Tires...

[steveoh]

Headed up to the mountains for Thanksgiving driving the beast. As usual we tried to take everything in the house, and the truck was loaded for bear.

We had half a mile of snow covered gravel road to get to the lodge we were staying at, and because of the melt, freeze, melt, freeze conditions this time of year it was a bit slick. So into 4x4 it went. Awwww that's much better. Without 4 wheel drive, it's difficult to feather the pedal and keep the rear end from swinging around. I suppose all that torque and perhaps the limited slip differential has something to do with that.

Later the next day I took the truck out and reconnoitered down the virgin snow covered road on the other side of the lodge, and slowly tiptoed my way down the 12" of snow covered road, through some mud holes, and up and over a busy set of railroad tracks. Missed the crossing, and instead bounced over the tracks.  And I feared for that delicate Dodge front end.

Snow got deeper, and I stopped, shifted to neutral and changed to 4wd low. Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to get stuck as the road had a nice layer of mud under all that snow, and I was still slipping around. But I made it to an area I had room to turn around. Slipped and slid up a hill, and then back over the tracks. Got on the other side, and the beast just did not want to get out 4wd Low. Grind, grind, and finally thunk. Pain in the neck.

Got back to the lodge and then groomed the dirt parking lot by flattening the snow all around. The folks with front wheel drive, low to the ground vehicles were happy with this.

And now I am looking at my pretty worn, and almost to the wear indicators, BFGs, and thinking about the next set of tires. When these things are new, they have reasonable grip. Though I've seen better performance in the mud.

Anyone have good or bad experiences with tires in the snow? I have a few more trips to the mountains planned this year, and would like to avoid slippage without having to resort to winter, studded tires.

Steve

[2007 5.9]

I have always used BFG A/T in the snow...very good grip in powder and slush. Not the best in ice but nothing is without studs.

I make a trip from Concord area of East Bay to 1hr north of Truckee every weekend to go snowmobiling, and DOT has a habit of not plowing Hwy 89 after 9pm...so on a good storm weekend I've got a hour drive in either ice or 6-12" of powder to drive in. And in a 600+hp truck it can get tricky, even in 4wd, but the BFG's have NEVER let me down. Eventhough they are expensive they are worth the piece of mind when my family and I are on the hour long drive in fresh powder...

[steveoh]

Well, I have no where near 600hp (but in my dreams...) and I still found it necessary to take it easy with the go pedal.

I reckon the combination of reasonable sound on the freeway and decent traction in the rain, and the occasional off road trip, and romp in the snow, the BFG's might still be the best all around compromise.

Steve

[1000EE-Monarch]

Currently running 235/85R16 BF Goodrich Commercial Traction. $200 a piece installed including tax and everything at Costco.

Nice aggressive tire, have yet to really test it in deep snow. Will be going to NV plenty this winter so I'll find out. I think it will work well.

Downside is they won't last long. I'm thinking 30,000 miles at the rate they are going.

Last set were same size Michelin ZPS rib. Worthless in the snow, but got 80 or 90 K out of them. And I'm hard on front tires.

The brakes on the 12 valvers are really scary in snow. Need 4wd engaged to keep the rear from locking up.

[steveoh]

These are E rated, right?  They seem about the same price range as the BFG's in D rated... My truck currently has BFG AT LT 285 / 75R 16. They are D rated. I wonder why the previous owner did not get E rated tires, since that's what came on the truck originally. He didn't haul much, whereas I always seem to have two adults, two kids, and the bed packed full, and sometimes towing my boat.

Looks like the rear tires are wearing in the middle, which indicates over inflation, and the front tires are wearing everywhere...

Steve

Currently running 235/85R16 BF Goodrich Commercial Traction. $200 a piece installed including tax and everything at Costco.

Nice aggressive tire, have yet to really test it in deep snow. Will be going to NV plenty this winter so I'll find out. I think it will work well.

Downside is they won't last long. I'm thinking 30,000 miles at the rate they are going.

Last set were same size Michelin ZPS rib. Worthless in the snow, but got 80 or 90 K out of them. And I'm hard on front tires.

The brakes on the 12 valvers are really scary in snow. Need 4wd engaged to keep the rear from locking up.

[1000EE-Monarch]

Yes E rated.

I would not run D rated tires. You're pushing the weight rating on the front tires even with an empty truck.

285/75 is a lot wider than 235/85. The skinny tall 235/85 makes sense on a dually but on a single you might want something wider.

I always wear front tires on the outside even with everything in the front end perfect. I have a habit of going around curves too fast.

These are E rated, right?  They seem about the same price range as the BFG's in D rated... My truck currently has BFG AT LT 285 / 75R 16. They are D rated. I wonder why the previous owner did not get E rated tires, since that's what came on the truck originally. He didn't haul much, whereas I always seem to have two adults, two kids, and the bed packed full, and sometimes towing my boat.

Looks like the rear tires are wearing in the middle, which indicates over inflation, and the front tires are wearing everywhere...

Steve

[steveoh]

You mean you aren't supposed to go around corners fast? I've been confused a long time... I see corners, I speed up. Always wondered how come people put their foots on the brakes. 

Coming down the mountain, I'm maintaining a rather comfortable 70mph down and around the corners... then someone in a beemer passes me, then jumps in front me, and immediately slows down to 55mph to go round that corner. Me, scratching my head...

E-rated next set of tires. These things seem absolutely squishy, especially when at BFG recommended inflation.

Steve

Yes E rated.

I would not run D rated tires. You're pushing the weight rating on the front tires even with an empty truck.

285/75 is a lot wider than 235/85. The skinny tall 235/85 makes sense on a dually but on a single you might want something wider.

I always wear front tires on the outside even with everything in the front end perfect. I have a habit of going around curves too fast.

These are E rated, right?  They seem about the same price range as the BFG's in D rated... My truck currently has BFG AT LT 285 / 75R 16. They are D rated. I wonder why the previous owner did not get E rated tires, since that's what came on the truck originally. He didn't haul much, whereas I always seem to have two adults, two kids, and the bed packed full, and sometimes towing my boat.

Looks like the rear tires are wearing in the middle, which indicates over inflation, and the front tires are wearing everywhere...

Steve

[1000EE-Monarch]

Driving the dually around corners is rather interesting as you can do stupid things and the results are rather predictable. Front tires start talking to you then the front end "pushes". I've gotten in to the bad habit of keeping it right at the point before the front tires start squealing.

As far as squishy I hate squishy tires. Usually run 80psi in the front and 75 in the rear and still not happy.

My favorite set of tires I ever used was 225/70R19.5 load range G all steel. Rib in the front traction in the rear. Made a huge difference in the way the truck drove. No more squishy and made the steering a lot more, well how should I put it, crisper. Hard to describe, I was surprised at the difference. Really liked it.

Max pressure was 100 or 120. I ran like 95 in the front.

Don't have the wheels and tires any more and won't be spending the money again for 6. If I had an SRW I probably would do it tho. Would get wider rims so I could run 245 or 265 /70R19.5. The 225 is about 31.5" or so if I remember correct and pretty skinny.

You mean you aren't supposed to go around corners fast? I've been confused a long time... I see corners, I speed up. Always wondered how come people put their foots on the brakes. 

Coming down the mountain, I'm maintaining a rather comfortable 70mph down and around the corners... then someone in a beemer passes me, then jumps in front me, and immediately slows down to 55mph to go round that corner. Me, scratching my head...

E-rated next set of tires. These things seem absolutely squishy, especially when at BFG recommended inflation.

Steve