snowflake rated tires with raised white letters?
- Thread starter blackened_offroad
- Start date
Hyde802
New member
Get whatever tire you like, then paint the raised letters.
Amazon.com: Tire Ink | Paint Pen for Car Tires | Permanent and Waterproof | Carwash Safe (1 Pen, Yellow): Automotive
Amazon.com: Tire Ink | Paint Pen for Car Tires | Permanent and Waterproof | Carwash Safe (1 Pen, Yellow): Automotive
Well, I was in the same boat for the 5th gen we bought almost a year ago. The OEM Dunlops weren't going to cut it, so it became months of research and analysis.
I've owned every iteration of the BFG A/T since the 80's. For dry desert terrain, they would be my choice. But not for wet or snow.
I had Toyo A/T 2 tires on my 3rd gen when I sold it. About like the BFG's IME. Supposedly they new Toyo A/T 3 is better in the wet, and is now 3PMSF rated, but physically handling them at the tire store, I wasn't convinced.
Falkens have a history of uniformity issues, and are heavy for their size, because they use cheaper construction which is heavier. Of course that's why they are generally cheaper.
I ultimately went with Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 in LT 265/70R17 E. They are 3PMSF rated, have outlined white letters on one side, and black sidewall on the other. They are great in rain, and the snow storms I've had them in they did better than the KO2's and Toyo A/t 2's I had. They aren't noisy like Duratracs, and they balanced easily and ride smooth and quiet, despite the load range E construction.
Like you I live in the mountains, and deal with heavy snowfall every year.
I've owned every iteration of the BFG A/T since the 80's. For dry desert terrain, they would be my choice. But not for wet or snow.
I had Toyo A/T 2 tires on my 3rd gen when I sold it. About like the BFG's IME. Supposedly they new Toyo A/T 3 is better in the wet, and is now 3PMSF rated, but physically handling them at the tire store, I wasn't convinced.
Falkens have a history of uniformity issues, and are heavy for their size, because they use cheaper construction which is heavier. Of course that's why they are generally cheaper.
I ultimately went with Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 in LT 265/70R17 E. They are 3PMSF rated, have outlined white letters on one side, and black sidewall on the other. They are great in rain, and the snow storms I've had them in they did better than the KO2's and Toyo A/t 2's I had. They aren't noisy like Duratracs, and they balanced easily and ride smooth and quiet, despite the load range E construction.
Like you I live in the mountains, and deal with heavy snowfall every year.
Tuco S.
New member
I'm likely getting a set of these this week. On the plus side they have a $100 mail-in rebate through 10/31.
blackened_offroad
New member
probably what I'll do.
delloro
New member
That paint is no replacement for the white rubber.
blackened_offroad
New member
I'd be very surprised if most of these tires actually used white rubber for the text.
delloro
New member
I was surprised to see that it was.
CO-Cygnus
New member
Well 'Work' for is not really a thing since none of the SAR teams are paid professionals. I volunteer for Grand County SAR. We cover both areas, or help Alpine Rescue Team sometimes with Jones Pass and the Clear Creek side of Berthoud, it depends on what side of the pass its on.
I have never had a problem with Blizzak DMV2s getting fried after just one winter, and I drove down to Golden 3 days a week for work pre-COVID. I used the 20" wheels from my limited as winter wheels though so maybe the 17s behave differently?
I have an Outback XT as my daily driver now with Nokians on, so we'll see how they do.
blackened_offroad
New member
yeah i know that about SAR. I looked into joining them but the ones where I lived at the time made it super hard to join. Like a year and a half wait until they would vote on whether you were allowed to do the training so they could then vote again on whether you could join.
Dunno. I lived near Idaho Springs and worked in Golden 4 days a week, plus I skied about 85 days at Copper, Winter Park, Berthoud and Jones Pass, Monarch, etc. Also took a trip to Jackson Hole (in a blizzard) and SLC (also in a blizzard). I put the Blizzak DM-v2's on in October. By April, they were down to 20% tread left. It was on my 3rd gen, so they were actually 16's.
CO-Cygnus
New member
Alpine and Rocky Mountain Rescue are both like that because they pull from the cities and have hundreds of applicants. Grand County does not have many full-time residents so it's easy to get involved if you have motivation and show some commitment.
blackened_offroad
New member
yeah Alpine was one of them. They seemed like nice folks but they wanted me to come weekly for a year and a half just so they could then vote on whether I was allowed to volunteer my time for 4 months of training, so they could then vote on whether I could join. a bit extreme.
Grand County SAR is pretty far from where I'll be living this year. But i'll be looking into it where I live next. I may be working ski patrol this year, so I dunno that I'll have the time.
I also have confidence running the BFG KO2's here in sw, PA. They have never let me down but, we don't get nearly as much snow as the guys in the Colorado mountains.
biggestmexi
New member
I have said it in another thread as well.
Duratracs are not good for ice or hard pack snow. They do not have enough sipes for that kind of traction.
Deep know or something you can get them to dig into is great and on road is good as well. Just not hard pack.
Ice traction always comes up in these threads across every forum and tire thread ive been in. What tire is actually good on ice unless you get a studded snow tire? Even then, you're still on ice...
biggestmexi
New member
Sipes. It is all about sipes I think.
With the increase in sipes, the better the traction on ice/hard pack.
I think this is because smaller things in the same area have a greater surface area. This allows this separate but similar treads a chance to grip into the ice.
I mean nothing is going to be like studs, but winter tires have far greater chances due to the sipes
With the increase in sipes, the better the traction on ice/hard pack.
I think this is because smaller things in the same area have a greater surface area. This allows this separate but similar treads a chance to grip into the ice.
I mean nothing is going to be like studs, but winter tires have far greater chances due to the sipes
nordwulf
New member
Just received new Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S to replace my stock tires. We get lots of lake effect snow here in Michigan. I bought these based on reading through forums, reviews and TireRack ratings.
They also are supposed to be quiet on regular roads and long-lasting as well. Definitely worth a try, looking forward to the first snow.
Great price for $540 +tax after rebates.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=ORAT
They also are supposed to be quiet on regular roads and long-lasting as well. Definitely worth a try, looking forward to the first snow.
Great price for $540 +tax after rebates.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=ORAT
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