Hey guys, I recently got new rims and tires for my Dak (pics to be posted soon for you all to drool over), now I have my stock rims left and I am eager to get snow tires for them...so with money no object, if you could get any snow tire on the market...what would be the absolute best? Keep in mind I have a RWD truck and as always plan on dumping weight in the bed.

So what do you say?

 

Bridgestone Blizzak is one of the best snow tires out there. I have Firestone Winterforce and they are awesome.

Tirerack winter tire survey.

 

Thanks for the link! I think it will help a lot!

 

Since you are going to be running two sets of tires anyway get something studded. Cann't beat studs on ice, and then you can get a blocky tread pattern for digging in deep snow.

I run studded tires on all our winter commuters. The Dakota got a set of studded Goodyear Territories. They don't sell them in the US though. Canadian only. However the Goodyear Duratrac is very similar, a better tire, but much more money, probably a bit nosier on the highway.

I'd also suggest the Cooper ST, I have them on my dually and am quite pleased with how they perform on snow and ice. They are not studded as they stay on the truck year round and the dually doesn't often go out in bad winter weather. I wanted a studded set for the Dakota but couldn't get them at the time. They would be unstoppable studded.

Basically I find a tire that has can be studded, has a good blocky tread for digging in the snow and then have it studded for ice. There is no point in getting an ice tire like a blizzack then getting studded. Get something that will work in snow then get it studded for ice.

Nokian is known to make the best winter tires in the world, my parents and sister run a set on their Jeep and truck and and are very pleased with them. The set they got can ONLY be purchased with studs. They were VERY expensive and didn't have a blocky enough for me personally. They love them though.

 

Call me an idiot, but I'm not too up to speed on "Studding" tires...how does that work exactly?

 

Studded tires are illegal in many areas as they tend to tear up the road surfaces over time. But the traction they offer is amazing.

 

Yep, the county where I grew up in upstate NY outlawed them around the time I got out of high school. I know a LOT of old-timers who were used to using them in winter got ticketed big time the first couple of years it went into effect.

Tires of choice among my old fishing/hunting/ice fishing buddies from up home have always been either Blizzacks, Winterforce or Michelin X-Ice...

 

Hey Sunsetrider, I've got my Dak hitched to the Scout trailer with 6 canoes, a kayak and all the gear for 11 scouts and 5 leaders. I'm headed into Crotch Lake south of Ompah this afternoon. Will I need to get studded snow tires for this trip?

Studable tires have little spots molded into the tread to allow little screw-in studs to be added. I have heard that most newer tire designs allow the studs to "suck up" into the tread when they meet asphalt and penetrate the ice when it is present. It is for this reason that studs are now useable in northern Ontario, Quebec and many other provinces.

 

Sounds like you have plenty of studs on hand already!

Have a great weekend in Paradise! I'll keep an eye peeled for your rig over the weekend. You can see my office, btw, as you pass #38 on 7, south side.

 

Id go for the Bridgestone Blizzacks. Had a set on my 2wd Ram and liked them so much i had them put on my 4x4 when i sold it. Highly recomend them.