action on-road in winter, especially in the high country.

Thoughts & opinions please!

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[the great him]

i run the nittos and have been in some deep snow, i love them, they have never failed me and always given me great traction. in deep fresh powder or virgin snow MTs will do great, but if you are on packed snow or snowy roads the ATs will out shine the MTs all day long, especially in any ice. i have run maxxis bighorns in the snow as well. and honestly i went back to an AT tire just because of its performance in snow and ice over the MT tire.

 

[white_n_slow]

Yeah, I'm more concerned with packed snow and ice. I don't really do any snow wheeling since my wife hates the cold

 

[snivilous]

i run the nittos and have been in some deep snow, i love them, they have never failed me and always given me great traction. in deep fresh powder or virgin snow MTs will do great, but if you are on packed snow or snowy roads the ATs will out shine the MTs all day long, especially in any ice. i have run maxxis bighorns in the snow as well. and honestly i went back to an AT tire just because of its performance in snow and ice over the MT tire.

I want to upgrade to 285s next time round, and am gonna get a good snow/ice AT like kid said. I think going through fresh power is awesome, but one situation where the tires have to be good is packed snow/ice and usually that's more abundant than powder or you go through it to get to the powder.

 

[the great him]

dont get me wrong the MT tires arent bad, but their large tread blocks dont lend well to snow and ice and they will slide around easier. even with sipping, they just wont have the bite that a good AT tire will

 

[KidVermicious]

Unmodified KM2s are sketchy on sloppy/icy roads, but much better once they're siped. I love mine.

Considering my truck is still a daily driver, I may do Duratracks next.

 

[Dirtco]

I daily drive my 4Runner, and I drive a lot on packed snow and ice. I have the KM2's right now, and I had the MTR's w/kevlar before that. I've also ran the old style MTR's, and the Pro Comp Extreme MT's on my past rigs in the snow. All were in the 35x12.50 flavor, except for the old MTR's which were 37x12.50.

I had 8" wide wheels on my last two rigs, and I really feel that decreased the contact patch of the tire (over my 9-10" wide beadlocks), making for better winter handling. Your 285's should handle better than the wide tires I have.

I could get into details, but really none of these are that great of a snow/ice tire without extra siping. I don't see myself getting through this winter without buying new tires, or siping and grooving the KM2's i have. I've narrowed it down to two tires if I get new one's; the Toyo MT's, or the Mickey Thompson MTZ's. A lot of the Canada guy's run the MTZ with good results, and I've heard good things about the Toyo's MT's, but they are heavy!

I would say the Toyo's over the KM2's, but the MTZ's are also worth a look. The Duratrac's would be your best choice if you don't wheel super hard, but I don't trust the sidewalls, and I need something more aggressive.

 

[cdrewferd]

I'll let you know how the Toyos do after this winter. Lol

 

[white_n_slow]

I daily drive my 4Runner, and I drive a lot on packed snow and ice. I have the KM2's right now, and I had the MTR's w/kevlar before that. I've also ran the old style MTR's, and the Pro Comp Extreme MT's on my past rigs in the snow. All were in the 35x12.50 flavor, except for the old MTR's which were 37x12.50.

I had 8" wide wheels on my last two rigs, and I really feel that decreased the contact patch of the tire (over my 9-10" wide beadlocks), making for better winter handling. Your 285's should handle better than the wide tires I have run.

I could get into details, but really none of these are that great of a snow/ice tire without extra siping. I don't see myself getting through this winter without buying new tires, or siping and grooving the KM2's i have. I've narrowed it down to two tires if I get new one's; the Toyo MT's, or the Mickey Thompson MTZ's. A lot of the Canada guy's run the MTZ with good results, and I've heard good things about the Toyo's MT's, but they are heavy!

I would say the Toyo's over the KM2's, but the MTZ's are also worth a look. The Duratrac's would be your best choice if you don't wheel super hard, but I don't trust the sidewalls, and I need something more aggressive.

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately they don't make a Duratrac in this size (yet). I'm hoping it becomes more common as it seems a pretty popular option for JK's and FJC's.

Drew, do you DD your runner? I'll check in with you in a few months

 

[cdrewferd]

Just saw this.

I don't DD it as my father-in-law gave me his old 98 Tacoma PreRunner. However, if there is snow on the ground I'll be taking the 4Runner to work, so I should get plenty of time with them.