What are the best snow tires?

[stevemcduffie]

I am going up the al-can and doing some 4 wheeling in the snow this winter up in Alaska. I thought that Swamper Boggers would be excellent snow tires, but this guy on my ship says they are not that great in the snow. He says that the best snow tires are blizzard extremes but the guy at my local tire place says he never heard of them. Any ideas? I don't care what they are called, I just want to know what are the best snow tires.

Thanks

[jeepgods]

BFGoodrich mud terrains (best tire made)

[stevemcduffie]

Well, I hate to sound confrontational and I know that everyone has their preference, but there is no way that a BF Goodrich anything is a better mud tire than a Super Swamper anything. That is not just me talking, that is literally everyone I have ever known who owned them.
Not only that, last year one of those offroad magazines set up a 100 yard mud pit and compared about a dozen different tires and the only tire that made it all the way from one side to the other was the swamper boggers. The runner up was also a swamper product. If i recall correctly, the mud terrains, despite the hype, could not even make it halfway across. BFG Mud Terrains are what I have now on my CJ7 (not for much longer though).

Besides, a good mud tire is not necessarily a good snow tire and vice versa.

I need an excuse to buy another set of tires. Please help.

Also, if someone can tell me what issue of which 4X4 magazine that tire shootout appeared in, I would appreciate it.

[joe]

Since you're in WA you might check out Les Schwabs Wild Country Radial TXR's. I run the 33x9.5's on my trucks and really like them. The tread is similar to the BFG MT's and is a very good tire. Schwab makes tires in about every flavor you'd want. I've been running these(various Schwab tires) generally for 25 years because they are good tires and Schwabs warranties and service are great and they have shops all over the west.
You can't go wrong with the BFG MT's though.
I lived in SE Alaska for about 12 years and srongly advise taking along at least one set of chains, properly sized for whatever tires you run if you'll be doing the Al-Can in the winter. It's real common to get 24" of wet snow overnight :(
Don't waste your money on those sissy rubber band chain tighteners either. Get the right sized neoprene bungie cords instead, along with a couple of spare ones. In case you're new to WA and you plan on bring spare gas cans(a wise move for the Al-Can) don't even think of trying to get on the state ferries with them...drive around instead.
Hate to sound like your dad here but bring good sleeping bags, water, grub with you. If you screw up and drive off the road up there you may be there awhile before you get help.

[JohnnyJ]

Personally, I like my BFG ATs on snow. They are not good in mud, but they do well in snow and ice. The siping and tread pattern works well for those conditions.

I once had a set of Michelin Arctic Alpins on a ford contour, and those things were great on snow and ice; but I don't think they do truck sizes. Plus, they are more for packed snow & ice.

Last year at Sno*blind, I watched the guys with BFG M/Ts, Swampers, and Boggers dig deep in the snow; and since we were on about 4 feet of snow, most would end up plowing large amounts of snow with their front diff and forward motion would stop. The ATs didn't tend to dig as easily, so I could pack down some snow and ride across it.

Snow chains and wheel studs do help, if they are legal where you are.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Being as I lived in one snow belt or another all my life, also lived in various towns up and down the Alaska Highway, drive truck for a living for 18 years now. I think I know what tires work and what ones don't. I will tell you that MUD tires DO NOT! I would run an actual snow/ice tire. No all season or all terrain tires were ever designed for the conditions you will encounter up on the run you are about to embark on. This is not to say you will not make it, locked in 4 wheel drive with the tires you have, or running what has been suggested so far. Making it and having the tire that will give the traction performance needed to make this a safe trip are two different things by far. Traveling that distance and the chances of bad roads and weather are at a high probability. I would go for Narrow TREAD, ICE/SNOW TIRE. Remember the narrower the more traction on ice and snow, you do not want wide tires at all. I found this article as well kinda interesting. Snow Tire Report (http://www.babcox.com/editorial/tr/tr70038.htm)

[Joe H.]

FOrget the tires...tell us about the trip! I remember reading an article where some car magazine guy drove the AlCan in a Ford Expedition and was scared sh :Dtless the entire way! There were cars overturned on the side of the road, etc.

I'd love to do a trip like that. Take lotsa pics!

[Michael]

I have that mag on the tires. I was actually dreaming about it this weekend. The BFg Mud Terrain came in 6th. Made it 60 yds of 100. The swampers were from there on up. They did not do bad. You should see the pics. It was some serious mud. My At's do not do bad either. Have had them completely covered and no problems. Great Ice and rain tires.

[Cecil14]

Which mag is it in and what month? Sounds like something that might be worth reading. ;)

Thanks,
Anthony

[Michael]

I will check it out tonight when I get home. It is a great article. The Swampers did win no questions asked.

