New Tires

[4runnerWiniarski23]

Hi guys,

Winter is coming and my rig is rolling on some very used Michelin LT, starting to see some cracking all over. I want to get something new so I don't have any issues this winter.

Looking at 265-75-16
Cooper S/T Maxx
BFG AT KO2
Kumho AT51
Michelin LTX
General Grabber AT2

I have done countless hours of research on all of these tires. I currently have a load D rated Michelin. Truck is mostly 75% highway/city driving, daily use, weekends can include some camping trails but most important winter driving up to VT/ NH for skiing. I've read so many mixed reviews on the jumping to an E rated tire will decrease fuel economy, harder ride etc. I dont mind a harder ride, it is a truck, but wouldn't want to sacrifice to much fuel economy (loosing more than 3-5 mpg would not be acceptable)

Right now I am really spilt between the Coopers and the Kumho, I love the look of the cooper but the Kumho are noticeable cheaper and less aggressive. The KO2's look great but for the price I think id rather get the coopers.

Lets see what you guys think. :banana:

 

[Black798]

Id take a look at the Falken Wildpeak at3w or the hankook dynapro atm. I just bought the falkens and really like them, they're in a similar price range to the kumhos. They're supposed to have really good winter performance too. Ive also heard great things about the hankooks in snow and they last a really long time.

 

[absalom]

For winter, why not go with winter tires? I got 4 Hankook RW11's installed for $478.

 

[thegipper]

I am also thinking of getting the Kuhmo AT51's.

The other option was the Cooper AT3 which should be a much better tire than the S/T maxx for driving in the snow.

 

[4runnerWiniarski23]

Id take a look at the Falken Wildpeak at3w or the hankook dynapro atm. I just bought the falkens and really like them, they're in a similar price range to the kumhos. They're supposed to have really good winter performance too. Ive also heard great things about the hankooks in snow and they last a really long time.

Falkens look like a great choice.....:mmph: making things more difficult. Couldnt find to many winter/snow reviews of the Falkens but I can guess theyll be good.

 

[JayRolla]

Falkens look like a great choice.....:mmph: making things more difficult. Couldnt find to many winter/snow reviews of the Falkens but I can guess theyll be good.

If you want good winter tires don't go with an a/t. Take this from someone that has ran a/t and m/t on all his 4x4s. My 400whp AWD Talon did 100 times better on winter tires. A/T quickly lose there winter ice ability once slightly worn.

 

[4runnerWiniarski23]

If you want good winter tires don't go with an a/t. Take this from someone that has ran a/t and m/t on all his 4x4s. My 400whp AWD Talon did 100 times better on winter tires. A/T quickly lose there winter ice ability once slightly worn.

This is something I will not argue, a dedicated winter tire is great. My previous few cars were audis with all seasons, never had a problem in some of the worst deep snow loose and packed but having had a pair of dedicated winter tires on one of those audis the difference is night and day.

Just looking for a good tire to run year round, knowing the limitations and when its best to stay home are things no tire can provide. My 01 4runner is my first truck with 4wd, besides the awd audis, I dont haul that much gear so E rating isnt very important either. I am anticipating the truck to be as good as my audis running an all terrain tire.

Thanks again for the tire recommendations. I will keep looking around and post up when I finally get something new.

 

[185Runner]

I just bought Goodyear Duratraks at the recommendation of my brother who has been running all sorts of tires and lives in salt lake so they get a fair amount of snow. His quote "if there was a better tire I'd have it" he has an 01 tundra.

 

[4runnerWiniarski23]

I just bought Goodyear Duratraks at the recommendation of my brother who has been running all sorts of tires and lives in salt lake so they get a fair amount of snow. His quote "if there was a better tire I'd have it" he has an 01 tundra.

I have heard mixed reviews on the Duratraks, good quality for the money. Personally have had bad luck with good years in the past. 2 blow outs back to back over a period of 2 weeks, as well as terrible wear qualities. I know the duratracks completely different then what I purchased.

 

[4runnerWiniarski23]

Just another question how much of a difference in ride should i expect if i went with an E rated vs D rated LT tire.

 

[jgue467]

I just bought Goodyear Duratraks at the recommendation of my brother who has been running all sorts of tires and lives in salt lake so they get a fair amount of snow. His quote "if there was a better tire I'd have it" he has an 01 tundra.

Went with the duratraks, you will loose some mps, actually not even a whole mpg more like about 20 miles per tankful. No snow in central texas but lots of everything else. These are 265/75/16s. Here's how the look before the 1.5" bl coming very soon. :cowboy:

 

[TJ710]

I just bout Hankook Dynapro ATM's. Hopefully they'll do alright

 

[jgue467]

I just bout Hankook Dynapro ATM's. Hopefully they'll do alright

Those are Great tires!!

I just went thru a set that lasted 70,000 miles!

Very quite on road, as good a mileage as you can get from atms.

Decent offroad on all types of surfaces, I mean its a mild offroad tire that delivers moderate offroad results. In hindsight, I'd get them again and probably will. :cowboy:

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Just another question how much of a difference in ride should i expect if i went with an E rated vs D rated LT tire.

I have E rated KO2s and I really notice no difference in ride quality. I run them about 40 psi. Im sure there's a slight gas mileage hit since they are significantly heavier. I think im getting about 20 miles less per tank. But those things are VERY tough. i put them through hell on my last off road trek and hit the sidewall and got a little damage but they are fine. A c rated tire would not have handled that very well.

 

[amalik]

If you want good winter tires don't go with an a/t. Take this from someone that has ran a/t and m/t on all his 4x4s. My 400whp AWD Talon did 100 times better on winter tires. A/T quickly lose there winter ice ability once slightly worn.

I can attest to this.

My Civic is FWD, but it has A/T tires and Discount Tire told me they would be fine in the snow.

WRONG. They blow.

Do winter tires have their own designation, or can they fall under A/T?

 

[JayRolla]

I can attest to this.

My Civic is FWD, but it has A/T tires and Discount Tire told me they would be fine in the snow.

WRONG. They blow.

Do winter tires have their own designation, or can they fall under A/T?

I dont know if they do fall in their own category but they usually have names like Blizzak, Ultra Grip, X-Ice, Artic, Winterforce.

 

[Scramble]

I can attest to this.

My Civic is FWD, but it has A/T tires and Discount Tire told me they would be fine in the snow.

WRONG. They blow.

Do winter tires have their own designation, or can they fall under A/T?

Winter tires have their own designation & have a nice sticky compound. I ran winters on my last 2 Honda's & they were amazing compared to "All weather" or "All season" tires.

I had A/T's on my T4R from 2002 until 2014 & I thought they were good at the time for snow but they are nothing compared to a M/T. My Hankooks got me through last winter with more traction than any A/T I've owned in the past.

 

[Bijan]

I have "winter tires" on my FWD nissan maxima
I have duratracs on my 4runner

I'd rather drive the Maxima when it's snowy out

 

[endgame56]

I had A/T's on my T4R from 2002 until 2014 & I thought they were good at the time for snow but they are nothing compared to a M/T. My Hankooks got me through last winter with more traction than any A/T I've owned in the past.

Now are we talking the deep stuff or packed, snowy roads? I have the Toyo Celsius on our Accord which I'd take 9/10 times over the 4runner for driving around in the snow on city streets.

But, I was always under the impression that while mud terrains do well in the deep fluffy stuff, their relative lack of siping makes them pretty much useless on packed roads.

 

[thinblue148]

As far as the mpg loss you won't even notice. I went from Michelin 265/70/16 load d to a mud terrain 265/75/16 load e 2 months later no change in mpg.