[Bluenoser]

For us Canadians and northern US drivers, I'm wondering what winter tires you are using...not many choices for the 17 inch rim....

 

[EKarlW]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV Tires: TS31933 255/65R17 114 T XL $196

Just got them by FedEx Saturday, it'll be a few weeks before they are mounted so I cannot say how noisy they will be however they appear to be pretty quiet. Were I'm at black ice is the issue and studs are legal so this appeared to be my best bet.

Manufacturer propaganda

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

I'll never understand you cold weather folks.

 

[Bluenoser]

Thanks, looked into it locally $262 a tire...never ran them before, but I researched it and they say they invented the winter tire back in the 30s so may be a good choice...

 

[EKarlW]

Thanks, looked into it locally $262 a tire...never ran them before, but I researched it and they say they invented the winter tire back in the 30s so may be a good choice...

The only thing I might possibly find negative would be the width, anything over 60's tend to want to ride up on the snow and slush more than the 'skinnier' tires but where ice/packed snow is concerned the width actually helps - but after blowing almost $800 bucks I'll convince myself to be happy no matter what...

 

[EKarlW]

I'll never understand you cold weather folks.

I actually LOVE driving in snow and paid good tuition to the School of Hard Knocks for the education, it's the driving on ice that always gets my pooter in a pucker because when you lose it there all you can pretty much do is sit back and watch the scenery go by - it also makes reality out of the cliché: "some cars are may come with optional 4 wheel drive - but ALL cars come equipped with 4 wheel slide".

The only thing worse is when you see someone else who lost it coming at you with eyes big as pie-plates.

I love the first two snow storms of the season where the cars in the burrow pits are all either;
- New 4x4 drivers learning that with great traction comes great responsibility
- New snow drivers
- Those just a year more senile

 

[MadMac]

Here in Wisconsin the winters can get very rough. I'm glad my ZR2 came w/ Goodyear Duratrac's. I had 33x11.5x16's on my Rubicon and I loved them when I had to drive to work and the roads were not plowed. Traction and steering were fantastic and if you were on a muddy trail, you could spin them up and they would clean right out. Pretty expensive in that size ($350.00 each), But I had 42,000mi. on them before I traded it in and I still had 5/32nds left on them before they hit the wear bars. Even on the Jeep they were not noisy. Could run with the windows down and still hold a conversation at freeway speeds. The biggest thing to remember is to rotate them on a regular basis. Good luck with your choices!

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

I think it would be fun as heck for about a week and then I would want it to go away.

I know what you mean about the ice. That's what happens here, it just happens differently and less frequently. We will get a little show during the day and it'll melt and refreeze overnight. As you probably know, we aren't very prepared for that sort of stuff down here. Probably got a lot of laughs when Atlanta pretty much shut down after about 3" of snow a few years back.

 

[Burgess159]

I plan on using the GM Dura-Tracs that are on the truck. Missouri winters are more mild than Ohio, which is still more mild than Wisconsin or Canada I imagine. But I've never had a problem with an AT tire on snow, or ice for that matter. Granted, only studded snow tires work best on ice, but a good AT on a 4x4 will allow you to at least GO on ice....it's just the whole STOPPING thing that leaves something to be desired Missouri like I said is more mild, so it seems like they get a lot more ice than Ohio did when I lived there.

I like driving in the snow usually. I remember when I still had my 2004 Duramax, we had got a decent amount of snow and I had nothing else to do that night, and no one was on the roads, so I went out and played around The few people I did pass gave me a weird look as I drifted around the corners. Wide open parking lots are good for doughnuts too. I dunno, I've driven on the snow enough that I guess I've learned how to drive even with just 2WD. It's mainly the other people on the road you have to watch out for.

Talking about tires though, I just got some new ones on my company pickup; Hercules Terra-Trac AT 2's. Like the tread on them a lot. I had these tires on my 2004 Duramax also. They are very quiet as well. Like that a lot.

 

[oak1971]

Lived in Wisconsin my entire 48 year life. Never owned snow tires. Often drive in blizzards for fun.