First snow and winter tires

Happy Thanksgiving all,

I have looked at various threads about tires, but thought I would post my experience recently.

I had a set of General Grabber Arctic tires put on about 3 weeks ago. Size LT245/75/16.

I wasn't at all confident in the Hankook all seasons that came on the truck.

I have used Cooper Discoverer M+S winter tires on my previous vehicle and really like them as well as Coopers AT3s, but never used General tires.

The Coopers were $190 a tire and the Generals were $160, so I figured I would try the Generals to save a few bucks.

Driving on the PA turnpike last Sunday on the way home from a wedding, rain turned to snow and it happened fast. Got off the turnpike an exit early due to a sign warning of an accident ahead. Didn't want to get stuck at an accident site and get rear-ended by someone not paying attention.

Got off the exit and there was about two inches of wet snow on the ground, but we were taking mostly secondary roads. Speed limits around 35-45, and I was doing about 35 most of the way. For those from PA, I got off at the Lebanon exit and drove up through Hershey. By the time I got to Hershey, the snow had stopped and the sun came out. Roads were just wet by the time I was passing through Harrisburg.

This was the first snow since I have had the Tacoma. I felt the rear tires slip once when starting from a red light going up hill. Since it was the first time driving this truck in snow, I switched to 4WD as a precaution. No other slips and the tires felt like they had good traction.

I saw a few cars that had already slid off the road and a few people sliding while driving.

So far, I am happy with the General winter tires, but I will post updates as the winter goes on.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

 

Anyone have experience with both the LTs and the regular Arctics? How do they compare?

 

I bought these tires in 265/65/17 they're similar to the 16" but mine are directional I guess.

 

I was debating buying dedicated snow tires but i figured id wait and see how the factory goodyear wranglers did in the snow. So far ive been very pleased with the snow performance.

 

Factory tires are surprisingly good in the winter for an all season. Way better that k02.

 

I found the stock Goodyears to be downright dangerous if I recall they don't have an MS or three peak mountain designation

I went with KOs so lets fight about it

 

I have the Arctic LTs. They are an impressive winter tire and also hold up on gravel roads as stated by General with their “chip resistant” duragen compound. I have not had the standard Arctics.

The only minor complaint I have about the Arctic LT Grabber is they are noisier than my k02 summer tires. The k02s are mostly quiet. The Arctic LTs hum. Not as bad as an MT, but you know they are there.

 

They are M+S. K02s are shit in most winter conditions. The snowflake rating is fraud on those.

 

They have been every bit as good as the General Grabbers i had on my last truck.

 

Don’t listen to this itchy guy. I did a 1500kM road trip, all snow and ice, with a guy on the stock Goodyears. He was planted, and in control the whole time. The only trucks that went in the ditch, or couldn’t move forward, in the convoy, were guys on K02s. Even a fella running km3s did ok.

My ko2s are great tires, but I would never run them through winter. Even when brand new, they are not a good winter tread. If I hadn’t had so many sketchy winter experiences on them, I would not have shelled out for the Arctic Grabbers.

 

I bought some cheap Korean knock off winter tires that work pretty good. We get up to 3 feet of snow every winter here. My Ko2s came off fast after I did a sideways slide going 45 mph on a flat with no corner, no hill, no braking or gas pedal. This on a 70mph limit. Just coasting in 4x4 mode at 45mph and sideways it went. I had 500 pounds sandbags in the back for traction. I had front wheel drive cars passing me going 55mph. I have driven winters for 45 years now, 4th truck and never an accident. It really comes down to temperatures. Around freezing mark and you are screwed. Ten below and the snow is dry and sticky and zero problems.

however, my 2016 TRD OR is not half the truck in the snow my old 1986 stock F150 4x4 was. Just cant beat a longer and wider wheel base in the snow, which is one thing I miss about a full size truck.

 

I had KOs on my 2013 and found with the electric brake booster of the 2G OR, it was exceedingly easy to engage ABS on cold, damp or slushy days. I didn't necessarily have a traction issue getting moving, but prior to those tires in the winter, I'd have never previously engaged ABS in a vehicle. Once I switched to dedicated snows (Hankook I-Pike RW11s in my case), that was a non-issue. Since they weren't on my 2013 when it was totaled, I kept them and threw them on my 2016, even after I got KO2s.

I'm going to change out to 17" snow tires next winter as I'm getting close to aging out my tires this season, so I'm going Blizzak / Nokian, but I wouldn't want to run my KO2s in the snow if I don't have to. The 3G (at least in manual) doesn't have the crazy bash your teeth into the steering wheel initial braking bite that my 2G had, so maybe it wouldn't be as severe, but I'm also okay with not subjecting my "nice" wheels to road salt.

 

Following this as I'm on the fence about getting winters right now, just picked the truck up this week and haven't had a chance to try them in the snow/winter yet.

...but tomorrow they are calling for freezing rain and snow so maybe that will be the time! Haha

 

These trucks break the rear end loose extremely easy. Put some weight in the bed and it stops. The composite bed just doesn't weigh enough.

That said I'm running the Arctic LTs also in central PA and the only problem I have is when the snow is deep and a fullsize has gone through ahead of me. You end up fighting through their tracks because our wheel width is different.

 

I've ran ko2's for the last 3 winters on a 2016 4runner, 2005 Tacoma and starting this winter on a 2020 tundra. No issues in the north east of Canada. I have ran dedicated snow tires in the past on each and don't notice a difference besides saving $1000 or more for tires

 

I have been running dedicated winter tires, some studded, every winter since 1990/1991 in NH, Flagstaff, and Colorado on FWD, Quattro, and 4x4.

In winter conditions, these OEM Wranglers are horrible compared to Toyo Open Country ATIIs, which are almost as good as KO2s. But none of those tires can compare to a dedicated winter tire.

Do your family, friends, self, and other drivers on the road and roll on four dedicated winter tires if you drive in winter conditions.

 

They are shit tires in rain and snow. Great off road and dry roads. I ran a set until I drove in a few snows and promptly took them off and sold them.
People buy them based on marketing hype and then try to convince themselves they are good tires.
Yes, the snowflake rating is useless. It is very expensive to get so only the big boys pay the money. Cooper tires are a prime example. The AT3 is a great tire in the snow yet no snowflake. The Michelin I am running now is a great tire in the rain and snow yet no snowflake. WTF?

 

Totally agree on all points. I do like k02, as they are rugged, reasonable Offroad traction, and quiet on-road for how aggressive they are, or look. However, they are not great in winter, or mud for that matter.

I do think BFG paid someone off for that snowflake rating. You’d be better off running an all-season.

There are certain sticky-dry, yet snow-covered winter conditions where any tire will works great, even a slick, but that’s not what I need a winter tire for.

 

I've been driving around in 8 inches of snow pretty much all day on KOs today. A few weeks ago it was 17 inches and still no problems. I drive like an asshole and have never had any issues. The stock "Good for one Year" had me sliding through intersections and kicking the ass end out. They were not predictable at all. The stock tires are basically shit which is why a lot of people put them where they belong, which is on CL.

 

I could probably roll through whatever conditions you were in using any old tire. Winter doesn’t always require a snow tire, even when it is snowy. I did a tonne of off road snow driving in a 1972 Celica back in the day on no-name all seasons. It was fine. It’s when you need a winter tire that K02s do not live up to their Snow Flake rating, in comparison to a tire that truly qualifies.