[bentpushrod]

The Al-can, what a beautiful drive. I drove it in late November-beginning of December in '93. Took me 5 days from ND to Anchorage. Guess I was lucky, beautiful roads all the way up. Some compacted snow and ice. But no worse than what I grew up with in ND. Plus it was warmer weather in AK than ND. I had chains with, but never needed them.

Came back in May of '94. Drove 2700 miles home in 49 hours of driving with 8 sleeping. I was broke and decided to get back as fast as I could.

First day drove 14 hrs and slept for 4 hours in the cab of my pickup at Whitehorse. Second day drove 16 hrs and made it to Dawson Creek, slept another 4 hrs. Than 19 more hours and back home in ND.

[Iron Horse]

If you really want to blast thru some snow check this out: Mattracks (http://www.mattracks.com/)

[64Trvlr]

That's a cool site Iron Horse. We need those up here once in a while.
:cool:

[Hump]

I don't know about blasting (the recommended maximum speed is 45 mph), but you are right Andy, those Mattracks look like they will go over and through more than just snow. Up keep might be a chore too. You think popping a bead in a mud pit is bad, just think how much it would suck if you slipped a track! :D

If I remember correctly they are like 10 or 12 grand for a set. I think that is less than I will spend on tires in my lifetime. smile.gif

[Iron Horse]

Expensive yes, but one can dream can't he. Just picture it: an M-715 tricked out with tracks, ah............ (thump, bump) what was that?......Oh, just a Honda in a snow bank. :D :D

Andy

[Bryan]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Iron Horse:
If you really want to blast thru some snow check this out: Mattracks (http://www.mattracks.com/)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


A guy in my town (ex-mayor actually) has them on a Chevy Tahoe (full size) but I've never seen him off road with it. Joe mentioned Les Schwab TXR's. I agree with him that they are great snow tires. I run a set of 30x9.5's that are siped and they work great on both compact snow & ice as well as the deeper stuff, and they have service centers all over the West. Whatever you end up buying get them siped it will help quite a bit on the compact ice & snow. Have fun and be sure to post pics
smile.gif

[64Trvlr]

I agree with Brian, no matter what kind of tire you buy be sure and have them siped. All the tires including the spare. I'm trying Wild Spirits this year ( a generic high traction radial ) that have been siped and they work great.
:cool:

[Ralph]

What about those tank-tread-like things that can be bolted on in place of wheels?

[Panoscopic]

Everything I've experienced and heard confirms what Crazy_Jeepman has to say - you want narrow, not wide. The wide tire becomes a virtual sled, while the narrow tire digs in and grips. This comes even more evident on ice where wide tires are downright dangerous.

[BigStupid]

:DHey greasemonkey(cecil14),the mag is Petersons4wheel&off-road and its the june2001 issue,volume24,number6.
As for me i prefer super swamper thornbirds which are an agressive mix of both bogger and tsl's,never had them on snow however.I was dissapointed to not see them tested, but i guess they consider them to be radial tires or somthin. :( :D :D

[Alaskaman]

I agree with Crazy_Jeepman, he knows what he is talking about. I've done the alcan several times and have a couple dozen Alaska winters worth of experience. Best winter tires I've ever had are Nokian Hakka 1's with studs. Expensive but truly awesome.

[andy d]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Panoscopic:
Everything I've experienced and heard confirms what Crazy_Jeepman has to say - you want narrow, not wide. The wide tire becomes a virtual sled, while the narrow tire digs in and grips. This comes even more evident on ice where wide tires are downright dangerous.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Me three. one case where old style is better

[Stuka]

I live quite a ways up into the mountains, i have to go through several feet of snow at times. And it isnt flat straight roads here, we have STEEP roads with sheer cliffs on the sides in areas, with lots of blind corners. Have tried several different types of tires and configs, and here is what I have come up with.

1: It needs to be a narrow tire, wide tires float on top of the snow and disperse your weight, while this is good for mud and sand, its bad news in snow.

2: You need to have deep tread with pretty good seperation, but not to wide a seperation.

3: Siping helps ALOT!

4: If studs are legal there, runt hem, saved me many times in the ice and snow. I dont care HOW good your tires are, ice and rubber dont mix..you WIL slide. Steel studs will stop this from happening.

I personally run Del-Net Deep Lugs on my jeep which are 30x7x15 with steel studs. (Del-Nat = delta-national tire...they merged) These tires are bias-ply with a 6 ply rating. They are also ISO9002 approved, which makes them suitable for government use. I have been very happy with them. They dont wear super good because they are a softer compound (about on par with a swamper TSL) and they are loud on the highway. They also do very well at climbing through back mountain trails around here.

So..there is what -&gt;I&lt;- have learned...wether you agree or not is your own opinion...but this is my experiance.

