Dedicated Snow Tires?

Hi all,

I live down in Parker, and tend to stay in town during the winter (although I might venture into the mountains for some ice fishing here/there). I currently have a 2020 TRD OR with the stock Goodyears on it and am approaching my first full winter with it.

How many of you have dedicated snow tires on your rig? We swap summer and winter tires on my wife's Forester after she spun out a couple of winters ago.

Usage for the truck during the winter will be mostly on road with a few gravel roads here/there. I'm hoping I can get away with good all terrain tires (with the 3PMSF rating) and won't need to swap tires for the season (I'll keep a set of chains in the truck just in case things get hairy). My other concern is premature wear of the snow tires since I tend to find myself on gravel roads at times.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

Pro tip, get steel 16" wheels and stick to 245/75R16, its the same diameter as the TRD, but slightly more narrow for better winter grip.

I would 100% suggest winters, just put them on thanksgiving, remove easter. (Im albertan but visit rockies at high elevation as well)

 

Nah, no swapping here. Reduce speed if traction is an issue. If chains are needed, maybe question what is so important to be out. I carry chains, too, in case things go so bad that they're needed to get somewhere better than being on the road.

 

You will see the in town snow goes away fairly quick, so like @JDM says no need for winter tires in the front range. The post about going narrow only works in snow, you lose traction doing that on ice and we can get both here.

If you're really concerned about it look for All terrain tires with a snow flake but after you spend a winter here you will see its much more about driver skill then tires oh and ABS braking doesn't help much in snow/ ice, light work on the accelerator pedal is better.

https://www.tires-easy.com/blog/mou...e this icon,low temperature or freezing roads.

 

I've had zero issues with a good set of all terrains. I've run Duratracs, and Cooper AT3s. 4WD helps tremendously and a rear locker keeps me from having to get out to dig or use Max Traxs or a winch. I've recently switched to the new Pirellis. They have the snow rating so I expect them to work very well but I have not seen snow since installing. I can tell you they are incredible on road tires for an AT and I'm extremely happy with them thus far. The noise reduction is noticeable. My wife mentioned it on her first ride in the truck since install. She's running Goodyear Trailrunner ATs on her 4Runner and they're impressive in the snow. I was originally going to go with a set of them due to their snow performance but went with the Pirellis at the last minute.

 

With any all terrain or all season you should be good to as long as you have a reasonable amount of tread remaining.

 

Absolutely run dedicated winter tires from Nov-Apr for the saftey of you, your friends, your family, and everyone else on the road.
I have run dedicated winter tire in every vehicles I have had, since getting my drivers license in the spring of 1990, in NH, Flagstaff, and Colorado, with FWD, Quattro (Audi AWD), and RWD/4WD.
Specifically in Co, I have used Toyo Observe winter tires on Quattro and RWD/4WD. They do not wear out prematurely as Blizzaks, are not the top rated ice tires, but have the hardest plant material in the world, ground up walnut shells molded into the tread rubber.
Second best would be to get 3 Peak all season tires.

 

I run snow rated All Terrains on all 4WD vehicles of mine (and the wifes) here in the Springs and have zero complaints about ability and safety driving during the winter. Only ever ran snow tires on my RWD vehicles.

As many have said, you don't really *need* snow tires on the front range. Ofcourse, if money isn't a first most priority and you want to run them, then by all means get a second set of cheap wheels and do what makes you comfortable.

Since it's your first year with the Tacoma (and presumably a light rear end truck that's normally RWD) I'd say give winter a go as you sit. If you find you don't feel comfortable, either add some weight to the back, use 4x4 some or just plain decide you want the extra confidence of winters. Easy to buy a new setup versus buying a setup and realizing you don't really need it.

 

For me, 3 peak winter ratings are good enough for the front range and most of the driving I do. I will say, there is no comparison to a dedicated winter tire. If you are one to value peace of mind, are able to afford and store a 2nd set of wheels and tires I say go for it. I still drove appropriately for the conditions, but snow tires definitely made me feel better. Also load your bed. The truck is stupid easy to get to oversteer. Last year I would tap the throttle mid turn and kick out the rear for fun. Tried it in a parking lot with traction control 100% off and learned how stupid easy it was to over do it. Slight tap would get you into a decent slide, an inch further on the throttle I was back asswards looking at my tire tracks.

 

I run snow tires because I ski and want to be able to get up into the mountains in all conditions. If you don't mind waiting a day or two after each storm ends to drive anywhere there really isn't a need for them. If you *have* to drive when it's still snowing/before the plows get out then I would consider them.

 

I just put on the Toyo AT3’s 265/75/16 and they did extremely well in the last storm we had. We got a 1’ of snow down in south Castle Rock. I live on a ranch off the 83. I plan on keeping them on year round.

 

If you don't mind me asking, where'd you buy them and how much did you pay?

 

I run falken wildpeaks through buffalo winters. I’ve been very happy with them.

 

I went to a smaller shop in town called America’s Tire Depot. They had them on sale buy 3 get 1 free. Ended up out the door for under $700 mounted and balanced.

 

I live in Maine it snows real snow, I plow with the Tacoma also, snow tires not all season. I forgot what year the wheels came off of but it was old enough the plastic caps don't fit but for $40 for all 4 I didn't care.

 

Moving up to the mtns in a week and will have to plow my driveway... wheels are cheap but need to find some tires too. I was thinking I could get away with one set of 'snow rated' tires but feel that I may regret that decision given how steep my driveway is.

 

Goodyear Duratracs and I'm never going back to anything else. They hook up in every season!

 

I plow with a 1 ton SRW '85 GMC 6.2 diesel and have used all types of tires from MT, Haka studded winters, Commercial Tractions, and I will say the K02 have been the best for plowing especially in the non-frozen dirt driveways and roads. The K02s hold up to wheel spin without shredding lugs as the Hakas do, much better traction everywhere than the MT and CT overall. I have a few places I have to chain up all 4 to complete the jobs.

 

I am in no hurry and generally plow in low range have no problems with wheel spin. My own driveway is 1/4 mile and I do another other one about the same. My tires are wide spaced tread with a name no one would recognise that I get from an independent dealer.

 

I plow with my Deere.