Hi folks,
I'm new not only on this site but also new owner of RAM 1500 2008, so I need an advice of experienced truckers regarding winter tires for Canadian winter. What would you recommend from your experience? I heard Finnish tires Nokian Hakkapelitta R SUV are very good.

 

Living in the deep south for the last 19 years, I'm out of touch with winter tires. I used to run studded tires during winter where I grew up (upstate NY) but I guess that's a thing of the past now.

I got a cousin who still lives up there who hunts religiously and has an '08 QCSB Hemi 4x4 who swears by Firestone Destination A/Ts for winter use. In looking at the tread, it appears to me to have all the elements of a good snow/ice tire. Narrow voids, rain channels and it's VERY heavily siped. Might be one that you should include on your "short list"...

 

That's also what I have been running, is the Destination A/T's. I live in Wis. Never had an issue, nice tire. As Hammer stated, that would be on my list also.

 

just for reference

The peaked mountain with snowflake symbol indicates a snow tire.


M+S (Mud and Snow) indicates an all-season tire.

 

I have Hankook I*Pike 275/60R20s that I run in the winter and they work great.

 

Does anyone use Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1?

 

Firestone Destination A/T 113S or 112/109R? First is P second is LT, what do you use?

 

It's my cousins truck, he has a level kit and I think is running 33s or the closest metric equivalent. I'm sure they are LTs, I know he'd not put a passenger car rated tire on his truck.

 

What do use your truck for? The P rated are going to ride a little better and the LTs if you haul or tow frequently, especially at highway speeds.

113, 112, and 109 are the load index ratings. The load index refers to the load-carrying capacity of a tire, or how much weight a tire can support at max tire pressure.

113 = 2535 lbs
112 = 2469 lbs
109 = 2271 lbs

R and S are the speed ratings

R=106 mph
S=112 mph

 

I wanna clarify my earlier post.

I was NOT condemning the use of a P (passenger car) tire for use on your truck. I was simply stating that I know my cousin. He's an off-roader/hunter/fisherman who tows and hauls a good bit and I know he'd opt for an LT (Light Truck) tire.

For primarily on-road use of a daily driver truck with no heavy towing/hauling, a P-rated tire is fine and will offer a softer ride on pavement. The only real negative for a DD who does not tow/haul who chooses a P-rated tire is that it is more susceptible to puncture and sidewall damage if running over nails/screws or other debris...