P.S.- That test in Petersens was a hoax...they where caught on it. For being the same jeep, they have 3 dif styles of lug nuts ;p

[ November 06, 2001: Message edited by: Stuka ]

[Bandit]

For snow stay away from anything that says mud traction on it. Driving in these conditions requires a completly diffrent type of tire. You may be able to get away with the mud tire in heavy unpacked snow but for packed snow and ice you need as much rubber to contact the patch as possible. Sipped tires are good and pretty much any type of all terrain is acceptable, also the stud idea is good if its legal but they are not good on dry or just wet roads as the steel studs will slide on those surfaces. Please stay with radial construction as it has a better contact patch than a bias ply tire, plus nylon bias ply tires tend to flatspot while sitting still for a period of time. Good luck and get us some great pics to post!!!! :cool:

[Brown Bear]

Check this out on the mattracks page!!!!this (http://www.mattracks.com/photos.html)

[UnkleMunky]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brown Bear:
Check this out on the mattracks page!!!!this (http://www.mattracks.com/photos.html)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey, cool, a GW with tracks!!!

This thread reminded me of another type of thing like this:
http://www.icecool.is/html/mynd01.htm

A 6x6 VAN! Or just check www.icecool.is (http://www.icecool.is)

Talk about one cool van! WOW!

As for the tread...I'm no expert(most my tires are junkyard specials!), but I tend to agree with the narrow for winter policy, wide for mud, and I don't bother with mud myself.

enjoy the van.....

[burlyj10]

i think no matter what kinda tire you choose, if you know how to drive in snow and ice conditions you wil get by with wht you got.My home town is in Durango CO, we get some pretty nasty snow/ice condtions, probnot as bad as you guys up north. but living at 9000ft you see your share of 3ftof over night snow and snotlike ice.sometimes they dont get around to plowing the roads when you live 25miles from town. I agree that the narrow tires most likely make a diiference in traction depending on what you are doing with them. My first truck when i got my licence was a 56 chevy short box, 2 wheel drive. I put studded tires(a life saver) and wait in the back and was always able to make it up my 1/2 mile off-highway road. i would pass all kinds of superpoo's and suvs with or with out snow tires. It just depends on whether you can drive in it or not. People would give me weird looks as i passed them by in my 2wd truck. My new truck is a J10, i have 32x11.50 BFG AT's and never had trouble with them. givin that overall weight helped me out.My mom on the other hand has an 82 CJ5 with 33x12.50 BFG ATs and she never had any prob either. tires do help, yes. but if you dont have the skills , they are not going to help. thats just my 19 yr old opinion. good luck find ing the tires you need for your adventure.

[Ralph]

Michelin is now marketing a winter SUV tire called the 4x4 Alpin. Anybody have experience with these?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Ralph
Michelin is now marketing a winter SUV tire called the 4x4 Alpin. Anybody have experience with these?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I not sure I like the look of them. I use Bridgestone Winter Dueler LT235/75R15. They make the difference between safety and saying I made it through....... There is a big difference between makeing it and being in total control. I use these they are awsome in snow and ice but they have very poor tread wear on dry roads so I take them off when I do not need them go on at first snow fall. A true winter tire will have POOR tread wear on dry roadsBridgestone Winter Dueler LT235/75R15 (http://www.daytontire.com/products/BSD-windueler.htm) ;)

[ November 08, 2001: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]

[Stuka]

I have 4k miles on my winter tires from last year (take off in summer and stuff) and have very noticable wear. I did not get stuck once in 4wd, only spun if i wanted to (playing around ;p) I dont just barely make it and say they rock..these tires have seriously good traction in the snow smile.gif (CrazyJeepMan's tires are great too)

[RustyJeep]

I have to admit that Bridgestone snow tires, known as Blizzaks seem to be the ultimate in my experiences with them. That's what CJ is talking about. I ran some on a VW Passat, and they were unbeliveable. We may not get ungodly amounts of snow like Alaska here, but the lake effect snow we get here is pretty nasty to Michigan's standards. The past couple of years we haven't got much. I hope this year changes that. I love the snow, and driving in it. smile.gif

[J20 project]

For those running pretty much stock size on their wags or chero, Hercules PolarTrax are awesome on icy/snowy roads. Generally about 80-90 bucks for a 235-15, siped well, and studdable. J20

[Joe H.]

Last year there was a blizzard in Alabama and we got about 1.5" of snow :eek: :eek: :eek: My Uniroyals worked just fine :D

[Stuka]

WOW!!!

1.5"...in a blizzard?!?!? :eek: :eek:

That beats anything we got here last year..sheesh..you must be one awesome driver :D

hehe...sorry..couldent resist ;p