Anyone in snowy area have experience with both Ridge Grapplers and Wildpeaks A/T3W?

I have been running C load Ridge Grapplers for 2 years (35k miles) and really liked them but had a mishap last night and rather than buying just 1 I am going to buy a complete set of new tires.

Not interested in the Duratrac or KO2s as I have had both (couldn't get Duratracs to balance, and KO2's were outperformed by the Ridge Grapplers)

Open to getting another set of Ridge Grapplers but always open to other options if there is something better. In the Dakotas we get our fair share of snow/ice and I also do a ton of ice fishing so winter traction critical. And weather gets cold so some of the compounds seem to harden up and lose effectiveness.

Wondering if anyone has had both the RGs and the Wildpeaks and if so how did they compare?

If you have other suggestions feel free to float them to me, especially if you have tried the ridge grapplers.

 

I had Wildpeaks on for the first couple months of winter here in the mountains. Wouldn't recommend them - they're fine in fresh stuff but as soon as the snow is hard packed or icy they fall to pieces.

 

Toyo AT3s...?

 

Cooper AT3 xlt best tire I’ve owned snow,mud, on road and off road never had issues very impressed.

 

I'm waiting for some snow to test out my Defender LTX.

 

I plan on checking out the new Toyo AT3s as well but haven't found a ton of real world reviews of snow/ice performance yet. Still researching that.

What did you end up with after the Wildpeaks?

 

I went back to studded Hakkapeliittas for winter use, I've pretty much given up on finding a true year round tire.

 

All.....use UTQG ratings for Wear, Traction and Temperature to compare tires. This is a tire industry standard to evaluate tires and give the consumer a tool to choose a tire. Be aware, the ratings can be a little different across brands.

For instance Wildpeaks (4 variants at Discount Tire) the H/T HT02 has ratings of 700 tread wear, A traction, A-B temperature. This your base for comparison. If you want a better tire, then look for a higher tread wear, AA traction and A temperature.

Toyo AT3 have 600, A, A-B. Ratings indicate not quite as good as the Wildpeaks.

Cooper has 3 variants of the AT3. The AT3 4S has ratings of 620, A, B. Slightly better tread wear than the Toyo AT3, but lower temperature rating.

My point, there are ways to understand which tire is better for you using the UTQG ratings. Of course, there is always the path of basing your choice on opinion, cosmetics, warranty, cost.......


Be aware. Many US States prohibit the use of studded tires.

 

Except that temperature ratings are to do with heat resistance and speed. Traction ratings are on wet pavement in a straight line and indicate nothing about off road performance, snow performance, or anything to do with lateral stability.

 

You are correct. That is how the ratings are based.

Traction is determined on wet pavement. It stands to reason, if traction is good on wet pavement that it will be relative on snow pack and ice.

Tires will heat as they roll. Even at 0F, a tire will have some heat built up from rolling.

The UTQG is the best system available. Make what decisions to best suit your needs/wants. I'm only indicating a relatively consistent set of data to compare tires. I never said it was a complete or perfect system.

The ugly truth is the majority of drivers DO NOT off road. So, off road ratings will be long time in arriving, if ever.

 

OP is asking about snow experience. Wet pavement traction has little to do with snow / ice traction. UTQG is cute but asking for other owners experience on the same truck in similar situations will give you a much better idea.

OP - pretty sure the Wildpeaks are better in snow/ice as far as AT go.
Brother has them on his Frontier, friends have Grapplers on their 4Runners here in southern BC.
If there is any way you can get winters you will be way ahead.

 

Amen. Would love to hear feedback from someone who has had first hand experience with both the ridge grapplers and the wildpeaks in snow. If not I will probably just go back to the Ridge Grapplers as they served me well and I really have no complaints about how they handled in the snow. (Either that to try the new Toyo Open Country AT III)

 

I have had two pairs of wildpeaks and they are great in snowy Utah here. I also have had my 255/85 st maxx that also did amazing

 

Our wildpeaks have been great and we get a ton of snow where I live in Utah

 

dawg just get winters. I liked the wildpeaks in powder and if it was like 0 out. Once it hit -20,-30 well shit, probably would of been better off with hoosiers on the street.

 

Decided the toyo open country A/T III just don't have enough real world feedback on them to go with them yet , and Wildpeaks, while well liked by most, seem to get some hit and miss snow/ice reviews in my area (talking with tire shops etc) so I am think I will just stick with what I know-Ridge Grapplers

Except this time I think I am going to jump to 285/70/r17s or 255/80/r17s.

 

As far as I can tell, the Ridge Grapplers are not actually TPMSF rated? So why would you choose a tire that isn't rated for snow if that's important to you vs a tire that is?

 

Fair question. I have had and used the Ridge Grapplers and they performed well for me (including in the winter). I was hoping someone would chime in who had both the ridge grappler and the wildpeak (or the ridge grappler and the new open country a/t III) to give me their first hand experience.
I have had the duratracs then the ridge grapplers, then the KO2’s for a short while (also 3 snow peak rated). I returned the Duratracs because I couldn’t get them to balance and my affair with a KO2 was short-lived before I went back to the Ridge Grapplers because personally I thought the Ridge Grappler performed better (with or without the 3 snow peak rating)

Because of my experience with the KO2s don’t put all of my stock in the three mountain peak rating. Is it something I consider-sure but I would much rather get feedback from others in similar climates who have first hand experience with both.
I guess you can say the devil I know is better than the devil I don’t.

 

I have not closed the door on the RGs AND a set of cheaper snow tires like the general grabber Arctic’s but my pocketbook has not yet agreed with that proposition.

 

We don't get much snow here and I don't miss Chicago.

But just out of curiosity and maybe it will help someone else better provide a good winter tire:
Is this for onroad use or offroad? Or if both about what percentage of each?