Wheel/Tire setup for snow?

[PT94D90]

Does anyone have any advice for the best wheel/tire setup for driving in snow? I'd like to get some steel rims but not sure what size to go with or what tires to run on em. My D90 is basically stock.

[mikeslandrover]

Narrow tyres will cut through surface snow and find grip beneath supposedly, but then if you look at an icelandic truck they use the most enormous tyres inflated to only 2-3 psi to gain huge amounts of flotation on glaciers. Snow chains/ studs are problbly the way to go.
When you say driving in snow are you thinking of road of off-road?

[PT94D90]

I'm thinking mostly on road. Last winter was my first in northeast Ohio and it snowed like a MF all winter. Over 300 inches for the season. When I lived in Oregon I ran studded tires but they are not legal here.

[Mike Hippert]

I have heard nothing but good things about the Bridgestone Bizaks (I think thats how its spelled). A few people in cars I know run them and don't have a problem until they realy start plowing snow with there bumper.

[Red90]

For road snow, narrower is usually better. Off road, where you need to float, the bigger, the better.

For a road snow tire, go 235/85/16 and the best one are from Nokian. Probably the 10LT is the best choice,

http://www.nokiantires.com/newsite/tires_popup.cfm?id=12

Blizzaks are great also, but wear through the sipings quickly and are no good after a season or two.

If you are talking, off road snow, it is a larger discussion :)
http://members.shaw.ca/jbarge/90_waiporous.jpg

[revor]

While it may seem "Beyond Belief" the BFG AT is considered by the tire guys as an Extreme ice and snow tread. I ran them for years on my F350's hauling our Sleds through Snowy/icy Wyoming headed for Jackson hole as well as ran them on my other winter toys without so much as a surprize.. My wife runs them on her Disco and made the last Colorado Blizzard look like a summer day...
I've run Blizzaks and Nokian on other toys and yup the Blizzaks are remarkable but they only lasted two years... The AT's last that long on a huge truck without taking them off in the summer..

Just my experiences..

Later
Keith
www.rovertracks.com

[PT94D90]

Keith - Would you go with the 265/75/16 or something narrower in the BFG AT?

[Red90]

The ATs are OK for snow, but not any better than a normal all season tire. They are not a bad choice for off road as long as you size to leave clearance for chains.

For a second dedicated set of snow tires for the road the Nokians are big step up in traction.

[mikeslandrover]

I've got some Michelin XC4's (they don't make them any more)
7.50 R16 size the tread was only about 6" wide and they really cut through the snow. For road use I'd end towards 238/85 16. Better for fuel economy too and less likely to aquaplane in the wet!!!

[evilfij]

The only non-snow tire I know with the extreme winter weather snow flake is the dunlop RT, if I only cared about snow and wanted to run all year that is what I would get.

Ron

[TwisteD90]

Phil, go with BFG AT KO. These are sevier weather rated tires. A lot of people run those tires here in Colorado due to their superior traction on snow. I've run those tires on my D90, Ford excursion, and my wife’s old DiscoII. Believe me or not those tires had traction in ice, yes in ice.
As mike said the narrower the better. So it's your choice, you either go with 265/75 or 235/85 on some wolf wheels.

[revor]

I would probably go with a little narrower tire to keep the contact pressure higher. It's a big debate... More contact pressure or more contact area... Aside from my "toys" i've run 235-85-16's on most everything and had good luck